To think airline software should not allow a 3 year old to be seated away from their parent?

[Inkstainedmags]

I suppose I'm looking for reassurance as I lie here unable to sleep before a flight. DP, DS (3) and I are due to take a transatlantic flight in the morning. We were unable to select seats when we booked the flight - we suspect because the grounding of Boeing 737 Max aircrafts meant the airline didn't know what craft they would be putting us on. Then, when check-in opened, the airline's website wouldn't allow us to proceed because it couldn't cope with dual citizenship and insisted we needed proof of visas for travel to the country we live in.

When we finally managed to try to check in at an airport kiosk, we found that all three of us are seated separately and there was nowhere for two of us to be sat together. No one from the airline was available to speak to.

Surely the airline has to sort this out, right? As much as I'd love the opportunity to spend a 7-hour flight watching movies and reading books like I used to pre-DS, they can't expect a barely 3-year-old to be sat next to a stranger can they?

AIBU to think that with all the amazing things software can do these days, an airline should be able to force a parent and toddler to be sat together and cope with travellers with dual citizenship?

It's amazing how low private companies will go to make more money and how people will defend them.

This

And people literally buy into it, total disregard for safety over seating plan

And yet airline yields have never been higher, so people are clearly more than willing to travel under those conditions.

Glad you got sorted. I think it’s pathetic you had to sort it yourself tho once on board . Customer service it was not ! These days organisations have no bottle / balls at all .

When we were coming back from Mauritius they told the mother she would have to move and the baby had to be with the dad.It was something about the oxygen mask coming down and would not be safe.They were like little Hilters on the flight and wouldnt even let the mum changed seats so she could be closer to her baby as dad was finding it hard to cope when passenger offered to change seats.So we had?a distress baby crying and screaming for 3hours plus.The flight was 11 hours

As the parent of a 3 year old, unless I was traveling with my own kids and therefore would be leaving them unattended, there is NO WAY I want to sit next to some random toddler and would offer to swap immediately!

I do get that people have paid for specific seats, and I think they should be reimbursed the seat cost if they move. I’m guessing they aren’t though? There should be a form for this situation that the cabin crew can sign and then you can get a refund for your seat cost

wouldnt even let the mum changed seats so she could be closer to her baby as dad was finding it hard to cope

That baby's father couldn't cope with his own child? That's surely a bigger issue?

But anyway, if the poor lamb was really struggling so so much, and mum felt like she simply had to intervene- why didn't she just swap seats with him?

Misses point of thread but I'd prefer the musical instrument. Sounds like the perfect flight companion

I'd rather sit in hold than next to someone else's 3yo. I say this as someone with three children!!

Absolutely agree OP that software should be used to never have this situation arise. There should be a legal age cut off for when a child is allowed to fly without a parent/known adult next to them. I'd say around the age of 7 or 8 and older if the flight is over 3 hours.

The flip side of this is a parent purposely being able to book their 3 year old into a seat on the opposite side of the plane to them and leaving some random stranger feeling responsible for them.

I agree that the airlines need to take some responsibility. As well as the practical aspects of caring for a child during a flight to ensure their comfort and safety and miniming any disruption a distress child can cause for other passengers, there appears to me to be safe guarding issues. I am not one to fear strangers but I wouldn't leave my child alone in an enclosed space with strangers at any other time.

It's also unfair on the cabin crew to be left to sort these issues out. I do always book seats for me and my children when flying. I've seen situations get heated on several occasions where people wont accept no or are out out about being asked to move. If the airlines would take back some control, even if it meant the cost was passed, it would take away this conflict.

I'd do anything not to have to sit beside a 3 year old on a plane - especially long haul and unaccompanied by their parents can you imagine it 😲

Haven't been following the thread but thought it was interesting Canada announced new rules around this yesterday, including around seating parents and children together. I am a very influential citizen.
www.cbc.ca/news/politics/passenger-bill-of-rights-details-1.5147589

$25k fine May see families treated fairly

For those travelling with children or adults with additional needs. There is help out there for you x

I am clearly the only poster in MN history to have offered to move when seated with someone else's children and to have the parents REFUSE

After I'd spent an hour at the back of the plane with their kids (3 and 5) I could see why the pair of them were happy to sit together at the front

Arkia - I'm never flying you again!