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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

... to think my infant son should be entitled to a baggage allowance?

57 replies

overworkedmummy · 04/06/2010 15:38

Hi

First AIBU - go easy

I have been in contact with Monarch airlines over the past few days regarding this and I would be interested in other peoples views.

A few weeks ago I travelled with them and my son, who is 17 months but long, spent most of the journey kicking my neighbour - which was not too bad as it was my husband. I am now travelling alone with him (17 month old) so have booked an extra seat. I am aware that he needs to sit on my lap for take off and landing.

To book an extra seat I was advised by their Customer Service dept to book him as a 2-12 year old on their website, which I have done. The difference in price is £15 for travel on lap; £95 for extra seat. Fine, for the 2 1/2 hours of hell I can take that.

If he is classed as an infant and on my lap he is entitled to 10 kilos hold baggage. However, as I have bought him a seat they are saying he is a child (even though he is still only 17 months!) and I have to pay for any hold luggage.

Now, I am rather riled at this. Last time my luggage was 23 kilos - so not massively over but it just seems so unjust. Their compromise is that he can take 10 kilos of hand luggage. How on earth am I supposed to carry him and 20 kilos of hand luggage?

Is it me or is it them? I would be interested to hear your thoughts as I have a supervisor calling me (apparently) some time this afternoon to discuss.

Many thanks

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 04/06/2010 15:41

so infants can have luggage but children can't??

GeekOfTheWeek · 04/06/2010 15:45

Not sure if I think yabu or not. Did you know the luggage restriction when booking the seat?

I have 2 holidays coming up and ds2(6 months) has 10kg each time.

Ds1(10) is flying monarch next month with his grandparents and he doesn't have luggage allowance except for 5kg hand luggage.

123andaway · 04/06/2010 15:48

I'm not sure I'm with you?!

So he's allowed 10kg as an infant (when you are only paying a nominal amount for him), but now you have actually purchased him a seat, as you would for an adult, he can no longer take any luggage?

Original poster
overworkedmummy · 04/06/2010 15:48

Yep. Infants on lap get 10 kilos hold luggage allowance. Children 2-12 years have to pay, like adults, because you have to by a seat and the hold luggage is extra.

However, infants aren't entitled to hand luggage but children (2-12) are. But, travelling alone with an infant, I will not be able to carry 20 kilos on board! I also know from experience that some times there is no-one to help you. Last time I travelled without my dh I asked if someone was around at the bottom of the steps of the plane to either hold my toddlers hand / collapse buggy for me as he would be off. I was told I would have to ask another passenger! (I only travel with Monarch because they have better legroom)

Not fair, eh? (Or have I lost perspective?)

OP posts:
backtotalkaboutthis · 04/06/2010 15:49

yanbu, sods

longwayfromhome · 04/06/2010 15:49

It's a lottery really. I'm flying with British soon and my child on my knee can take a check in bag, hand luggage, car seat and buggy. That's more than I'm allowed! Crazy.

EmmaBemma · 04/06/2010 15:50

Bizarre! He's going to weigh the same whether he's sitting on your lap or in his own seat, so he should have the same luggage allowance.

StealthPolarBear - infants tend to have a bigger luggage allowance to take account of pushchair, carseat, etc.

Original poster
overworkedmummy · 04/06/2010 15:51

Geek - It doesn't say in their FAQ's about buying a seat for infants you have to call the Call Centre. It didn't really occur to me at the time and I decided to clarify it.

The paperwork, in the general spiel, does say infants are entitled to 10 kg's hold luggage but he is not listed as an infant because I bought a seat for him (so they assume that he is 2-12). I couldn't add his API info either so called and they said they just scan the passport at the airport...

OP posts:
123andaway · 04/06/2010 15:52

So can you pay for him to have luggage in the hold?

If you can then I think YABU. You have booked him a seat, therefore he's no longer classed as an infant, so goes by the same rules as anyone else booking a seat - surely?

