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?

I frequently fly with a musical instrument that must go on a seat, like your situation the system can't cope with a musical instrument so I have to sort it out at the desk every time - I am frequently put separately from it initially but they always put me next to it within a few minutes. Often their point is that nobody else wants to sit next to that! A bit like your toddler (I am also the owner of a toddler. Would much prefer to fly with my musical instrument...).

Actually, on re-re-re-reading the regulations I realise that not only are we in different rows but they have put DS on the opposite side of the plane from us. A situation I have fantasised about on previous flights but that the CAA strongly discourages.

Thanks all. Going to try to tear myself away from MN now in preparation for an early start.

Never flown westjet but with ba you register all your details way ahead of the flight and log on 24 hours before the flight to choose a seat, worked fine with a child. My dd is dual national and it stated you enter the passport details of the passport they are entering Canada with not any other citizenship info

rosesandveg I would also prefer to sit with your musical instrument.

When we flew from St Kitts to Heathrow years ago we had a seven year old girl sit with us, her family were scattered all over the aircraft. I looked after her for the flight, making sure she was OK and ensuring she had some sleep.

I saw them whilst leaving the airport and the girl ran up to me and gave me a huge hug and her mum thanked me for looking after her so well. I suppose she was lucky to have been sat to someone with a strong maternal urge.

I would have done the same for any child

They don't have to abide by guidelines. Ryanair didn't when they separated 7yo dd from me on a 4 hr flight. Nobody would swap.

Hopefully with a 3yo they might be more helpful.

Don't worry this is fairly common-just let them know at airport check-in & plane staff as soon as you board.They will sort out once you are on the plane.Hopefull they will bribe one/more persons with a few drinks as they wouldn't want a stressed mother & child for the journey. Safe journey

ink, we've had that with even just one passport - US airlines couldn't comprehend a US passport without a US residence, and wanted evidence of a return flight. Was a nightmare! Computers wouldn't check us in online, desk persons' computers couldn't manage it either. Had to spend over 30 minutes arguing that actually, yes, we did live in the UK and had valid visas to stay indefinitely, and NO, we weren't going to BUY another flight "home" (not home) right now. Until someone who could use their eyes to look at our visa was able to override the system. (Frighteningly, someone head of us with the same issue but going to China appeared to never get through - was still at desk when we left and I never saw him the hour+ we spent in security)

But to reassure, and especially with the new info, you will definitely be able to sit one next to your kid. Probably at checkin, but at last resort cabin crew will be sure to find someone else in economy plus (or for sure economy!) happy to shift.

I don’t think you can rely on the goodwill of passengers swapping. I wouldn’t swap if I had paid and I also wouldn’t be playing paw patrol with a random child 🤷🏼‍♀️

@apacketofcrisps I think some toddlers would either be very persuasive or scream... either way I imagine you would be swapping

This happened to us on an overnight transatlantic flight. We had DS3 and DD 4 months. We were late checking in due to a late connecting flight and all they could give us were 3 seats on 3 separate rows. When we got on the flight people were falling over themselves trying to get away from us! I had the bulkhead seat with a bassinet, and DH and DS managed to get seats just behind me. I’m sure people will be equally helpful / desperate to not sit with a 3 year old!

Good luck op - please let us know the outcome.

I once flew back from the US with my 3 year old across the aisle from me and my 5 year old behind her. Not ideal, but it was fine.

stucknoue Like you, we've never had this problem before but the travel gods haven't smiled on us this trip. This is the last (I hope!) in a string of you-couldn't-make-it-up glitches we've experienced.

“apacketofcrisps* you’d swap to get away from said child though wouldn’t you? Luckily on our flight people were a lot kinder than you.

Fifth and the neighbouring passengers didn't ask you to swap?!

No I wouldn’t if I had chosen my seat for a reason, why should I? Headphones in and ignore them, same as any other random stranger passenger sat next to me 🤷🏼‍♀️

apacketofcrisps Just curious and not at all trying to pick a fight but why would you refuse to swap seats? I can't think of any reason a particular seat would be so important that I'd rather keep it and sit next to a sticky, annoying child who is too young to understand social expectations. A seven year old is one thing but three?

For example: needing an aisle for access to the toilets etc.

I wouldn’t swap if-
I’d paid for my seats
I had to have my family group split up
It was a worse seat location

What airline is this?

Oh just seen your update, good luck and safe travels x

I prefer an aisle seat too but given the choice between a window seat and a parent leaning over me every 5 minutes to help toddler eat, buckle up, unbuckle, get out for the loo, set up a tablet, eat again, wee again, make the tablet work again after the toddler touches the screen and messes up playback, clean up the inevitable spilled apple juice from both of your seats etc... Really? M'kay.

When you say the child is sitting on the opposite side of the plane from "us" do you mean you and your partner are seated together and the toddler apart? Are you wanting someone else to move so the three of you are together? Could one of you not just swap with the child?

Lots of people pay a premium for the seat of their choice - aisle access is a biggie - for loo access, the ability to move around to prevent DVT and other physical issues, for proximity to exits when it's time to disembark, for access to meds or other personal items.

It's a horrible situation for you to be in but it's really not fair of the airline to outsource responsibility for making this right to another passenger who has their own needs.

This happened to me with my just two year old once on a really busy night flight. None of the single travellers including the man next to DD would swap. I was almost in tears. It was Emirates business class so not like you needed to pay extra to reserve a seat. In the end a nice man who was travelling in a couple volunteered. Cabin crew upgraded him (and his GF I think) to first class! It was brilliant.