To not book reserved flight seats for us and the kids?

[LittlePudding1]

Hi, I have a 6 year old and a 3 year old and was under the impression that even if we weren't all sat together together on a plane they would sit me with 1dc and dh with the other but a couple of people have told me they can sit you anywhere. Surely they wouldn't sit a 3 year old away from a parent and next to a random stranger, would they?

Yeah the thought of those children on that flight being left by those around them is horrific, the thought of standing up and leaving ANYONE stranded is horrible, let alone a child who won't understand the procedures/won't know the way out etc. I also think if I didn't try to help it would ruin my life as I would feel so guilty about doing nothing.

The reason I remember that flight account so well is because it was so unbearably sad that the people around them left them and the one woman who tried to help died as those near by hadn't.

i find it distressing that people would rather save money on their booking than be sure that they would be sitting right next to their kid.

i find it reassuring that a lot of people on here are honest enough to say... I put my kids first over all others.... because after reading this, if one more family stay together in an emergency.... then its worth upsetting you.

I hope that everyone has got the message that thier kids are thier responsibility.... even if they do something risky- like flying- then it is thier responsibility to ensure THEY have done as much as you can to ensure the safety of thier children

and not rely on the goodness of strangers.

Though I'm sure that in an emergency people would behave in ways that will surprise them...

but i will always minimise the risks for my family... even if that means paying to stay together.

I mean even if its's just unclipping the seatbelt and pointing it in the direction of the exit that's giving it more of a chance right? And that's the work of a second or two tops. I think most people would do that.

peachy I am not upset about my children.

I am upset at the thought of other people's children going through that.

You really can't understand that, can you.

And it is most definitely NOT reassuring in any way shape or form to read that people would leave a toddler strapped into a plane while they evacuated. How on EARTH is that reassuring?

yes but suppose i'm sitting in the middle seat of three... with my kid on the left and a random kid on my right... and there is a problem

My whole body is going to be turned towards my kid, for instance to unbuckle her belt...... My whole attention is going to be on her.

this lone kid will look to the nearest adult for reassurance and see a whole lot of back. Now as soon as i'd been sure my kid was ok then i would turn and help that lone kid.

Do you REALLY expect me to deal with a lone kid first and turn my back on my own child... who will feel abandonment when she looks to her own mother for help and sees my back... so she has to deal with that rejection as well as a flight crash?

My kid is my primary responsibility.... that makes me a good mum.
Other peoples kids will always be my secondary responsibility but somehow you are suggesting that that makes me a bad person?

i see understand your agreement... but i dont agree with it. Its basic human nature to protect your own.

So you would help the child.

That is good, that is reassuring.

You wouldn't take your child, climb over the toddler, and leave it there strapped in.

You see, that is good.

i find it reassuring because that's how i expect people to behave... that's why we book to sit together?

would you rather have the false reassurance that .... oh yes dont worry where you sit... we'll help.

when in actual fact... they wont? and previous crashes have shown that they DONT?

I have never said that i would leave a toddler strapped in... and only one person has said that in 700 posts (i know I've read them all)

You think it is reassuring to believe that most people would leave a 2yo strapped into a plane while they climbed over it and left?

I refuse to believe that is the case. You have said yourself that only one person on here would do that. Loads of emergencies all the time show that most of the time, people help each other.

In a situation where people panic, it's not just lone children who are fucked, but babes in arms and whoever is holding them, elderly people, people with mobility problems or more serious disabilities, basically anyone vulnerable. In that scenario the young, fit and strong get out. It's never going to end well.

Look at the situations that occasionally occur in religious festivals in India - from what I have read the victims are mainly women and children because they are usually smaller and lighter and thus get trampled.

Honestly in a panic like that all bets are off.

i think its reassuring that people are honest and understand basic human nature,

given the choice about protecting your own or random strangers it is always your own that takes precedence.

to seek reassurance from strangers on the internet, to help you decide to skimp on flight charges... frankly... ridiculous.

most people on this thread have said... pay the money to sit next to your child. MOST people.

would you rather be lied to?

I don't skimp on flights

You keep saying that and I don't know why.

the thought of any child being in that situation horrifies me, and that is why I am upset and shaky. especially at this repeated insistence that loads of people wouldn't lift a finger to help a toddler.

You really can't understand why anyone would have any concern about other people's children can you.

This is not about my children. It is about children in general being endangered because a minority of airlines have ludicrous unsafe rules, in order to make money.

There will always be someone who doesn't pay, or even gets separated when they have paid as per posts on this thread. So at the moment small children will be seated next to strangers, inevitably, and I am worried about them. Especially given this insistence that most normal people wouldn't do anything to help.

Apart from you said you would help, didn't you. You would undo the seatbelt. Do you really believe that most people wouldn't?

why worry about something that you cannot control? you will never be able to change other peoples nature.

if you insist on letting this bother you.... then i'm afraid i'm going to have to leave you to enjoy your anxiety in peace.

I can see that my opinions mean nothing to you, and you cannot or wont accept human nature. that's quite sad. i hope you find the techniques for dealing with your feelings in a better way than ranting at strangers on the internet

? Not much of that makes sense.

Also not nice to say that someone with anxiety "enjoys" it.

amicissimma if a lone 2 yo was seated next to you on the plane, and there was an emergency evacuation, would you undo it's seatbelt before you exited the plane?

Just trying to get a feel for this. I think most people would.

for heavens sake nicetabbard ONE person said it... ONE person!

That's true isn't it. And I think most people would do that much, at least. Do you think most people would do that?

Isn't it important to have some faith in the basic decency of other people?

Mine has been really shaken on this thread so I guess it's for reassurance. I have always felt that I would help others, and that most people would. And conversely if anything happens that I might be helped. But my friends who were caught up in the tube bombs, they said people helped. I have helped others. I have just had this image of a 2yo being dumped in the aisle / left strapped in going around in my head for the last 2 days.

I think maybe i should hide this.

I firmly believe that most people would help, if they could, even people who are not related to them, despite some of the posts on here.

NiceTabard In the kindest possible way, you are going way too OTT over a hypothetical situation. The bottom line is, the majority of people would always help others but unless you've been in that situation, (hopefully never ever!) you cannot predict how you would act. Step back if you are genuinely getting upset over it, it's not worth it.

from what you have said... even talking about this has caused you so much anxiety..... YOU wouldn't be ABLE to help anyone.... never mind if you wanted to or not.

Have you thought of that? that YOU could be the one responsible for NOT HELPING that two year old? How shit would you feel then, that you , a grown woman, who always said she WOULD help, didn't?

I have thought about this a great deal. i only want to be responsible for my child ... I don't want the responsibility of yours or any other random kid... I want all parents to have their kids next to them. Even if it means paying