Paid to sit next to each other but weren't - can i ask for a refund?

ssearson89

Hello

Just looking for some advice.

We recently went on holiday with Tui/Thomson to Mexico for our honeymoon. When we 'checked in' online a couple of days before we were allocated seats quite far away from each other, with no option to chose any sat next to each other. I called TUI and explained that it was our honeymoon and we'd like to sit next to each other as it was a 10 hour flight etc. The man on the phone explained that we could sit next to each other if we paid £90 to upgrade the seats.

We did this.

However when on the flights to Mexico and back it appeared we'd just paid for 'extra leg room' seats, that were next to each other, but with an aisle in between us. Which we're not too happy about when there's passengers walking past to go to the loo etc every 5 mins, and trolleys going up and down every 20/30 mins etc.. if you get me.

Fortunately there were about 3 or 4 rows empty on both flights at the back of the plane, so we could move there to sit next to each other (which we did), however we lost our extra leg room - which is apparently what we paid for - but this wasn't explained at the time.

Basically I was wondering if we have any rights to claim the £90 back? Has anyone done this before? We thought we were paying £90 to sit next to each other - which we weren't really. You can't really do a crossword (sad I know..) together when people are walking past interrupting every couple of minutes (if we were lucky), and couldn't fall asleep on each other etc.

Also on the flight there, my partner was asked if we would mind moving by a flight attendant as a mother and child were sat next to him - and it would give them more room.

Please help thank you

richardw

Their 'sitting together' includes being separated by an aisle or row, so you were 'sitting together'.

Lolu

Hi, if you chose to move seats of your own accord why would you think you were eligible for a refund??

ssearson89

Sorry I'm not meaning to come across as being cheeky.

We paid to sit next to each other because there were no seats available to chose from when we checked in. However it became apparent when we go on the flight that there were quite a few rows of empty seats at the back of the plane. Surely we should have been able to select them at the original checking in process?

Westin

If sitting together was important, why did you not pay to have pre-assigned seats prior to check-in?

You mention your honeymoon and how you would like to sit next to each other - so why not build that into your holiday plans and pay the small supplement to select your seats in advance.

As richardw points out - seats located across an aisle are classed as "together" so no refund due. If you wanted seats side by side - these could have been selected earlier if you paid.

jpsartre

ssearson89 wrote: »

Surely we should have been able to select them at the original checking in process?

That's up the airline. Right or wrong, they're not obliged to seat passengers together.

ssearson89

Thanks for your reply Richard. I've now seen that on the email we received after paying the £90. I just wondered as nothing was mentioned when we called and asked.

ssearson89

Hi Westin

We're just not that organised. We will know for next time. But thank you for replying

ssearson89

Hi Lolu

I was just asking. We technically paid for 'extra leg room' when we thought that we were paying to sit next to each other. But thank you for your reply - we will know for next time to be a bit more organised.

Voyager2002

Did you in fact move seats after the air hostess requested this? In that case you have a good case for a refund: you paid for extra leg-room seats but were asked to give these up by a member of the flight crew, and so of course you did as you were asked.

ssearson89

Yeah on the way there we did as there was a mother with a baby and the air hostess said it would give her extra room. We asked on the return flight - but again there was another mother and child sat next to my partner on the return flight too..