Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Online Check In - seats together with children

354 replies

madmare77 · 23/05/2017 11:09

I'm going on holiday next week. Thomson package holiday with DH, DS (12) and DD (9). Online check in opened today. Logged on at 6.30am and could not check in. I left it until after 9am and still not able to check in.
I called Thompson to query and was told they only allow 70% on people to check in online (God knows what time they got up to do this!).
I told the lady I was concerned as I had children (especially my 9 year old) could I pay to pre book seats and was told no. I'm concerned as it's a 4.5 hour flight and I don't want my kids sat next to any Tom, Dick or Harry.
Are there any airline industry people who can tell me if they will try to seat us together or are we screwed?
Thanks

OP posts:
Reow · 23/05/2017 18:14

I'm lost.

So (removing those who did not know they had to book seats) those people who have actively chosen not to pay the small fee to sit with their children believe that in theory people who HAVE paid for an allocated seat should move to accommodate you?

Andylion · 23/05/2017 18:15

I just paid $65 CND each to pre-book three seats for a flight from Canada to Austria. That's about £60. As I did it, I thought about all the threads on this topic on MN.

I'm trying to imagine how would I react if asked to move for someone who had not paid to pre-book. I really don't know. I would hate for a child to be left alone because of the parents' actions but I would resent being the one who had to solve the problem, particularly if I had paid to choose my seat.

Others have posted about not caring if a child next to them is upset or ill, as it wouldn't be their concern, but I think it would be in my best interest help them if needed. For example, if the child were air-sick, I'd want to make sure that bag was in place so I didn't get puked on. I'd still be resentful, though.

NotISaidTheWalrus · 23/05/2017 18:17

I already paid for my seats.
We're talking hypothetical.

And seriously, in the event I was separated from my child in that kind of emergency, I'd die trying. Wouldn't you?

TheLionQueen1 · 23/05/2017 18:18

You would seriously rather take the risk of dying trying than just paying the small amount to rule out that circumstance? I just can't get my head around that.

caffeinestream · 23/05/2017 18:22

No, I'd just pay to sit with them in the first place to save them the potential trauma of being sat alone in an emergency.

ShotsFired · 23/05/2017 18:23

Gosh I hope Walrus doesn't meet another version of him/herself coming in the opposite direction, during these non-specified but violent enough to need immediate oxygen but not violent enough that you can still make it up the aisle without impediment (or their own oxygen), emergencies they are braced for. All for want of paying for an allocated seat...

SpitefulMidLifeAnimal · 23/05/2017 18:24

How could a parent not be bothered to guarantee that their "four year old girl (who looks like a 2 year old girl) with epilepsy and SEN" will be seated with them?

Absolutely fucking shameful.

kali110 · 23/05/2017 18:26

Anyone who would sit through a flight next to a sobbing and vulnerable child needs to take a good look at themselves.
Or rather the parents should take a look at themselves for not paying.
I wouldn't move out of my prebooked seat.

2014newme · 23/05/2017 18:28

If a child is that sobbing and vulnerable then ffs book a seat or stay home. I'd want reimbursing before I moved. Your child is not my problem.

ShotsFired · 23/05/2017 18:29

Andylion I would resent being the one who had to solve the problem, particularly if I had paid to choose my seat.

I think this is the crux of it. Why should us complete strangers (you know, the ones who could obviously be up to NO GOOD) take on the hassle and detriment of solving an issue that was always the parent's to solve with minimal effort on day 1?

I am not on that flight to be somebody's unpaid admin and childcare assistant. However as I mentioned in a pp, said parent acknowledging they messed up and using their pleases and thank yous in a polite request would go a long way to me finding my goodwill about it.

JigglyTuff · 23/05/2017 18:29

But apparently Walrus paid for her seats and the only reason she wasn't seated next to her child was because the airline made a mistake.

So I'm not sure why she's so aggressively defending the OP's position. Confused

Astro55 · 23/05/2017 18:31

airlines have really sold you all on this haven't they?

They knew what they were doing when they charged you extra to get on a flight!! And you all suck it up as if it's a good thing!

So many 'entitled' people because they 'paid' for X seat.

I've never paid extra - and we've never been sat apart - the airlines fuel your insecurities and you lap it up.

GaelicSiog · 23/05/2017 18:32

I witnessed kids split from their parent on a flight once. Not United, a well known Irish airline. I had booked seats with DD and three friends. Me, DD and friend 1, friend 2 and friend 3 behind. Couldn't get aisle.

Mother and 3 kids arrived late, by which point the four seats left were all separate. We were at the front bar the exit seats, so mother suggested DD and I stay put, friend 1 and the three people across the aisle move for her and her DC.

