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AIBU?

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Original poster

Airline cannot accommodate disabled toddler

130 replies

ChangingTheNarative · 22/08/2023 15:49

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone had any advice, I don't know if anyone will but it's always worth asking.

My son was diagnosed with a genetic disorder back in March (developmental delay, mild intellectual disability, autism and adhd) and he's currently on the ASD pathway.

We booked the long haul holiday in June and at that time we didn't know anything about his condition really or how it will affect him.

It's clear now he'll need a harness on the plane which the airline can provide but they have to be put on the backseats however they are booked so we can't have them which is fair enough.

We cannot take a forward facing car seat on and he won't fit in a rear facing one as he's the size of a 4 year old so they suggested a specialist restraint which is £3k (we can't pay this) and that's the only way around it.

I'm at a loss and don't really know what to do or what I can suggest to them.

I wanted to try and treat my son as normal as possible and take him on holiday but I'm thinking my only option may be to cancel?

I thought I'd ask here before I cancelled it though in case anyone has any ideas?

Im not sure what exactly but worth asking

Thank you so much.

OP posts:
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wishuponastar1988 · 22/08/2023 15:57

Have you considered buying an extended rear facing car seat? I have a britax maxway plus which will last my baby until she is around 6 years old/25kg. I purchased it from ‘simply safe carseats’ who run the ‘car seat safety UK’ Facebook page.

londonrach · 22/08/2023 15:57

Can you rebook for when the seats are available. Surely you checked this prior to booking.

FloweryName · 22/08/2023 15:56

Can’t you rebook for when the harnesses are available?

Myohmyomy · 22/08/2023 15:55

I haven’t got any suggestions other than ask the airline if they could make an exception and ask the people in the booked seats if they could change (in advance). I would swap in a heartbeat for something like this though I appreciate those who booked may need the seats for a particular reason. If this wasn’t possible, would the airline swap to different flight at no extra cost where these seats were available?

I hope you get it sorted and have a lovely holiday.

Thewizardbinbag · 22/08/2023 15:54

When you booked, you obviously knew your child and what he could or could not handle. You booked the holiday so obviously had no worries about him on the plane. A diagnosis doesn’t change that. If you thought he’d be fine on the plane then why do you now think he will need a harness? What would you have done if he hadn’t been given a diagnosis, would you have realised he couldn’t manage the plane without outside input or would you have gone ahead with the holiday?