Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not pay to choose seats but expect to sit together?

787 replies

Peachpicklepie · 24/06/2023 17:41

I'll be flying with easyjet on a short flight (just over an hour) soon. It will be me, my toddler (2 years 4 months) and my baby (four months). Baby will be on my lap. According to the website they will sit children near an accompanying adult - surely in the case of a two year old this means next to?! I really don't want to spend another £20 on choosing seats if it's unnecessary.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
Rightnowstraightaway · 25/06/2023 23:31

I never pay on principal. I have sometimes suspected that couples are deliberately split up even when there are loads of seats together to force people to pay. But I also don't expect people to move.

I would assume the airline wouldn't want to piss someone off by putting someone else's 2 year old next to them. So I'd probably risk it myself!

Newmum738 · 25/06/2023 23:32

No one will want to sit next to your toddler so you will be absolutely fine.

Lilpop90 · 25/06/2023 23:36

I’m sorry but I think you are being completely unreasonable. I wouldn’t move for someone who hasn’t bothered to pay for seats together.

Nussbaum · 25/06/2023 23:39

Lilpop90 · 25/06/2023 23:36

I’m sorry but I think you are being completely unreasonable. I wouldn’t move for someone who hasn’t bothered to pay for seats together.

Nor me. I've paid for my seat and I'm not moving for anyone.

Earlystartsmakemegrumpy · 25/06/2023 23:52

11 years of flying easyJet with a kid and never once paid to book a seat, just checked in as soon as online check-in opens (30 days before). Me DH & DS always all sat next to each other. If you want to pay fine but I think you are a mug. The only airline that doesn't allocate seats together (if available) is ryanair & I don't fly with them (because they are money-grabbing c**ts). There's a very small risk with easyJet that even if you check in as soon as it opens you won't be sat together but then you can just pay then if you are that incredibly unlucky. I swear some mumsnetters want to pay extra - almost like a martyr thing.

Getoutofherenow · 25/06/2023 23:58

Earlystartsmakemegrumpy · 25/06/2023 23:52

11 years of flying easyJet with a kid and never once paid to book a seat, just checked in as soon as online check-in opens (30 days before). Me DH & DS always all sat next to each other. If you want to pay fine but I think you are a mug. The only airline that doesn't allocate seats together (if available) is ryanair & I don't fly with them (because they are money-grabbing c**ts). There's a very small risk with easyJet that even if you check in as soon as it opens you won't be sat together but then you can just pay then if you are that incredibly unlucky. I swear some mumsnetters want to pay extra - almost like a martyr thing.

I agree is this thread full of EasyJet bots or Mumsnet mugs? Ker-ching!!!!

Mamai90 · 26/06/2023 00:03

Just make sure to check in as soon as the online check in opens 30 days before.

Itslookinglikeabeautifulday · 26/06/2023 00:12

I recently had two flights with EasyJet with my DD((17). Didn't pay to sit next to her but checked in as soon as check in was available (30 days before flight) and both times got seats next to each other without having to pay a premium.

pollymere · 26/06/2023 00:22

You may be seated near them but this can be in an aisle behind you or beside you across one. There is no guarantee you'll be literally next to each other. You don't get any special entitlement for this which is why so many people get upset. You may also want to book a seat where you can lay the baby to sleep so you probably need to book specific seats unless you really want to annoy some poor soul who paid for extra legroom and has to give you the space...

RavenofEngland · 26/06/2023 00:52

I took my two children to Majorca last October age 12 and seven. It was our first holiday abroad without their father and I had never been abroad on my own so it was a bit scary for me. I didn’t want us to be separated and I was the only adult so I paid to have three seats next to each other. It’s not worth the stress or the hassle. Just pay to have the seats together and at least then you can guarantee your toddler will not be separated from you.

Betterlatethanontime · 26/06/2023 01:21

Someone will move. No one wants to sit next a toddler, particularly someone else’s. If they don’t then they get to sit with a 2 year old and you don’t have to.

caringcarer · 26/06/2023 02:17

MsSquiz · 24/06/2023 17:44

For most airlines "next to" is considered to be the seat directly in front or behind, or across the aisle.

I wouldn't risk it with kids and I also wouldn't be impressed if I'd paid to choose seats and we had to move because a parent hadn't bothered to do the same

This. If the seat next to you is allocated to a passenger who paid for that specific seat they might not want to give it up.

