Paying for seat reservations on flights

[MidnightPatrol]

I have just booked a flight and as increasingly seems to be the case, they want me to pay to reserve a seat.

I have a young child so I can’t ’risk it’ on the day, and the trip will be more enjoyable (by which I mean less of a nightmare) if we are seated together in one row (me, DH, DC).

The cost of this? 66 euros.

I just want to ensure I am seated with the other passengers in my booking, specifically my toddler. Feels grating to incur an additional expense for this ‘privilege’.

I fly easyJet pretty frequently so am well used to this. It’s worth it to get the seats you want. I always pick my seat even when flying alone. I have a spot that I like. It’s easy on and easy off. I can board last. Exit first. Love it.

Sweet Jesus 😱

Not everything is based on cost, there is such a thing as pricing to value—that’s exactly what the airline is doing here—disaggregating the value and pricing each component individually. If you value something then you’ll be willing to pay for it, if you don’t, then you’ll skip it. Think about the difference between carry on luggage and checked in luggage: traditional airlines don’t charge you for carry on, but charge you for the checked in, because that’s where they incur costs; but the value to you as customer of not having to check in luggage and just zip through the queues with your small carry-on suitcase is a lot more as you save time. Cost-based pricing would not reflect this. Hence the likes of Wizzair/ Ryanair/ EasyJet charging for you to take more than your handbag into the cabin. They do it because you find it valuable and you’re willing to pay. Same with the seat selection, it’s no cost to the airline whether you do or don’t, but you clearly value being sat together, as you post shows, so you will pay for it.

This is all part of the ‘cheap flights’ strategy - they stripped out everything that used to be included in your price and now add it back on.
no matter what people say about what the airline ‘should’ do it’s down to other people giving up their seats and when I pay for mine I’m not giving them up for someone who has not.

I resent paying to choose my seats as opposed to when really I am paying to save other people having to suffer me children. Also, whilst being able to choose the area we sit in is a benefit, I am not wanting to choose where we sit but only that we sit together.

I feel that these are quite different things and it is unfair to be forced to pay for the further benefit I have not asked for and do not wish to have. I mean my journey would be much nicer not next to my children but I'm not that unkind to fellow passengers or my kids!

I know it would make the booking process even more complicated but I would prefer a three their system. Cheapest = pot luck seating. Small fee = get seated together. Current fees = get the seat(s) in a chosen location. I'm certain this would make for happier passengers and far reduce the number of MN posts about disgruntled seat bookers having been asked to swap.

Do you want the benefit of sitting together more than the benefit of paying less?

I’d love the comfort of lie-flat but I’m not willing to pay for it - so I endure the discomfort of basic seats.

The airline allocating people based on group bookings works wonderfully for families. Completely sucks for people like me who don’t travel with others, or doesn’t want to sleep next to a random colleague heading to the same event etc.

Seat selection is something people value - and cannot be provided equally to everyone. Therefore an airline has two choices - don’t offer it and attract family group bookings who are prioritised by such a set up, but risk bookings by those who will go elsewhere to get this service, or offer it and annoy those who want the seat selection benefits without paying. Some airlines go half and half - pay to request but then allow you to change seat to open ones when you check in.

People also value cheap fares - so by charging for seat selection they can offer a cheaper price to those who do not care - shifting price to those who want this.

Personally I usually fly full service airlines so such things are past of the price. I’ve found if I’m paying for seats, luggage, entertainment and food it’s often very similar in price between our discount and full service options (I’m not in uk, flying is expensive here) and sometimes cheaper!

@April48

I know it would make the booking process even more complicated but I would prefer a three their system. Cheapest = pot luck seating. Small fee = get seated together. Current fees = get the seat(s) in a chosen location. I'm certain this would make for happier passengers and far reduce the number of MN posts about disgruntled seat bookers having been asked to swap.

That's quite a good idea! Could add "any window seat" or "any aisle seat" or "near toilet" to the small fee group.

Yep, we've done this for our flights too, an extra £60 I think, because I can't risk it randomly allocating our seats. They say they try to allocate seats of under 12yo with or near a parent, but that could mean separate rows and no one wants to deal with the crying, whinging and possibly even screaming that would result in if my kids don't get to sit either side of me. I've put my husband across the aisle from us/same row so he can reach 1 child and see if help is needed/attempt to help with them too, no way am I having him sat potentially rows away and deal with them both by myself. So had to pay for all 4 of us both directions.

Anyone who has sat next to a blocked broken down loo on an aircraft with water and ??? seeping under the door would think twice before asking for near toilet 🤮.

Have you checked train prices to the same destination? They are way more expensive than flights. So that’s why you don't have to pay for seat selection.

You factor it into the price.

Some people aren't bothered so they get a cheaper seat this way.

Why are trains so much more expensive than flights?

Because they privatised the railways, but in most cases you only have the choice of one operator to get from A to B. Airlines exist to make money too, but significant number of airports are served by multiple airlines.

I never pay the extra and have always had my child in the seat next to me. If they want to split us up because I won't pay the ransom, then they can pass him his snacks, clear up his spillages, keep him entertained etc!

More importantly than snacks etc they know splitting you up will slow down the evacuation procedures. Parents will not evacuate without their children.

they won't it's not their job to do that.

That is absolutely not their job to do that whatsoever.

I agree what adult would want to sit next to a lone toddler. Just wouldn't happen

The last flight I was on I had two under 10s beside me.
I'm convinced the family had all swapped seats from their allocated seats. As one of the mums was in my seat when I got to the row.
They were bad enough they screamed with every bit of turbulence.

Staff wouldn't have noticed I'm sure they thought the screamers were with me.

It was a fairly short flight 2hrs if it was long haul I think I would have ended up speaking to staff

🤣🤣🤣
At least an arsehole will sit n do as it’s expected and not scream n throw tantrums and not kick the seat in front of them 🤣🤣

You've clearly never flown Sleazyjet.

Whose ‘they’?

If you think I’m going to do all that for some random child because their parent was too tight to pay to sit next to them then you’ve got another think coming.

Oh more than once 🤣

Then the airline can sit us together without charging a ransom for the privilege.

The airline staff. Not a random passenger.