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

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Easyjet flight attendant ( seat related).

271 replies

pinkhousesarebest · 28/02/2025 10:31

Can I preceded this by saying that I have always paid for my seat when travelling with my dc up until a certain age and that I have also often changed seats to accommodate young families? However yesterday on an Easyjet flight, we were asked to swop our paid for seat to the seat behind, with no window so that the woman’s child could see out. No medical reason- just she wanted a view.
I said no, I was fine thanks. About five minutes later another attendant arrived, demanded our boarding passes, scrutinized them furiously. And then began to lambast me because I hadn’t swopped with the woman. She said they had been going to reward us with a free meal but now, because of our lack of humanity, would not. This was at the top of her voice. I said, reasonably, that I had paid for my seat and I would be sitting in it but by this stage she and her colleague were speaking loudly and gesticulating in Portuguese.
Is this acceptable? Surely the airline must accept responsibility for putting this family in this seat( right at the back of the plane. ) How did I become the bad guy in this? It’s still rankling today.

OP posts:
AttentionDeficitAndSquirrel · 28/02/2025 11:41

pinkhousesarebest · 28/02/2025 11:38

Gosh I am really surprised by this, thank you. I think in my heart of hearts I felt bad for not moving ( literally the first time I have ever done it). This is exactly what happened. I also wondered if the flight attendant was a friend of the woman behind and if it was a stand by - it was the seat right at the back of the plane ( and yes my husband did pay for row 30. 😮. ) The offer of the free meal did make me laugh as I never, ever eat on the plane. She also missed us out when serving lunch - skipped our seat completely. Very, very unprofessional conduct.

I assume the cost of the meal is less than what you paid for the seat so how is that a reward? I think you should complain. That sounds super unprofessional.

(Also, I'm with your husband. I like the last few rows as well!!)

RobinEllacotStrike · 28/02/2025 11:42

Airlines make us pay to choose our seats - they can't then move us around willy nilly. We are all forced to play by their silly rules.

You did nothing wrong OP and Easyjet should be giving you free meals on all your future flights.

Bad news - as now long haul flights have taken up the "pay to book a seat ethos" from budget short haul airlines. I am flying with my daughters to NZ & back soon. After paying £4500 for our flights I then had to pay another £200 money to book seats. £200 was the cheapest option.
I'm so pissed off. The only way I'll be moving is if we were all upgraded.

TorroFerney · 28/02/2025 11:42

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Hoppinggreen · 28/02/2025 11:43

KimberleyClark · 28/02/2025 11:40

I don’t think being shouted at by a flight attendant is “no biggie”.

Possibly but IMO on MN a mild rebuke usually translates to being shouted, lambasted, screamed etc at. Mild annoyance is Fuming and slightly cross is livid so who knows.
If OP was indeed actually shouted at (in English) then she would be completely justified in complaining.

NormasArse · 28/02/2025 11:44

I book a window seat on purpose because that’s where I want to sit.

TorroFerney · 28/02/2025 11:44

pinkhousesarebest · 28/02/2025 11:38

Gosh I am really surprised by this, thank you. I think in my heart of hearts I felt bad for not moving ( literally the first time I have ever done it). This is exactly what happened. I also wondered if the flight attendant was a friend of the woman behind and if it was a stand by - it was the seat right at the back of the plane ( and yes my husband did pay for row 30. 😮. ) The offer of the free meal did make me laugh as I never, ever eat on the plane. She also missed us out when serving lunch - skipped our seat completely. Very, very unprofessional conduct.

And again, easyJet do not serve lunch, they come round with a random assortment of food. Details are importantly when telling a story.

Dollydaydream100 · 28/02/2025 11:53

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Crikeyalmighty · 28/02/2025 11:53

Nope- if you want window seats pay and book- I never get a window seat when going with H as he insists on having it- but getsratty if I ask to book the seat behind him

WonderingAboutThus · 28/02/2025 12:00

Well, you wouldn't have gotten a meal for free.

You would have already paid for it in buying your seat. So actually you would have been spending your own money on something you didn't want instead of something you did want.

They were utterly out of line.

PlanningTowns · 28/02/2025 12:02

No you shouldn’t have changed. But I bloody well wish EasyJet put on what plans don’t have a window in the last row. We often sit in that row (and pay for it as a family) sometimes there is a window, sometimes not! We are happy either way but this is an easyJet issue!

