MSE News: Scrap 'family tax' that pushes parents to pay to sit next to kids

Former_MSE_Paloma · 27 April 2015 at 9:36AM

MSE demands airlines scrap a 'family tax' that pushes parents to pay an extra £15 each to sit next to their children ...

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MSE calls for airlines to scrap 'family tax' and guarantee parents are seated next to children for free

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duchy · 27 April 2015 at 9:40AM

It was fairly clear from the recent thread on here that there was division and a large number of posters didn't agree so I'm not sure why MSE are demanding .....or even who they are demanding this of.

benjus · 27 April 2015 at 9:57AM

So essentially MSE is demanding that this optional charge becomes a compulsory charge added to the ticket price, as has happened every other time they protested against airline practices.

Which would make it a "travelling-without-children-and-don't-mind-where-I-sit tax" rather than a "family tax". But everyone knows that people who don't have children with them are a nasty selfish bunch and we should always think of the children, so this "tax" will probably be deemed acceptable.

Or how about people just budget for this extra charge when booking? Cheap flights are not a basic human right...

Pollycat · 27 April 2015 at 10:26AM

I think this is a load of tosh from MSE.

'Demanding'?
Really?

Well, MSE, it appears the CAA ain't listening to your demands:

The airlines aren't technically breaking any rules set out by the regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Its guidelines only state that airlines should "aim to sit parents close to children", or if this isn't possible, they should not be separated by more than one aisle and by no more than one seat row.
But MoneySavingExpert.com believes the airlines are using sneaky tactics and not serving families well. This "family tax" is yet another extra cost for holidaymakers looking to get away.
We asked the CAA whether it plans to tighten the guidelines to guarantee parents are seated next to their children for free. It says it has no plans to change the rules.

To refer to it as a 'family tax' is ridiculous.
It's a chargeable optional extra.
Choose to pay it or choose not to pay it.

duchy · 27 April 2015 at 10:57AM

Ironic MSE demanding airlines increase charges to travellers.

tripled · 27 April 2015 at 11:27AM

So this would disproportionaly penalise those without children who hadn't coughed up. They would have to be the ones moved about to accomodate them and so this would increase the chances of being separated. Thus increasing the pressure on that demographic to pay instead. Not everyone can be sat together on a busy plane, someone has to lose out (or the airline has to keep some seats back and raise charges to compensate).

I'm not in favour of the fees - I think the airline should attempt to seat everyone together as far as is reasonably possible - but it seems like some of the MSE staff have been spending too much time on Mumsnet.

KTF · 27 April 2015 at 11:47AM

The 'seating together' option is pure profit for the airlines.

I don't know of anyone who has checked in as a group and then found themselves scattered across the cabin by the check in system.

PasturesNew · 27 April 2015 at 11:51AM

I'd pay £15 NOT to sit next to somebody else's random and stray kids.

DTDfanBoy · 27 April 2015 at 12:03PM

This is only an issue on the budget airlines who rely on the insecurities of a few to make a few extra £££.

Unsurprisingly those same people are worried that they'll be inconvenienced, by those silly enough not to pay to be seated next to each other, but haven't really though through the whole process properly.

Seating should be allocated in-line with the CAA guidance, the guidance has been issued as it's a safety concern that affects all those on board the aircraft. The seating allocation of families should take place at the time of booking or perhaps at check in, but it is never something that needs to take place on board the aircraft as the airline know the age of all passengers in a party from the time of booking.

I'll be breaking through the 1,000,000 miles flown mark either later this year or early next, I've never paid to be seated with travelling companions and have never been separated by more that the CAA guidelines for families even though I don't have any children. Thankfully unless you're flying the cheapest of the budget carriers being seated with those on your booking is still an expected part of the service and not an invented added extra that needs to be paid for

tomtontom · 27 April 2015 at 1:43PM

DTDfanBoy wrote: »

This is only an issue on the budget airlines who rely on the insecurities of a few to make a few extra £££.

Unsurprisingly those same people are worried that they'll be inconvenienced, by those silly enough not to pay to be seated next to each other, but haven't really though through the whole process properly.

Seating should be allocated in-line with the CAA guidance, the guidance has been issued as it's a safety concern that affects all those on board the aircraft. The seating allocation of families should take place at the time of booking or perhaps at check in, but it is never something that needs to take place on board the aircraft as the airline know the age of all passengers in a party from the time of booking.

I'll be breaking through the 1,000,000 miles flown mark either later this year or early next, I've never paid to be seated with travelling companions and have never been separated by more that the CAA guidelines for families even though I don't have any children. Thankfully unless you're flying the cheapest of the budget carriers being seated with those on your booking is still an expected part of the service and not an invented added extra that needs to be paid for

Has BA become a budget airline now? They charge in the same way that the LCCs do.

DTDfanBoy · 27 April 2015 at 2:00PM

tomtontom wrote: »

Has BA become a budget airline now? They charge in the same way that the LCCs do.

While BA is enhancing itself towards the budget end of the spectrum on a yearly basis, they still haven't lowered themselves to the point of some of the budget carriers

If you fly on BA you don't have to pay a premium to ensure you're seated with your children.

BritishAirways wrote: »

We know where you sit as a family can make a big different to your trip so we aim to make it a little easier.

When you travel with an infant (under two years) who won't be travelling in a seat of their own, you can reserve a seat for yourself and everyone in your booking, free of charge, from the time of booking. If you don't choose your seats in advance, where possible we'll reserve suitable seats for you three days before the flight.

If you are travelling with children (between two and 12 years), we'll allocate you seats five days before departure. If you can't be seated together, we'll make sure each child is seated with an adult from your group.

MSE News: Scrap 'family tax' that pushes parents to pay to sit next to kids

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