MSE News: Scrap 'family tax' that pushes parents to pay to sit next to kids

stuart.kelly

Jet2 from Rome- seated 2 rows behind on opposite side of aircraft from wife and son. After take off, noticed an empty seat in front of wife so went and sat in it. Stewardess demanded £12 or return to my original seat.
The seat remained empty for the entire journey.

KTF

stuart.kelly wrote: »

Stewardess demanded £12 or return to my original seat.
The seat remained empty for the entire journey.

If the cabin crew had let you stay in the seat then people who would have paid an additional charge for their seat would have complained.

Whatwouldiknow

I have two children, 7 and 5, and have flown cheap many many times with them. Have never once paid the seating together fee - think the odds of someone else wanting to sit next to my squally clambery children rather than switch seats are pretty remote. And guess what - we have never once been seated separately. This is a non-issue.

Pollycat

Whatwouldiknow wrote: »

I have two children, 7 and 5, and have flown cheap many many times with them. Have never once paid the seating together fee - think the odds of someone else wanting to sit next to my squally clambery children rather than switch seats are pretty remote. And guess what - we have never once been seated separately. This is a non-issue.

Just because you haven't been seated separately from your family doesn't mean it is a 'non-issue'.

This thread says it is actually an issue.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5191900

krrcwl

PasturesNew wrote: »

I'd pay £15 NOT to sit next to somebody else's random and stray kids.

And I'd happily pay £30 not to have to sit next to mine!! :rotfl:

leylandsunaddict

Pollycat wrote: »

Just because you haven't been seated separately from your family doesn't mean it is a 'non-issue'.

This thread says it is actually an issue.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5191900

It is only an issue if people make it one by choosing not to pay to select seats. If they don't like the charge then book with an airline that doesn't charge extra, but ups the cost of the ticket to cover it in the first place.

I can never understand the logic of people that would pay more for the ticket but get 'free' seat selection, but they won't factor the seat selection charge into the overall cost when buying the ticket.

I love al a carte pricing. I wish it was compulsory. Why should people pay to sit together if they're not bothered, or pay for checked luggage if they don't want any etc etc etc.

leylandsunaddict

rih2010 wrote: »

Our daughter is seven. This year my missus and I have return flights booked with WizzAir and Ryanair for our hols and on none of the four flights have I pre-booked seats.
In our experience, we have checked-in on-line on the day it opens - usually around 30 days before the flight - and we have always been allocated three seats together. I can't see this year being any different.
We haven't been let down yet and I'd like to think that, if the worst happens, some kind-hearted person would be sympathetic to our cause and move to allow two of us to sit together.

If you've not prebooked seats with Ryanair you can't check in until 7 days prior.

I don't see why any kind-hearted person who paid to choose their seat should move just because you didn't think it was your responsibility to ensure you're sat with your family. Maybe if you paid them what they'd paid they would think more kindly of you?

My kindness doesn't extend that far I'm afraid. If I've paid to choose where to sit and who with, I'm not moving for someone that couldn't be bothered to do the same.

Pollycat

leylandsunaddict wrote: »

It is only an issue if people make it one by choosing not to pay to select seats. If they don't like the charge then book with an airline that doesn't charge extra, but ups the cost of the ticket to cover it in the first place.

I can never understand the logic of people that would pay more for the ticket but get 'free' seat selection, but they won't factor the seat selection charge into the overall cost when buying the ticket.

I love al a carte pricing. I wish it was compulsory. Why should people pay to sit together if they're not bothered, or pay for checked luggage if they don't want any etc etc etc.

I agree entirely.
Which is why I posted this over a week ago:

Pollycat wrote: »

To refer to it as a 'family tax' is ridiculous.
It's a chargeable optional extra.
Choose to pay it or choose not to pay it.

My comment about it being an issue was in direct response to WhatwouldIknow who said it was a 'non-issue'.

It's not an issue for me but it appears to be for some.

Sheepster

globalds wrote: »

so what if ?
You were sat apart & If no one felt sympathetic ?

Ok little Jonny listen, you have any problems or feel sicky again this nice man will help you, and try not to poop yourself like the last time we flew....

Seriously who the blazes wants to sit next to someone else's unaccompanied kids. Get real!

KTF

Sheepster wrote: »

Seriously who the blazes wants to sit next to someone else's unaccompanied kids. Get real!

Which is why the airlines will seat them with with at least one parent.