Pre-booking seats

[jesusbuiltmycar]

In a couple of weeks time I am off to cuba on a family holiday, my daughter is 2 years old and my 3 month old son will be sitting on my lap for the 10 hour flight....

Thomas Cook now offer pre-booking of seats.. recommended if familys want to sit together - at the bargain price of about £90...

For standard seats this is an absolute rip off, but unfortunately the wife is worried. What are the chances that the airline will fail to find us 3 seats together.

Since my daughter is only 2 I would assume the airline will have to find at least 2 seats together.

Has anyone travelled as a family (with young children) and not been seated together

[sjg]

I flew Thomas Cook a month or so ago. The majority of seats were pre-booked and the unallocated tended to be single ones at the ends of rows.

You might have a decent chance of getting seats together if you're at the airport early enough (as in, at the check-in desk when the flight opens) but really it's down to how many people have pre-booked. The airline would find two seats together for one parent and child, but they may not be with the other parent. If you want to guarantee it, pay up - just consider it part of the fare.

[jesusbuiltmycar]

sjg said:

I flew Thomas Cook a month or so ago. The majority of seats were pre-booked and the unallocated tended to be single ones at the ends of rows.

You might have a decent chance of getting seats together if you're at the airport early enough (as in, at the check-in desk when the flight opens) but really it's down to how many people have pre-booked. The airline would find two seats together for one parent and child, but they may not be with the other parent. If you want to guarantee it, pay up - just consider it part of the fare.

Nahh, if the airline don't find 3 seats together it will not be my fault if the poor sod that gets to sit next to me + 2 kids feels uncomfortable.

[F i F]

jesusbuiltmycar said:

Has anyone travelled as a family (with young children) and not been seated together

Well it's a long while ago now but yes.

We organised that we could sit together on the outward journey by arriving nice and early at the airport, but the return transfer to the airport was so screwed up that we were literally the last party in the check in queue.

Fortunately my daughter was no problem and whilst a bit nervous found it a bit of an adventure to sit on her own a row or two down from nearest parent. But then she was 5, and it was short haul to Balearics.

Actually the grandparents were more of an issue!!!!

So I'd say, pay up. £90 as a % ? It isn't £90 each surely?


On a related issue, frankly though, and you can tell me to sod off if you like, but I wouldn't have even contemplated a long haul with a 2 year old and a <12 month old infant unless it was necessary, and a holiday would not count as necessary in my books. But each to their own I suppose.

: Prepares to be told to sod off and mind own business:

Edited by F i F on Tuesday 9th February 10:45

[Amateurish]

One of you will have to sit next to the 2 yo. So how much of a disaster is it if you have to take the "single" seat and leave your wife to the child and baby?!

[jesusbuiltmycar]

Amateurish said:

One of you will have to sit next to the 2 yo. So how much of a disaster is it if you have to take the "single" seat and leave your wife to the child and baby?!

That would be a good option....

In all seriousness the 2 year old has already done 3 long haul flights and been good as gold on each one (no real temper tantrums, maximum time upset < 5 minutes)...

1. Florida at the age of 4 months.
2. Cyprus (9 hours including 5 hours sat stationary on the # runway in Venice with no aircon curtesy of Thomson Fly)
3. California last year.

Just hope my son will be as good a traveller....