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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

London 2012 charging for babies

116 replies

DoodleAlley · 15/03/2011 09:16

AIBU to think its extortionate that London 2012 are charging full price for all people including babies for all but a few events.

How can they justify charging for a baby which won't take up a seat?

We'd love to apply for a ticket but are thinking about trying for a second child before, oh, the next year and a half. But buying another twenty pound plus ticket for a child which might not even be conceived or might be 6 months old seems crazy.

And we just dont have the option to leave a baby with family.

How can this be encouraging children to be involved?!

OP posts:
NinkyNonker · 15/03/2011 09:17

Ridiculous! What is their reasoning, anyone know?

catchmeifyoucan · 15/03/2011 09:18

I can't think of anything worse than attending a major event like that with a small baby. How do it enhance your enjoyment and what on earth is in it for the baby? Just watch the telly!

Ben10isthespawnofthedevil · 15/03/2011 09:19

A child will cost the same as their age so YABU. DS will be 7 so will cost £7.

Gemsy83 · 15/03/2011 09:20

Same as catchmeifyoucan- would a 6 month old baby enjoy it? Of course they wouldnt.

MotherNight · 15/03/2011 09:21

It's only a pound isn't it, ds will cost £2. YABU.

Original poster
DoodleAlley · 15/03/2011 09:26

It's not only a pound - there's only often one session for each type of event (usually least popular and preliminaries) where they cost their age and by my reckoning those will be very over subscribed.

OP posts:
Greythorne · 15/03/2011 09:30

You are right of course about the 'kids pay their age tickets'; there will be a few allocated for this but they will sell out quickly. They are making a big PR deal out ot them (Seb Coe on Radio 4 Today Programme this am) but they will be limited.

i don't understand those saying what's the point of taking a baby. IMO, small babies are extramely portable, esp if you have a sling / scarf. With DD1, I was overwhelmed by the whole thing and worried endlessly about going out, having the right equipment, her sleeping (or not) etc etc and I regret that because it gets harder to do things with toddlers.

With DD2, I popped her in the scarf and took her anywhere and everywhere and it was great. Wonderful sense of freedom and fun.

Original poster
DoodleAlley · 15/03/2011 09:34

I want to go because I want DS to be able to see an event that wont happen again for a long time. He'll be four by then. And my husband and I don't have loads of money so we want to make it a family experience for a treat.

But now I know I'd have to buy a ticket for an as yet unconceived child who would be six months old at most is a hard decision to make and even harder to pay twenty pounds for.

Sports evens aren't quiet so I don't think we'd hurt other people having a baby with us but it would be weird having an empty seat next to us that we'd paid for.

I've never come across anywhere that we've had to pay for an under one who would sit on your lap. So much for involving children in the games.

OP posts:
Gemsy83 · 15/03/2011 09:40

Dont buy a ticket and if you do have a child buy then get said child babysat. No a baby might not cause disruption to others but at a busy noisy event is it fair on them?

EvilTwins · 15/03/2011 09:41

The "kids pay their age" tickets are only available on a few events. I went on the website earlier on to see what ticket prices were, and specifically to look at ordering tickets to see some gymnastics. Of the two pages of gymnastics events, only two events had the flag to indicate that reduced cost tickets were available for children. Obviously those were for the very early heats.

Original poster
DoodleAlley · 15/03/2011 09:45

We can't get child babysat unfortunately. Don't live in London. Parents old and not able to care for baby and siblings not responsible enough.

We'll have to buy tickets and then re-sell them through London 2012 website if I do get pregnant. I just feel so bad for DS. I would rather not have a couple of token events at reduced prices and have children under 1 free if they sit on your lap.

Hey ho. Wasn't expecting a solution but more wanted to make people aware before they set their hopes on tickets.

I can't be the only one in this situation.

OP posts:
Greythorne · 15/03/2011 09:49

:) at suggestion to leave the putative baby with a babysitter.

