Airlines forced to seat children with parents

[ibeentothetop]

Thanks Burnham, now it’ll be more expensive for child free people like me to pick a seat. I can’t believe that things like this even need to be legislated for.

These passengers are being subsidised by the passengers who pay all the additional fees.

You mean you would rather other passengers faced increased costs in order for you to be able to fly cheaper?

I've never been on a flight where children are not next to their parents. Madness to even have to regulate it.

I agree. Even if they wanted to charge extra for ‘better’ seats, the cheapest should be included.

No they’re not. That’s the point of splitting up the costs.

No, I mean if people want those luxury’s they could pay for them, and those who don’t wouldn’t….

A basic safety measure isn’t a luxury. Parents shouldn’t get to choose where they sit, but children should be seated with their parents for the safety of everyone on board. Now all of the parents who don’t care where they sit as long as they are with their children can do the same as you and just opt for the cheaper fare.

I thought it was regulated anyway..when we’ve flown they have split the family up but the children have always been sat next to an adult from our group. We’ve never paid extra for that.

Would you rather sit with an unaccompanied five year old? You can have mine. He will ask you eight questions per minute and be at least 55% sticky, but other than that he's delightful. I'll read my book at the back of the plane, so boring, really you're getting the better deal 😉

I’m sure some people would be happy to pay to book a particular seat if it meant they get extra booze thrown in!

Do you avoid booking his seat usually?

I was responding to the other luxury’s the poster had mentioned.That all the group is seated together, Suitcase included, drinks, newspaper, blanket, cushions, meals.

Interesting that's good to know, as we only had one child at the time, I was going to book flights somewhere next year and do as I always do and not select seats. I think my daughter who will be 8 would be upset in this situation.

Ah, apologies. I see now.

I would have no trouble, after politely answering the first three questions, telling your child I want quiet time now, then ignoring them the rest of the flight. I'd put on ear phones to make it easy. I've always sat with and entertained mine on flights. He's not my responsibility.

I've never had to - every time we've flown the airline has automatically given us seats together. I actually assumed this was already a legal requirement but perhaps we've just been lucky with the airlines we have flown on.

This would be a more than generous and valid response 😂I would obviously never actually leave him as the responsibility of a stranger, that would be insane. But I do think it's funny for OP to complain about this legislation when surely the alternative must be worse!

No one would look after someone else’s dc.

To all those so concerned about the safety implications of your child being a little bit away from you are you happy to go back to the days when you could only travel with one child per adult? How safe is one adult trying to wrangle 3 small children of a plane in an evacuation? Risks are the same. Both are going to cause delays.

No and, to be frank, I'd think any parent who didn't make sure their five year old was next to them was a bit negligent. I won't harm them but they could be sat next to anyone.

Indeed. That's why it would be insane. Not to mention you could be leaving them unaccompanied beside a paedophile or a psychopath. It's clearly in everyone's interests for children to be seated with their parents (except the paedophile's, I suppose), and if airlines can't be trusted to provide for that, it should be the law.

When was that? In the early 2000s I flew long haul with my husband and 5 young children.

AGAIN he’s avoiding the elephant in the room…..benefits!
Aaaaanything but sort out the benefits bill and State profligacy just in case his back benchers revolt.

I’m sure you’d rather save the incremental £1 and have to look after my insane kids on a flight whilst I sit separately enjoying a nice glass of wine 😁

Yes sorry reserve. Virgin, 2 adults 2 children who will be 5 and 3. We usually fly BA and because I’m a silver member we’ve always been able to reserve seats so I couldn’t believe the price!