"I'm being forced to pay £56 to sit next to my toddler on plane – it's a nightmare"
A recent incident has shed light on the frustration felt by many airline passengers when faced with the choice of paying additional fees to reserve seats. In this particular case, a mother was deeply concerned about the possibility of being separated from her toddler during the flight unless she agreed to pay an extra £56 on top of the ticket price.
Expressing her anxieties, the mother took to the popular online platform Mumsnet to share her dilemma. She highlighted her inability to take any risks on the day of travel due to her young child, emphasizing that a more enjoyable experience for them depended on being seated together as a family in one row. Shockingly, this privilege came at a cost of 66 euros (£56).
Adding to her frustration, the mother expressed her disbelief at having to pay extra simply to ensure that she could sit with her toddler. This mandatory expense seemed like an unnecessary burden for such a fundamental requirement. Commenters on the forum reacted with similar disappointment, questioning whether airlines were justified in seating a young child away from their family. Some suggested checking the airline's policy to verify these claims further.
While some recognized this as an unfortunate but common practice among most airlines - a means to keep the headline ticket prices low - it was clear that passengers would have to pay the price if they wished to sit together. The alternative would be taking the risk of being separated, likely resulting in the child being placed with one parent, rather than alongside both parents.
In a more pragmatic tone, another parent revealed how they included such additional fees in their overall holiday budget, accepting it as an essential expense for the sake of comfort and peace of mind. This sentiment was echoed by another traveler who willingly paid for the entire family to sit together in avoidance of the headaches caused by potential conflicts with air stewards during the boarding process.
The incident serves as a reminder of the growing trend within the airline industry to charge passengers extra for seat reservations, which can significantly impact families traveling with young children. As this issue continues to spark concern and frustration among travelers, it remains essential for airlines to address these concerns and reconsider their policies to ensure a more seamless and family-friendly experience for passengers of all ages.
Also, SSP reported before about an awkward situation on a flight over woman's action.