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Original poster

Will TUI sit me with my kids?

113 replies

Dingdong99 · 10/10/2022 09:56

I am a self confessed cheapskate and I resent having to pay extra money to ensure our family is seated together. Plus the only seats left are at the back and are £20 each

Do you think we can wing it and assume that if we are two adults and two kids, they will they sit each adult with a child (4 and 7 years old)? Or could we be stuck with the kids being sat on their own?

OP posts:
dirtyasadustpanlid · 10/10/2022 10:43

Tighter than a crab's ass. Hate this entitled shit.

VinoDino · 10/10/2022 10:44

I'm a solo traveller and have moved when it's like for like (I like an aisle seat) and when asked nicely, but the last flight I was on a man just told another young man to go and sit in his seat as he wanted to sit with his family. CF! I was gobsmacked. Just bloody pay.

maddy68 · 10/10/2022 10:44

No. Pre book your seatsif you want to sit with them otherwise take the risk of being separated. But don't ask someone to move who has paid to choose their seat. That's the hieght of rudeness

Doggiedoodoos · 10/10/2022 10:47

dirtyasadustpanlid · 10/10/2022 10:43

Tighter than a crab's ass. Hate this entitled shit.

😂

KevinsChilli · 10/10/2022 10:51

Airlines should just include seat allocation as part of their ticket price. Ridiculous that it's separate.

Tryingmyb3st · 10/10/2022 10:53

Well they sat me and me 8 year old in the same row...but she was at the window at one side, and I was at the window at the other.
You need to call the special assistance line when your seats get allocated. Takes ages to get through but it got resolved. Five standard calls to TUI customer services got me nowhere.

Paintonthesmile · 10/10/2022 10:54

Your attitude will mean some unfortunate person will be asked to move who has more than likely paid for their seat.
I was that person a couple of years ago but refused, it meant I got looked at like I was the meanest person ever and made me feel really awkward. I paid to sit near my children then I was being asked to change by someone too tight to pay. Don't be that person.

StillNotWarm · 10/10/2022 10:57

With kids that young, you will be sat with at least one adult with kids. BUT that can be across an aisle, infront/behind. And it could be you and 2 kids with the other adult at the other end of the plane. Make sure you are comfortable with the definition of "sat together".

BurscoughBooths · 10/10/2022 10:59

KevinsChilli · 10/10/2022 10:51

Airlines should just include seat allocation as part of their ticket price. Ridiculous that it's separate.

No, I don’t care where I sit so never pay for particular seats.
It would be ridiculous to make me pay for a service that I neither want nor need

purpleboy · 10/10/2022 10:59

I always pay to sit with my family, it's just part and parcel of the cost as far as I'm concerned, if you can afford to pay £££ for a holiday you can afford an extra £50 for seats.

Tryingmyb3st · 10/10/2022 11:00

Definitely don't leave it until the airport. 'Together' means in the same row, behind or in front. I called them with no expectations (I hadn't booked seats together and wouldn't have asked anyone to move) but because there was space, they could allocate me with DD. My partner was at the other end of the plane.
If you want a full 3 seater row, i think you have to accept you'll need to pay for it.

FlounderingFruitcake · 10/10/2022 11:00

If you’d be alright to chuck the ipad, a drink and a snack at the kids and leave them to it all flight, because they’ve been sat across the aisle or infront of you, then I’d chance it. If you wouldn’t be ok with that and would ask people to move for you then stop being cheap and pay up!

HoppingPavlova · 10/10/2022 11:01

Generally this is the definition of cheeky fucker as once you get on the plane and discover that ‘sitting with’ children doesn’t mean sitting next to them, and one is seated in the row behind you, and one is seated diagonally across from your DH sitting somewhere else again then the requests for others who have paid for their seats will likely start.

serenghetti2011 · 10/10/2022 11:03

I wouldn’t risk it to be honest, I factor it into holiday costs it’s not that much to make sure you’re happy on the flights, and your kids are beside you. I mean you pay out all this money for a holiday the flights are part of that so you can’t really be much of a cheapskate

keeprunningupthathill · 10/10/2022 11:03

We had the same recently and they sat us on two lots of two seats which were quite far apart. So it was fine but a bit of a pain coordinating trying to get off together.

