Not Seating Children with Adults

zagfles

Pollycat wrote: »

Paying for 'seating together' is different to paying for 'specific seats'.
'Specific seats' is obvious - you choose whether to sit in seats 12A/B/C or 25 D/E/F.


'seating together' could include seats across the aisle or even one behind the other - which is what you say would not be acceptable for your party..
I'm not sure what TUI offer (as I've never opted to pay for seats) but from their blurb I'd guess it is selecting a specific seat.
But for future flights, it might be best if you're sure of the terminology you're using.


Same as 'direct' and 'non-stop' flights - there's a difference.

TUI give you seats together for free, it's selecting specific seats you have to pay for.

When you go to check in, it's already provisionally allocated you seats, and they will be together except I guess in the unlikely event of this being impossible. You then have the option to select other seats on the plane if you don't like the free allocated seats.

Pollycat

zagfles wrote: »

TUI give you seats together for free, it's selecting specific seats you have to pay for.

When you go to check in, it's already provisionally allocated you seats, and they will be together except I guess in the unlikely event of this being impossible. You then have the option to select other seats on the plane if you don't like the free allocated seats.

That's a bit contradictory (at least it is to me).
Those people who absolutely want to sit together can't be totally 100% sure that the seats allocated for free (which is what we opt for) are 'together'.

FTR, when I referred to 'future flights' and 'terminology', I wasn't talking about TUI as the OP has already made the decision to pay to select seats.

Kim Kim didn't appear to be aware that 'seats together' could actually be across the aisle or one behind the other so I thought it worth explaining to avoid any future disappointment.
One company actually had an explanation on their website that 'seats together' may be across the aisle or one behind the other.
I can't recall which company.

I did find this from a post of mine from 18 months ago:

If we do have to change your seat, we’ll try to keep it as close to what you booked as possible. A refund will only be offered if we can’t seat you in a similar position to your original choice*. In such cases, we ask that you keep a copy of your confirmation documents and boarding cards. If you choose the Select Your Seat option but then don’t go on to choose your seat numbers, we’ll still try and seat your group together. If you’re not flying with TUI, we’ll do our best to keep your party together but we can’t guarantee it.
*Seats together may be across an aisle or behind each other. A similar position means the same type of seat (window, aisle etc) as your original selected seats and within 5 rows of your original choice.

It was an extract from TUI website.

leylandsunaddict

TUI don't automatically seat you adjacent free of charge. The system allocates seats as soon as you enter OLCI. They do try (sometimes) to sit you together but that could be across an aisle or infront/behind as well as adjacent. That doesn't happen all the time as can be seen by the amount of complaints. Given they had so many complaints they actually started limiting OLCI numbers so they had unreserved seats available for families that hadn't bothered to pay and were split. There's not many though, so it's not a tactic to rely on.

duchy

billy2shots wrote: »

Booked a Flybe flight this morning. I have read stories of families being separated from 5 year olds when gambling by not Pre booking seats.

I have no issue paying for a seat for me and my wife but feel it’s a little unfair to pay for a 9 and 7 year old to guarantee they are sat next to a parent.
I flew about 5 years ago with someone who allowed for free Pre booked seat next to a paying parent.

£24 total for the kids seats so not the end of the world but the principle irks me a little.

You don't mind paying to sit next to your spouse but don't want to pay for your children ?
Why ?
When you eat out do you not want to pay for them either ? But don't mind paying for your wife's food !
I'm not sure as a parent I understand your logic.

gettingtheresometime

duchy wrote: »

You don't mind paying to sit next to your spouse but don't want to pay for your children ?
Why ?
When you eat out do you not want to pay for them either ? But don't mind paying for your wife's food !
I'm not sure as a parent I understand your logic.

I'm hoping that what billy2shots mean is that he doesn't mind paying to sit next to the other adult in his party but feels children should be able to sit next to an adult in the party for free

billy2shots

gettingtheresometime wrote: »

I'm hoping that what billy2shots mean is that he doesn't mind paying to sit next to the other adult in his party but feels children should be able to sit next to an adult in the party for free

My point was clear. duchy understands it perfectly but is choosing to be deliberately abrasive which is becoming far to common here lately.

maman

leylandsunaddict wrote: »

If the plane was on fire I would expect a 13 yr old to make their way to the nearest exit without having mummy or daddy to tell them to do so, as they would do if they were in a building that caught fire. I would also hope that mummy and daddy had brought them up to be capable of doing just that. If they haven't then it's their responsibility to make sure they can look after her, so they pay to select seats together.

peachyprice wrote: »

If the plane were on fire I would hope my 13yo wouldn't be so stupid to sit and wait for mummy and daddy to come get them.

Children do fire drills regularly at school from the age of at least 5. They learn very quickly to follow everyone else and leave in an orderly manner. It's more likely that the parent who doesn't trust their own child will be holding people up.:(

Incidentally King Canute wasn't deluded. He knew that the tide wouldn't obey him and was trying to demonstrate to his courtiers that there were powers greater than him.

Kim_kim

Pollycat wrote: »

Paying for 'seating together' is different to paying for 'specific seats'.
'Specific seats' is obvious - you choose whether to sit in seats 12A/B/C or 25 D/E/F.


'seating together' could include seats across the aisle or even one behind the other - which is what you say would not be acceptable for your party..
I'm not sure what TUI offer (as I've never opted to pay for seats) but from their blurb I'd guess it is selecting a specific seat.
But for future flights, it might be best if you're sure of the terminology you're using.


Same as 'direct' and 'non-stop' flights - there's a difference.

Ok, I’ve paid the extra to choose specific seats so my grandchildren can sit with their mum.

Kim_kim

Pollycat wrote: »

That's a bit contradictory (at least it is to me).
Those people who absolutely want to sit together can't be totally 100% sure that the seats allocated for free (which is what we opt for) are 'together'.

FTR, when I referred to 'future flights' and 'terminology', I wasn't talking about TUI as the OP has already made the decision to pay to select seats.

Kim Kim didn't appear to be aware that 'seats together' could actually be across the aisle or one behind the other so I thought it worth explaining to avoid any future disappointment.
One company actually had an explanation on their website that 'seats together' may be across the aisle or one behind the other.
I can't recall which company.

I did find this from a post of mine from 18 months ago:

It was an extract from TUI website.

I was aware they could be in adjacent rows rather than actually sat in the same row, beside each other, hence why I opted to pay.

The plane I’m on is a 3 - 3 - 3, that’s got to be the worst configuration for being split up as so many people who pay will be in pairs.

zagfles

Pollycat wrote: »

That's a bit contradictory (at least it is to me).
Those people who absolutely want to sit together can't be totally 100% sure that the seats allocated for free (which is what we opt for) are 'together'.

Well if they aren't "together", using whatever definition of "together" you want, you can then select seats!

I did this 2 days ago, so I know what happens.

You go into online check in.

It then presents you with the seats it has allocated you.

If you're happy, you confirm check in with those seats, no charge.

If you don't like those seats, you have the option to pay to change them.