My friend explained that she needed to be next to me. Mother got nasty about how she expected a mother to be more caring Hmm Friend explained that actually, she was sat next to me for a reason. Flight packed with kids. Couple of other groups they asked cited medical/anxiety reasons and a few had seen the fuss this woman had caused at this point and refused to move. The mother was given a choice of getting off the plane or sitting separately.

Why put yourself through that when you can pay?

expatinscotland · 23/05/2017 18:32

'Anyone who would sit through a flight next to a sobbing and vulnerable child needs to take a good look at themselves.
Or rather the parents should take a look at themselves for not paying.
I wouldn't move out of my prebooked seat.'

This. Would you approach a stranger and tell them to give your £20+ out of their wallet, right now, because you have a child? Because that's what you're doing if you don't pay and then stamp your feeties and expect others to give up seats they paid for, which is why people would tell you to sling your hook. I've never once seen any of these tight, entitled people ask if they can pay compensation for the seat they want. So, nope, not moving from the seat I paid for and you need to look at yourself in the mirror if you don't care enough for your kid that you'd put them in a situation like that.

As for trampling others to get to your child because hte cabin depressurised, you would pass out in about half a minute, so by all means, try that on. It won't help anyone.

expatinscotland · 23/05/2017 18:35

'But apparently Walrus paid for her seats and the only reason she wasn't seated next to her child was because the airline made a mistake.'

Then she was free to ask if she could compensate someone for their seat and claim it back from the airline or travel insurance.

I've never once seen any of these people offer any money for the seat they want.

Andrewofgg · 23/05/2017 18:36

It's much easier to travel with DC in Business or First Class. Perhaps the selfish singletons in the premier cabins should be expected to swap with the families in the cattle-truck?

NotISaidTheWalrus · 23/05/2017 18:37

Why would I start offering people money for their seats? I simply waited for the staff to sort out the problem that their company had made. Which they did.
How was no concern of mine.

Reow · 23/05/2017 18:37

Indeed expat

So since we're talking hypothetically, if I had paid for v specific seats, and a mother and child get on without prebooked seats, should they reimburse me the £40 odd I've paid to reserve my seats?

NotISaidTheWalrus · 23/05/2017 18:40

You would seriously rather take the risk of dying trying than just paying the small amount to rule out that circumstance? I just can't get my head around that

I'd be dead either way. Are you not following the hypothetical?

ememem84 · 23/05/2017 18:40

I always pay to book my seat whether travelling alone or with dh because I'm a very nervous flier. I've been asked to move a number of times.

I always politely refuse but do caveat this with an "I'll move if you either refund me straight away for my flight, or find me the same available seat or better). Twice I've moved and been bumped to business.

The last time we were long hauling it to New Zealand. A lady hadn't pre booked seats for her, her son and toddler daughter. Dh and I were sat on a row with toddler daughter woman was 2 rows in front.

I understood she was upset anxious etc. I offered to move and spoke to the hostie. Explained the situation and she sorted dh and I out with business seats for the flight home. The woman was super pissed though. She was angling for business seats. But according to hostie they don't let under 12's in...

TheLionQueen1 · 23/05/2017 18:40

NotI, your situation is completely different to that of the OP, of course that was the airlines responsibility they messed up when you had paid, mistakes happen. The OP has not paid, why are these situations comparable and why are you getting so defensive?!

Reow · 23/05/2017 18:41

Not what problem did the airline make for you?

TheLionQueen1 · 23/05/2017 18:44

I'd be dead either way. Are you not following the hypothetical?

Ok I'm so sorry, let me rephrase:
You would seriously rather take the risk of hypothetically dying trying than just paying the small amount to rule out that circumstance? I just can't get my head around that hypothetical situation at all.

Getting a bit silly this chat isn't it, why are we getting hypothetical?! Pay for your seat or don't whinge when you don't get what you want. Why is this difficult to comprehend?

LittleBearPad · 23/05/2017 18:47

There's a load of keyboard warriors on here Hmm

It's cobblers that the paying for your own seat is anything but a money making wheeze that plays on the fears of parents, the disabled and people with anxiety.

Roussette · 23/05/2017 18:50

This thread never ceases to amaze me.

Next time I'll buy a half bottle of fizz and a meal and offer to anyone who fancies it. After all, even though I've paid for it, I don't want it do I....

I can't get over the people on here who would put up with all this hassle for the sake of perhaps £8 per person. FGS it's the price of a sandwich and a coffee... less than that in fact. Why put yourselves through this?