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Original poster

Jet 2 - choosing plane seats - only single seats available but we have a small child.

19 replies

Clevs · 07/10/2022 23:01

Just about to book a holiday...got to the stage of choosing seats on the plane. Very few seats left: a few rows of emergency exit seats and several seats on their own. We are travelling with a 4 year old who obviously isn't old enough to sit on his own away from a parent. It won't allow me to select an emergency exit seat for him as they are for over 14's only.

Does this mean we can't book it? Or will they try and move other passengers round on the day so one of us can sit by him? What if nobody volunteers?

Airline is Jet2. Have sent them a message but just wondering if anyone else has been in the same situation?

OP posts:

Plump82 · 07/10/2022 23:07

Is it just the 3 of you?
Can you get 2 seats together and one of you sits with the child and the other on their own? Any maybe swap half way through the flight?

Plump82 · 07/10/2022 23:08

Sorry I read it wrong, didn't realise the only ones together were emergency seats. Not sure what you can do apart from hope some people are willing to move but that can't be guaranteed.

Original poster

Clevs · 07/10/2022 23:16

Yep, just the three of us. Only seats available are three rows of emergency exit seats which I can't seat him in, plus a few other single seats dotted about. We wouldn't mind splitting up but can't even get two seats together. The closest we can get is one behind another right at the back of the plane. It's his first time on a plane so ideally one of us needs to be next to him.

OP posts:

Frazzled2207 · 07/10/2022 23:18

Well don’t pay for seats then, no point.
turn up early at the airport, don’t worry they will seat one if you with the dc they hold back certain seats for this exact purpose

Original poster

Clevs · 07/10/2022 23:22

But if seats have already been reserved, other passengers won't be happy if they're moved from the seat they chose and paid for?

OP posts:

Allmyarseandpeggymartin · 07/10/2022 23:24

I don’t think legally they are allowed to sit the 4 year old away from one of you. Don’t pay for seating Jet2 will have to sort it out closer to the date

GrumpyPanda · 07/10/2022 23:26

Could you book several aisle seats, then try to swap for a middle seat? People tend to oblige you quite happily if you offer a better seat than the one they're in.

Quitelikeacatslife · 07/10/2022 23:28

I never pay for jet 2 seats, take what they allocate you on check in and then I called customer services and they moved kids next to us

minipie · 07/10/2022 23:33

Some of the seats showing as unavailable may well have been kept back by the airline rather than booked by other passengers.

They will not seat you away from your 4 year old, they will figure it out.

We never book seats and have several times been been given the last row (can’t recline, near the loos, so less desirable, but for short haul who cares) I suspect the airline keeps this row back for ppl with kids or with a broken leg etc.

MrsRolandRat · 07/10/2022 23:33

Don't bother paying. The airline don't sell all of their seats, as someone said they keep a certain amount back for circumstances like yours.

I'm cabin crew and you won't be separated from your child. Yes, maybe not all three of you will be sat together but one adult will be sat with your child.

The rules are cannot be separated by more than one aisle or one row from your child. So potentially you could be across the aisle from you child.

treehousethunderstorm · 07/10/2022 23:38

As others has said, don't book seats and have them allocated on check in at the airport. They will ensure at least one of you is with your child - don't worry about how.

Original poster

Clevs · 07/10/2022 23:50

Thanks everyone, that's put my mind at rest. Will carry on with the booking tomorrow without reserving seats 🙂

OP posts:

Spin4Gin · 08/10/2022 00:06

Read Ts and Cs. A lot of airlines state that next to each other, across the aisle from each other and one behind the other are classed as next to each other! So they could sit the 4 year old in front of you, it's classed as together and it's totally legal in aviation. Not all airlines are the same but this is allowed by law so a lot of airlines cover this in their conditions

minipie · 08/10/2022 00:06

So they could sit the 4 year old in front of you, it's classed as together

True but this is the best OP can get by pre booking seats anyway, so no benefit to pre booking

BattleofBeamfleot · 08/10/2022 08:19

I would book the ones behind each other.

We had to fly home for a family funeral at short notice with Ryanair and none of us could sit together, so i put 5yo DD in front of me and I planned to ask one of the single seats either beside me or her to swap. We boarded first and I was waiting for the next person in my row to show up so I could ask.

But anyway it turns out people don’t want to sit next to unaccompanied small children and the first person to come along spotted her and the first thing he said when he arrived was “do you want to swap?”

Original poster

Clevs · 08/10/2022 08:44

I did get a response back from Jet 2 saying that behind or in front is classed as being together but I wouldn't be happy with that. I know I could ask people to swap but if they refuse then I'm stuck.

We've decided not to book this particular holiday now anyway for other reasons so will be looking for another. I'm sure the seat issue will come up again though as we're only two weeks away so most seats will probably be booked by now.

OP posts:

Abraxan · 08/10/2022 08:45

Allmyarseandpeggymartin · 07/10/2022 23:24

I don’t think legally they are allowed to sit the 4 year old away from one of you. Don’t pay for seating Jet2 will have to sort it out closer to the date

Next to each other can mean across any aisle or one behind another, one row apart.

Looks like the latter option is available.

Op - I'd call them and ask if unsure.
We did this for a long haul as we couldn't book 2 seats together (was three of us but happy to split the adults) and they sorted it over the phone - apparently they have some Unreserved seats kept back to help with this kind of situation (possibly not all airlines but virgin did.) worth asking.

CombatBarbie · 08/10/2022 09:09

Clevs · 07/10/2022 23:22

But if seats have already been reserved, other passengers won't be happy if they're moved from the seat they chose and paid for?

They are not all reserved. Plenty people don't book seats and get allocated on check in. The website makes you think that so you pay for it.

CombatBarbie · 08/10/2022 09:11

Disclaimer because I know lots will jump on my PP..... Yes travelling with a small child you shouldn't take the chance and pay but your paying and can't be seated together so in this instance don't pay....

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