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Original poster

AIBU to book these seats on a flight?

212 replies

Deekaytwo · 07/05/2024 18:53

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)

AIBU to book these seats on a flight?
OP posts:
cheapskatemum · 07/05/2024 22:22

YABU. DH is a gold card member and there is no way on earth he would move for this reason.

WestEndWindy · 07/05/2024 22:25

cheapskatemum · 07/05/2024 22:22

YABU. DH is a gold card member and there is no way on earth he would move for this reason.

Out of curiosity why wouldn't he move? What's better about one side of the aisle than the other?

Chewbecca · 07/05/2024 22:30

YABU
Your current seats are better as you are both on the LH side of the cabin. Don't mess with it.

SeriaMau · 07/05/2024 23:02

Good luck with this plan! You’ll need it.

DottieMoon · 07/05/2024 23:06

YABU

HoHoHoliday · 07/05/2024 23:07

Deekaytwo · 07/05/2024 19:59

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! 😀

I think what gets people's backs up is you choosing to do something that either annoys another passenger by asking them to move, or annoys another passenger by leaving them sitting between you, your husband and child, no doubt talking across that passenger, when you actually have the option to just sit next to each other in another row and not disturb anyone.
You're choosing the option which will disturb someone rather than the option which won't.

thehousewiththesagegreensofa · 07/05/2024 23:21

For the price of the two club seats, no doubt you could have afforded three economy seats. I think that that is what I would have done in your circumstances - 4 hours, an almost 2yo (so quite large to be sat on a lap) and you pregnant. The problem with your plan is that, if no one moves, you're separated from your DH and child and so your DH will have to have your child on his lap for the entire time as I presume it wouldn't be comfortable for you. There's also the risk that your DS will then want to get past the person already in the front row to get from your DH to you and back again.

SiobhanSharpe · 07/05/2024 23:23

ThreeB · 07/05/2024 20:22

The middle seat in BA Club Europe isn't a usable seat though so you wouldn't be able to pop your DC in it.

DH and I were flying Club Europe with the two larger seats and the blocked off smaller one in the middle (v handy for bits and pieces IME) when a strange bloke decided he'd like to sit there and shoe-horned himself into it.
Consternation from the cabin crew as he insisted he was going to sit there even though he must have had his own assigned seat elsewhere in the plane. They had to bring out the Captain to have a stern word before the chap moved.
Nowt so queer as folk, eh!

spannered · 07/05/2024 23:36

cheapskatemum · 07/05/2024 22:22

YABU. DH is a gold card member and there is no way on earth he would move for this reason.

What a catch! I'd be mortified if my husband came home and told me he'd declined to move to a like-for-like seat to help accommodate a pregnant woman, her husband and a toddler. That said, my husband isn't particular about where he sits on a plane, and he doesn't have a disability.

VeraForever · 07/05/2024 23:42

Having a two year old doesn't top trump other paying users.

WhatsitWiggle · 08/05/2024 00:44

ThreeB · 07/05/2024 20:22

The middle seat in BA Club Europe isn't a usable seat though so you wouldn't be able to pop your DC in it.

It depends on the aircraft. Some have a table in the middle seat that is fixed in place - it can be removed by the cabin crew. Others have a seat with a built in table to the seat back that can be up or down.

Either have to be flexible as CE on BA isn't a fixed number of rows. It'll adjust according to demand. Sometimes on popular leisure routes eg Crete, Paphos, there can be 8-10 rows of CE.

apunnetofgrapes · 08/05/2024 01:06

Deekaytwo · 07/05/2024 18:53

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)

How can you just expect someone to change their booked seat for you just because you have a child and it’ll make it easier for you? You didn’t book early enough. Your fault. YABU.

PostalPanic · 08/05/2024 01:23

OP, why can't you just hold your child on your lap? If you want a seat especially for them, you must book them a ticket.

Remaker · 08/05/2024 01:28

It’s a 4 hr flight and you will have a guaranteed free seat for your DC. But that’s not good enough because it will be better if you can have the guaranteed seat AND the floor in front. Sorry OP I’ve flown to and from Australia with 2 toddlers in economy, I just can’t comprehend the level of self centred entitlement that’s going into creating the perfect 4 hr flight for you.

