AIBU to offer cash to other passengers for their seats on flight

[Blewitagain]

I am going on holiday and have discovered I haven't pre booked seats on our flights. I'm traveling with two children. This was an oversight. I can get two seats which would leave eldest sat alone.

Would it be weird to take cash to compensate anyone willing to move seat? No one might be willing to move but I'm hoping.

I once travelled last minute in an emergency and no one was willing to move seats.

It doesn't matter how you're asked. The fact is a woman with 3 children is asking you to move for the benefit of her child. That's extremely loaded. Many adults would feel uncomfortable in refusing a request if that impacted a child. As I said before the request basically means the child's comfort on the flight hangs on your decision. That's an unfair position in which to place someone.

It's really not that loaded! Either it suits you to move or it doesn't. If it doesn't for some reason, no need to feel bad. I would never question why and would be very polite/friendly and apologise for asking. Like most reasonable people. Maybe you need to get more comfortable with saying no, it's doesn't have to be antagonistic. If you don't move just because you resent being asked, I wonder if that uncomfortable feeling is your conscience!

We aren't responsible for others but we generally do have an impact on each others lives which is surely ok? If I was asking about an elderly nervous grandmother because I hadn't managed to get seats together would the responses be the same?

If I am in a queue for a public toilet I would let a child or elderly/frail woman go in front of me....or indeed anyone who asked because I would assume their need was great. I wouldn't think fuck that, I'm standing my ground, I've queued fair and square etc. It's just about being considerate of others. It's generally a nicer way to live! And one day if you slip up and find yourself in need then you might be thankful others are willing to put themselves out a little.

That was quite a lecture sorry! But some responses are bonkers. With lots of reasonable replies too, thank you.

Also as some have suggested, they have decided they will have the two seats together and I can sit by myself. They were quite pleased at the idea! So all good

If you think wandering around a plane with your wallet out and sad faces kids in tow isn’t loaded you are deluded. You know beggars with dogs get more money?

Op, my dad always prebooks as he's got a number of problems with one leg and his back so needs a particular seat. He wouldn't be able to move. I wouldn't mind moving if I hadn't paid money. If I had I'd probably feel guilt tripped into moving and not be happy about it.

I think actually offering money is a great idea as you are showing that you are not taking it for granted that people will do You a favour just because you've got children and that you don't expect anyone to pay for a service that they aren't receiving.

I'd offer the amount it costs to prebook a seat or maybe more than that.

And be kind when people say no. Hopefully you'll find someone to swap with you.

Do call the airlines though and ask if you can still prebook seats or what their policies are. And prepare you 12 year old that they possibly have to sit on their own. Maybe they'll enjoy it. Give them a book and snacks and tell them you'll check on them or that they can come see you as soon as you can.

Tldr yes do offer to pay the prebooking cost if someone agrees to swap.

@Blewitagain That's not a comparable example, though. In that scenario most people would let the vulnerable person go ahead, because you're both getting to use the same facility, the only issue is a small delay. What you're asking is for a person who has paid for a particular thing (a specific seat) to give it to you, on the basis that that's being considerate and nice. You're not exceptional in giving up your place in a queue - most people do that. A better example would be giving up a meal you'd paid for in a restaurant to a hungry person at the next table who only brought enough money for a drink. I'm guessing you don't regularly do things like that cos #bekind?

Ha, I always pay for window. The thought of being put in the aisle makes me feel quite stressed.

I'd try and offer my 12 year old some money for sitting in his own!

Actually you're quite wrong. My conscience wouldn't trouble me in the slightest, because I would swap with you as I wouldn't want your child suffering from your oversight.
I'd be perfectly comfortable saying no to YOU, but a nervous 12 year old sitting alone? Not so much.
I would however resent you, because you had made your oversight my problem.
But no doubt that makes me 'bonkers' like everyone else who isn't giving you a round of applause for your idea.

YANBU, is a fair deal but not sure if the company will allow it, it us scary to think of it but the name-seat allocation is very important because in case of a accident this lust is what guides a rescue…

List not lust *

You Couid put the two kids together.
If I were the passenger, sat in the seat next to your two kids aged 3 and 4 , I’d give you money to let me sit somewhere else. Even on the wing outside the plane lol 😂

I'm travelling with my kids who are 'young' teenagers and I have paid one hundred pounds to make sure we can sit together (so I can keep an eye on them and make sure they behave) I was given the option when I booked our holiday. Now, I don't agree with the charge but I did want all of us to sit together, so I 'paid up' .
There is no way I would give my seats up and split us up so 'others' who haven't paid can sit together. Apologies if that sounds harsh but it's the truth.

🤦🏽‍♀️

Not really...

In a crisis or potential crisis Rescue crews (e.g. airport fire crews) tend to be interested simply in the number of passengers and crew on board an aircraft, not who is sat where.

Are all parents this entitled?

It would depend on what seat you were offering in exhange. If I was on an aisle seat in exhange for a middle seat, then the answer would be no. I choose to sit in an aisle seat due to my claustrophobia. A middle seat would cause me panic attacks. Some people pre book seats for a reason, they arent being difficult, yet some how they are always classed as being so.

I don't actually agree with people switching seats full stop, but then that's me!

Why? What does it matter if everyone is happy with the switch?

I wouldn't need a bribe,if I was travelling alone I'd change,no problem.If I was travelling with my partner, who I don't see very often,not so sure...time is precious!Having said that we are both grandparents and wouldn't see the children distressed,so we probably would change...

Plane crash?

If your plane crashes, a tiny lap belt is going to do very little to keep your dead body in its' seat ready to be identified, lol.

plane crash

Really wish folks would stop dragging red herrings such plane crashes/IDs and rescues into this and claiming they are reasons why seat swops are supposedly not allowed....there's certainly a lot of incorrect ideas flying around (SWIDT)

Many many airlines allow seat moves post boarding, even post doors closed, even exceptionally when airborne and those seat moves do not need to be transmitted to outside agencies....certainly didn't when I was working..

Some airlines still use "free seating" where there is no itemised list of who is sitting where.

If almost worse case a plane needs searching post accident AFAIK the fire services have a method of searching that doesn't rely on a seating list (which they almost certainly won't have to hand)....FWIW they will have however almost certainly know the number of "Souls on Board"

In the very worse case post an accident ID will not be done solely by reference to a passenger list.

Anyone who doesn’t know you unfortunately have to pay to sit together on flights shouldn’t expect those that have to move…but I suppose if you’re offering money you have nothing to lose.