to expect priority boarding for infants and young children on even the tightest airline

[SebbysMum]

We flew with a well known budget airline last week. Not sure if MN allows me to say which but no doubt many of you will be able to guess.

We found that it no longer boards children and babies first. Instead those who pay an extra charge get priority. There were two young babies on the flight (mine aged 4 months). The staff were extremely rude and insisted on sending us to the very back of the non priority queue, despite other passagers offering to let us go first.

As a result of this policy we saw a mother sent to the back of the queue separated from her two under-10 children on the plane (until other passengers kindly offered to move).

Is it just me or is this truely the triumph of corporate greed and mindless bureaucracy over common decency?

MD - I know. It makes me scared about every flight I take now. Although my last one (last Monday!) was fab. Plane only one third full, so we had 6 seats between the three of us (only paid for myself and DS1 as DS2 is 1).

I'm shocked about the priority boarding though. I've never paid the extra for being seated together, as I've just assumed that they'd sit DS1 with me. He's 4 now. Whenever we've checked in, our seats have always been preallocated. I've never flown with RA or the likes though.

Aitch - pack your antihistamines and break your 5 year grounding, and get yerself on a flight from Glasgow to Luton. We'll be there to pick you up, and I'll make Hunker come and play too .

will mrcsws be there?

This has happened to me and dc
Its so annoying usually I travel on my own with DC
What would happen if we could`nt get 3 seats together???

I can`t leave a child on his own next to complete strangers 4/5 rows down

What gets me is you can`t fly without a guardian till your 16 you have to pay extra for the airstewardess to keep an eye on them if on own

But they expect you to spilt up an adult and 2 small children
Unless someone would kindly give up their seat

Its just another way to get money out of you for speedy boarding

I always take a sling so that I can keep DS2 in easy reach. Sometimes I leave my luggage going around until my buggy comes off, then I strap DS1 into that whilst I get the rest off. Although on another BA flight, the airhostess wouldn't help me to put DS2 in the sling (piggy back style), as they aren't allowed to hold children for insurance reasons . DS2 was fast asleep at the time, so ended up having to ask an elderly passenger to help me. They also wouldn't watch DS1 whilst I changed DS2's nappy in the loo, and then complained when I did it on the seat (just wet).

In some airports (which I'm v. familiar with), I've sent DS1 and DS2 through customs by themselves to my parents who are waiting on the other side, so that I can get my luggage off in peace! Once the person who'd sat next to me on the plane took DS2 through for me (he wasn't yet walking)!

Yes book online. Ryanair is the talk to the hand airline. They really do not give a *&^%$£

Laura,I did a lot of travelling with a tiny baby and toddle back and forth to remote part of Turkey a couple of years ago (involved three plane changes,trips on buses and so on).
The feeling of panic and helplessness I felt was awful and peopel were so unseeing and unhelpful. I hATED IT,EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

You mean that hunker and I aren't enough for you . Depends when you come, but sure he'd make every effort to be around for the infamous Aitch!

Starlight, don't show up after check in has closed if you're flying Ryanair or Easyjet. They don't do late check in. If you "miss" your flight they will not let you board and you will have to buy a ticket for the next flight. Don't be even 1 minute late, according to their (weirdly often seemingly fast) clock, even in a tiny airport, because they will not let you on the flight and you will have to buy another ticket.

I'm a last minute person too and we are NOT welcome on these airlines. They're only cheap if you're the kind of person who doesn't factor time spent travelling/sitting around the airport trying to be first in the queue into the cost of your ticket.

Oh yeah and as expat has mentioned, best make sure you're not disabled. Or old. Or travelling with a body you're paying to have transported.

Breastfeeding was marvellous for keeping babies quiet on plane. I would have them plugged on for hours.
Disembarked looking like a giant loofah-sapped of al lmoisture.

If you pay for speedy boarding for the adult
Do you have to pay for dc as well or they won`t let them through with you

Or is that a easier way pay for 1 and the other two go through

awww wriggling toddlers are cute. you can always stick your head between the seats and make faces at them

Lets face it - flying sucks. With children, or without, unless you are in a private jet, or have the elusive black BA card and travel first class, you get treated like poo. And on budget airlines, thats even more so, as they rely on their prices to bring you back, not their service.

I can't tell you how many hundred thousand miles I have flown in the last eight years (but I had a gold BA card for 4 of those, flying solely in economy), and I don't think I've ever seen great service.

no, rather unbelievably you have to pay for everyone. i am considering asking if i can send dh on to bagsie three seats before coming on later with dd, though.

Ryanair don't allow to check in online unless you only have hand luggage, and even if you do they don't let you if you have children.

Aitch - thats what my colleague does. Teenager goes in the priority boarding queue, then spreads out to reserve seats for the rest of the family who get on last (she also has 7 and 1 year olds)

Aitchtwociao
I have seen a family do this the dad went on and saved seats for his wife and kids who later joined him

But when your travelling on your own with 2 kids thats not an option
It all about getting more money out of you and that really pisses me off

Now you have to pay for every suit case speedy boarding and cos most people seem to take hand luggage only.You then have no space over your seat.

When i fly with dh I insist on sitting apart from him and kids.Then I drink wine, read, relax and flirt with neighbour while he grapples with kids.
it's heaven.

I always board last even with a 7yo. If there aren't 2 seats together they will move someone. I believe that civil aviation law states that a responsible person has to sit next to a minor incase they need help if the plane crashes or oxygen masks need to be put on. A stranger can not be expected to be responsible for my dd's life and if needed I would make that very clear. Never had to argue the point though. To be honest I think people are happy to move as they generally look horrified if you plonk a young child next to them.

oh yes, that michael ryan doesn't miss a trick to charge people money, that's for sure. you should have seen the thread on here when i realised that i was about to be charged £18 x 3 for the privilege of checking in and getting a flipping seat! but otoh, that's why i know for a fact you can't be unaware of the policy change, it's all over the site.

Message withdrawn

Am I being unreasonable to suggest that children under five shouldn't be allowed on aeroplanes?

Just a thought

I remember in my childless days being asked if I had a preference for a window or an aisle seat - and responding that I didn't care as long as it was out of earshot of wailing infants