AIBU to book these seats on a flight?

[Deekaytwo]

We've got row 7A&C seats booked on our upcoming 4hr flight, the middle seat is blocked off and we always use it to put our DS(nearly 2) in after take-off and before landing.

We often get the first row and it really makes a massive difference when travelling with DS: the extra space at the bulkhead is invaluable for him, and to keep him contained to not bother other passengers.

We didn't manage to book early enough this time, however according to the seat map 1C&F are empty (usually just blocked for the comfort of the Gold member seated in the other seat), these usually open up just before the flight.

So: am I being unreasonable to move us to the empty seats in the front row and hope/expect 1A or 1D to move so that we can sit together? They'll still have their aisle/window and won't have to sit next to a baby, so I think it's win-win..

Not to drip feed, I'm also 5 months pregnant, so anything to make things more comfortable really.

YABU: Stay in you're current seats and let the fancy Gold members keep the empty seat next to them!

YANBU: It doesn't make any difference to them and will make your journey more comfortable (and probably everyone elses as DS will have more room to be contained)

Only if you're willing to offer them some cash to compensate them and happy to accept a no with good grace if they don't want to swap.

I don't know which airline this is but 1C is often preferred because you can get some extra leg space to the side of the bulkhead - which means there is potential for someone to not think 1C to 1D is a like for like swap, even if they are both row 1 aisle.

That aside, when travelling with a small child I would never travel in the bulkhead row where you can't have any bags at your feet for takeoff or landing. Even travelling without a child (as someone who doesn't need additional legroom) I actively avoid bulkhead and emergency exit rows so that I can have my handbag at my feet.

@MississippiAF out of interest, would you refuse to move to a like for like seat on principle? Or is there some other reason?

I'm curious because other than the inconvenience of standing up and moving, I can't really understand why someone (who's able) wouldn't move if it doesn't disadvantage them, yet advantages someone else.

Yes, this smacks of those clickbait unreasonable media posts.

Only book it if you don't mind them refusing to move.

Looking at the seats, it seems likely that they would accommodate you, as they would be swapping for the same seat on the other side of the aisle. I can only think that if they are both very large/ obese, they might be together but deliberately chose to sit apart for the space/ comfort. Or they have chosen so that they have a particular view from that side.

I choose my seat for various reasons. Maybe proximity to loos nearer the exits. Preference dor behind or in front of the wing depending on the plane

If ive chosen my seat specifically and paid for it. Im sitting there

Don’t be this person. You have perfectly decent seats. Just use them.

This post sums it up. People don’t have to explain to CF’s why they don’t want to move

Is Row 1 an emergency exit seat? If so, you probably wouldn't be allowed to sit there if you're visibly pregnant, and your toddler definitely won't be.

@MississippiAF why are you so defensive about this 😂

It would make a difference to me! I am partially deaf in one ear so I need to sit on a certain side so I can hear properly!

OP, YABU, I wouldn't move for you.

I've seen this situation on a flight and the person refused to move. I quietly agreed with them and so did others sitting nearby.

Yabu. Row 7 is fine, better for your toddler to learn how to sit in a seat on a plane.

Yabu, some book an aisle or window. Others want left or right. Dp is very particular!

If someone has paid £££ to sit in those extra legroom seats then why should they move to another (worse) seat because op didn't book quick enough?

Total cf. Both for the expectation that someone will move for you and for deliberately blocking off a middle seat. Many airlines have cottoned onto this and don't allow people to do this as its cheeky as fuck. I hope you get someone in your middle seat so you have to hold your child like most of the rest of us need to do

^^ completely agree. Buy a third seat for your child if you want them to have their own.

@Treesarenotgreene absolutely agree that if someone is sat in a seat that they paid for (or even didn't have to pay for tbh) they shouldn't be expected to move to a lesser seat. I think in OP's situation though they would be moving to a like for like seat, same amount of room etc.

I don't think that anyone on any occasion should be expected to move. I asked the question of @MississippiAF because I was curious as to why someone wouldn't move if it didn't mean they were in a worse seat.
^
I've since seen some comments from pp's about wanting certain sides of a plane, certain placements and how disability can impact choice of seat.

I just can't really get my head around the attitude of people who won't move simply on principle. I'd never refuse to help someone asking if it had no negative impact on me at all, just seems odd.^

Surely a two year has to have a seat bought for them anyway? Totally CF

Ah nearly two, apologies. Still incredibly CF. We took under 2's on flights and dealt with it.

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the input 🙂

I think I was unclear about the hope/expect part of the question though. I HOPE that someone will move for my benefit and I EXPECT they'll move for their benefit.

And yes for those who didn't see the seat map, I'm talking about someone moving from 1A to 1F or 1C to 1D, not further down the cabin or to a worse seat.

And of course I was talking about asking, who on earth demands that people move seats?! We will be fine in the two seats across the aisle from eachother too, if we were to book them. And I understand that it's just as likely we'd remain in them as not.

I just wondered whether people would generally move under those circumstances. I'm not sure why people seen to think I'd be trying to physically kick people out of their booked seats or make them feel uncomfortable, it's only a flight! 😀

Oh and just to clarify DS is not 2 yet, and the middle seat is blocked because it's Business Class, so it's for the use of the two passengers either side of it.

This looks like BA European business with the talk of blocked off middle seats and cabin size?
Essentially you are hoping that if a gold member does book seat 1a that they will be happy to move to 1F: same seat just other side of cabin NOT a move to the back.

If that were me I'd move because I wouldn't want to be next to a small child but sometimes I book a specific side because of what I'll see out the window.

Also if they don't move don't think you can use the blocked off seat for the child. That seat is shared space between 1a and c and if you did that I'd be extremely annoyed you'd occupied it.

In your shoes I'd suck up row 7.

The OP hasn't blocked it the airline has. It's BA euro business which is a standard plane with convertible seats so it makes A and C seats bigger, with a little space between them in what was B seat

Would you be happy not to live and also not to use the middle seat for your DC as you wouldn’t be able to use that seat for them if the other person doesn’t want to move.