AKMD · 15/03/2011 09:58

I'm in the same situation - not all events have child-price tickets but we might have a new DC by then so I've picked two events that I think will be good for us as a family i.e. big, noisy, space to run around. The events outside London are worth looking at - one event I've chosen is at Lee Valley park in Hertfordshire (Canoe Slalom). Some London events are free (road cycling and the marathon if you don't want to sit in the grandstand).
I've bought tickets for the potential DC because they are just £1 so I might as well buy them than not.

So YANBU to be Hmm that they are charging for tiny babies who aren't even born yet but YABU to not be flexible enough to pick suitable evnts.

Original poster
DoodleAlley · 15/03/2011 10:14

No I do know I'll just have to be more flexible. Unfortunately DS loves swimming and diving and they have fewer of the special price events so it's my own fault.

Just included background for info really.

It was more my shock at them charging for such little ones!

OP posts:
Gemsy83 · 15/03/2011 10:16

I cant even apply because I havent got a VISA card. Ho hum they can kiss my ass quite frankly.

Original poster
DoodleAlley · 15/03/2011 10:20

I know - I only realised this morning that I needed a visa card too!!

OP posts:
Gemsy83 · 15/03/2011 10:22

The fact you have to pay for something that is costing millions of taxpayers money is bad enough but wrong debit/credit card and you have no chance. Idiots.

EvilTwins · 15/03/2011 12:19

Seb Coe was on BBC news this morning. First question was about VISA cards. It seems it's simply because they're a sponsor, so they get to make up the rules. He didn't seem either surprised or bothered. You can go into any branch of Lloyds bank and get a form, though, then apply for tickets through the post. Not a huge faff at all Hmm

jasminetom · 15/03/2011 13:04

Why do you want to take a baby to these events? It may be nice for you but, to be honest, being stuck in a seat next to a screaming baby and a one-off event is so crap. I am always that unlucky person.

ragged · 15/03/2011 13:13

I wouldn't even take a 4yo, tbh (I am not planning to take my DS who will be 4.5yo). The 4yo will not appreciate what they are seeing or part of. I got to go to the Olympics 27 years ago, tbh, at age 16, and I can remember being pretty bored and unsure what the heck was going on. I think your 4yo will get other much better chances to go to the Olympics in his life, but at an age when he can truly appreciate it.

There are not many child tickets at all, imo.

5Live said you can pay by cheque, but I'm not sure what the procedure will be.

I was thinking to take DD to one of the equestrian events, but someone suggested I just attend a smaller local equivalent -- what a brilliant alternative. At age 10 DD will not appreciate the difference between elite and local amateur performances.

ragged · 15/03/2011 13:18

ps: a very obvious solution is you do not plan to make a family day out of it; plan for your DH to go with just your DS. Will you really want to go sit in the cold & wind or hot & dry (this is British weather, we're talking about, after all!) with a tiny squawky baby and stitches & post-partum fatigue & leaky boobs & all that?

DH & can't go to any events together either -- same problem of no babysitters.

bonkers20 · 15/03/2011 13:32

I don't really think Seb Coe could take into account people who might be planning to have a child!

I presume the event which isn't a "pay the age of the child" one must be either one off or very specialist event. They get to charge what they want I'm afraid!

I'd take a babe in arms of a bribeable aged toddler, but nothing inbetween.

NotFromConcentrate · 15/03/2011 13:36

Re: the VISA cards, when I ordered mine online this morning the website said that only payment by VISA would be accepted, and that if you didn't have a VISA card you could go into your local Lloyds and be given advice on how to find the best VISA product for you and apply; there was no mention of cheques Confused

CharlotteBronteSaurus · 15/03/2011 13:37

agree that i can't see the point of taking young dc
my 5mo old is too wriggly and nosy to want to sit still on my lap for the duration of an event
my 4yo would be excited for probably about half an hour and then get bored and keep nagging to go home

we started taking my nephews to the football at about 7yo IIRC - when they would mostly enjoy it, and at the very least sit relatively quietly if a little bored

i have gladly put in for tickets to go without them

ragged · 15/03/2011 13:39

It says very clearly (official website) that you can pay by cheque or PO... .but you have to use the paper applications to do so (so choose what events you like online to get organised about it, but fill in the form by hand).

(Come on guys, that took me 5 seconds to find)