British Airways Premium Economy vent

[GingerBeverage]

Just venting really, but I've been separated from my 2 year old in the PE cabin for upcoming 7 hour overnight BA flight.
I booked 4 months ago and choosing seats was always listed as significantly extra (c£50 each from memory) so I relied on their family seating policy. I'd already paid to upgrade, it didn't make sense to pay more.
I checked regularly and seats were always chargeable until a week ago I saw they'd been allocated. OK, I'll move them!
Nope. Cabin is fully booked.
Went on chat and was told they can't help, here, follow this link to complain.
Reply via email 5 days later: You shouldn't have used this link, aka shut up and go away.
The specific seats they have given us are next to toilets centre section aisle, centre section middle, and last row next to toilets centre section middle.
So looks like (we are A, toilets are T):
XX AAX XX
TT XAX TT

If we put 2 year old in aisle he will run away. If we put 2 year old in centre he will annoy the stranger next to him. He's going to cry anyway when he sees he's separated from either me or dad. And the two strangers on either side are not going to want to have him clambering over, nor will they want to swap from an aisle (that they probably paid £50 for) to a centre.

And all this will happen next to toilets which will (if he ever sleeps) wake him up.

I've never regretted an upgrade more. If I could go back and choose economy again I'd do it in a flash. There's no amount of extra mm legroom that can compensate for how much I am dreading this experience.

They said to ask to move at the airport but the chances of that helping are slim to zero. I feel sorry for everyone around us.

[Rainbowshit]

They have sat one adult next to the child. They don't have to do any more than that. If you wanted 3 seats together then you should have paid.

[GingerBeverage]

It’s a vent post, just a vent. Sorry, I forgot it was MN where everyone’s 2 year olds are perfect angels.

Lesson learned, will never upgrade again. Will just have to relax and let whatever happens happen. I’m sure the stranger sitting next to him will be sanguine too.

[HoppingPavlova]

I'd already paid to upgrade, it didn't make sense to pay more.

Except it did make sense as then you would get the seats you wanted together.

You didn’t want to pay. Others did. BA have fulfilled their obligation by sitting your child with an adult (either you or your DH can sit with him, doesn’t need to be the person assigned on the ticket).

Don’t be that arsehole who can’t be bothered paying and asks the cabin crew to solve it for you by asking people who have paid to move. If you do have the brass neck at least have a 50 in your pocket to reimburse and offer to buy a few drinks so you are not completely taking the piss.

[HoppingPavlova]

I’m sure the stranger sitting next to him will be sanguine too.

No, I’m pretty sure the person sitting next to him will be sitting there really pissed off that you couldn’t be arsed paying like they likely did and thought you would make the situation everyone else’s problem.

[RandomQuest]

If you look at another way- IF the toddler is difficult, which I’m sure they won’t be, then you and DH and can switch mid flight. So instead of both dealing with them all flight, you each get half the flight off duty and can actually relax a bit. But seriously mine is by no means perfect and definitely has her moments but has never once been a problem on a plane. Night flight they sleep, day flight they get unlimited scream time and snacks that they’d never get at home! You’re way overthinking this.

[mrsm43s]

@GingerBeverage

It’s a vent post, just a vent. Sorry, I forgot it was MN where everyone’s 2 year olds are perfect angels.

Lesson learned, will never upgrade again. Will just have to relax and let whatever happens happen. I’m sure the stranger sitting next to him will be sanguine too.

It's up to the PARENT sitting next to him to PARENT their child and ensure that he doesn't bother the stranger sitting next to him, or if you put him in the aisle seat to ensure that he doesn't get up and run around. That is PARENTING.

He has a parent sitting next to him. That parent needs to do their job (and there's nothing stopping you and DH swapping throughout the flight to share the load).

[InkySquid]

When we flew premium economy with BA, at booking time there weren't even two seats to select together even if we were prepared to pay. When we got to the airport they changed our seats so we did end up sat together though.

It does make me laugh when people complain about Ryanair seat selection fees, many of the major airlines now charge far higher amounts to do the same thing but don't seem to attract the same level of hate.

[Fraaahnces]

It sounds like a deliberate policy to screw people out of more money. You need to look at their unaccompanied minors policy. Most airlines disallow kids under 5 travelling alone…You should point out that despite the fact that you haven’t paid for your child to travel as an Unaccompanied Minor (Unmin), that you assume that they are going to provide suitable supervision and that the airline will accept all legal responsibility for the custody of your toddler from when you board until you land. (I hope your kid has special medical requirements - anaphylaxis/asthma, etc that will require extra supervision from staff….) I bet you get moved.

[NewIdeasToday]

Your child will have their seat belt on through the flight. So why would they clamber over anyone?

Go prepared. Take books, puzzles, some little
pressies to open if a distraction is needed and it will all be fine.

[GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat]

@Fraaahnces

It sounds like a deliberate policy to screw people out of more money. You need to look at their unaccompanied minors policy. Most airlines disallow kids under 5 travelling alone…You should point out that despite the fact that you haven’t paid for your child to travel as an Unaccompanied Minor (Unmin), that you assume that they are going to provide suitable supervision and that the airline will accept all legal responsibility for the custody of your toddler from when you board until you land. (I hope your kid has special medical requirements - anaphylaxis/asthma, etc that will require extra supervision from staff….) I bet you get moved.

Except he's not unaccompanied, he's next to a parent!

[RandomQuest]

@Fraaahnces

It sounds like a deliberate policy to screw people out of more money. You need to look at their unaccompanied minors policy. Most airlines disallow kids under 5 travelling alone…You should point out that despite the fact that you haven’t paid for your child to travel as an Unaccompanied Minor (Unmin), that you assume that they are going to provide suitable supervision and that the airline will accept all legal responsibility for the custody of your toddler from when you board until you land. (I hope your kid has special medical requirements - anaphylaxis/asthma, etc that will require extra supervision from staff….) I bet you get moved.

Have you read the thread? OP has been allocated 2 seats together for 1 adult and the toddler. The second adult has been seated in the row behind. How does UM (which BA hasn’t actually offered for years) come into it?

[Notonthestairs]

The Op didn't read the policy - family seating is explicitly referred to as one adult sitting with under 12s.

[mrsm43s]

@Fraaahnces

It sounds like a deliberate policy to screw people out of more money. You need to look at their unaccompanied minors policy. Most airlines disallow kids under 5 travelling alone…You should point out that despite the fact that you haven’t paid for your child to travel as an Unaccompanied Minor (Unmin), that you assume that they are going to provide suitable supervision and that the airline will accept all legal responsibility for the custody of your toddler from when you board until you land. (I hope your kid has special medical requirements - anaphylaxis/asthma, etc that will require extra supervision from staff….) I bet you get moved.

Hardly an unaccompanied minor when they have their parent sitting in the seat right next to them. OP is complaining because both parents weren't seated either side of their child, instead one being next to them and one in the next row. They don't just want one adult with their child, they want BOTH, yet decided not to book seats.

BA has done nothing wrong.

[Sally090807]

@HoppingPavlova

I’m sure the stranger sitting next to him will be sanguine too.

No, I’m pretty sure the person sitting next to him will be sitting there really pissed off that you couldn’t be arsed paying like they likely did and thought you would make the situation everyone else’s problem.

This

[Aroundtheworldin80moves]

Everyday parents fly with multiple children alone. Including babies and toddlers.

You gambled. It didn't work out. Thats not BAs fault.

That other adult could well be another parent with an older child across the aisle for example.

[Whippet]

Agree with others - BA have met their policy.
And please don't be THAT parent that interprets 'parenting' as letting your toddler run up and down the aisle screeching the minute the seat belt sign is turned off <bitter experience from last week on a 3 hour flight >

[LoveItOrListIt]

i don’t understand why you are upset. He is sat next to a parent. It’s not like you are going to put him on his own in the middle of the last row? I also don’t think BA have done anything wrong. It could well be annoying for the person on the other side of him but that’s always a risk on a flight. Up to you as the parent to minimise that risk as much as you can.

[MiddleParking]

This is why I love this website 😂

[TomAllenWife]

Lol this thread is great

[fluffycereal]

Lesson learned, will never upgrade again.

Upgrading isn't the problem though, it was not paying to secure the seats you wanted

[QuinkWashable]

I agree, that if it was a 'good' airline, that wasn't just trying to sell premium seat selection, you would should have been seated together.

But these days that's rare - if they charge for seat selection, then you have to assume that if you don't select then they'll seat you as awkwardly as they can within the rules.

One thing I like about Aer Lingus for example is if you're travelling with kids you get reduced rate luggage and seat selection for them.

[LetitiaLeghorn]

If you're so very concerned for the passenger sat next to your toddler, just offer to swap with them if he becomes annoying. That way you've given them control of the situation should they have had enough of him.

[MajorCarolDanvers]

I get you want to vent

But your 2 year old can still sit beside a parent.

[QuestionableMouse]

@Fraaahnces

It sounds like a deliberate policy to screw people out of more money. You need to look at their unaccompanied minors policy. Most airlines disallow kids under 5 travelling alone…You should point out that despite the fact that you haven’t paid for your child to travel as an Unaccompanied Minor (Unmin), that you assume that they are going to provide suitable supervision and that the airline will accept all legal responsibility for the custody of your toddler from when you board until you land. (I hope your kid has special medical requirements - anaphylaxis/asthma, etc that will require extra supervision from staff….) I bet you get moved.

Child has one parent sat next to him and one behind. He's not separated from his parents like the op implied.