Not pre booked seats with Thomas Cook

eDicky

NoodleDoodleMan wrote: »

If the flight is full, as is likely, how does delaying the check in procedure lead to a "better seat" on the aircraft ?

The flight can be full, but not everyone chosen or been assigned their seats, so there's usually a (diminishing) choice available up to the check-in cut-off time.

Delaying check-in sometimes provides the best seats for free, if they are unsold and the only ones remaining.

Those two posters are apparently saying that during the Thomas Cook checking-in process without paying for a seat, your allocated seat number is displayed before you make the final click to check-in, so if you don't like that seat you can abandon and start again.

Having never flown TC I don't know how true that is. Other airlines that I do use don't display your allocated seat until you're fully checked in and boarding pass issued, no going back.

YBR

I don't know what kind of Risk Assessment Airlines do, but should there be any kind of issue what do you expect families to do if they're not sitting together?
I'd say evacuation would be massively hampered by people going to get their kids/elderly/otherwise vulnerable loved ones rather than going straight for the exit?
All airlines should routinely sit families together for safety, not routinely split them for financial reasons.

Pollycat

YBR wrote: »

I don't know what kind of Risk Assessment Airlines do, but should there be any kind of issue what do you expect families to do if they're not sitting together?
I'd say evacuation would be massively hampered by people going to get their kids/elderly/otherwise vulnerable loved ones rather than going straight for the exit?
All airlines should routinely sit families together for safety, not routinely split them for financial reasons.

This is a topic that has been discussed many times on here.

longwalks1

bagand96 wrote: »

Thomas Cook offer online check-in from 24 hours before your flight so it would be worth doing that to increase your chances of being sat together.

(I’m not sure if it’s available for package holiday customers or just flight only booked direct, but will be worth a try)

Thanks bagand96, we've only booked flights with them so will try that 24 hours before boarding

Ganga

britishboy wrote: »

Thanks bagand96, we've only booked flights with them so will try that 24 hours before boarding

Unless you have pre-booked seats you can only check in on line 24 hours before the flight ( i know as i tried to book in 25 hours before the take off time and it would not let me,retried just over and hour later and no problem)

zermattbusby

deeskeydoo wrote: »

I've looked into this as I'm flying with TC airlines in August, GLA-RHO.
When you check in online, if you're not happy with the seats allocated, do not confirm them. Then, just keep logging in periodically until you're allocated seats you're happy with.
I hope it works, however, my partner and I can surely sit away from each other for a 4.5 hr flight, if need be. Obv, if I had children I wouldn't take this risk. Or would I? :rotfl:

Wife and I have flown with TC 3 times in the last 12 Months and always chose the lucky dip option (24 hours before) Can confirm there was never an option to actually see your seat numbers before committing. Always a case of hit the button and hope for the best...

J_B

zermattbusby wrote: »

Wife and I have flown with TC 3 times in the last 12 Months and always chose the lucky dip option (24 hours before) Can confirm there was never an option to actually see your seat numbers before committing. Always a case of hit the button and hope for the best...

..... and ..... what was the result????

elsien

YBR wrote: »

I don't know what kind of Risk Assessment Airlines do, but should there be any kind of issue what do you expect families to do if they're not sitting together?
I'd say evacuation would be massively hampered by people going to get their kids/elderly/otherwise vulnerable loved ones rather than going straight for the exit?
All airlines should routinely sit families together for safety, not routinely split them for financial reasons.

I have never paid for seats and have still always been seated with my travelling companion, (although I've not travelled Ryanair or easyJet.)
Most airlines do not make a point of splitting up parties unless there's lots of you.
I am happy to take the chance because for short flights I really don't care where I sit. On longer flights I would pay if I needed to to get an aisle seat. And possibly to be sat away from travelling companion when they're being particularly annoying.

zagfles

elsien wrote: »

I have never paid for seats and have still always been seated with my travelling companion, (although I've not travelled Ryanair or easyJet.)
Most airlines do not make a point of splitting up parties unless there's lots of you.
I am happy to take the chance because for short flights I really don't care where I sit. On longer flights I would pay if I needed to to get an aisle seat. And possibly to be sat away from travelling companion when they're being particularly annoying.

Same here, never paid for seats and except for Ryanair we've never been split up.

In fact on TUI we've got front row seats 3 out of 6 flights in the last year! Seats which people normally pay even more than the usual seat reservation fee for AIUI as they're extra legroom!

soolin

I haven't travelled with Thomas Cook but do use British Airways a lot for short trips and get separated around 50% of the time if I don't book seats. I flew to Edinburgh with my OH and adult son about 2 years ago, we were all seated apart but I had an empty seat next to me so my son just moved after checking with the flight attendant once the doors closed .