Rosehugger · 10/10/2022 11:07

The OP isn't being tight or CF, but is questioning extra charges added by airlines for things that used to be included in the seat price, instead of running along nicely and playing along with their price-gouging little game, like the good little Tories on this thread. Well done, have a fucking biscuit. I've never paid extra for a seat nor asked anyone to move to accommodate me.

OP, best just ring them and ask.

Clevs · 10/10/2022 11:08

I posted something similar the other day:
Jet 2 - choosing plane seats - only single seats available but we have a small child. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/holidays/4650546-jet-2-choosing-plane-seats-only-single-seats-available-but-we-have-a-small-child

SoupDragon · 10/10/2022 11:14

The OP isn't being tight or CF, but is questioning extra charges added by airlines for things that used to be included in the seat price,

yes she is, it's her opening words!

These are not extra charges for things that used to be in the seat price. The ability to book specific seats was never included. You used to have to turn up at the airport for when check in opened and join the queue.

rookiemere · 10/10/2022 11:18

Rosehugger · 10/10/2022 11:07

The OP isn't being tight or CF, but is questioning extra charges added by airlines for things that used to be included in the seat price, instead of running along nicely and playing along with their price-gouging little game, like the good little Tories on this thread. Well done, have a fucking biscuit. I've never paid extra for a seat nor asked anyone to move to accommodate me.

OP, best just ring them and ask.

In real terms flights are a lot cheaper than they used to be as some people don't care where they sit or need to bring luggage.

Not sure what political persuasion has to do with this, or are you saying all Labour voters would prefer that we all pay one higher ticket price which includes allocated seat and baggage- maybe a clotted cream scone as well like BA used to do Hmm?

ouch321 · 10/10/2022 11:25

Rosehugger · 10/10/2022 11:07

The OP isn't being tight or CF, but is questioning extra charges added by airlines for things that used to be included in the seat price, instead of running along nicely and playing along with their price-gouging little game, like the good little Tories on this thread. Well done, have a fucking biscuit. I've never paid extra for a seat nor asked anyone to move to accommodate me.

OP, best just ring them and ask.

Rather early for a troll post. I thought you guys all had long lie ins.

gogohmm · 10/10/2022 11:26

You could be in front, across the aisle etc and it still counts as with your child. If you want to sit next to them you need to pay. I was across the aisle with dd pre covid but next to dp last year without paying but the flight wasn't full that time

BalmyBalmes · 10/10/2022 11:27

I'm not sure why TUI can manage to automatically sit each party together on their ski flights but not on their other flights,
It's only if you book very late you may just have to take what's left in way of seats not already allocated

notimagain · 10/10/2022 11:32

BurscoughBooths · 10/10/2022 10:59

No, I don’t care where I sit so never pay for particular seats.
It would be ridiculous to make me pay for a service that I neither want nor need

Show quote history

^ It boils down to this.

What goes on isn't gouging, airlines are struggling to make a profit/recoup losses due Covid...

People like "menu" pricing....most people generally these days won't pay more for full service, with everything included whether they are going to use the facility or not.

Goldbar · 10/10/2022 11:48

It depends on the child.

In your position (not wanting to pay the extra), I would wing it because my 4yo would be perfectly happy sitting by themselves (so long as within sight of me or my DH) plugged into their tablet with a few snacks and their non-spill water bottle. They are also very capable of loudly communicating any needs (for example, telling any adults next to them to please move because they need to go to the toilet). If your children are shy or nervous so you're not willing to take the chance of them being seated next to strangers/no one wanting to swap, then I would pay. As it is, we use public transport frequently and DC quite often ends up sitting separately from me if it is busy, so they're used to having to squash in next to strangers.

Doggiedoodoos · 10/10/2022 11:52

I would absolutely hate to have someone elses 4 or 7 year old kid sat next to me on a plane without their legal guardian.