Extra Leg Room on Flight

j-bean60 · 12 March 2009 at 3:57PM

We are going to Turkey for two weeks in August. There's me, OH and 15 year old son.
I have to take valium before flying as I suffer from claustrophobia. When we went once before, me and OH were able to get seats with extra leg room as we checked in really early, which helped me relax as I hate being crammed in the usual seats. There were 4 of us that time, son was 11 and he sat behind with his uncle.
My question is: how old do you have to be to sit in a seat with extra leg room? Would three of us be able to sit there together? Or is son too young? (He's six feet tall so extra leg room would be good for him anyway.)
Any advice would be gratefully received.

APV1 · 12 March 2009 at 4:01PM

I always try to book a seat by the emergency exit for exactly this reason. It varies on the best method to arrange this, depending on how you booked th flight originally.
In the past a Travel Agent has done the hard work for me. On another flight I asked at check-in (I arrived VERY early) and another, I rang the airline Customer Service a few days in advance.
You must be fit and able to assist in case of emergency, so I guess a strapping 15 year old teenager may be just what they want..!
Good luck!

vickylee · 12 March 2009 at 4:13PM

Airline policy varies on the age of a suitable person to assist at emergency exits. Some airlines its 16 years of age, and I know of one that is 14 years of age. Which airline are you flying with? Turkey in August is generally very busy flight wise so you may be best pre-booking your extra leg room seats. I know this will cost a little more, but probably worth it for your son.

littlereddevil · 12 March 2009 at 4:30PM

You can pay for the exit seats now with most airlines otherwise you won't really get them.

j-bean60 · 12 March 2009 at 4:33PM

Hi, thanks for the replies.
The holiday is booked with Thomsons. We paid extra to sit together when we booked the holiday but didn't think about extra leg room at the time. I don't mind paying an extra amount again if we can all have extra leg room. I suppose it's best to ask the Travel Agent if they can do this for us - as I said the last time we were just lucky cos we arrived at the airport very early and extra leg room seats were being advisertised (had to travel from Wales to Gatwick by coach so got there at some ungodly hour!)
Do you know the age criteria Thomsons have or will they allow him to sit there because of his height?

vickylee · 12 March 2009 at 4:46PM

Thomson's policy is 16 years of age. Will he still be 15 when travelling? I would try and book the extra leg room. I know some check in staff that allocated these seats to children who were clearly under 16. (i.e 8/9 years old).
The worst that could happen is that your son will have to swap for a non exit seat for take off and landing, but will be able to sit in the exit seat for the duration of the flight.
In my experience, if your son looks older than 16, the cabin crew might not ask his age, and all will be fine.

j-bean60 · 12 March 2009 at 5:13PM

Hi
I've just spoken to the travel agent, who contacted Thomsons. Their age limit has recently been reduced to 14 years of age, but the "system" hasn't been changed yet so it won't allow us to pre-book at the moment. He will still be 15 when we fly (he's 16 in October).
She advised me to try in a month or so and if their system has been updated, we can pre-book then.
Thanks for the advice everyone.

omelette451 · 12 March 2009 at 5:19PM

vickylee wrote: »

if your son looks older than 16, the cabin crew might not ask his age, and all will be fine.

The cabin crew and ground staff could get in serious trouble if they allow people to sit in the emergency exit seats if they're under the age limit specified in company policy. It comes under safety regulations, not to mention the company's insurance policy. Better to put him in an aisle seat where for the most part he'll be able to stretch his legs a bit.

j-bean60 · 13 March 2009 at 9:50AM

omelette451 wrote: »

Better to put him in an aisle seat where for the most part he'll be able to stretch his legs a bit.

The problem is, because I'm claustrophobic, I need the aisle seat! He's happy sitting in the middle or next to the window (him and OH usually argue about who's sitting by the window), but he's grown so much since we last went that I'm worried he won't be comfortable there anymore. I've got visions of his legs being bent up for the whole 4 hour flight!

naijapower · 13 March 2009 at 10:11AM

For most airlines, except the low cost type. you can specifically request fro extra leg room and pay for this

dazzer68 · 13 March 2009 at 10:49AM

its now down to people who can afford to pay, rather than those who need the leg room seats. thanks to those who want to pay for all the family, or have a slight illness that want to sit in those seats with extra legroom, that now im forced to either sit in the back rows, or have to pay extra for. im 6 foot 5 and there was i time this would be enough to have had a leg room seat, now money talks. It makes me mad, i dont choose to be tall, and its almost impossible to sit in a 'normal' airline seat, yet im forced to. the amount of times i have been on a flight and seen the whole family upfront with kids having the front leg room seats,(just beacuse they paid for it) and then not even sitting in them.so now i have to get a doctors certificate, to actually tell the check in staff that im tall (!) and require a leg room seat.
ps you have to physically fit and able to have a emergency exit seat, so if your not, dont, i dont want you on my plane in charge of the doors, when i crash.

Extra Leg Room on Flight

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