Seating small children - Ryanair
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Seating small children - Ryanair
Mrs 25F took the smalls (aged 4 & 5) off to see the in-laws a few weeks back.
Ryanair, as we probably all know, do not prioritise boarding for families with small children, despite it being in everyone's best interests that they can get on first and get a row near the back and near the toilets - and allow subsequent boarders the option of avoiding them, if possible.
On this trip, Mrs 25F ended up in an aisle seat (D), with the kids across the aisle (B & C). I am amazed that the occupant of seat A did not offer to swap; but I am also amazed that the crew did not arrange it such that the 25Fs had a row, so that Mrs 25F could sit between the two smalls.
Surely, for safety reasons, the adult should be allowed, or encouraged, or enforced, to sit between the two small children, so as to make sure that seatbelts are fastened, etc.?
Ryanair, as we probably all know, do not prioritise boarding for families with small children, despite it being in everyone's best interests that they can get on first and get a row near the back and near the toilets - and allow subsequent boarders the option of avoiding them, if possible.
On this trip, Mrs 25F ended up in an aisle seat (D), with the kids across the aisle (B & C). I am amazed that the occupant of seat A did not offer to swap; but I am also amazed that the crew did not arrange it such that the 25Fs had a row, so that Mrs 25F could sit between the two smalls.
Surely, for safety reasons, the adult should be allowed, or encouraged, or enforced, to sit between the two small children, so as to make sure that seatbelts are fastened, etc.?
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I'd guess the the inconsiderate lout wanted a window seat, not an aisle. Must have been a PPRuNer or an Airliners(dot)net nut.
No, I don't think it's the crew's responsibility to ask passengers to give up their chosen seat. With Cryanair you 'pays your money, and you take your chances'.
No, I don't think it's the crew's responsibility to ask passengers to give up their chosen seat. With Cryanair you 'pays your money, and you take your chances'.
Thread Starter
No, I don't expect the cabin crew, particularly on Ryanair, to help make people comfortable, even if it would be in everybody's interests to have the accompanying adult sit between the two children and so be able to deal with any squabbles, spillages or tantrums.
But surely from a *safety* point of view, and god knows we get reminded often enough on pprune that the cabin crew's primary job is safety, if you've got a child who is not necessarily old enough to be able to follow cabin crew instruction, they should have an accompanying adult sat next to them?
But surely from a *safety* point of view, and god knows we get reminded often enough on pprune that the cabin crew's primary job is safety, if you've got a child who is not necessarily old enough to be able to follow cabin crew instruction, they should have an accompanying adult sat next to them?
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25F Sorry you had to learn the hard way on your first RYR trip but this is not the thread you are looking for ... 
This is: http://www.pprune.org/airlines-airpo...ir-9-a-44.html
This is: http://www.pprune.org/airlines-airpo...ir-9-a-44.html
On this trip, Mrs 25F ended up in an aisle seat (D), with the kids across the aisle (B & C). I am amazed that the occupant of seat A did not offer to swap; but I am also amazed that the crew did not arrange it such that the 25Fs had a row, so that Mrs 25F could sit between the two smalls.
Thread Starter
@DaveReidUK - I haven't got a clue why she didn't sit between them in the way you suggest.
@PAXboy - no wish to wade through 45 pages, I just want clarification on what I think is a safety matter - which does not appear to be airline specific.
@PAXboy - no wish to wade through 45 pages, I just want clarification on what I think is a safety matter - which does not appear to be airline specific.
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If the Mrs felt she should have priority boarding, then why did she not buy priority boarding tickets at the gate? Bit of a take it or leave it deal with Ryanair. If you don't choose to buy it, you don't get it, even if you feel you deserve it.
Paxing All Over The World
Sorry 25F I didn't expect you to read through - but that thread is populated with those who know all (good and bad!) about FR. 
Many years ago I worked for a subsidiary of BA. That meant we were alowed to use their "Staff Travel" facilities. One year we decide to go to San Francisco standby (there were other options available to us but they were more expensive).
We got on the first flight we went for (which was, in itself, a bit of a miracle). There were 4 of us; 2 adults and 2 children aged about 8 and 10. My mother in law was also on the flight.
The seats we had been allocated were spread all over the plane. We were standing in line debating who was going to sit where when a "normal" passenger offered to swap for the seat upstairs (wasn't Club in those days).
As it happened one of our seats was behind my mother in law so younger son went in that seat. The rest of us just took our seats as allocated. We were lucky that our older boy was always pretty sensible and you could plug him into a book and he'd be happy for hours.
