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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Ryanair seat issue. Another airline seat one...sorry

134 replies

thinkfast · 26/08/2023 23:07

Just returned from holiday today. We had booked and paid for tickets including reserved allocated seats in December. Me, Dd8 and DS11 in a row of 3 with DH over the aisle from us.

Board the plane to discover that the layout of the plane has changed and we have somehow ended up in the emergency rows. I ask one of the air stewardesses are we allowed to sit here and she says no...once everyone has boarded she will find someone to swap with us, as children aren't allowed in the emergency row. She finds 2 people to swap with DD and DS- 5 rows ahead of me. I explain she needs to ask a row of 3 adults to swap so I can sit with my children and she says no. I ask several different rows with 3 adults in will they please swap and explain why (and that they would get extra legroom) and they all look at me blankly. DD is crying. Air stewardess insists that I have to sit in my allocated seat and the kids have to be moved. Refused to ask any rows of three adults to swap. The third person in the row the kids have been moved to is an elderly lady so I can understand not asking her to swap, but there were plenty of rows with 3 adults nearby who could've been asked to move.

Previously, if I've ever sat in the emergency aisle I've been asked if I feel able to open the door in an emergency, and been instructed how to do it. None of that today. If they'd asked me I'd have said no. Currently suffering with a knee injury and reduced mobility so I don't think I should've been next to the emergency door anyway!

Luckily, just before take off very kind man across the aisle from where they have moved to eventually agrees to swap with DH.

Aibu that Ryanair shouldn't allow this to happen? Any chance do you think of getting back the extra we paid for allocated seating?

OP posts:
WhatapityWapiti · 26/08/2023 23:14

I think that you have a good argument for getting back the extra you paid for the allocated seating, from a pure breach of contract perspective. However Ryanair’s usual approach is to deny and stonewall and make you go to court, which is never going to be worth it for that amount of money.

However I’m struggling to understand why 8 and 11 year old siblings could not sit happily in the row with the old lady while you were 5 rows back. Does the 8 year old have SEN? You’re allowed to walk around after the seat belt signs go off so you could easily have checked on them/ they could have come to chat to you.

GuardiansPlayList · 26/08/2023 23:18

WhatapityWapiti · 26/08/2023 23:14

I think that you have a good argument for getting back the extra you paid for the allocated seating, from a pure breach of contract perspective. However Ryanair’s usual approach is to deny and stonewall and make you go to court, which is never going to be worth it for that amount of money.

However I’m struggling to understand why 8 and 11 year old siblings could not sit happily in the row with the old lady while you were 5 rows back. Does the 8 year old have SEN? You’re allowed to walk around after the seat belt signs go off so you could easily have checked on them/ they could have come to chat to you.

It would hardly be fair to expect the old lady to look after and entertain the kids. Planes are tiny and cramped so thinking that you can go up and chat with people is not realistic. You might be able to briefly go and say hello but not for any length of time.

WhatapityWapiti · 26/08/2023 23:19

GuardiansPlayList · 26/08/2023 23:18

It would hardly be fair to expect the old lady to look after and entertain the kids. Planes are tiny and cramped so thinking that you can go up and chat with people is not realistic. You might be able to briefly go and say hello but not for any length of time.

Show quote history

8 and 11 year olds don’t need to be looked after and entertained!!

Scalessayeek · 26/08/2023 23:21

As a girl who travelled from London to San Francisco alone at the age of 8, I can’t see why the two siblings couldn’t sit 5 rows ahead of you on a plane?

I would be wanting my money back though, most definitely!

WaltzingWaters · 26/08/2023 23:25

WhatapityWapiti · 26/08/2023 23:19

8 and 11 year olds don’t need to be looked after and entertained!!

Show quote history

Many people are scared of flying. It could have been the first flight/first flight for a long time they’ve taken and the kids were nervous. That’s pretty normal. OP did everything right and pre-booked/paid for the seats for them all to sit together. It’s really bad of the airline to ignore that.

I’m not clued up on twitter and stuff so can’t tell you what to do, but often posting these things on SM gets the airlines reacting.

sleepyscientist · 26/08/2023 23:36

Yes you should get the money back if you contact customer services. But no she didn't need to move you and the kids just the kids.

