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’.

We got stung by this on an Aer Lingus flight where the only seats it would let me pick with a lap toddler were the premium ones so cost even more than a regular reservation.

It's shit, OP, and I don't think they should be allowed to do it. Very few people genuinely have zero preference where they sit (even if it's just avoiding the middle seat), so they should just roll it into the cost of the ticket like they used to.

Why?

With a child I suppose you can't risk it. When I fly with DH we don't pay it and sometimes they seat us together and sometimes not but we don't really care.

Your ticket is a for a seat on the plane. If you want a particular seat or seat next to someone else pay for it.

It keeps prices down for people who don’t mind where they sit.

Very few people genuinely have zero preference where they sit (even if it's just avoiding the middle seat), so they should just roll it into the cost of the ticket like they used to

Not true. I don’t care where I sit or who I am sitting next to. I don’t need to be next to DH for a 2 hour flight to Europe.

I don’t want to pay extra for a basic ticket just so you can get your preference. You want it, you pay for it

I just get the allocation at check in, with easyJet , BA, TUI etc we have always got seats next to each other as long as we check in as early as you can (varies by airline), for Ryan Air they deliberately seat you apart.

I always pay, its just me and DH but we like to sit in the larger seat at the front, just 2 together, its the Tui Dreamliner, I do not want to be sat next to someone else, its the start of our holiday, just me and DH, we like to have a drink and a laugh together

I do have a preference - aisle is my favourite, then window, not middle if I can avoid it.

Am I prepared to pay to make sure that I get my preference on a short flight of up to 3 hours? No I'm not. I'd rather have that 25 euros or whatever for cocktails, ice cream or a new pair of sandals.

When my kids were little I paid for seats and checked bags because that was what I needed to fly with them.
Now I fly solo, don't care where I sit and only take an underseat bag.
I only benefit from those cheap seats because they make their money by charging for seat choices, cabin bags, and baby seats/sports equipment. None of which I need anymore.
Swings and roundabouts

I think you will have to pay for this for your upcoming flight.

I think that I am sure a way could be found to make this practice illegal. As part of a modern Consumer Act. One question to ask of candidates who come on MN, instead of the usual favourite biscuit one.

It would also upset Michael O'Leary, which is a good enough reason to do it.

The flights were about £220pp inc baggage.

Without baggage they would have been £190pp.

It’s not an airline I’d consider to be a ‘budget airline’ tbh - even BA play this game nowadays!

Me neither. I fly on budget flights with friends often. None of us care where we sit and are experts at packing an underseat bag

We're very happy to take allocated seat and have a bargain trip. Others want a different experience and pay for it.

But the fact is the headline price is very heavily discounted, booking a seat doesn't cost "extra".

This. We don't care where we sit on short / medium haul so we'd never pay extra to book seats. I don't need to be next to DH.

On a long haul flight we book extra legroom for comfort but even then not necessarily together.

How does it keep the price down for people who don’t mind where they sit?

Where is the additional cost to the airline of allocating seats at booking vs allocating at check in?

@MidnightPatrol

By taking money from those who want extras like specific seats, they can charge less for the basic seat and make the same profit

You have to change your mindset and work it backwards

The actual cost of the flight is whatever it quotes including baggage, seat reservations, priority etc.

If you choose to forego those extras, you then get a discount

No, I wouldn’t ask someone else to move.

But - I also think it’s unreasonable that people with very young children should be forced to pay extra to ensure they’re seated together.

Especially not £20+ per head.

You're not listening. The seat doesn't cost "extra", being prepared to take a random seat gets you a discount.

It's not different to paying more for the seat you want at the theatre.

DH and I are currently on holiday . As always I paid for seats ( window and middle) . Boarded and the middle seat was occupied. After a brief conversation it transpired that the woman and her partner in the aisle seat hadn’t paid but wanted to sit together as they had an infant. They really thought I was unreasonable when I refused to give up my seat . Cabin crew got involved and told them that one of them had to move.
Yes it’s annoying to have to pay but it’s not fair to expect people have paid to move if they don’t want to.,

I agree with you op, I think it takes the piss.

They're competing with budget airlines. Some people are prepared to pay more for more options and better service.

Because you are paying for an extra.

What do you think would happen if paying for allocated seating was banned?

You aren’t paying to sit somewhere particular on the plane. You are paying for a seat on the plane.

This is how airlines do low pricing. You can get a seat and go with what they give you, just the basics they offer. you can choose to start adding extras. You are choosing to use the service they offer and want added extras.

I think it's reasonable on a no-frills airline. Juggling a seat plan to sit people together who want to be together would have a staffing cost including training and quality checks if the airline staff had to do it. If airline staff are responsible then everyone pays by prices being higher. However some people don't care where they sit or who they sit with. So if a no-frills airline want to offer the lowest possible headline price they have an advertised cost which is the absolute bare minimum for if you don't care where you sit and don't want any other extras, and those people who do care about those add-ons can pay for it. You want the extra service and the basic no-frills option isn't suitable for you. I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

I only book seats for me and our youngest.

The rest of the family can sit wherever. If the airline forces me to book a seat for everyone on the booking (not all do), I just go for two different bookings.

It is ridiculous. I understand paying extra for extra legroom ora certain seat, but all children under a certain age should be automatically sat with one parent without an extra cost. Just ridiculous, dangerous in an emergency, and hugely annoying for anyone else stuck next to the child not to.