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

999pez

As a parent of 2 teenaged kids, if I had booked a budget flight, I think it's fair enough to pay to sit together. I think with budget airlines you have to expect to pay for everything extra - it's how they keep the basic prices so low.
However, I'm a bit concerned about comments on here about BA. We've paid nearly £4000 for 4 tickets on BA to Orlando in August at rip off school holiday prices. I'd be disappointed if we have to pay extra to sit together.

Granariesgirl

Hello,

Never had a problem with this: they usually sit each of us with 1 kid or all together. There was however 1 blissful flight where he got the offspring & I was left in peace!

If you have problems, just check the airline's T&C: there's usually something about persons incapable of looking after themselves HAVING to be accompanied: so if they are refusing to seat you with your child they are breaking their own T&C's!:)

Otherwise the quiet: "If DC starts to projectile vomit like it did last time, just hand it the sick bag & pray" to neighbouring passenger would almost certainly work! :cool:

Seriously, some people need to get a grip!

Pollycat

Granariesgirl wrote: »

If you have problems, just check the airline's T&C: there's usually something about persons incapable of looking after themselves HAVING to be accompanied: so if they are refusing to seat you with your child they are breaking their own T&C's!:)

I may be wrong but I would doubt that airlines would have something like the above in their T&Cs as it would just leave them open to compensation claims if it was impossible to seat children with parents.

Granariesgirl wrote: »

Otherwise the quiet: "If DC starts to projectile vomit like it did last time, just hand it the sick bag & pray" to neighbouring passenger would almost certainly work! :cool:

Not with me it wouldn't.

Now, if you were reasonable about it and asked me or my OH politely to change seats - and I hadn't paid for seats together (which I don't on all short-haul flights) - then I would give serious consideration to helping you out.

But play the aggressive card as above and you wouldn't stand a cat-in-hell's chance of me moving unless I was instructed to (as opposed to requested to) by cabin crew.


Is that enough grip for you?

leylandsunaddict

Fancyette wrote: »

I understand what everyone is saying about the tax but I am a parent with two children until 7 & have had to pay nearly £200 for us four to sit together on our family holiday flying BA in August. Why should we have to pay for seats together when it's obvious children under a certain age cannot be left to sit anywhere on a plane on their own?! Surely other passengers would start complaining if they had children "running" riot on the plane when they're not sitting with parents. It's bad enough us having to pay huge flight prices for travelling in the school holidays - don't penalise us any more, we're not all made of money!

You don't have to pay on BA. You can if you wish, but otherwise they will choose your seats for you 5 days prior to travel. You may not all be together, but they will sit at least one adult with one child.

leylandsunaddict

Pollycat wrote: »

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



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.

Sorry, that's me misunderstanding

Granariesgirl

Pollycat wrote: »

I may be wrong but I would doubt that airlines would have something like the above in their T&Cs as it would just leave them open to compensation claims if it was impossible to seat children with parents.


Not with me it wouldn't.

Now, if you were reasonable about it and asked me or my OH politely to change seats - and I hadn't paid for seats together (which I don't on all short-haul flights) - then I would give serious consideration to helping you out.

But play the aggressive card as above and you wouldn't stand a cat-in-hell's chance of me moving unless I was instructed to (as opposed to requested to) by cabin crew.


Is that enough grip for you?

Sorry, forgot to mention that we would always ask the neighbouring passenger/s politely first: as it is natural for us, I took it as a given that we were talking about the "nuclear" option. Obviously this is not the case for your interpretation & I should have stated that - thanks for pointing out the error.

I have always offered my seat (before being asked) when travelling alone if it meant a couple/ family could sit together & it has usually been the case that a seat exchange was offered before asking when we have needed help.

I totally agree with you that those who are rude & aggressive from the off should be given short shrift but fortunately they are few & far between, at least in my experience.

"Get a grip" refers to parents who complain when there are perfectly viable solutions...

zagfles

Granariesgirl wrote: »

Sorry, forgot to mention that we would always ask the neighbouring passenger/s politely first: as it is natural for us, I took it as a given that we were talking about the "nuclear" option. Obviously this is not the case for your interpretation & I should have stated that - thanks for pointing out the error.

I have always offered my seat (before being asked) when travelling alone if it meant a couple/ family could sit together & it has usually been the case that a seat exchange was offered before asking when we have needed help.

Me too.

I totally agree with you that those who are rude & aggressive from the off should be given short shrift but fortunately they are few & far between, at least in my experience.

Sometimes those asked to move are rude and aggressive. Many years ago I was on a BA flight to the US when the steward politely asked a bloke travelling alone if he wouldn't mind moving so a family could sit together. He got an aggressive rant off the bloke saying he'd selected his seat ages etc why should he move, the family could have selected their seats earlier etc.

Steward didn't rise to it, instead asking another bloke a few rows back if he wouldn't mind moving. Other bloke said yes. As they were walking past the aggressive bloke, the steward said "as a thank you we're upgrading you to business class" :rotfl:

globalds

develyn_UK wrote: »

Yes, this happened to us on the way back from Oslo at Easter. We checked in together but we were all in different rows.

If this had ever happened when my daughter was younger I would have just told her to cry and scream until she was reseated next to me. No one wants to travel with a howling child next to them.

Nice parenting skills ..I pity your kids.

EssexExile

999pez wrote: »

As a parent of 2 teenaged kids, if I had booked a budget flight, I think it's fair enough to pay to sit together. I think with budget airlines you have to expect to pay for everything extra - it's how they keep the basic prices so low.
However, I'm a bit concerned about comments on here about BA. We've paid nearly £4000 for 4 tickets on BA to Orlando in August at rip off school holiday prices. I'd be disappointed if we have to pay extra to sit together.

I've booked business with BA & it's cost £310 to choose where we want to sit.

zagfles

EssexExile wrote: »

I've booked business with BA & it's cost £310 to choose where we want to sit.

What?? :eek:

What next, will they charge you for drinks and food too? I'd take it for granted such things were included in economy on a long haul flight on a flag carrier, never mind business class!

We flew economy with Singapore. Free seat selection. Free food and drink. No extras to pay, even vouchers to spend at the airport.