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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed with British Airways?

48 replies

BalancingStick · 22/05/2017 11:57

This is my first AIBU!! I probably am BU but these rules just don't make sense to me!

So I am travelling with DH, DS(23mo) and DD(5mo). European flight - 3 hours. We have bought DS his own seat on the flight. BA won't allow us all to sit in a row of 3 seats. I have to be across the aisle with the baby on my lap.

So the configuration is: seat A will be a stranger, seat B will be DS, seat C will be DH - then there is the aisle - seat D will be me and DD and then seats E and F will be whoever.

Apparently we cannot have two under 2s in a row of three together. However had we flown business class this would have been OK. We looked into the business class flights - it was only £100 more expensive BUT because the seats are configured 2 seats, aisle and then another 2 seats it was not feasible for DS to have his own seat. It would have meant us having both infants on our laps which we didn't want to do - but yet BA were happy for us to have both infants in the same row (and same side of the plane) if we did this.

In order not to drip feed the 'business class' seats were the BA fleet where it is the economy seat (same size, same pitch, same amount of leg room etc) but the middle seat is blocked out. So not really 'business class' and exactly the same as the seats as the seat just a few rows behind.

So I really cannot see why there is an issue with 2 infants in the same row in economy but yet in 'business' it is fine. Grrr.

The other annoying thing about this is that if DS was just a month older then apparently there wouldn't have been a problem either... It would be fine to have a two year old and a baby in the same row.

Anyway - we bought the economy seats as we felt it made more sense for DS to have his own seat and am hoping that the poor bugger stuck next to DS will want to swap (I know I would!). If not then c'est la vie... But I'm still annoyed!

OP posts:
MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 22/05/2017 12:00

You're across the aisle which is what, 3 feet?

Get over it.

Original poster
BalancingStick · 22/05/2017 12:01

Ha ha! Yes I probably should :)

OP posts:
MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 22/05/2017 12:03

Good-o. Have a good trip Smile

Figuier · 22/05/2017 12:03

Can't your husband seat in B and son in C?

AssembleTheMinions · 22/05/2017 12:03

It's probably something to do with the oxygen masks. Often there is only one seat with the double masks in the row of 3. Might be wrong though

JungleInTheRumble · 22/05/2017 12:04

Are you sure it's not just that there were no rows of three left open? Seems very convoluted and strange.

buzzmoon · 22/05/2017 12:05

I imagine it's because of availability more than anything? Don't think it will be a problem though I'm sure you'll welcome having both aisle seats and more space

SoupDragon · 22/05/2017 12:07

Was this online? I think it is to do with the oxygen masks and the fact that there are two infants has triggered this even though there won't be a problem as one has their own seat.

Babbaganush · 22/05/2017 12:09

I think its because of the configuration of oxygen masks - I remember this happening to us a number of years ago, although your ds will have his own seat he will still need to be on your dh lap for take off and landing.

Notalotterywinner · 22/05/2017 12:11

You might find that no one else sits with DH, its not a given that the flight is full?

I agree with others that this is likely to do with oxygen masks rather than the airline being difficult, I would be happy with an Aisle seat and infant, again you might get a free seat next to you? 3 hours isn't a long time, in my experience we all swap around during travels due to loo visits, food, games etc.

budgiegirl · 22/05/2017 12:12

Doesn't sound like a big deal to me, tbh. Are you not right across the aisle from DH and DS?

I'm possibly a bit confused though, is seat A a window seat? Do you mean the passenger in seat A should swap with you and DD so you are all sitting in the same row? The cabin staff surely won't allow that.

To be fair, BA won't be doing this just for giggles. There are safety reasons why they don't allow 2 infants in a row. I believe the pp was correct that it's to do with oxygen masks. It makes no difference that your DS is nearly 2, they have to have a cutoff somewhere

Bombardier25966 · 22/05/2017 12:14

am hoping that the poor bugger stuck next to DS will want to swap

Please don't try swapping seats on the plane. You're being seated that way for a reason, and asking someone to swap with you is only going to lead to embarrassment (and inconvenience for others) when the crew have to move you back.

Original poster
BalancingStick · 22/05/2017 12:16

Definitely not to do with availability - loads of seats and rows of 3 still available. I called and spoke to someone who said it was impossible to seat us together as they couldn't have two under 2s in the same row of 3 seats. But couldn't say why.

Am sure DH and DS could swap and that would be fine. Things would just be easier, more convenient and less stressful if we could sit together in a row of 3. Those seats are tiny (and I'm small myself) - plus baby on lap and trying not to encroach onto the space of the person next to me etc.

