Flight to Japan - No Seats to Sit with Child That Don't Have a Fee

Minimum chips on 20/12/2024 - 21:24

So I've booked flights to Japan for myself, partner and (3yr old) child. Flying with ANA, booked direct with airline.

On the SYD-HND leg in the seat reservation picker, every single aisle and window seat has a $40 fee. There are rows and rows of unreserved seats, but none have aisle or window seats that don't have this charge. So for us to all sit together would cost $80. There are no seats assigned to our booking at this point. I haven't travelled with others too often, is this normal?

On the one hand I assume they will automatically seat us with our child, because it would be madness to put a 3yr old next to strangers for 10hrs overnight; but on the other hand that would be giving away something they're trying to charge money for (those specific seats) for free. If you do have to pay just to sit with your small child, what a bloody rort.

Anyone had experience with this?

Travel

Comments

  • Downvoter on 20/12/2024 - 21:36
    +26

    They’ll put one of you next to the kid, the other one they’ll place wherever. Just pay the money ffs; it’s your family.

      • spackbace on 20/12/2024 - 21:57
        +3

        It's all relative. It's not like it was a $40 add-on to a $50 or $100 cost.

        I'm over 6 foot, seat selection to get more legroom is just part of my flying experience.

      • Downvoter on 20/12/2024 - 22:23
        +2

        Well one of you will be with the kid and one won’t. I’m not sure what you expect, both of you next to the kid for free?

      • EightImmortals on 21/12/2024 - 08:15
        +6

        "I wouldn't mind if the ticket had just been a bit more expensive"

        Are you SURE about that?
        What if the ticket was $150 more but you got to sit together?

  • vorsprung on 20/12/2024 - 21:55

    I fly Jetstar a lot.

    Are you suggesting you can pick a middle seat anywhere on the plane for free? Must be nice.

  • GordonD on 20/12/2024 - 21:57
    +19

    Go ahead and be a cheapskate and not pay the extra for getting a row of seats for the three of you.

    It'll work out.

    Here's how, Or so I believe from the stories on the internet. One of you will get a seat next to the 3 y-o. The other one will get a middle seat somewhere else. Then when the plane loads they'll have to persuade the flight attendant to try to persuade the 3rd person in that row to give up their seat so you three can sit together. If the flight attendant can't persuade them to give up the seat they've paid $40 extra so you didn't have to you tell them how disruptive and annoying your 3 y-o is, and tell them they'll be glared at by everyone around them for the whole flight, and you'll post their meanness on facebook and embarrass them. One or other of those arguments will persuade them and save you the $40.

    • Trying2SaveABuck on 20/12/2024 - 22:47
      +4

      No one gives a f—- about OP social media rage post lol

      This isnt 2008

      • stickingly on 21/12/2024 - 08:50
        +3

        There is one on the front page of news.com.au just about every day

        • Protractor on 21/12/2024 - 13:33
          +1

          Count how many times a day they use the words outrage and fury. Albo should tax the words.

      • Minimum chips on 21/12/2024 - 18:18

        Wow, I need to work ony tone. I wasn't aware I was raging!

        I can see the incandescent anger in this line now though:

        I haven't travelled with others too often, is this normal?

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 20/12/2024 - 22:44
    +6

    This is one of those post where OP is just being ridiculously cheap oppossed to savvy

    To save $80 your willing to take a risk or be away from your family for hours when you're flying with a child

    I agree $40 for seat selection is a bit of a rip off but it is what it is - you have a family you're going on a holiday you got to expect it will cost money

    You're not a 19 y.o travelling with a mate with a backpack

    • Minimum chips on 21/12/2024 - 18:16
      -2

      Clearly the assumption is that I'm a cheapskate for asking about this (politely I thought but clearly I'm coming across as Scrooge McDuck), but I don't mind paying $80 if it's part of the ticket. It's not that much money, it's just annoying that its an add-on that is charged as if it's optional even though in this circumstance it's obviously not.

  • Edeena on 20/12/2024 - 22:54
    +1

    Cheapest fares on ANA no free seats until check in time.

  • Bruceflix on 20/12/2024 - 23:03
    +13

    I would pay extra to be seated away from a 3yo.

  • brendanm on 20/12/2024 - 23:07
    +4

    This place never ceases to amaze.

  • plmko on 20/12/2024 - 23:11
    -6

    There is a way to get exactly what you want. But I'm not going divulge it, way too unethical.

    • donga100 on 21/12/2024 - 11:42
      +1

      And it only costs $80

    • jackary on 21/12/2024 - 19:32
      +1

      Airlines hate this one simple trick

  • Dollar General on 21/12/2024 - 06:00

    Contact them and ask if they will seat you all together due to having a 3 year old.

  • loulou1 on 21/12/2024 - 06:29
    +1

    I refuse to pay to select a seat. When we went to Japan (family of three) we waited until check in time when seats became available and we were all seated together.
    We flew with Qantas, YMMV.

    • try2bhelpful on 21/12/2024 - 08:08
      +4

      Just wondering how you would’ve reacted if they refused to sit all three of you together?

