MSE News: 'Family tax': Dad's outrage as Ryanair tries to seat 3yo away from family

Roger_Newman

We had the same situation with or 6 year old granddaughter flying back from Washington on American Airlines about 5 years ago. Our daughters partners sorted it out himself by getting some passengers to change seats. The passengers were more helpful than the stewardesses. Another example of crap service and companies treating their customers with contempt we should boycott them!!

robert_manning

Ryan Air should consider the legal position of isolating a 3year old on an aircraft. A 3 year old will not understand the safety briefing and would not be able to operate such safety equipment such as oxygen masks. That is why the safety brief tells an adult to fix their own masks before helping infants with theirs.
It is also doubtful that a 3 year old could operate a seatbelt buckle or understand where emergency exits are. this being arguable, then Ryan Air would be fully responsible for the safety of that infant.
Cabin crew beware.

Icequeen99

brownieseven wrote: »

Thompson did same, Dad in aisle seat, Mum and Baby on lap across aisle. 6 year old sat next to strangers. Thompson refused to help, refused to let mum pay to move seats to next to stangers as was exit seat so no baby allowed. Dad not allowed to have baby on lap as mum was ticketed to have baby. So had to pay to move Dad and then pay again to move mum into dads seat then Dad next to 6 year old. Last time ever use Thompson

Why didn't Dad swap with the 6 year old? Surely that would have solved the problem.

IQ

cpdc1030

Zero sympathy from me on this. Don't expect others to fix problems you've created yourself.

Several times I have been asked to move from seats I have paid for (including exit row seats!) by people who didn't fancy their seat or wanted to sit together! If it was a more reasonable case of moving from one comparable seat to another I have no problem, but these people always want you to move to a worse seat (like from an aisle to a middle).

No one has forced them to choose Ryanair (who are well known for uncompromising policies). No one forced them to have children either.

dafranmo

SewerSide wrote: »

Why didn't Chris just swap with Lily? Then the kids sit with their mum, and dad is only a few rows away, getting some sleep.

Read the article - they were in three different locations. If not, they may just have thought of that.

lpklpklpk

I agree that while it is poor that Ryanair charges for seat booking forcing "sensible" families to spend more so they can seat together the fact remains that it's your choice to fly with them or not.
The terms and conditions are quite clear and well known so if you don't like it don't book with them.
If you don't value sitting with your 3 year old enough to spend the few pounds extra to guarantee this then don't whine and moan when the inevitable happens - more fool you. I certainly wouldn't have been giving up my pre booked seat for you. There is a time and a place for saving money, risking having my children alone on a flight is not a gamble i would have taken to save a few quid. Stupid people !!!! Hopefully learned their lesson.

My biggest concern with Ryaniar (because I'm not stupid enough to take the un -allocated seat gamble) is weather or not there will be enough fuel in the plane to get there without crashing and weather or not i can sit through another rendition of that stupid fanfare they insist on playing without going nuts.

cpdc1030

lpklpklpk wrote: »

There is a time and a place for saving money, risking having my children alone on a flight is not a gamble i would have taken to save a few quid. Stupid people !!!! Hopefully learned their lesson.

Could not have said it better myself.

Pollycat

jondews100 wrote: »

I've not travelled via Ryanair for several years now and hopefully will never have to. This article is just another nudge to me to continue to avoid doing so. Their attitude, the way the CEO treats his employees, his unapologetic aggression towards anyone who gainsays him, including any trade union trying to get fairness for members; all of it is unseemly macho behaviour.

You are limiting your options because it appears that they are not the only airline to do this (and I'm sure there are lots of others):

brownieseven wrote: »

Thompson did same, Dad in aisle seat, Mum and Baby on lap across aisle. 6 year old sat next to strangers.

shoi wrote: »

In 2008 we had exactly the same with BA from London to Los Angeles - Mother and baby on her lap one place, and 4 yr old miles away (I was already in LA).

Roger_Newman wrote: »

We had the same situation with or 6 year old granddaughter flying back from Washington on American Airlines about 5 years ago. Our daughters partners sorted it out himself by getting some passengers to change seats. The passengers were more helpful than the stewardesses. Another example of crap service and companies treating their customers with contempt we should boycott them!!

mumoftwoandapig

How can anyone claim to be a responsible or caring parent if they choose to save themselves a few pounds rather than ensure they have their child siting next to them?
It never ceases to amaze me how people with children would even consider not having them sat next to them on a flight. My children are 17 and 16 now and I would pay every time to ensure we are all sat together.
The policy is clear to anyone booking with Ryanair - if your too tight to pay for an allocated seat then tough luck if you don't get to sit where you want or with your child.
We are off on holiday next week and there is no way I would move from the seats I have booked and paid for.
As a Solicitor and Policeman you would have thought they'd have more sense and let's face it enough money to pay for allocated seating. They must either be mean or arrogant enough to think that everything revolves around them and their children. Makes me so cross:mad:

zagfles

mumoftwoandapig wrote: »

How can anyone claim to be a responsible or caring parent if they choose to save themselves a few pounds rather than ensure they have their child siting next to them?
It never ceases to amaze me how people with children would even consider not having them sat next to them on a flight. My children are 17 and 16 now and I would pay every time to ensure we are all sat together.
The policy is clear to anyone booking with Ryanair - if your too tight to pay for an allocated seat then tough luck if you don't get to sit where you want or with your child.
We are off on holiday next week and there is no way I would move from the seats I have booked and paid for.
As a Solicitor and Policeman you would have thought they'd have more sense and let's face it enough money to pay for allocated seating. They must either be mean or arrogant enough to think that everything revolves around them and their children. Makes me so cross:mad:

If a 16 and 17 year old still need to sit with Mummy and Daddy I think that says a lot