Aer Lingus transatlantic assigned seats

mikefromcork

I'm thinking of going to the US and looking at flights for 5 including 3 children. It's €500 extra for seats and bags included in the smart fare. I would like to get the saver fare and add 2 bags each way for €44. What are the chances of sitting together with assigned seats? Do they scatter the party randomly? Even 3 together would be manageable. Thanks.

AmberKat

Depends on the airline, so for your scenario with Aer Lingus you will get to pick your seat when checking in but you are risking that there will be seats together left as you are picking after everyone who paid and those who check in before you.

I definitely wouldn't risk leaving it to check in and being that family asking everyone to move from seats they paid for to accommodate them.

Why not add them on like the baggage immediately after purchasing the flight? Assuming you pick the mid range price (seat prices range from 3.99 - 16.99 in economy), it should be around €100?

dazed+confused

Arrive early and check in at a desk rather than doing automated check in.

Politely ask the attendant at the desk and if there's room to put you together they will.

If there's no unasigned seating left, there's nothing they can do.

I think you need to think of the Smart fare as the price of a ticket now and the Saver fare only for people travelling alone for short periods of time. This is just my opinion though, all depends on your individual needs of course.

mikefromcork

Thanks for the advice. I definitely don't want to be one of those people asking others to move so I'll have to pay the extra.

I did notice that booking the return to Manchester is €320 cheaper, presumably due to taxes and different airport charges. What if I booked that but realised on the day in Boston that I actually need to get off with my bags in Dublin?

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120021178#Comment_120021178

What if I booked that but realised on the day in Boston that I actually need to get off with my bags in Dublin?

Hidden city flying is only really viable with hand luggage only. If you want to change your destination in Boston they will charge you.

endofrainbow

That wont work as your bags will be tagged to MAN. If you ask them to short check they will know what you're trying to do and will reprice the trip.

It's called Hidden City Ticketing.

Marcusm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120020943#Comment_120020943

Why leave it that late? At that stage you could almost guarantee that nothing would be left. If the OP is unwilling to pay then online checkin would give a greater prospect of sitting together.

dazed+confused

Booking seats online will cost him.

Seats are free when checking in at the airport.

Peregrinus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120027831#Comment_120027831

But at the cost of very little seat choice. Most people check in online before in-person check-in has opened, so if you check in at the airport the only seats left are those not already taken by (a) those who paid for assigned seats plus (b) those who have already checked in online. Obviously if the check-in staff are able to seat your party all together they will, but there is a high chance that they won't be able to. Chances of their being five adjacent unallocated seats at that point are not high.

dazed+confused

Correct and right and that's why I don't ever buy a saver fare unless traveling alone and even then I very rarely do.

It's still an option for the OP if money is an issue though.

endofrainbow

it's also worth noting that 'in front' 'behind' 'across aisle' are considered seated together.

Tippman24

A few years ago I was part of a group (38) going with Aer Lingus to Chicago. Whatever way it happened myself and one other of the group were assigned to the mid section of the plane. The other man was elderly and, when boarding, I said to him that I was just over the aisle if he needed me. The Aer Lingus crewmember heard this and gave us two seats together immediately.