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

[overworkedmummy]

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

Not sure if this will help but I always use a buggy bag and they never weigh this...so what you do is you take the 'extra' bag or whatever (coats, books etc) then when you get to the botton of the plane and you fold up your buggy you stick it in the buggy bag with the extra luggage. Make sure you buy one bigger than your buggy. I've done this for the last 3 flights last one coming back from Paris with dd I had so much in the bag it actually ripped a little hole in the bag!!!

overworked, no we are heading out on Tuesday morning. Whereabouts are you? My folks live in Coveta Fuma dunno if you'd know it.
well, as its Sun i'm guessing you made it there! Hope you're having a nice time.
If you see 4 adults wandering around with four kids from 18 months to 10 years that'll be us!!

if you are booking a child seat you are essentially getting a discounted seat, if you take an infant on your lap you are paying a premium for a seat.If you think of it like that the luggage allowance makes sense.

well you wont get them to change their mind, take a usual sized case for you to check in and then a wheely hand luggage bag for him and it can count as your hand luggage

fucking airlines

Can't you just use a sling? I've flown three times with DD, once when she was 9mo and she slept in the sling nearly the whole time. Once at 21mo and I carried 25kg hand luggage without a problem with her on my back out of the way. Third time she was 3.4years and fast asleep on my back all the way through customs.

YANBU though they are being crap.

Wow, is a 10 kilo luggage allowance pretty standard? I can't imagine packing that light! I am flying back home with dd (8) next week and just today checked the luggage allowances. We are each allowed two checked bags 22 kilos (so 44 each) and one 10 kilo bag to carry on. Doubt we will take that much, but I am shocked at the difference in allowances.

When I flew with her on my lap however, she got no luggage allowance at all. I just had to pack ours together.

isnt the infants hold luggage only for a pram/car seat? it was when i flew with my dd..... as for carrying a baby and hand luggage, i put baby in a sling and was helped onto the plane with the luggage..