WhatapityWapiti · 26/08/2023 23:38

Showing my age here but when my brother and I were about that age we used to ask (and be allowed) to sit separately from our parents because they wanted to be up the back in the smoking section!

Deathbyfluffy · 26/08/2023 23:42

You booked with Ryanair, the pits of airlines.
Can’t say I’d expect much else

Theroom · 26/08/2023 23:44

I think it's beside the point that they're children. You paid to be seated together. The airline didn't honour that. Therefore I think you would be right to complain and ask for your money back.

Neodymium · 26/08/2023 23:51

My dd is 10 and is a very nervous flyer. She would cry too if she was moved away from me.

WhatapityWapiti · 26/08/2023 23:52

Neodymium · 26/08/2023 23:51

My dd is 10 and is a very nervous flyer. She would cry too if she was moved away from me.

The siblings were with each other though.

Justrolledmyeyesoutloud · 26/08/2023 23:55

Neodymium · 26/08/2023 23:51

My dd is 10 and is a very nervous flyer. She would cry too if she was moved away from me.

So would my 11 year old

CherryMaDeara · 27/08/2023 00:06

You should definitely complain, you didn’t get the service you paid for and your kids were distressed. Don’t just ask for the money back, push for compensation.

Nevermind31 · 27/08/2023 00:10

Don’t children under 12 need to sit near parents, which might mean in the row ahead, behind or across? I think this is in Ryanair’s seating policy…

Ienjoyedthebarbiemovie · 27/08/2023 00:15

WhatapityWapiti · 26/08/2023 23:52

The siblings were with each other though.

Show quote history

So if the 11 year old was nervous would you expect the 8 year old to be able to comfort her?

Neodymium · 27/08/2023 02:54

WhatapityWapiti · 26/08/2023 23:52

The siblings were with each other though.

Show quote history

yes but my 10 year old would not even slightly comforted by sitting with older brothers who wouldn’t hold her hand or comfort her in any way.

Sodullincomparison · 27/08/2023 03:06

You should definitely put in a request for a refund for the places.

checking in with RyanAir earlier today and I was hoping - just for a minute- that I would be seated separately from the family for a bit of peace and quiet. This time, we have all been put together.

Mumdiva99 · 27/08/2023 03:13

I think that's really bad customer service. My kids wouldn't be happy being separated from me.

You should at least get your money back.

Coolblur · 27/08/2023 03:24

From the Ryanair Help Centre on their website under 'Family seat policy':

'For safety reasons children under the age of 12 must sit beside an accompanying adult'.

In the end up they were sat beside their Dad, but only because another passenger swapped seats, so Ryanair cabin crew breached their own company safety policy by not ensuring at least on of you was sat beside your children. I'd absolutely take them to task on this as well as a refund for the seating arrangement you had paid for.

Inyournightgarden · 27/08/2023 04:01

CherryMaDeara · 27/08/2023 00:06

You should definitely complain, you didn’t get the service you paid for and your kids were distressed. Don’t just ask for the money back, push for compensation.

For gods sake stop. Compensation?

get a grip, it’s airplane seating not a major life event. Ppl like you are what’s wrong with the world

curaçao · 27/08/2023 04:14

Ienjoyedthebarbiemovie · 27/08/2023 00:15

So if the 11 year old was nervous would you expect the 8 year old to be able to comfort her?

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They are 8 and 11! They need to learn to be a bit braver and more self sufficient

Neodymium · 27/08/2023 04:32

curaçao · 27/08/2023 04:14

They are 8 and 11! They need to learn to be a bit braver and more self sufficient

Show quote history

Some people have a fear of flying. If it was an adult who had a fear of something you wouldn’t just tell them to get over it.

curaçao · 27/08/2023 04:40

Neodymium · 27/08/2023 04:32

Some people have a fear of flying. If it was an adult who had a fear of something you wouldn’t just tell them to get over it.

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You would have 2 choices- get off the plane or get over it!

LoveThisUsername · 27/08/2023 05:24

Neodymium · 27/08/2023 04:32

Some people have a fear of flying. If it was an adult who had a fear of something you wouldn’t just tell them to get over it.

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If I was that bad, I doubt they'd be on a plane.

Resilience was what was needed here, not compensation.

1ittlegreen · 27/08/2023 05:30

All together now: RYAN AIR: THEY DONT CARE

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