MSE News: 'Family tax': Dad's outrage as Ryanair tries to seat 3yo away from family

melanzana

Roxpops wrote: »

This happened to our family in May 2014. Our family were all allocated separate seats around the plane. On contacting Ryanair they said speak to check in staff who could only put our 2 year old (he turned 2 in April 2014) in an aisle seat on the opposite side of the plane and one row in front to his mum. Cabin crew wouldn't assist at all - they were not willing to ask other passengers if they would consider swapping seats. It was only after he started to get very upset that a couple agreed to swap seats for duration of take off and landing.

We paid for two seats coming home so that the whole distressing incident didn't happen again.

This is what people have to do now with children, instead of relying on a random seat allocation system, and then discommoding other passengers who HAVE paid, so that their needs will be met.

I'm glad you were OK coming home. I bet you will pay for seats in future. It's the only way.

And I will not give my seat up for anyone who hasn't paid for seat allocation. Honestly, some people have such a sense of entitlement, just because they have kids.

pcsinner

A policeman and a lawyer could not afford to pre book seats? They are a joke and I bet they turned up 45 minutes before departure and expect the world. Seen them all before moaning about seating together. Put your hands in your wallets like the rest of us if you want the extras.

Yeovil_lady

Really?? I want to sit with my family so I pay the extra for allocated seating. I also want to put my hand luggage in the overhead luggage compartments so pay for priority boarding. I travel with Ryanair and other economy airlines for the cheaper flights so expect to pay for extra's to make things more comfortable for me and my family. If you don't like their policies, then travel with other airlines and pay more for the flights.

dascam

This one cuts both ways. We were booked on a Jet 2 flight in allocated seats we had reserved and paid for.. As we boarded the plane we were moved to different individual seats. Turns out a family had occupied our seats. Lesson here? it is not a 'tax' - just pay and everyone is happy..

kilanel

This happened to me several years ago on a flight with Flybe from Birmingham to Belfast. They arranged for us to sit together pretty sharpish, when I informed the air stewards that my 3 year old was now their responsibility and I'd have a Gin and Tonic when they were ready. On a more serious note surely there are some very serious child protection issues should young children be seated away from their parents. If this were to happen to me again I'd firstly be asking to view the DBS certificate for all the plane staff, then I'd be asking that they sign some form of loco parentis agreement if they are not going to ensure I am seated where I can look after my children.

zagfles

dascam wrote: »

This one cuts both ways. We were booked on a Jet 2 flight in allocated seats we had reserved and paid for.. As we boarded the plane we were moved to different individual seats. Turns out a family had occupied our seats. Lesson here? it is not a 'tax' - just pay and everyone is happy..

Eh? You paid and didn't get the seats you paid for! The family that didn't pay sat together.

What's the lesson again?

trickidicki

I have Ryanair checked in on line for two of us six times since they started allocating seats and we have never once been separated, which surprises me as they seem to be overlooking an obvious revenue stream. Check in on line 15 days (max) before flight, until they wake up to this, and you might be OK!

Time_to_save

The same thing happened to my family on a flight from Crete to Germany. Three separate seats for two adults and a 3 year old.
Problem easily solved - another passenger, not wanting to sit next to a wriggly child, happily swapped seats with an adult. No extra cost involved.

NS110

Similar happened to us travelling to Florida last month, we were flying with BA, and on booking the flight we read the family seating policy that said family seats are allocated 5 days before the flight and they would endeavour to sit families together but if that is not possible the children would be sat with an adult. So we agreed that it would not be necessary to pay extra (£30 each each way). But when our seats were allocated the kids were together my husband across the aisle and me in the row behind. Now from reading some of the information on here I see some airlines would count that as together, however when the seatbelt sign is on I do not see how you could assist your kids from those seats. Anyhow after a day of discussing this very point with the BA call centre we eventually got our seats moved together. We decided to pay for the return trip to make sure.

Most things you have to pay extra for on a flight I can understand - checked baggage, extra leg room, priority boarding etc. I can see you are getting a better service or something that has cost the airline more to provide. But why does anyone (with or without kids) have to pay extra to sit on a seat they have already paid for? From reading this thread, and knowing that there is technology that could easily allocate seats for families together (our flight had loads of empty seats at the point of the seats being allocated), it does look deliberate ! I'm really surprised that airlines offer to carry pushchairs and car seats for free - as these definitely add extra hassle for them

veran

The way they are going these airlines are leaving themselves open to competition. Obviously common sense is not part of their customer service. Ridiculous.