Family Who Paid For Non-Existent Seats Forced To Sit On Plane Floor

This family paid over $2000 for their flights and were told there was nowhere for them to sit.

When you book a flight, you are often worried about the food and entertainment on offer, but one thing you never even consider is whether there will be a seat for you to sit in at all! The Taylors, a UK family of three, were shocked to discover that despite paying over $2000 for their flights to Menorca, the seats they had paid for didn’t exist.

Completely Unacceptable

Paula and her husband Ian were offered jump seats for the take off and landing, while daughter Brooke who is just 10 years old was given the last spare seat Kidspot reports. Speaking to a BBC travel show, Paula said that sitting on the floor was completely unacceptable. “It’s hard and it’s uncomfortable and it’s just filthy,” she said. “We just couldn’t believe it when we realised that there genuinely weren’t any seats for us.” A last minute aircraft change was blamed for the unusual seating arrangement, with the airline offering a refund to the family as well as an additional 30 pounds as a ‘goodwill gesture.’

family (1)

Against The Law

The airline at the centre of the drama, TUI Airways, is currently under investigation as a result of the incident, with aviation law stating that no passenger should be without a seat at any stage of a flight. Thankfully the family made it to their destination unscathed, but their story is set to be shared on the appropriately titled Rip Off Britain: Holidays.

Have you got an in flight horror story? Let us know in the comments!

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33 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 22 Jan 2023
    8:02 am
I cant beleive that the airline even allowed this.

- - serotonin said
  - 06 Jun 2019
    8:30 pm
Geez what would’ve happened if there was an emergency and they needed those oxygen masks and seat belts? That’s just wrong and they should’ve given them a lot more than 30 pounds considering they could’ve lost their lives.

- - Kate Sander said
  - 12 Apr 2019
    10:12 pm
I know we “stand” when there aren’t free seats on buses and trains but seriously? That kind of money and no seats. Very unsafe and disgusting. I would have informed them of no seats due to a change of planes which I don’t believe for a second. Yes they deserved the refund but $30 in compensation as a “goodwill gesture” is pathetic.

- - Kim said
  - 03 Apr 2019
    1:43 pm
Can’t believe this happened. Whenever I am on a plane I fasten my seatbelt. As a kid my friend experienced turbulence in an air pocket and people were injured. Everyone has a right to safety.

- - mom206279 said
  - 11 Mar 2019
    4:26 pm
I’d sit on the floor if it was free.

- - mom74005 said
  - 10 Mar 2019
    10:04 pm
I’m this should not have happened, there are serious safety reasons for one..

- - mkett57 said
  - 03 Feb 2019
    5:47 pm
Thats just appalling – the airline should be reported for their behaviour – as others have said its so dangerous.

- - MrsA said
  - 27 Jan 2019
    7:51 pm
That is ridiculous. I would use the refund money to fly with a better airline next time.

- - taynik46 said
  - 27 Jan 2019
    8:40 am
Disgraceful, they should have been offered the next available flight with seats, given an upgrade or credit with the airline, or even anything besides extra luggage weight!

I hope that due to the investigation the family get their money back as full compensation and then some!

- - tessie said
  - 23 Jan 2019
    2:53 pm
This is so dangerous. What if the plane hit turbulence, they would have been unprotected and could have been seriously injured. They need to be given free first class seats on their next flight and never fly with this airline again.

- - rovermum said
  - 23 Jan 2019
    9:19 am
That is absolutely shocking and unacceptable, not to mention unsafe.

- - mom101628 said
  - 22 Jan 2019
    10:23 pm
What a terrible way to start a holiday.

- - mom112217 said
  - 22 Jan 2019
    3:34 pm
It is just so wrong and very unsafe!

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 22 Jan 2019
    1:19 pm
Oh my word! That is so dangerous! If anything had happened they would have had no oxygen mask, etc. not to mention putting up with people coming down the aisles constantly. The amount of compensation offered is also very poor considering they were put at risk!

- - ella12 said
  - 22 Jan 2019
    9:34 am
That is both disgraceful and dangerous. They paid their fare, they should have put them in business class after the airline’s wrongdoing.

- - MuthaNita said
  - 22 Jan 2019
    9:17 am
Wow. I would be absolutely livid. And offering an extra 30 pounds on top of the refund?! What is that meant to do? How do you change the aircraft for a flight and not check that you have enough seats for the passengers beforehand?

- - Ellen said
  - 22 Jan 2019
    4:02 am
What a story !
I once booked a flight from Lusaka (Zambia) to the Netherlands and when we(my sister and I) went to the airport there was a massive queue. People with big fat money joined the queue and are seats were being sold there on the spot. Next they announced the flight was overbooked and we had to leave the airport. By then it was in the middle of the night. We stayed, asking for help to find a hotel. Next the police was called and threatened to throw is in prison when we wouldn’t leave. Luckily in the queue was someone of the German ambassade who offered us to stay overnight with him, then helped us to contact the Dutch ambassade who helped us to get new tickets. A week later we flew out. This is Africa, lol.

- - nealsq said
  - 21 Jan 2019
    10:21 pm
holy moley that is nuts!

- - rachel1970 said
  - 21 Jan 2019
    8:19 pm
Oh my goodness, would have thought this would not have been allowed and the airline should get hefty fines and the family compensated more than just 30 pounds.

- - rnash02 said
  - 21 Jan 2019
    7:26 am
I would’ve thought you wouldn’t have been able to fly without a seat/seat belt ?