OK, so Staff Travel isn't the same as being a real passenger but sometimes you have to deal with stuff and make do.
We got on the first flight we went for (which was, in itself, a bit of a miracle). There were 4 of us; 2 adults and 2 children aged about 8 and 10. My mother in law was also on the flight.
The seats we had been allocated were spread all over the plane. We were standing in line debating who was going to sit where when a "normal" passenger offered to swap for the seat upstairs (wasn't Club in those days).
As it happened one of our seats was behind my mother in law so younger son went in that seat. The rest of us just took our seats as allocated. We were lucky that our older boy was always pretty sensible and you could plug him into a book and he'd be happy for hours.
OK, so Staff Travel isn't the same as being a real passenger but sometimes you have to deal with stuff and make do.
With RYR it is pretty simple. If you want something, you pay for it. Priority boarding would have resolved the matter - you just have to buy it.
If you don't buy it, it is assumed you don't care & accept whatever. It's your choice really- that is how Ryanair works.
If you don't buy it, it is assumed you don't care & accept whatever. It's your choice really- that is how Ryanair works.
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I agree that young children should be seated next to their parent(s) in the interest of SAFETY. Nevertleless I also agree that if you choose to fly an airline which offers little for it's passengers without extra charges than you either accept that option or you travel with another more customer friendly airline. If (like me btw) you don't like their product don't fly with them!
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@Torque Tonight - other airlines allow small children (and their parents) on first. Not so that we can nab the best seats - but so that we can get the worst ones, at the back, near the toilets. And we'll be the last off the aircraft. In addition if we get seated first it allows any child-phobic passengers the best chance of not having to sit near us. Really, it's in everyone's interests - and even with RYR I've found other passengers are quite happy to let you jump up the queue a bit. And finally, if we are last on it *will* inconvenience other people because small children *must* have an accompanying adult sat next to them, and if seats are not available somebody *will* have to move. It's a safety issue.
@Hartington - different deal. At that age kids can be relied upon to follow cabin crew instruction, adjust the seat belt themselves etc. It's a safety issue.
@Union Jack - it's not really relevant. However she arranged things she'd be an aisle away from one of the kids and therefore not in a position to adjust the seat belt. It's a safety issue.
@Mr A Tis - it's a safety issue.
@Hartington - different deal. At that age kids can be relied upon to follow cabin crew instruction, adjust the seat belt themselves etc. It's a safety issue.
@Union Jack - it's not really relevant. However she arranged things she'd be an aisle away from one of the kids and therefore not in a position to adjust the seat belt. It's a safety issue.
@Mr A Tis - it's a safety issue.
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Wife and I took almost full flight from Mallorca couple of weeks ago.
We were last to board and while getting on I noticed the crew had used tape to prevent pax from sitting in the first 3 or 4 rows. There were no seats to stay together so I walked down to find one for myself while my wife tried to accomodate herself closer to the taped rows.
Just as seating was completed, one kind steward removed the tape from the fron rows, evidently to acommodate divided groups. My wife called over and we sat together for short duration of the fligth.
Well done Ryanair.
We were last to board and while getting on I noticed the crew had used tape to prevent pax from sitting in the first 3 or 4 rows. There were no seats to stay together so I walked down to find one for myself while my wife tried to accomodate herself closer to the taped rows.
Just as seating was completed, one kind steward removed the tape from the fron rows, evidently to acommodate divided groups. My wife called over and we sat together for short duration of the fligth.
Well done Ryanair.
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No! Well done the CC, or more likely the head of cabin services who took the initiative.
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@lapp - it's to do with balancing the aircraft.
http://www.pprune.org/passengers-slf...ont-seats.html
RYR are not going to "acommodate divided groups" without charging for it!
@Hotel Tango - I personally avoid Ryanair when possible, and if I must then I accept the consequences. And if we are all four of us travelling then this may well involve not all being able to sit as a single group.
@oldbalboy - thanks for the hint, I found the relevant CAA page here:
Seating Allocation | On Board the Aircraft | Passengers
http://www.pprune.org/passengers-slf...ont-seats.html
RYR are not going to "acommodate divided groups" without charging for it!
@Hotel Tango - I personally avoid Ryanair when possible, and if I must then I accept the consequences. And if we are all four of us travelling then this may well involve not all being able to sit as a single group.
@oldbalboy - thanks for the hint, I found the relevant CAA page here:
Seating Allocation | On Board the Aircraft | Passengers