MumChp · 28/02/2025 12:05

"Thank you my dear but I don't eat gluten and milk so thank you anyway" - which is the truth. I would ignore her.
Airlines and seating is horrendous these days.

pinkhousesarebest · 28/02/2025 12:05

Dolly I can absolutely assure you that it did!
Flight from Lyon - Lisbon last night.
Why on earth would you think for one second that I would waste my time making something like this up??

OP posts:
MyDeftDuck · 28/02/2025 12:05

I would have said 'if I wanted an airline meal, I would have booked one! I chose THIS seat, I PAID for THIS seat'
Good on you for not moving, the entitlement of some people just gets right up my nose!

Overthebow · 28/02/2025 12:07

pinkhousesarebest · 28/02/2025 11:38

Gosh I am really surprised by this, thank you. I think in my heart of hearts I felt bad for not moving ( literally the first time I have ever done it). This is exactly what happened. I also wondered if the flight attendant was a friend of the woman behind and if it was a stand by - it was the seat right at the back of the plane ( and yes my husband did pay for row 30. 😮. ) The offer of the free meal did make me laugh as I never, ever eat on the plane. She also missed us out when serving lunch - skipped our seat completely. Very, very unprofessional conduct.

I would complain. That whole situation was unprofessional.

JudgeJ · 28/02/2025 12:07

ExIssues · 28/02/2025 10:48

How much did you pay for the seat? It might have been worth negotiating. It's got to be worth at least double what you paid to be able to choose a seat at no notice.. Say you'll swap for £100 plus a free meal.

Or £80 if I don't have to have the 'meal'!

JustMyView13 · 28/02/2025 12:10

@pinkhousesarebest It’s not really a free meal though if you’ve paid the airline for reserved seats that you are then required to vacate. It sounds to me more like exchanging your prepaid seats which you want, for a prepaid meal which you don’t want.

I’d have told the cabin crew that if they are uncomfortable with the EasyJet seating policies which placed the young person in a seat without a window, they should take that up with management.

Millymoonshine · 28/02/2025 12:11

Crikeyalmighty · 28/02/2025 11:53

Nope- if you want window seats pay and book- I never get a window seat when going with H as he insists on having it- but getsratty if I ask to book the seat behind him

That’s worse than the op’s issue.
Is your dh always so selfish?

TonTonMacoute · 28/02/2025 12:15

This hasn't happened to me but I know it's only a matter of time before it does. I have developed a strategy for if I am asked which is to agree only if the airline refund me the full cost of my flight. Oh, and the money has to be in my account before I agree to move

There have surely been enough stories about this for people to know that if they want specific things - like window or aisle seats - they much pay extra to ensure they get them. The more people stand up to them the sooner it will stop.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 28/02/2025 12:15

Crikeyalmighty · 28/02/2025 11:53

Nope- if you want window seats pay and book- I never get a window seat when going with H as he insists on having it- but getsratty if I ask to book the seat behind him

Dh always wants the window - I want the aisle. So in a 3 seat row, anyone coming for the middle seat invariably thinks we’d prefer to sit together, or expects me to move up.
I have to (politely) put them straight!

Violashifts · 28/02/2025 12:16

How much did you pay op?

You definitely did the right thing wven if it was £4.98 or even free and you reserved. Can't hurt to ask but if no then that's it.

Oldglasses · 28/02/2025 12:16

I would pay not to have a meal, tbh! That wouldn't sway me at all and I'd be more determined to stay in my seat. If she shouted at me and didnt' serve me a meal I'd paid for I would have complained to her superior.

Drfosters · 28/02/2025 12:17

Do complain- the airlines can’t have it both ways. ie charging to book your seat and then expecting you to move.

attendants can ask people to move but the starting point before you say yes is that you are guaranteed a refund of your fee and then extra comp in terms of free food/drink. You still can say no even after that.

Idontjetwashthefucker · 28/02/2025 12:19

🤔

Mix56 · 28/02/2025 12:19

I would say, I chose this seat, with a window, I planned ahead & paid. It cost me £X. These people could have paid for a window seat & chose not to. & now expect me to pay, easy jet to gain & for them to profit for free
If I graciously forfeit my window & time I will need a payment of £X

SpryUmberZebra · 28/02/2025 12:19

mummyh2016 · 28/02/2025 10:35

I would 100% complain. Yes it will state in the T+Cs you can be moved however you shouldn't be shouted at and embarrassed in front of everyone in the plane.

While there are conditions where you can be moved it is not for another child to be able to see out the window. It’s for things like rebalancing the plane, safety reasons etc not oh that child wants to look out the window.