First family holiday (Tui) - is it worth paying to select seats?

ChasingtheWelshdream

We are going on our first family holiday with 2 kids 13 + 15. We have been given the option to select flight seats which would be £132 for both flights to guarantee we are sitting together. The flight is only 2 hours. 

It doesn’t bother myself and husband to sit separately but the kids have never flown before. I feel in a psychological game and guilty if I don’t pay the extra, but then again, is it one of those things I would regret if all four of us end up separately and the kids feel awkward?

Currently there are several chunks of 4 seats together on the seating plan. But that is also the cost of our pre-flight hotel so seems very excessive.

In real world experience, is it generally worth forking out for guaranteed seats? Or more a waste of money?

daveyjp

Never paid to reserve seats and when travelling as a family the only split has been across the aisle.

Cressida100

You will probably be more worried about the kids sitting separately than they are at ages 13 and 15. They may even prefer it I don't think it's worth paying £132 for the privilege of sitting next to each other.

If the kids are worried they can always come and speak to you. Whatever you do don't ask anyone to swop seats so you can sit together though or you might end up on Facebook! 

An extra £132 to spend while you are away! 

la531983

Although if you are one of the last to check in, you end up with whats left. There is no "law" that says children have to be sat with an adult, only guidance, and then that leads to the awkward stand-off on planes where people are begging those who have likely paid for seats to move to accommodate their poor planning.

maman

I wouldn't pay, just make sure your children know where their dad is sitting and encourage them to pack something to amuse themselves on the journey in their hand luggage. I'd also suggest they have snacks as these can add an unnecessary cost. 

elsien

I travel with a friend – we never pay for seats and the majority of the time (although not always if I forget and leave it too late,) if we check in early enough we are allocated seats together.
You might find that you end up with a two and a two, but that would be fine.

ChasingtheWelshdream

Thank you all that really helps.

I flew with my eldest last year and we didn’t select seats, and were seated together. 2+2 would be absolutely fine, or even 3 and I can go and sit on my own somewhere 😆.

It is a lot of extra fees and would nearly pay for us to go into a water park. If the consensus is that it isn’t hugely worth it, and that airlines do not do not go out of their way to split people up, the I’m happy to take the chance.

I’m guessing it is beneficial to check in as soon as the online check in opens?

Voyager2002

Personally, I would save the money. Fifteen is almost adult, and that age my children were already flying by themselves. Thirteen is a little young: make sure s/he knows how to operate the seatbelt and what behaviour is expected during take-off. Probably it would be good if one of the parents could say 'hello' to the adult sitting next to her/him and give the seat number.

ChasingtheWelshdream

maman said:

I wouldn't pay, just make sure your children know where their dad is sitting and encourage them to pack something to amuse themselves on the journey in their hand luggage. I'd also suggest they have snacks as these can add an unnecessary cost. 

Ooh, I didn’t know we could take our own snacks on the plane! I can take things through security? That would help as it as early flight and probably too early to eat beforehand, but if I can take our own snacks it will help.

The will likely be plugged in to some electrical device I imagine and won’t be bothered. It is a feeling of mum guilt rather than any real distress on their part I guess. 

Exodi

My partner and I have never paid for seats and of the maybe 10 or 20 flights we've been on together, there has been one single occasion when we weren't seated next to each other (though she was in the row in front of me).

I think the airlines lean into the fear that people will be put at opposite ends of the plane, but I suspect it virtually never happens. 

Ayr_Rage

I think being separated from two moody teenagers (Kevin and Perry come to mind) will be heaven for you parents.

Let them grunt, groan, moan and be engrossed in their mobile devices for 2 hours somewhere away from you.

Spend that £132 on a treat for yourself.