Flying as a family on BA - charged?!

vicker

We're flying on Wednesday. Mum Dad and 2 under 8s.

BA have allocated us, as a family of 4, seats before check in opens tomorrow. Nightmare seats for us, and those around us, as they're in the 4 in the middle of the aircraft.

Our kids sitting next to each other will inevitably mean a fight or 2 over 11 hours as tiredness sets in. Kids sitting next to the aisle is not a safety risk I want to keep awake for.

On check in, I was going to book 2 consecutive rows of 2 seats - if that wasn't available, then 2 x 2 seats anywhere across the plane.

However, now that our seats have been allocated, it appears BA are going to charge us to change them - but it isn't clear if this applies to families or not.

This information about the charge to change BA aalocated seats has only appeared now on "manage my booking" when it wasn't there before.

I've tried ringing for clarification on the charge, but have been cut off twice as they're busy.

Are BA going to charge us £112 (4 x £28) to change our seats when we check in online tomorrow? Anyone been able to change their BA allocated seats at check in for free?

Thanks.

UPDATED: At T -23.59.50 (thanks Bob) we were able, without charge, to change the seats BA had already allocated us. Thanks to those who had helpful advice to offer on the booking.

mynameistallulah

You can change seats for free at T-24, or at the airport, if other seats are available. Is it a popular holiday route?

zagfles

Why do you think kids on an aisle seat is a safety risk??

duchy

Why would charging be different for families ? Families are passengers too so treated the same as everyone else . You can change them at on-line check in just check in EXACTLY 24 hours ahead for your best chance to get the seats you want.

duchy

zagfles wrote: »

Why do you think kids on an aisle seat is a safety risk??

Possibly a safety risk to other passengers ? It's far easier to contain kids if they are in an inner seat. Less chance of them escaping
Frankly though I don't understand the issue. Mine knew to behave on a plane...or else -fighting , shouting, kicking seats etc simply wasn't an option. The wrath of Mum was enough of a deterrent LOL
Seriously though "a nightmare for those around you" if you don't get the seats you want ????? My son is autistic and can behave on a plane -has flown long haul many times but I wouldn't take him if I wasn't sure he could handle it and not make life miserable for those around him -It really isn't that hard.

vicker

zagfles wrote: »

Why do you think kids on an aisle seat is a safety risk??

Kids on aisle seat is a safety risk as my kids, my responsibility. I want to fully be responsible for the kids for the entire journey and don't want to fall asleep and wake up to find them gone on a toilet trip. If they need to clamber over me, then they'll wake me.

lady1964

I too can't understand why you would want to be seperated from your kids. If I was a fellow passenger and seated beside two kids who were 'fighting' or disagreeing with each other, I'd be looking for the parents to deal with them firmly.

It sounds to me that although you're saying a nightmare for you, by splitting 2 x 2 either in consecutive rows or 2 x 2 pairs of seats, it could be a nightmare for other passengers.

Without going into the whole kids on planes debate, OH & I flew long haul with our kids and they knew how to behave. I know tiredness can often get the better of kids, they still need to be close to their parents in order to be 'contained' if necessary.

There is also the safety aspect to consider. OP, how old are your kids?

mynameistallulah

vicker wrote: »

Kids on aisle seat is a safety risk as my kids, my responsibility. I want to fully be responsible for the kids for the entire journey and don't want to fall asleep and wake up to find them gone on a toilet trip. If they need to clamber over me, then they'll wake me.

Surely that will be overcome by telling your children that if they need the toilet, they should wake you?

duchy

She said two under 8s and doesn't want them escaping whilst both parents are sleeping..... Erm perhaps the option is parents take turns napping whilst the other supervises or even (here's a novel idea) interacts with their children !! As you say Your kids-your responsibility.

Really some people astound me !

vicker

duchy wrote: »

Possibly a safety risk to other passengers ? It's far easier to contain kids if they are in an inner seat. Less chance of them escaping
Frankly though I don't understand the issue. Mine knew to behave on a plane...or else -fighting , shouting, kicking seats etc simply wasn't an option. The wrath of Mum was enough of a deterrent LOL
Seriously though "a nightmare for those around you" if you don't get the seats you want ????? My son is autistic and can behave on a plane -has flown long haul many times but I wouldn't take him if I wasn't sure he could handle it and not make life miserable for those around him -It really isn't that hard.

Feel better now you've played the best parent card?!

The kids are very well behaved on planes thanks, but I know fights and fall outs will happen if they're seated next to each other - no young child can be perfect on a red eye, I'm a realist. With my kids I always work prevention of problems is far better than cure and prevention in this case is not seating them next to each other. Why set them up to fail? And why have the other passengers around me endure a sibling fight when it could have been prevented?

Would love to meet the parent who has perfectly behaved sibling relationships when the kids are 5 hours past their bedtime. Or are you holding yourself up as that as you're coming across like you are - I see you even felt the need to edit your post to mention autism - was it really necessary to answer my post by talking about your parenting?

vicker

lady1964 wrote: »

It sounds to me that although you're saying a nightmare for you, by splitting 2 x 2 either in consecutive rows or 2 x 2 pairs of seats, it could be a nightmare for other passengers.

Apologies - by 2 x 2 I meant 1 child seated with 1 parent, not 2 kids sitting alone. Hell no!