Airline Seating Allocations - single parent, 2 children

Pollycat

tightauldgit said:

I've travelled a lot as a single dad with my daughter on many flights and always been seated together despite never booking anything. I think it's probably a legal requirement to seat kids with a responsible adult. She has been under 12 though until this year so I don't know at what point it cuts off. Be interesting to see if it continues. 

If we were seated apart I'd just ask someone to switch - most people wouldn't have a problem with it. 

See my post above with link.
Some airlines class over 12s as not children.

silvercar

BA will try and sit all people on one booking together, irrespective of age etc. However, if there are no seats together by the time all those who have paid or have free booking perks due to status etc, then they won't be able to do so and you risk being sat apart.

Unless on the cheapest of tickets, you will be able to check in and book seats 24 hours before the first flight on the booking, so at least you can mentally prepare yourself.

tightauldgit

Pollycat said:

tightauldgit said:

I've travelled a lot as a single dad with my daughter on many flights and always been seated together despite never booking anything. I think it's probably a legal requirement to seat kids with a responsible adult. She has been under 12 though until this year so I don't know at what point it cuts off. Be interesting to see if it continues. 

If we were seated apart I'd just ask someone to switch - most people wouldn't have a problem with it. 

See my post above with link.
Some airlines class over 12s as not children.

While that's true I wonder what the aviation authorities view on when a child is no longer a child would be as that's probably more important to seating allocation? It's a safety issue for them in case of emergencies.  

Ben1989

Keep in mind that 'seated together' could mean a row in front, across an aisle etc not necessarily directly next to each other.

Westin

tightauldgit said:

Pollycat said:

tightauldgit said:

I've travelled a lot as a single dad with my daughter on many flights and always been seated together despite never booking anything. I think it's probably a legal requirement to seat kids with a responsible adult. She has been under 12 though until this year so I don't know at what point it cuts off. Be interesting to see if it continues. 

If we were seated apart I'd just ask someone to switch - most people wouldn't have a problem with it. 

See my post above with link.
Some airlines class over 12s as not children.

While that's true I wonder what the aviation authorities view on when a child is no longer a child would be as that's probably more important to seating allocation? It's a safety issue for them in case of emergencies.  

The CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) has 'guidance' to airlines rather than a required stipulation or an enforceable regulation. 

The CAA's view is that young children (12 years and under) who are accompanied by adults should ideally be seated in the same seat row as the adult. Where this is not possible, children should be separated by no more than one seat row from accompanying adults.   

Airlines are asked to be proactive in this guidance from the CAA and EASA (European Air Safety Agency), but it is 'guidance'.

As we approach the school holidays, if sitting together is important, it may be best to look at preallocating (paying) for seats. 

DullGreyGuy

Bigphil1474 said:

Personally, I'd take the risk and hope my teenager is sat near some other poor soul. 

I'd be paying to make sure they are!


Its slightly different if you are travelling First or Business because the number of seats are fairly small but most the time in economy you'll have no problems getting 3 seats together as long as you do online check in at the earliest opportunity (24hrs unless you are a higher tier executive club).

From memory with BA at least you can go down the "choose your own seats" before booking opens to see what seats are available without having to pay for them. Clearly if you check 6 days in advance and there is only one set left that you like then you may want to book them

TELLIT01

tightauldgit said:

If we were seated apart I'd just ask someone to switch - most people wouldn't have a problem with it. 

Maybe I'm in a minority, but If I'd paid for a specific seat I certainly wouldn't switch with somebody who didn't.

tightauldgit

TELLIT01 said:

tightauldgit said:

If we were seated apart I'd just ask someone to switch - most people wouldn't have a problem with it. 

Maybe I'm in a minority, but If I'd paid for a specific seat I certainly wouldn't switch with somebody who didn't.

I don't know how many people pay for a specific non-special seat to be honest - fair enough if they are sitting with their own family or paid for extra legroom etc but then I wouldn't really expect them to switch seats or ask them. 

I don't pay for seats anyway but would never have a problem switching with someone. I've volunteered it in the past when I've seen families split up. I'd probably rather move than be sat next to someone's unaccompanied child anyway. 

jimi_man

tightauldgit said:

TELLIT01 said:

tightauldgit said:

If we were seated apart I'd just ask someone to switch - most people wouldn't have a problem with it. 

Maybe I'm in a minority, but If I'd paid for a specific seat I certainly wouldn't switch with somebody who didn't.

I don't know how many people pay for a specific non-special seat to be honest - fair enough if they are sitting with their own family or paid for extra legroom etc but then I wouldn't really expect them to switch seats or ask them. 

I don't pay for seats anyway but would never have a problem switching with someone. I've volunteered it in the past when I've seen families split up. I'd probably rather move than be sat next to someone's unaccompanied child anyway. 

I think a lot depends on the route. Some routes are status heavy so people will often select their seats at booking. On BA we select our seats (and try and go for the exit legroom rows) at booking time as we both have status that allows us to do it. But on holiday routes you’re probably right and unless people get confused and think they have to, most will probably leave it till checkin. 

Personally I think the OP will be fine. 

Pollycat

Westin said:

tightauldgit said:

Pollycat said:

tightauldgit said:

I've travelled a lot as a single dad with my daughter on many flights and always been seated together despite never booking anything. I think it's probably a legal requirement to seat kids with a responsible adult. She has been under 12 though until this year so I don't know at what point it cuts off. Be interesting to see if it continues. 

If we were seated apart I'd just ask someone to switch - most people wouldn't have a problem with it. 

See my post above with link.
Some airlines class over 12s as not children.

While that's true I wonder what the aviation authorities view on when a child is no longer a child would be as that's probably more important to seating allocation? It's a safety issue for them in case of emergencies.  

The CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) has 'guidance' to airlines rather than a required stipulation or an enforceable regulation. 

The CAA's view is that young children (12 years and under) who are accompanied by adults should ideally be seated in the same seat row as the adult. Where this is not possible, children should be separated by no more than one seat row from accompanying adults.   

Airlines are asked to be proactive in this guidance from the CAA and EASA (European Air Safety Agency), but it is 'guidance'.

As we approach the school holidays, if sitting together is important, it may be best to look at preallocating (paying) for seats. 

Exactly!
Some people think there is a 'legal requirement' to seat children with parents.
Not so.