Infants don't get a hand luggage allowance, but they are giving this to you (although I understand why you can't use it)

StarOfValkyrie · 04/06/2010 15:53

Nope. You have a good point. When you get to the other end you won't get your buggy either, and you'll have to walk a mile and then stand for half an hour in line for passport control carrying your baby and hand luggage.

Now, I have, in the past, put extra stuff in the bottom of the buggy which then goes in the hold, but you might not get away with it (although I don't think they check).

Mingg · 04/06/2010 15:53

Yanbu - that sucks

whatname · 04/06/2010 15:59

I think that might be a bit of a glitch, that they really haven't thought through.
Hopefully if you speak to the supervisor, they can see it doesn't make sense and will make an exception. But dont hold your breath!

I think its all nonsense, for the first couple of trips we did, Ds had way more luggage than we did. I used to take nappies, cos I could never find any that fitted/or didnt leak.

Original poster
overworkedmummy · 04/06/2010 16:00

123andfaraway - I have booked a seat and can pay for an extra bag. However, I am travelling alone and an extra bag is a serious pain. I just want to put an extra 3-4 kilos in my bag and be done.

It is more the principle than the money to be honest. How come, once I have shelled out more for an extra seat he becomes a child? He still needs to be on my lap on take off and landings (and bits in between)? I am only buying a seat for the comfort of their other passengers. I could put up with a squirming child for 2 1/2 hours. Have done for 17 months ...

OP posts:
Original poster
overworkedmummy · 04/06/2010 16:02

OK, they just called back - not the supervisor, just the original girl I spoke to who agreed it was stupid - and she said it was company policy and they couldn't do anything about it but I could write to complain and see if that did anything.

Anyone good at writing letters of complaint ?

OP posts:
Needanewname · 04/06/2010 16:15

Personally I would have insisted on speak to a supervisor, its what you requested and they have to do that

diddl · 04/06/2010 16:23

Isn´t the problem that you´ve booked him as older than his years?

Original poster
overworkedmummy · 04/06/2010 16:24

diddl. That is the only way you can book a child under 2 a seat!

OP posts:
diddl · 04/06/2010 16:30

Yes, I know, but if you hadn´t done that, he would still have had a luggage allowance.

Original poster
overworkedmummy · 04/06/2010 16:34

Yes, but he would have been on my lap and kicking my neighbour ...

OP posts:
diddl · 04/06/2010 16:46

I´m not saying you did the wrong thing.

But he is entitled to an allowance-you have to pay, though as with all the seats.

He can take hand luggage, but due to his age that´s no use.

Would it be any use to take his allowance in a rucksack?

Original poster
overworkedmummy · 04/06/2010 16:51

He is very heavy and very wriggly. The walk at the other end (without buggy) is very long and wind-y. I take my changing bag filled to the gills with food and toys for him and my purse, phone and keys. It weighs a tonne. There is no way that I could physically carry any more.

I don't see what difference it makes to them whether the 10 kilos is checked in or in hand luggage. It must be quite a rare occurance as most infants sit on their parents knee. It is a glitch of their system, surely, that doesn't allow for you to book an infant a seat?

OP posts:
whatname · 04/06/2010 16:53

where are you going, how long is the flight?

Original poster
overworkedmummy · 04/06/2010 16:56

Alicante. 2 1/2 hours. Not too long but long enough!

OP posts:
snowmash · 04/06/2010 17:08

Their website does suggest in the FAQs that you may be able to use a car seat with infants aged 6 months-3 years...which would suggest that they should also sel infant seats?

captainplanet · 04/06/2010 17:10

I guess that to Monarch your son is booked on a seat that they could have sold to an adult/child so they are losing out by giving you free hold luggage when if you had just booked him as an infant then they would essentially be making more money because he wouldn't take up a seat. If that makes sense...

Although I think that some good customer service would mean they would make an exception. you said you only travel by Monarch so they must have some sort of record of you being a returning customer, it just doesn't seem right to not make an exception for you this time.

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