AIBU to think that a 3 year old sitting on own on 12 hour flight is not ok??

[Angela0413]

Having absolutely nightmare with Thomson airline as they apparently state in t&cs (in teeny tiny writing of course) that they class seats across the aisle or behind each other as "sitting together. So on a 12 hour flight myself (with 9 month baby on lap), husband, just turned 3 year old are on 3 aisle seats!! Need to be able to cuddle 3 year old as a nervous flier and God forbid if there was an emergency. Trying to speak to customer service is like banging head against brick wall - they just keep stating "it's in t&cs". We paid £360 for extra leg room and pre selected seats and this is what we get? AIBU? Eventually they said they might be able to move us t to standard seats so we can sit together but will not refund the £360...

BusyBeez but you said you didn't take him abroad till he could appreciate more. Now you are talking about the length of flight and the time difference. They are different things.

taking children on a long flight is "inhumane" - now I've heard it all.

Super Fly High - that's a shame that a child isn't indicated in the business model, the same as a babes in arms seat. It must cause airlines no end of problems should a customer reserve an emergency exit seat for a minor.

As an aside, I do know someone who had a similar problem with her preschooler being given a seat 20+ rows away from her, and she was unable to swap their seats so she could be near her. Check in team sorted it out when they arrived (nice and early). I'd also say (in my personal experience) that pre booked seats means bugger all. We have been moved to the back of the plane when an alternative craft was used, and when rows have been put out of action, or there is another on board issue. We've complained afterwards and got compensation. (Getting to the back of the plane on crutches while herding a young child and hand luggage was a royal pain in the arse.)

NeverNic I personally think kids shouldn't be parted from their parents on flights but i also think why should I move if I've paid to prebook etc?

Also I don't know if you're allowed to reserve an emergency exit seat for a minor!

I didn't say children weren't included in an airlines business model just if you think about it that's how seats are divided up.

What with cheaper airline travel, cheaper flights And holidays over the years and more people taking babies and young children abroad the seating plans may not have altered.

However Ryan Air is quite right to look after its business customers who outnumber parents with kids and they don't charge for seat booking now.

I think non parents have complained such a lot about "being made to move" and "value for money" (ie pay for seat get a seat etc) and staff got so sick of moving people around that airlines got stricter on charging for seating and made rules tighter. Can you blame them??

zad716 Thu 13-Oct-16 06:41:20
mathanxiety Pretty nasty to attempt to force someone who is not to blame to move from seats that they paid extra for. Maybe the couple next to you will volunteer to move to separate seats, or maybe they won't or even can't (could also be a parent with a young child). If they don't they could equally make your journey unpleasant by needing to get out of their seat regularly and when they return they could 'claim' the armrest first.

That would be pretty nasty of them.

Everyone has paid for their seat on the plane. Paying for your seat doesn't give you any privileges. Blame doesn't come into this. It's a matter of practicality. Babies and small children can be a bother on a plane, and it is not at all nasty to hope their nuisance value will for once turn out to work in your favour. The OP and her children have been put in a really difficult spot by an airline that seemingly has forgotten to serve the needs of all its paying guests.

I have frequently sat in planes where my neighbour occupied the armrest. It's a pita. Not 'nasty' unless I wanted to attribute motives to someone that might not be there. The OP needs the armrest or she will end up with a really sore shoulder. She should not hold the baby on the other (aisle) side because people going up and down aisles are often oblivious to little heads or hands extending into the aisle. I once had a DD on my knee when an Aer Lingus stewardess bashed into her little foot with the drinks trolley.

As others have said, people are going to offer to swap seats when they see how much of an inconvenience it is for the OP to get up when they need access to the aisle. Or just out of the kindness of their hearts when they understand that the family is all in separate aisle seats.

Or the flight crew will sort it out. I have often seen crew asking people to swap to put families together.

Pipistrelle40 Thu 13-Oct-16 06:47:04
Math, little flailing limbs might get scalded inadvertently by a dropped cup of coffee or tea. BA's cups are notorious for falling to bits when passed across passengers by the air crew. Wouldn't recommend encouraging that myself.

So the OP probably won't have a hot drink (I have gone without many times, because hot drinks are a real danger), and any caring fellow passenger would probably volunteer to swap or move, because often other passengers prefer to drink their tea in peace without keeping half an eye out for a little limb, which you would do even if the parent was doing his or her level best to avoid problems.

And hopefully the flight crew will also understand the problem and will be thoughtful.

You are so well-travelled why did you not know about seating?

MidnightScribbler
And then watch as your photo ends up on passenger shaming for being an utter twat

I have been edged out of an armrest many times and so have the majority of passengers on flights I have been on, when I look back. Not all of the armrest hogs have ended up shamed, by any means.

Actually, if someone with an outsized sense of entitlement took a photo of a woman resting the arm that was holding a baby on the armrest and called that 'being an utter twat', I think there would be a rude comeuppance in store for them.

Anyone on a plane who thinks their fellow passengers have been inflicted on them by selfish parents is the true arse.

If I were on the flight I'd move for your OP.

Posted too early!

I don't understand adults who have to sit together but children shouldn't be left alone for long flights like that.

It's sorted! She has moved to seats with normal legroom so they can all sit together

I've just pre booked my seats with Jet2 and picked them off a diagram.
I'd most definately complain. Doing it on social media always helps :)

Wow some real green eyed monsters on here huh!
Enjoy your holiday OP. The flight is such a short part of it, don't let it taint the rest of your hols. X

When you select Pre-booked seats but not actually able to select seat numbers, then seats on the row behind or across the aisle are always classed as being pre-booked, this is naturally different to pre-selecting seats, which gives you the option to select specific seat numbers. This is the same rule for all airlines unfortunately x

Complaining will not help, and they will not refund, as it always in airlines terms and conditions x id just swallow it on this occasion, and take note for the future x

Just make a complaint via twitter & they'll move u

Fleur. Err no, won't work...

Why should the airline change when this is down to op??!! They sent her emails about it, was in t&c and if you read whole thread this has been sorted by op now.

Have tried complaining about another issue (unrelated to this) on Twitter with an airline and though it got me some way didn't get me the desired response.

Airlines are so so strict, especially the big ones, but if you've booked through a travel agent or tour op they might do something as a gesture of good will x

In answer to you question? I would consider across the aisle as close to sitting together, as the aisles are small so you can still hold hands across the aisle. Still pretty rubbish though. There's no way I'd consider a seat behind as sitting together. You can see each other and you can't talk to each other. Key components in sitting together in my view. Complain like hell on Twitter