KM123456 · 26/06/2023 04:05

Another entitled parent who thinks everyone else should accommodate them--for free. And then wonders why people complain about other peoples' kids on airlines.
She probably won't bring any toys, food or drinks for the kids either, and complain about passengers who object to him kicking their chair.
Pay the damn money.

Betterlatethanontime · 26/06/2023 04:55

KM123456 · 26/06/2023 04:05

Another entitled parent who thinks everyone else should accommodate them--for free. And then wonders why people complain about other peoples' kids on airlines.
She probably won't bring any toys, food or drinks for the kids either, and complain about passengers who object to him kicking their chair.
Pay the damn money.

She won’t need to worry about any of that if she doesn’t sit next to her child 😂

LolaSmiles · 26/06/2023 07:01

Never been split on an easyJet flight and travelled with the kids at least twice a year during school holidays. Although would have enjoyed the solitude in the teen years!😂
I've not said people won't be sat together though

I'm saying people can't guarantee it and it's a gamble they have to choose to take or not. If they take the gamble it might work. It might not.

Unfortunately some people on this thread seem to think they should choose not to book seats together and then on the day it's someone's job to move passengers around to suit them/they take the chance because someone else can be guilt tripped into moving.

Outofthepark · 26/06/2023 07:04

mainsfed · 24/06/2023 17:46

I wouldn’t move for you either.

Yeah but I'd move for the 2 year old who would be so distressed away from their mummy. Cmon, be human!

SunnyEgg · 26/06/2023 07:08

Betterlatethanontime · 26/06/2023 01:21

Someone will move. No one wants to sit next a toddler, particularly someone else’s. If they don’t then they get to sit with a 2 year old and you don’t have to.

It doesn’t mean it’ll be nice for the two year old or the parent if they care

HaveYouHeardOfARoadAtlas · 26/06/2023 07:13

I can’t believe so many people have said you’re being unreasonable and being entitled, etc. and that they wouldn’t move! There’s some nasty people in the world.

Easyjet would be very unlikely to sit you nowhere near a 2yo. They’d be breaking all sorts of CAA rules/guidelines if they did…..but yes technically it could be on the row infront or behind or across an aisle. But I think if you get to check on early this would be very unlikely

HaveYouHeardOfARoadAtlas · 26/06/2023 07:17

Years ago when Dd was about 6yo we flew back from Tenerife in the days where nobody paid for a seat and nobody had an allocated seat. It was a scrum to get on the plane first.

we were first ones at check in. Went to the gate as soon as it was announced. Then they changed the gate, then Dd needed the loo…….so anyway we ended up being last two on the plane. Seats were about six rows from each other. I asked the air stewardess if anyone would move, she said no. Nobody offered to move….remember nobody here had paid for a specific seat! Dd was hysterical, I had to physically force her into her seat and buckle her up and leave her. Anyway she threw up over the person next to her on take off and kept throwing up. They then had to spend the flight back covered in sick! Karma I reckon.

KandTsmum · 26/06/2023 07:31

If it’s Easyjet they generally put you together especially if you check in as soon as you can. You’ll be given seat numbers on your tickets which you can see after checking in, so you’ll know if they’re next to each other. If not go back and pay

Mylovelygreendress · 26/06/2023 07:37

Recently returned from Mallorca. Family of 4 including 2 DC under 5 . They were allocated 2 seats together so Mum sat with youngest , Dad was in row in front and other child row behind . They kicked up a fuss but no one moved .

Original poster
Peachpicklepie · 26/06/2023 07:59

Thanks all. I'm going to set an alarm for when check in opens and get in early - we only need two seats together so hopefully being 30 days early will do that! And if not I'll then pay. Don't panic, I won't expect anyone else to move!

OP posts:
rookiemere · 26/06/2023 08:12

Sounds like a perfect plan OP , let us know how you get on.

Sage71 · 26/06/2023 08:15

So OP if other people pay to sit with their children/travel companions do you expect them to move because you didn’t want to pay? If so why do you think this is fair?

ilovesooty · 26/06/2023 08:21

Sage71 · 26/06/2023 08:15

So OP if other people pay to sit with their children/travel companions do you expect them to move because you didn’t want to pay? If so why do you think this is fair?

She's clearly said she doesn't expect anyone to move. It's in the post just above ( and she's said it more than once.