      • loulou1 on 21/12/2024 - 08:28
        +1

        We would have been fine with it, obviously preferable that at least one adult was with our child (our child is a bit older). If neither of us was sitting near our child I would have spoken to Qantas staff in the airport to ask if there was a possibility of having seats changed so that they were near one of us, and paid if required. Of course we wouldn’t make a fuss if it wasn’t possible.
        At age 3, I really don’t think an airline would seat a child away from their parents.

        • try2bhelpful on 21/12/2024 - 13:16
          +1

          I suspect they would seat any child next to one parent. The second might find themselves in a middle seat elsewhere.

  • try2bhelpful on 21/12/2024 - 08:24
    +1

    Do they have online check in before the flight? We prefer seats either side of the aisle so we try to check in as soon as the preflight online checkin becomes available.

  • ihfree on 21/12/2024 - 08:28

    An airline isn't going to sit a family separately. I'd love to do a flight away from my kids.

    I'd just yolo it and check in early if you want to be cheap.

  • Tily on 21/12/2024 - 08:46
    +2

    There is no guarantee that the airline will put all 3 of u together. Usually with a child, they will put one parent with the child. If you want to be seated together, pay the $80. If not you get what you get upon check in. Honestly at that cost, it’s not worth the hassle to risk it.

    On holidays I would want my partner to be sitting with me and my child. So when we travel, I make sure we pay for the seats we want. Takes away the pressure of the risk of not being able to sit together.

  • BigBirdy on 21/12/2024 - 09:47
    -7

    $40/seat selection is extortion, but if you want to be (almost) guaranteed to be sitting together, you’re stuck to pay it. Make sure you give the airline a negative review for their dodgy add-on charges

    • Protractor on 21/12/2024 - 13:26
      +2

      You have a low limit for your definition of extortion.
      I call it 'pay for the privilege' aka user pays. Small price IMHO if it's your own child.
      OP gets a free kick on the child care side of the equations anyway.
      This is a real 1st world issue.

      • BigBirdy on 21/12/2024 - 15:31
        +1

        Since when did it become a privilege to sit with your family?

        • Protractor on 21/12/2024 - 15:33
          +2

          Privilege in this case is the expectation of special treatment using a child as emotional currency.

          Since when was $40 for this (a common charge) extortion in any jurisdiction?

  • doctordv8 on 21/12/2024 - 10:17

    You pay in a higher flight price, or as an add on.

    Same same in reality.

    • Daabido on 21/12/2024 - 12:48

      Or you don't, and it's not.

  • JoeBogan on 21/12/2024 - 10:31
    +4

    I’m here for OP getting roasted for being a cheapskate

    • Minimum chips on 21/12/2024 - 18:22
      -3

      It's really wild to me, because I was just trying to ask about this politely because I've genuinely never been in this circumstance before. But people reading of this whole thing seems to be filling in the blanks with the worst possible options. Like not to be all woe-is-me but I feel like I wandered into the whirlpool forums here.

  • ihbh on 21/12/2024 - 11:22
    +3

    Anyone had experience with this?

    Yep, this woman did recently. Definitely worth saving $40.

    https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/22732/118560/seat.jpg

    • JoeBogan on 21/12/2024 - 22:27

      That’s Brian Shaw!

  • kaos on 21/12/2024 - 12:17
    +3

    I've just come back from Japan flying ANA.
    My wife paid an extra $$ to sit me at an exit row because I am tall.
    Plot twist- it was completely worth it, but maybe not necessary. Why? Because we normally fly Jetstar or Virgin and my legs hit the seat in front.
    ANA have more room by default, so I may not have had my knees under my armpits the whole way.

    I'm also a Qantas club life member, so I'd prefer a local airline for a bunch of reasons. I hate the idea of paying extra for the seats I want, but doesn't look like this will change.
    ANA was cheaper, had newer airplanes, the staff were incredible and there was more leg room.
    Winning

  • try2bhelpful on 21/12/2024 - 13:30

    The dollar cost of airfares is about the same now as in the 1980s; when the specials are on it is actually cheaper now. If you look at how much other things have increased in price flying is actually a bargain compared to then. When it comes to people booking low entry pricing the airlines will change whatever extras they can. People who don’t carry checkin luggage, want meals, or give a toss where they sit appreciate the bargain basement airfares. Everyone else needs to build a fare from what is required. When booking compare apples to apples.

  • p1 ama on 21/12/2024 - 20:24

    Have you tried calling the airline before complaining on an online forum about being "rorted"? I mean, it doesn't sound like you've tried very hard to do any research or solve your own problem.

    I mean, a quick five second search on Google would have landed you in a forum discussing exactly your question, see: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/all-nippon-airways-ana-milea…

    My own personal experience is that for full service airlines, families with kids will always be kept together, particularly on long haul international where a large number of seats are blocked out by the airline. For budget airlines, anything goes, but this is irrelevant as ANA have been consistently one of the best airlines to deal with.

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