OP posts:
MatildaTheCat · 22/05/2017 12:24

OP, ok it's your first AIBU so I need to explain the rules to you: you do not accept you HBU on the third post of the thread!

You need to say that there may be paedophiles on the flight or someone eating sugar which will traumatise your PFB and set him on a lifelong path to obesity. Someone will advise you to seek legal advice, LTB or call the police. Another will tell you to throw both babies in the hold. Possibly you wil be chided for even looking at the business option. You reply to each with a drip feed of allergies, disabilities and unusual requirements.

That's how it works. HTH Wink

Lynnm63 · 22/05/2017 12:27

Once you're airborne sit where you like just return to your seat for landing. I use to fly long haul and once seat belt signs were off would head to a vacant 4 seater to lie down and sleep returning to my booked seat for landing.

LIZS · 22/05/2017 12:29

Probably to do with infant oxygen masks. Just sit ds on the aisle seat opposite you.

RedSandYellowSand · 22/05/2017 12:29

Yep. Oxygen mask issue.
Although technically you'd be ok, as your 23month old has been bought a seat, they won't allow 5 people in 3 seats, so rule is only one under 2 per block.

PovertyPain · 22/05/2017 12:30

Phew! Thanks for that Matilda, I can go back to reading the other threads now. 😄

FairNotFair · 22/05/2017 12:33

MatildaTheCat

Grin
Lynnm63 · 22/05/2017 12:34

Mind you BA are officious bastards had an argument over CAA regs once with mouthy stewardess. I was revising for law degree and had some CAA regs in my text book. Asked her Which regulation she was seeking to rely on as I'd read them, had she. Turned out she couldn't substantiate her arsiness and vague CAA regs allow me to make us rules as I like usually worked. Her supervisor wanted me to follow her to discuss it privately, oh no you called me out in front of passengers you can have your arse handed back to you in front of passengers.
Always flew Virgin after that.

Minniemagoo · 22/05/2017 12:37

There is only 1 infant/child oxygen mask per row. Its a safety thing. Although your DS has his own seat he would need the smaller mask in case of emergency.

10brokengreenbottles · 22/05/2017 12:37

It is to do with oxygen masks, or at least was 5-7yrs ago when this was a problem for us. Some rows will have 3, some 4. Therefore only allowing 1 infant in each row. Even though you have bought a seat for your DS BA does not know that someone else (e.g. a friend) won't sit in his seat with him on their knee to e.g. entertain him.

It's not just BA. Some airlines won't allow 2 infants in the same row so that it is easier for crew to help with the infants should oxygen masks be deployed. Some airlines don't allow infants in consecutive rows, so that if needs be crew can move around the plane breathing on spare masks. It is all for your safety should there be an emergency. If you try to change on board they will ask you to move back when they notice.

Original poster
BalancingStick · 22/05/2017 12:42

Matilda - well yes, anybody could be in seat A! My poor PFB doesn't like strangers and this could traumatise him for life :)

Lynn - yes that is my plan. Swap once airborne. Interestingly I always fly Virgin - it is rare for us to holiday in Europe as DH works for an american company so we usually tag a holiday onto one of his work trips. Virgin are ace. Their stewards even held my baby so I could eat when I was flying when DS was tiny. I'm always nervous to fly BA as their staff always seem to be on strike.

Red/Yellow - yes that is my point!!! Technically we would be fine. It is a case of the 'computer says no'

Really not sure why people think asking to do a swap would be embarrassing. Worst case is cabin crew ask us to move back - mildly inconvenient but not embarrassing surely?

OP posts:
BarbaraofSeville · 22/05/2017 12:46

Plenty of airline rules make no sense at all, like the time I solved the problem of my carry on back being too heavy by taking my phone, kindle and purse from my bag, putting them in my coat pocket, and then putting them straight back in my bag once I had moved away from the hold check in desk Hmm.

But it seems that this time, there is a real issue and it has solved a conumdrum of mine as to why we were moved on a recent flight to accomodate a couple travelling with a baby as our seats were infant friendly and their's weren't, even though they appeared to be identical, but it must have been that our original seats had the extra oxygen mask.

loveka · 22/05/2017 12:53

But what if the oxygen masks are needed once you are airborne and you have swapped seats? There won't be 2 infant ones in your row. Who would be to blame if your child became ill do you think?

Just put your other child in the aisle seat and your husband in the middle seat .

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