Just the fact that you’ve mentioned it will be for the other passenger’s benefit to move makes it very clear your thought process. And of course you’re going to want that middle seat as well, nobody in their right mind would give up a seat for their toddler just so they can have the front row.

To be clear I would happily move to accommodate parents sitting with their children when it’s outside their control. But that’s not what is happening here.

Herculesthescot · 08/05/2024 01:40

This is such self absorbed parenting, it is unbelievable.

It is the height of self entitlement to place another passenger in the awkward position of saying no.

You are not entitled to a seat that someone else has chosen and paid for - end of!

HoppingPavlova · 08/05/2024 02:03

Looking at it I can't see how it makes any difference to them what side they sit on so I would give it a try

That’s only the case if the seats beside them open up though. But then there will not be space for OP to take? I like an empty seat beside me where possible as once you are up and seatbelt signs are off I find they generally turn a blind eye to having handbag on seat - so easy access to phone, headphones, hand cream, lip balm, tissues etc rather than rummaging around in handbag under seat in front. I wouldn’t give that up!

MurielThrockmorton · 08/05/2024 05:54

I would swap, no problem. I generally offer in situations like this.

stealthbanana · 08/05/2024 06:12

Wow this thread is an eye opener.

OP if you happen to be around I am a Gold card holder and frequent BA club world flyer and I wouldn’t hesitate to switch across the aisle. In fact it wouldn’t have occurred to me that anyone would have a problem with it. But this thread shows there are petty weirdos everywhere and for that reason I’d be tempted to book 3 economy seats rather than 2 Club as on the unfortunate off chance you get someone who is delighted to demonstrate to everyone on the plane what an arsehole they are by refusing to move unhealthily attached to their seat you will have an uncomfortable trip . You just need to ring up BA and they can do a booking for an under 2.

WestEndWindy · 08/05/2024 06:55

@stealthbanana I am finding this thread fascinating for the same reason. I really can't see the problem and can't understand the attitudes of most of the replies. Trying to work out if it's because people haven't read it properly and think she'd be asking them to swap rows or because people are actually that mean and petty.

cheapskatemum · 08/05/2024 07:45

In response to those who asked: DH flies a lot and which seat he sits in is important to him. He considers space, leg room and particularly proximity to the exit and ease of getting off the plane. He knows the layouts of each of the planes he flies in as he's really interested in planes. For these reasons, he books the specific seat he wants and loathes it if asked to move. OP says they usually book early to get the seats they like best, but on this occasion they didn't book early enough to get them.

greasypolemonkeyman · 08/05/2024 07:49

I would 100% reuse to move from my BOOKED seat to accommodate a family of chancers. Not today Satan!

DancefloorAcrobatics · 08/05/2024 08:01

No, don't expect someone to move from their booked and paid for seat.

I had something similar, was asked if I swap my window seat for an isle seat, so woman with teen could sit together...
I didn't do it as middle seat next to isle seat was free... but it wasn't good enough to just move up a row. Got dirty looks, couldn't believe the entitled.

So once again, just no!

CatherinedeBourgh · 08/05/2024 08:02

When I was a very frequent flyer my preferences were automatically uploaded to the system, so the people in those seats might not have actively chosen them.

I would willingly have moved like for like for a family.

DancefloorAcrobatics · 08/05/2024 08:11

@WestEndWindy & @stealthbanana - people are that mean and petty. Or maybe not. If you are able to choose & pay for something why shouldn't you get what you paid for?
OP is clearly doing the same, except for the paying part.

Flying with small DC isn't fun, granted but that's OP's choice and by the looks of it she has the option to purchase a 3rd seat for the toddler. She's a CF, having a toddler doesn't make you special.

DoreenonTill8 · 08/05/2024 08:19

Clearly am not a Gold Flyer.. am not understanding the 'omg, its the SAME! Its like for like!!' Why the need to swap then? It's not like for like if ones got loads of leg room?