Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Flybe seating allocation - expecting a 2 and 5 yo to sit away from their parent!

30 replies

Notjustamum10 · 20/12/2017 12:47

I am flying with Flybe tomorrow with my 2 and 5 year olds, and was hoping for a stress free experience. But their automatic checkin system has given me a seat several rows away from my kids! I called them and they said as I was already checked in there was nothing they could do. Even though their system allocated those seats.

I have to travel to Heathrow early tomorrow morning, to stand in a queue at the check in desk, to ask the staff if they can change our seats. But, I was advised, this 'isn't guaranteed'! Can you imagine a 2 year old sat on their own on a plane?! How can they even think this could work?!

I've emailed customer relations but not expecting anything more helpful. . . .Anyone else experienced this? Xmas Angry

OP posts:
idontlikealdi · 20/12/2017 12:50

Could you have paid to pre-book seats?

HeadDreamer · 20/12/2017 12:53

I've flown flybe before and you didn't have any option to pre-book seats. That's via a travel agent with a packaged holiday.

GrowThroughWhatYouGoThrough · 20/12/2017 12:56

That's y u pay to pre book seats. I don't enjoy paying the extra £200 I did earlier this year but I had to to make sure we were all sat together

LoniceraJaponica · 20/12/2017 12:59

The system for booking flights these days stinks. I didn't think it was allowed to sit such small children away from their parents. I hope you get it sorted.

Original poster
Notjustamum10 · 20/12/2017 13:05

I honestly can't remember if I was given the option to prebook seats, it was so long ago I made the booking, But even so, it didn't give me the option at checkin, which is when you really want it! I fly several times a year with the kids (to visit grandparents, not anywhere particularly exotic) and BA and EasyJet will always sit you together, regardless of whether you request or paid extra.

OP posts:
Original poster
Notjustamum10 · 20/12/2017 13:06

It does stink! And not just for me, for the other passengers too if they have to move around or end up sitting next to an unsupervised child. . .

OP posts:
idontlikealdi · 20/12/2017 13:07

Flights at this time of year are likely to be full - I'd hazard a guess that the other people on the flight have all pre-booked or checked in earlier than you did.

I don't think they can sit you away from 2yo BUT they can class seating together as being across the aisles or one behind the other. Plus you have to find someone who has paid for a specific seat willing to move.

RestingGrinchFace · 20/12/2017 13:08

I'm sure that the person sitting next to the will happily swap with you.

Wishingandwaiting · 20/12/2017 13:11

Very strange.

The regulations stipulate that children just be seated with their parent / caregiver. The logic being that in the event of an emergency / evacuation, parents trying to get to their children would likely cause serious problems.

Loveache · 20/12/2017 13:14

That sounds mental. But I'm honestly sure that anyone beside a toddler that's not theirs would gladly swap!

TheFairyCaravan · 20/12/2017 13:16

The regulations stipulate that children just be seated with their parent / caregiver

There are no regulations that say this at all. There are CAA guidelines saying children should be sat next to their parent. However, sat next to can mean across the aisle or in front or behind.

It costs £6.50 to pre-book a seat with FlyBe. I would have done that rather than risked this.

ShotsFired · 20/12/2017 13:18

The seat booking is right after the hold baggage as you progress through booking. I'm not really sure how you missed it?

Flybe seating allocation - expecting a 2 and 5 yo to sit away from their parent!
Flybe seating allocation - expecting a 2 and 5 yo to sit away from their parent!
Original poster
Notjustamum10 · 20/12/2017 13:19

Nine rows away. NINE! Hopefully the staff at the airport will see sense.

OP posts:
Original poster
Notjustamum10 · 20/12/2017 13:22

Maybe I should just plug my headphones in and enjoy a couple of hours of peace and quiet. . . .Wink

OP posts:
PositivelyPERF · 20/12/2017 13:22

Have you asked if you can pay and book seats, now that you know you're sitting apart?

crumbsinthecutlerydrawer · 20/12/2017 13:22

I flew with flybe earlier this year and I’m almost sure it automatically assigned prepaid seats that you had to opt out of if you didn’t want them? I took them as I was flying with two dcs and didn’t want to risk being separated, ds is old enough to sit on his own and behave but is anxious on planes and dd is way too young.

Wishingandwaiting · 20/12/2017 13:24

There are CAA guidelines saying children should be sat next to their parent.

Exactly. In order to be able to utilise Heathrow and Gatwick and luton and indeed all uk airports, the airlines have to commit to following these guidelines.

So, in effect, they are regulations.

crumbsinthecutlerydrawer · 20/12/2017 13:25

I’m sorry OP but the airport staff don’t have to ‘see sense’, other people who may have paid for specific seats shouldn’t really be asked to move. Can you call them now and get it sorted before the flight is fully booked?

crumbsinthecutlerydrawer · 20/12/2017 13:28

Sorry, missed the bit where you said you’d already tried. Not sure what you can do really, just hope someone is willing to swap.

Original poster
Notjustamum10 · 20/12/2017 13:28

Weird thing is we all have window seats, so I can't believe they are the only ones left after everyone else has selected seats, they are usually the preferred seats for self selection. Tried to call and pay to get allocated seats but told there was nothing customer services could do.

OP posts:
HappyGirl86 · 20/12/2017 13:30

My friend had this problem. Nobody would change it for her but when she got on the plane she explained it and other people were happy to change seats. Everyone felt sorry for!

KatharinaRosalie · 20/12/2017 13:31

Call again. And Facebook and Tweet. I've been in the situation several times where the first person on the phone claims there's nothing they can do, but second can magically sort everything.

JacquelineChan · 20/12/2017 13:32

hello OP
flybe only fly very short haul , i am sure there will be adults that will be ok to move away from their travel partners for an hour max. Personally , i would not want to sit next to an unacompanied 2 year old and would gladly move.

you sound (quite rightly) distressed and getting a telling off from posters on here is not helping you .

I deal with airlines day in day out - and flybe are one of the good guys - if you call them now and explain your situation - without getting on the defense to the airline - i know they will help you.
admit it was your mistake , you'd be very grateful if they could help you , and you will definitely remember to book your seats for next time.
Please get straight on the phone and be prepared for a long call waiting time this time of year
and have a lovely trip and a great christmas

JacquelineChan · 20/12/2017 13:33

call reservations instead of customer services

PositivelyPERF · 20/12/2017 13:37

The only plus is, you have now been shown how to pay to book seats by another poster, so you won't get caught out next time.