Crystal ski- would you pay to pre book plane seats feb half term

[Scaredofskiing]

We're going skiing in Feb half term with crystal ski which is a subsidiary of TUI. TUI say they 'try' to sit children with adults in their family. We are a family of 5 and my eldest is 13. So he would be sat on his own if they have to separate us I think! Which he wouldn't want. No idea about the other 2 younger children which could technically be separated from us too.

Should we just pay the £45 each way for us to choose our seats?

The site lets us check in already with the option to choose seats and most of the seats have an x in (so are not able to be chosen). So there is limited choice because presumably people have already picked their seats. Though it could be lies and crystal is making it appear that way so we pay extra for seats together! I wouldn't put it past them! Thoughts please. It's not a huge amount of money so I'm thinking I should just pay it but I am pissed off about it!

If I didn't pay it and my children weren't sat next to me it wouldn't be the end of the world. My children are fairly confident about asking people to move if they need to go to the loo or something. But if they were sat next to someone who didn't seem 'nice' or was a bit intimidating they might not be.

We're going at half term too and picked our seats ages ago. I think a lot of people do pay to pre-book so all those crosses are probably real, not just a TUI scam. I agree however that it's bloody annoying to have to pay extra to guarantee to sit next to your kids.

We are going half term with crystal ski and have booked our seats. My more relaxed in-laws didn't want to but I insisted. My children would not be happy not being near us for a the hour flight and it would add noire stress than £45!

We've booked Crystal for next year but didn't see option to book seats together, as DS will be 13 and plugged into a device I won't bother.

At the end of the day it's up to you OP. if you feel you are reliant on the kindness of strangers- ie DCs seating companions being nice and accommodating- then you should probably pay. DS was once sick on me on the descent for our first ski holiday. He'd have been distraught if not beside me, although I would have been a lot cleaner .

If it's half term or Christmas holidays will mostly be other families who will have their own DC to look after and won't want to swap.