Paying extra for seats together on plane?

Hippychick

Can you not check in online in advance?

I've always managed to log in and pre book my seats months in advance, granted I don't do package holidays. I am flying with Singapore air in December and booked our seats way back in February, using https://www.seatguru.com for guidance on how good or bad the seats are. I have never paid extra for that facility either.

Zoetoes

I think I can check in online, I'm still waiting for my passport though, should be here by the weekend hopefully so I'll have a proper look then.

Zoetoes

There is a day before check in so I will look at doing that.

Becles

zoeleigh wrote: »

Surely they won't separate the kids from me on a 5 hour flight?

They might. See my post 12 where I saw it happen to another family and it happened to us.

davidlizard

Also, definitions of "together" can vary greatly between airlines/tour operators.

Some, as a colleague at work found out, that together means "sitting behind" rather than next to. They had 4 seats, all one behind each other.

I go along with richardw - I will not book with anyone that tries to grab more cash by preying on peoples fear of being split up on the aircraft.

withabix

davidlizard wrote: »

I go along with richardw - I will not book with anyone that tries to grab more cash by preying on peoples fear of being split up on the aircraft.

You won't be doing much flying on charter airlines then!

interstellaflyer

Personally I don't think paying £5 per person each way to sit together is so bad but if you are going to pay then do what we did, £7.50 per person each way and you can choose your seats up to 90 days from departure and to be honest on a holiday £1500 £45 is nothing and seeing that the TS is going further afield than us the extra £40 is negligable, We're going with Thomas Cook so Idon't know what other operstors charge.

Wee_Fifer

Hi, have read through all off the comments re pre booking seats and would like to put in a positive comment.

When going long haul i do pay for seats together, its mainly for coming back. as pointed out in earlier threads getting to the airport early is easy but coming back you are governed by the coach!

I regularly book with Thomas Cook and use their "your seats your choice" which costs me £20 each, i get to choose the seats we will sit in going and coming back, takes a lot of stress away for the return journey. i get to check in my luggage online before the flight so this enables me to spend less time in the airport when going and no queuing as you use the express check in. I find it extremely good value.

With all this in mind, i do agree with many of the comments and i am not keen on just paying money to ensure we sit together - when you book this option what is wrong with them issuing you with a seat number??? Hence why i book with thomas cook if i can!

Enjoy your honeymoon!

davidlizard

withabix wrote: »

You won't be doing much flying on charter airlines then!

Correct! I haven't flown on a charter airline since the late 1990s, partially for this reason. Avoiding charter flights is one of the main reason we avoid package holidays.

Scheduled all the way for me these days - more flexible with dates (no 7/14 night limits) and travel times, more leg room, no paying for food/drinks/headphones, online check-in, and usually cheaper.

Aquarius1980

I went to Florida last year with my friend and her parents. The 3 of them had booked their flights through Virgin, then asked if I wanted to join them. So I booked my flight about a week later.

As you can pre-choose your seats on Virgin flights we moved us all round so me and my friend were sat together in front on her parents. However when we got to the airport, there had been a 'supposed' change of plane so we no longer had the same seats. I ended up sat on my own on the row in front. TBH, as I booked separately I could have been put at the opposite end of the plane, so didn't moan about it. As it was, I got sat with a lady and her 2 year old son - which might sound hurrendous, but was actually ok. The little boy was very well behaved, and he did keep me entertained when I got bored!!

The same thing happened on the way back - again a 'supposed' plane change. This time I got an extra leg room seat next to a couple who slept all the way back, so really I got a better deal.

I know we didn't pay extra to choose the seats we wanted, but you do wonder what is the point of spending time picking the seat you want, only to be moved once you check in!