Pre booked flight seats for 2 & 3 y/o's?

[doghelp123]

Not really AIBU, posting for traffic. Apologies for long post.

We are due to go on holiday in 7 weeks time and we have not paid for pre booked seats, the reason i have not paid is because our DCs are 2 & 3 y/o and the travel agent has advised its a £25 fee per seat, so looking at £100 all in for me, DH and DC's to be together - we have saved a long time to get this holiday and if I'm being honest it seems like a very large amount to be shelling out for seats. Me and DH are not fussed about being seated together obviously, but we would need the DCs to be next to either one of us so we did ask the travel agent if me and DH booked our two seats for the £50 would kids be guaranteed to be next to us but we were told me would need to pay the £25 for each of them as well, I then called jet 2 and they have advised that they would not split young children up from parents even if we had not paid for the seats but I have now been seeing things online stating that the DCs wouldn't necessarily be in the same row as either of us, but they could be put in the row in front or behind.

Can anyone who has flew before with Jet2 advise us? I would really rather not be paying the £100 for seats as IMO it is to much and it seems silly to be paying the money for kids that age if the airlines aren't actually allowed to split us?

So any frequent jet2 flyers, it would be much appreciated if anyone in similar circumstances could advise

I hate the new pricing system, it is absolutely gouging the passengers for previously free services

There were never any free services. The cost of all of them were included in the price. Now, in order to keep the price down, they have been stripped out allowing you to pay for them if you want them rather than making you pay for them regardless. You pay for the flight only now and add only the extras that you want

soupdragon. You could post that all day and on every thread that comes up about airplane seats and people still won't get it!

I know. 😂

It's been driven by the consumer who wants cheap flights. You pay for a seat, and for anything extra like a specified seat you pay more. Maybe flights should be advertised at a higher price then discounted for those who don't care where they sit?

Some airlines are sort of doing this now with the economy flex, economy basic etc.

I would always pay to sit with someone. I just hate being next to strangers. Middle seat next to two strangers. No for me.

I would always pay to sit with someone. I just hate being next to strangers. Middle seat next to two strangers. No for me.
And that is fine and the beauty of the pricing system. You get what you want and personally I couldn't care less who I sit next to ( as I'm usually by myself anyway!)

I was on a flight back from Porto in November and I was in the middle of a couple. They asked if I would mind swooping and gave me the choice of the window or the aisle. I was happy to take the window and they were happy they were together.
I must admit it is quite amusing seeing everyone doing the Ryan air shufffle when people are getting to their seats and bartering about who to swop seats with!

I have just flown with Jet2 (first time with them and I was really happy with the experience). It was only me and DH.
I paid to book seats together on the way out but not on the way back.

At check in I got the option to either have the pre selected seats (across the aisle) for free or pay extra to choose our seats.

That way you can chance it and see what they do and if you aren’t happy you still have the option to suck up the cost.

But the beauty of it it can be £35.

Your flight to Barcelona is exactly that. If you want to add extras, that is your choice but the flight is £35

Well yeah obviously, but I was addressing the OP, for whom sitting separately is not an option.

They asked if I would mind swooping

Oh please tell me you swooped down the plane with imaginary wings!

It's a money making scheme. They used to be able to sour groups together but courting on that it's a way to make extra money.
Under the guidelines they're not allowed to fly if children under a certain age are not seated next to their parents (can't remember exactly, but toddlers are definitely within that age).

That's why I won't pay for seats for myself and my older children as I'd be really pissed off at being made to move to accommodate someone who hasn't bothered paying.
I have heard of cases where paid up customers were made to move because the flight couldn't take off until a child, where they parents hasn't paid, had been sat next to their mum or dad. They first asked for a volunteer but when none were forthcoming, they made someone move or said they'd remove them from the flight.

I wouldn't pay anyway as a matter of principle. The only reason outta done is to make more money; airlines manages for years to book ppl in seats together without a charge (the earlier you booked in the more choice you got).
If everyone refused to pay, they wouldn't do it, but you'll always get those that will as they're deliberating preying on people's worries and fears.

But the beauty of it it can be £35

Your flight to Barcelona is exactly that. If you want to add extras, that is your choice but the flight is £35

Well yeah obviously, but I was addressing the OP, for whom sitting separately is not an option.

Sorry nuno I didn't mean to undermine you there , I was just showing how flexible and good the pricing was. I hadn't realised the OP was going to Barcelona when I posted.

It's a money making scheme
Of course it is! It's a business. They are there to make money.
You have the hook of a cheap flight and then pay for the extras. It is transparent. It's not like you get an invoice at the end with unexpected fees on. You can see exactly what you are getting and you just work through what your priorities are.

Thank-you for everyones reply's, we have spoke to the travel agent again and jet2 who have advised as kids are under 8 they will be but with one of us, so we will not be paying the £100 charge.

IMO it is money grabbing, we have already paid the money for our flight - why should we have to shell out £100 more for seats? I would understand if it was a couple of pounds but £100 is ridiculous.

So, you're happy for them to ask other people to move seats, when they have already paid for specific seats together?

IMO it is money grabbing, we have already paid the money for our flight - why should we have to shell out £100 more for seats? I would understand if it was a couple of pounds but £100 is ridiculous.

It's not money grabbing. It's business. Budget airlines separate all parts of your ticket so you can choose the bits to suit. If you want an all inclusive ticket, don't fly jet2

You are aware that 'with you' can mean in a separate row? Jet2 separated my friend, her husband and two children last week. They were sat within the guidelines (ie only separated by one row- one in row a, one row c as apparently that's what that guidance means) but definitely not together

OP - you're an idiot and people like you really make me angry - if you've changed the username in your OP to princesspeppa. It isn't money grabbing - it's what the airline chooses to charge.

Just because you choose to fly with children doesn't mean you automatically have a right to sit with them all for you for free.

As I think SoupDragon said it is not included in the cost of the flight it is an extra cost and you should factor this into the cost of your already cheap flight.

He said could you as the staff whether the person sat next to a child was a paedophile or not? I think that's a good point as the child would be out of the parents eyeline

FFS. Really?

I asked about them being seated in a separate row and was told that they will not be because of their age they will be same row.

churchthecat - her kids/family - her seats, her rulez, right hun?! ~IcansitwhereIlikewiththefamalamwithoutpayingtobookseats.com

A lot of the time though the resentment occurs because people are asked to swap to a seat that they perceive as not so nice. So the guy and and his girl friend mentioned by a PP probably could have sat together if they had offered to swap her seat with the person sitting in the middle of the plane next to him. But no - they wanted to "upgrade" their seats to the two buy the window. The CF father mentioned by another PP who kept telling his son he couldn't sit in the window seat - he might have got a different answer if he'd asked the PP if she'd swap her window seat with his wife's window seat in the row behind.

I'll always pay extra for a window seat and I'll usually happily swap it for another window seat but I see no reason to swap it for a middle seat because someone else hasn't paid up.

I'd happily swap seats to let a young child sit with a parent but looks like I'm in the minority.

OP - bless you, you're some sort of special snowflake with your kids. pats on head

God, this subject really gets Mumsnet going doesn't it!

oh and it's replies not reply's

I'm flying with a baby on my knee as he's 9mths old. I don't car where I sit due to that as he will be with me. (other if I'm. In the middle then my fellow travellers might!) My brother etc have pre booked seats and extra leg room for extra cash. Their choice.

Barbie - go back to playing with Ken.