£100 to sit together?

[sunchild77]

Kids first family holiday abroad... BA want £100 to sit us all together.. Kids first flight they are 4, 9 and 11yrs plus us mum and dad.
Would the airline really sit us all separately? Is paying out really a big waste of money?
Plus Im terrified of flying as it is... I need DH nearby!!
Thoughts please? thanks x

[16augustholiday]

And I checked in 24hrs in advance to the minute.

[Ego147]

t was always down to who got to the front of the queue first with the biggest elbows

They used to do families and fast track first - I've flown with DS when he was a toddler and that was great. But that was 8 years ago...

[Hulababy]

Not initially - iirr it was complete free for all.
Then they introduced families first, but again then decided to restrict that to only families with Under 5s.
They introduced Fast Track between all that and they got to go before the families.
I think those needing assistance always got on first.

[BummyMummy77]

Yes it's really really shit that they charge you. American carriers don't, everyone can book their seat from when they book free of charge. In fact, it's about to become law that US airlines have to sit children with their parents at no extra charge.

However, the money grabbing European airlines are doing this and if you don't want to be a massive pain in the ass to people that HAVE paid to book a seat you need to just cough up. I'm not moving for ANYONE when I've paid that kind of money.

I've just had to pay £100 to make sure we're sat together as we're flying home at Christmas this year with Virgin because I forgot about the UK's bullshit changes. Last time I fly with them.

[limitedperiodonly]

Why should I give any more money to BA than they have already charged me for my ticket? If I buy a seat then I can give, or sell, it to anyone else on board.

I realise that's in direct contravention of the terms and conditions, but as long as we are discreet, the carrier needn't know and no one will be harmed in the transaction.

I've never accepted money to swap seats btw. Last time it happened was on a 14-hr flight and I was in the aisle seat. A girl in the window seat begged me to swap because she had an upset stomach. I slept and she shitted. Both of us were in peace.

[KenAdams]

Yes you can chose 24 hours in advance with BA. HOWEVER - they offer free seat selection to anyone with Bronze or over Executive Club membership (7 days before for Bronze and from booking for higher tiers) so add that to the people who pay to reserve there may not be any seats left together 24 hours before.

[mouldycheesefan]

Virgin is more expensive. I think it's £25 per seat per person for each leg of the journey so u would be paying £250

Correct me if I am wrong

[QueenLizIII]

You can check in online with BA 24 hours before the flight.

Just be ready to do it literally the SECOND check in opens.

Ive done it with 3 people and there were plenty of free rows. It really depends though.

[Ego147]

I think it's £25 per seat per person for each leg of the journey so u would be paying £250

I suppose it makes 'headline' prices seem quite cheap until you calculate the actual price - what with baggage, seat etc

[brasty]

They will sit the 4 year old next to one of you. But absolutely no guarantee that you will be all together. I have flown with 8 and 9 year old next to me in economy, while their parents were in business class on BA.

[takesnoprisoners]

I pay for my seats and I am not moving for anyone. I am guessing many are the same. Just pay to guarantee your seats

[dybil]

Have they confirmed the cost of your children's joy?

[Hulababy]

mouldycheesefan

Long haul reservation is expensive. We joined Virgin Air Miles mainly so we can check in a few days earlier than normal. We don't generally need to pay to book by doing that, esp as just three of us.

Think BA long haul is £20+ pp too.

[Youarenotprepared]

They could quite easily put you as a 2 and a 3 in totally different places on the plane so all 3 kids are accompanied. They also count across an aisle as accompanied so you could end up next to a stranger with a child across from you also next to a stranger.

I wouldn't chance it personally. We had our reservations included on our last flight and still only just managed to get 5 seats close together.

Also if they do split you and you want to try and swap you will piss off an entire plane full of people, most of whom probably just paid the £100. Sadly I think in a big group you just need to suck it up as part of the flight cost. I've seen much worse than £100.

[Statelychangers]

Have never paid and damn them but we have always been allocated seats together - dcs would be fine by themselves and dh and I would enjoy the peace and quiet!

[wasonthelist]

dybil

[AdjustableWench]

There you go, OP. As you can clearly see from the attitudes expressed on this thread, you'll need to book your seats if you want to sit together. Almost no one will be prepared to move.
I still think it's assholery, but there you go.

[Ego147]

swap you will piss off an entire plane full of people, most of whom probably just paid the £100

Now that statistic is one I would love to know. Human psychology and all that.

[VeryBitchyRestingFace]

I still think it's assholery, but there you go.

We're all still waiting for you to explain your reasoning for holding this view.

[Leaspr]

My partner works for BA at Heathrow. He says "Are they all booked in the same reservation because if they are 3 days out we edit the flight so families sit together"
So basically, as long as you all booked together, BA will automatically sit you together 3 days prior to you flying. Hope this helps!

[EmpressKnowsWhereHerTowelIs]

Adjustable, if you wanted someone who had paid for their seat to move, would you ask politely? Offer to recompense them for the money they'd wasted? Maybe also buy them a drink to say thank you?

[Ego147]

I don't think it's assholery but I think I would feel sad for the DC if they were by themselves on an exciting thing like a plane journey - and if me moving meant that I could help that family out, I might well do it.

But then - it would mean that I was travelling by myself as I would not move if DS was with me - so I wouldn't have prepaid. IYSWIM.

[Ego147]

So basically, as long as you all booked together, BA will automatically sit you together 3 days prior to you flying. Hope this helps

What if they can't do that - because people have paid to prebook so it can't be done?

[EssentialHummus]

Keep in mind - it always comes up on these threads, so just to hasten the inevitable - that many flights these days are much cheaper than they were before easyjet, RyanAir etc came along.

You're probably paying less overall, even with the £100 seats, than you would have 15 years ago, unless you intend to go nuts on checked luggage, mis-typed names and volcano temperature cheese toasties.