Tui seat reservations

[LividHol]

I've just booked a holiday (solo parent, small child (4), his first trip abroad!).

I tried to pay to book aisle and middle seats, but Tui cunningly don't let you leave a window seat free, even if you're paying. So I phoned up to ask, and the woman on the phone said they couldn't override the system, but my only hope was to see if someone booked a window seat and then it would let us book aisle/middle.

Seems like a ball ache! I asked what would happen if we didn't pay to book, as I obviously don't want to be on a different row/across the aisle from small child.

She said children under ?? (didn't hear the age, poor quality phone line) would not be separated from parent and had to be sat NEXT to them anyway.

I've read enough horror stories to know that sounds uncertain, but she sounded sure. I'm coming to MN for validation.

I'm happy to pay, I just have a very overactive bladder and need to be able to get out repeatedly!

Can anyone tell me if it's true we won't be separated on Tui flight?

Airlines consider being seated across the aisle or in the seat in front/behind as being seated with your child!

I know, and I asked the woman on the phone that specifically, but she seemed to think we wouldn't be separated?

Honestly I'm loathe to pay to select seats I actively don't want, but nobody wants me bobbing up for a wee every three and a half minutes from the window.

When will you be travelling? School holidays to a family place, I wouldn't risk not booking.

We have always been allocated 3+1 on Tui flights as a family of 4, including when we booked the day before (but there was lots of spare seats on that flight!)
But I think they like leaving the aisles seats free as it were so less people are split.

Just book the seats, whoever you’re next to will have to get up, or might be happy to change to a window seat on the day

That is a conundrum, like you I value the aisle seat and unless it's an overnight flight I'd never pay to sit by the window. Plus with a young child it's good to have free access to the aisle.

Is it possible to check from time to time on what seats are available? Either by phoning up or making a pretend flight booking up to the seats bit and see what's available.

We flew to Spain in the summer, 2 adults. Didn't book any seats and were seated together for both flights.

Admittedly I've never flown in school holidays but I've always been allocated a seat next to dp checking in 48 hours prior. Obviously for us it wouldn't matter anyway (I'm about to spend 2 weeks solid with the man, I can manage 4 hours apart!)!

One time years ago I was across the aisle traveling with my dd, this was actually perfect because we both like an aisle seat

I also tried to book aisle and middle seat on Tui as DD is only recently potty trained and constantly asking for a wee even when not needing one. System won’t let you so if there’s someone in the aisle I’ll offer them the window and if they decline they’ll just have to put up with our constant up and down to the loo. Travelling alone with DD so also wasn’t willing to take the risk of not being next to her.

I think “next to each other” could mean behind or in front or opposite the aisle. Bear that in mind.

I’d book window and middle and hope for the best, I always find window best for small children anyway as they like looking out and can snuggle up against it to sleep. On a flight from London to Singapore I was a bit anxious with 3yo DD when we had window and middle and a very corporate looking guy sitting in the aisle seat and I was so happy when he said “I have kids so if you need to get in and out with the little one don’t worry about disturbing me”, hopefully you will find the same.

Book two seats together now, but keep checking as you can change them. Keep moving them to an empty row or one with a window seat taken.

Yep this is really annoying with TUI. As a single parent with such a young child, you should be seated together, to comply with CAA rules. Have a lovely holiday.

Thank you. Is CAA rules together-together or potentially an aisle away?

See below. It’s a stress you don’t need when travelling. You should be seated in the same aisle, however there is scope to be no more than one seat row away. The only way to be absolutely certain is to book the seats, appalling really isn’t it.

Surely your child will want the window seat?? How long is the flight?

I would just book now, but my aim would be to book near the toilets.

I never pay for a seat booking

ive always been sat on aisle seats and my companion on the opposite aisle seat

I've just looked again and I still can't book aisle and middle.

Could spend £20pp per leg, so £80 which is a weekly food shop, to book window and middle which I DO NOT WANT.

As I've said before, I need to pee roughly every four minutes, and worse if I'm ever so slightly nervous (which I will be taking toddler solo on a plane for the first time).

For reference, I had to pee on the flight to Isle of Man once and it's so short they don't take the seatbelt lights off. I had to ask permission.

I mean, the benefit of nobody being able to book the aisle will possibly be a preponderance of aisles free. But what a palaver.

I need to pee roughly every four minutes

So you spend every 4 minutes in the toilet? Your post seemed genuine up until this comment.

If you really going to need to be up and down like a yoyo, your bigger problem will be supervising your child rather than the seating arrangement!

Give over. I'm being hyperbolic, clearly. The point remains I'll need to pee more than once and I'd prefer to sit on the aisle.