to expect my child to be able to have an in flight meal

[Staceroo]

So we're flying to Turkey in a couple of weeks. I have paid for in flight meals for me, my husband and our 3 year old daughter. Thomas Cook will not allow me to purchase an in flight meal for our 11 month old.

It's a real case of 'computer says no!'

Save all the jokes about airplane food because Thomas cook have a range of James Martin meals which are pretty tasty and nutritious.

11 month old is baby led, and never eaten out of a jar in her life.

Solutions proposed by TC are...

1. "You are permitted to take baby food on to Thomas Cook Airlines aircraft if you are travelling with an infant or small child ,Most UK Airports have a Boots where you can purchase baby food and formula after the security screening point. These can be purchased and brought on board providing you do exceed you hand luggage restrictions. I Hope this Helps - Stef"

2. "book a separate seat for her she will be able to get an inflight meal, however then she will be booked as a child and will lose her infant luggage allowance and will need to pay the full flight price" (That's a very expensive in flight meal!!!!)

3. There are a range of snack and other meals available on the flight but they can't tell me what those will be, but they're not the James Martin meals.

This thread has got me thinking about which I'd rather eat, a jar of baby food or an economy airline meal. It's a tough choice.

Like the others have said, no seat no meal. The meals are planned by seats sold

You realise they are carrying your pushchair, car seat and anything else like that for free right?

I'm sure you would be able to buy snacks.

Why do TC need to offer you a solution when you have ample easy solutions available without their help?

If a customer goes to a company with a genuine problem then of course they have a duty to help out. But you don't have a problem, you're just being difficult and trying to get your own way for the sake of it.

You've wasted this much time starting threads and tweeting about it but you're not prepared to spend five minutes putting something together for her to eat on the flight? Really, you are wasting your own time and effort with this. It's just not worth it.

But they have explained? No pay for seat= no food.
In terms of trying to help you what do you expect them to do, leave a post it note on the airplane reminding them that there is one customer on board who needs special treatment?

Get a couple of ellas kitchen pouches
And let her suck on them , no mess and fed child.

Can I ask a question OP?

Your child is not going to have a seat. She will be on your lap. With her on your lap, you are not going to be able to put the tray table down on that seat at all (in all likelihood).

Where the hell did you think they were going to put not only the meal belonging to this grown up, but a whole other tray?

This is why you can't buy one. There is nowhere to put it.

Also, as others have said, there is very little room on board for 'extra' meals to be stored and heated. Now probably not everyone will buy a meal, but they can't risk people with a seat being told that they can't eat because they've booked too many meals in already for people without seats.

I've flown long haul with DD on my lap when she was younger and it never even crossed my mind that she would get her own meal without having a seat. I brought plenty of snacks, and either ate in the airport before the flight or bought a sandwich to bring on and fruit. There is no issue taking food with you. Also, you have ordered several meals, surely you can share some of that with DD?

There are plenty of options for feeding her, most of them better than the crappy airline food she would be getting. I don't see the issue here.

Does your LO eat any sort if food that can made ahead, popped in those Ella's kitchen style pouches, and frozen? By the time you are ready to eat it should have defrosted, if not the airline will be able to give you some hot water to finish it off?

My son loves to suck pouches to death.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00F3IFU40/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1429891081&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SY200_QL40&keywords=baby+food+pouches&dpPl=1&dpID=513Cq%2B0SODL&ref=plSrch

Then pack a fromage frais (also frozen), some bread sticks, raisins, rice cakes, cheese cubes, fruit etc.

I think it is reasonable to expect a meal if you are paying a % to take an infant on your knee. I fly long haul frequently and my DD (18 months) is usually offered a meal (but an adult meal). Infant meal has to be ordered in advance and I always forget. Having said that, I usually take my own food as you don't know what you are going to get.

Oldfarticus that's exactly what I was thinking! It actually makes me laugh that anyone would complain about not getting a meal on a plane. Dh is a frequent traveller and he often buys food and takes it on board with him especially coming from the US. I also recall the kid's meals on many airlines being packed full of random sugary crap.

Haven't flown for aged, but IME airline meals aren't usually suitable for BLW - there is usually a roll, but the main part usually involves gravy/sauce/rice - not something I'd want to deal with on a plane.

Ages, not aged !

I've been flying with children since they were 5 months old and have never fed them an inflight meal. We always take sarnies ( and frequently ice packs) and it's never been an issue. Also visit the baby aisle in a large suoermarket to look for some easily transportable baby snacks.
In flight meals are generally rank

I asked for a meal for DD1 when she was 19months and was also told we could not book one.

However, when I asked on board they gave me one anyway (no charge) as they always have more meals than passengers.

Why do people make such a fuss? A short flight, some baby food or take a picnic. Why does it become such a massive issue? Plane food is crap whether it's james Martin or not, I doubt the salt levels will be baby friendly. I hate plane food I always eat before boarding and take my own stuff in a long flight. Can't believe people actually want plane food for their kids!

Also isn't the blw mantra that food is 'just for fun till they're one' and most of their nutrition should come from milk?

Equally, most people bring additional snacks for their children when they are flying just to keep them occupied.

I do remember my meal on a TC flight was acutely quite nice lol.

BLW is a new idea? My mum must have been ahead of her time then, we ate what they did from an early age!

You've been given solutions but don't like them. No seat no food. Simples.

I can see that it's frustrating, but there's nowhere safe to put the food is there?
Their policy is that you can buy a meal for someone with a seat. A d she doesnt have a seat.
In your position I would give her my meal and order myself a G&T and mini cheddars

What's with the James Martin stuff, op? It'll be ready meals that he gave his signature to (just like the rest of the "celebrity" chefs).

He's not actually on site at Heathrow slaving over a hot stove...

YANBU. Children don't have their own seat until they're two, who feeds them baby food then? At 11 months old mine ate a full meal. It's unreasonable.

This is what snacks are for.

'Children don't have their own seat until they're two,'

Of course they do if you buy them one.

Looking at the food you can buy on the plane, my DP would have happily ordered an all day breakfast leaving the meal for the DC.

I had the same problem when we flew to South Africa when dd was 11 months. I know she didn't have a seat (well she had a bassinet thing to sleep in) but I couldn't believe that she got provided with baggage allowance that was the same as mine and dh's but they wouldn't provide any food for her for a 12 hour flight!!! dd was also baby led weaned and never had a jar in her life, but surely even if she had been traditionally weaned most babies of 11 months are eating proper food not jar mush by that age? tbh a short flight we could have managed something but what are you meant to do for a flight that length? ? our solution was that dh had the 'normal' meal and I ordered for myself the children's meal (i checked with the airline that this was allowable) dd shared my children's meal and I also had a little bit of dh's. madness! especially considering that you can be a lap child until 23 months. a nearly 2 year old definitely wouldn't be eating mushy jar food and it just seems so ridiculous that lap children get the same baggage allowance but no food irrespective of the age of the child and the length of the flight! YANBU!!!!!!

But airline food is generally mush.

Nobody is forcing a BLW child to be fed from a jar. The woman who suggested one probably hadn't heard of blw and was just trying to be helpful.