To choose aeroplane seats that a family might need?

[IamGrout]

I have a number of hidden disabilities that can make long flights painful and distressing and after a particularly bad long haul night flight a few years ago I have since made sure to book extra legroom aisle seats so I have a little more space and room to move around to alleviate pain in my joints. It is still uncomfortable and I cannot sleep but it is more bearable.

I have booked a holiday to DisneyWorld in Florida this summer for me, DH and DS15. I have spoken to British Airways and they have arranged extra legroom seats for me which is great and I am very grateful to them for this. On the way out they have allocated bulkhead seats which are the ones where a baby bassinet can be used. I queried it as I was worried that it will be a flight full of families and someone with a baby might need those seats. The Customer Service Assistant said it was fine as those seats are meant for disabled passengers or those with babies. On the return flight which is a night flight, they have allocated an extra legroom seat (31C on the attached picture) which has no seat directly in front. I think this is brilliant as I will have so much more space to move about without disturbing anyone but will I feel too exposed to be able to sleep? And from experience people will walk into me/kick my legs/stand in that space. Also DH is 6'4" with long legs and as he would be in a standard seat I am sure he would end up encroaching on my space or I would feel bad for him and offer to swap (then really regret it). Seats 31D/E/F, which are bulkhead with space for a bassinet, are currently available. I don't know which will be best. Has anyone here experience of these seats and can offer advice? What would do choose?

For the poll
I am unreasonable = stay in 31A/B/C
I am not unreasonable = swap to 31D/E/F

I make my hand luggage into a foot stool in those seats, no one is walking past me.

I have a long haul overnight back from the US in a few weeks and have booked bulkhead seats precisely for this reason. I am hoping having my feet elevated a bit might help me sleep better.

I take the biggest bag I’m allowed, squash a cushion from home in it, stand it up so it’s as tall as it can be and use it like a footstool. It works a treat.

Book whatever seat you like! If DH needs more space too, book him in the aisle seat behind you/across the aisle. I don't get why he has to get the middle seat.

I regularly do long haul with my family, which has almost always included a baby over the past 7 years.

The baby bassinet is a complete waste of time. Airlines have got into the habit of leaving the seatbelt sign on for sooo much of the flight time, so you need to take the baby out of the bassinet anyway. DH timed it on our last flight and the seatbelt light was on 62% of the 13-hour flight time.

Assuming you can get baby settled, people use that area to cut through to go to the toilet, sometimes being loud and knocking the bassinet. I've often had to 'stand guard' around the bassinet to stop people hovering and bumping into it.

The last long-haul we did, I just wore baby in a sling and let him sleep on me. It was far less stress that going in and out of the bassinet.

So, OP, don't stress about the bassinet. I doubt that the family who try to book it will have much luck with it anyway, and it will become a storage area, like a PP said.

I always find it unfathomable that two people who both want or need an aisle seat seem to think that one of them has to give up on their preference and take a middle seat.

I think the issue here is that the DH won’t be put in that row unless he’s sat beside the OP. Plus they “tag team” entertaining their DS. However, I’m sure your DH can manage the entertainment if it means him getting his separate aisle seat - and of course it would be hard to tag team unless the son is sitting in the middle of them.

Cabin crew here. We might skip across before take off when we’re trying to do pre-take off things (drinks, handing out extension seatbelts, menus etc) but as soon as you’re up in the air, feel free to put your bags down there and stick the footrest out. That puts off people (including crew) from walking across. Also, as you’re not near the loo, just a bulkhead, no one has much reason to walk across.

Don’t worry about the bassinet thing either. Lots of parents don’t even want them, and there are other options anyway

I am disabled.

i am slightly confused about this because in my experience

firstly there are seats in the plane that disabled people don’t sit it - the exit row seats. In some planes these are bulkhead seats

secondly as a disabled person (I use a wheelchair) they usually sort out the seats for me and I am definitely not allowed to simply choose whichever ones I want.

they are usually concerned about evacuation time etc.

I make clear to whoever I am on a row with that I cannot move at any point on the flight to let them out for the toilet etc so they are warned.

it sounds like you are relatively mobile if you can move around the cabin etc. with regard to families and your dh you are definitely over thinking it.

for pain I’d recommend speaking to your doctor as they can give you drugs that will help you sleep and calm the pain.

What would happen if someone really needed to use the toilet? Are you saying they’d not be able to go?

You’re absolutely fine to take a bassinet seat if they’re also intended for disabled people, or frankly if BA is willing to let you book one. But it does sound like you are starting to take the mick a bit also worrying about being exposed and also worrying about DH’s legroom. Cattle class long haul is fundamentally a ton on uncomfortable people all trying to make the best of it.

I’m sorry but I don’t see how you can possibly take an aisle seat in that case? Surely it’s better if you’re assisted to sit by the window?

I simply couldn’t sit in the inside of you - I have claustrophobia and OCD which mean I need to be able to get out readily at any time. I can’t even express the panic that reading your post sets off in me - if somehow there was a mix up and I was seated on the inside of you I simply wouldn’t be able to fly.