Who will be looking after my kids?
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Who will be looking after my kids?
This Sunday we fly from NCL to Arrecife with TCX. There will be five in our party, two adults and three kids aged 9, 14 & 16. Just a simple question, do parents have to sit with their children? My sons (14 & 16) would probably prefer to be by themselves, but can they? But my nine year old daughter (age 9) would be horrified having to sit by herself. The air fare element of our ticket is approx. £2,600 which doesn't exactly make this what I would consider to be "low cost". From what I have seen so far, this is appears to be a full price, no service operation. So I'm not going to pay for the privilege of sitting by the window £9.75 nor am I going to cough up £4.75 for an aisle seat. I'll delegate the seating issue to TCX. So I'm just wondering what they should/will do. Will check-in will sort us out or will they let the cabin crew provide the fix ...or will TCX do as I suspect and just split us up?
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You certainly won't be guaranteed seats together, and neither should you be. The rest of us have to pay so why shouldn't you? The airline should ensure that children are sat within one row of a responsible adult. Not sure how TCX works but at some airlines a 16 year old can be a responsible adult for a 14 year old so they can sit together.
Bear in mind that every day children as young as five fly across the states completely unaccompanied. It is not that big a deal.
You have the option to sort the issue out now but you are consciously choosing to take a chance so don't kick up a fuss if you can't get seats together. It's the summer holidays and lots of families will be taking the gamble at you are and ere will always be losers unfortunately.
Bear in mind that every day children as young as five fly across the states completely unaccompanied. It is not that big a deal.
You have the option to sort the issue out now but you are consciously choosing to take a chance so don't kick up a fuss if you can't get seats together. It's the summer holidays and lots of families will be taking the gamble at you are and ere will always be losers unfortunately.
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More to the point...
.... I doubt paying for a seat or seats of your choice will necessarily buy you anything. Chances are at least two seats will be together so your daughter will have one of you with her. In the extreme eventuality that you are all separated, I think you can rely upon someone volunteering a swap.
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Woohhahhh! INTF90 - You obviously work in customer services for a charter or lo-co airline. Comments like "The rest of us have to pay so why shouldn't you?" are totally uncalled for. I just asked a simple question and never suggested, implied nor intimated that I was entitled to any special treatment. Furthermore, to imply that I'll kick up a fuss if we don't get seats together is insulting, ignorant and rude.
My reasons for asking were quite genuine. And it is interesting to see the differences between a full fare, legacy airline and a UK charter airline. Not only is there difference in value for money (especially if you consider the distances flown) in the basic ticket, but also in add-on charges and the airline's attitude to its customers.
My reasons for asking were quite genuine. And it is interesting to see the differences between a full fare, legacy airline and a UK charter airline. Not only is there difference in value for money (especially if you consider the distances flown) in the basic ticket, but also in add-on charges and the airline's attitude to its customers.
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Will check-in will sort us out or will they let the cabin crew provide the fix ...or will TCX do as I suspect and just split us up?
The cabin crew will not provide the fix, nor will check in deliberately split you up.
From the TCX website....
Passengers who have not pre-selected their seats will be allocated seats automatically. We will do our best to allocate seats together, however this is not guaranteed.
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Flew to Hong Kong with BA and was not happy about having to pay extra to sit together (2 adults and 2 kids) - I thought that was what flying with a high quality legacy airline was all about?
The flight back was cancelled due to the aircraft going tech. Got a flight with Lufthansa instead. Made the best of a bad job as far as organising seating was concerned when we checked in online (not much available and no option to pay extra to sit together) but by the tine we arrived at the airport someone (presumably a person!) had re-allocated our seats so that we were all together. Very happy about that - top marks to Lufthansa. In the end got £££ in compensation from BA for the cancellation, plus the additional fees we had paid to sit together, and we only got home 2hrs late!
The flight back was cancelled due to the aircraft going tech. Got a flight with Lufthansa instead. Made the best of a bad job as far as organising seating was concerned when we checked in online (not much available and no option to pay extra to sit together) but by the tine we arrived at the airport someone (presumably a person!) had re-allocated our seats so that we were all together. Very happy about that - top marks to Lufthansa. In the end got £££ in compensation from BA for the cancellation, plus the additional fees we had paid to sit together, and we only got home 2hrs late!
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Hobo - You are correct. I fly as little as I can and a maximum of once a year. As a result, I know little about how things work. So I appreciate your reply. However, I can provided an update to our situation. Mrs. Piltdown has managed to get the good old interweb to work and grab five seats in one row (3 and 2) without charge. And that is that what I call a result.
But referring to your post, if the early bookers blag the seats they all want, it's quite likely that the families who check-in last will get split up. The reason I say families is that this is a bucket and spade flight and there will be very few single travellers, but many families. Therefore, there is a high likelihood that the odd toddler will be allocated a seat by themselves. Are you then saying that TCX cabin crew would not intervene?
PS. Looking forward to the time when I never have to fly. The fun in flying has flown. Train, ship, car, motorcycle or stay at home. Besides, I begrudge paying anything towards to the salary of airport security people.
But referring to your post, if the early bookers blag the seats they all want, it's quite likely that the families who check-in last will get split up. The reason I say families is that this is a bucket and spade flight and there will be very few single travellers, but many families. Therefore, there is a high likelihood that the odd toddler will be allocated a seat by themselves. Are you then saying that TCX cabin crew would not intervene?
PS. Looking forward to the time when I never have to fly. The fun in flying has flown. Train, ship, car, motorcycle or stay at home. Besides, I begrudge paying anything towards to the salary of airport security people.
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This is not a LCC/charter issue. Just try LGWMCO on BA using free check in and seat selection 24 hours left. There is usually a couple of twos and ones and that's it. Everyone paid (a lot more than TCX too) to get seats together or had status. Whether you pay or have status it's costing you a lot of money either way.
Depending on airline policy the cabin crew may intervene if the seating arrangements contradict their ops manual or cabin services manual but don't necessarily have to do any it's just because someone doesn't get their first choice. As with everything first come first served but the problem seems to be resolved anyway.
No I'm not in customer services. I sit behind a bullet proof door locked safely away from it all :-). And sorry for the attitude but many people use their kids as bargaining chips and that doesn't sit well with me.
If I want something for my kids, or I feel there is no one to look after them, or to take care of them in the unlikely event of something go wrong, or if I feel they may be at all distressed then I'll pay. If you've paid £3500 for a flight then he allocated seating fee is a drop in the ocean.
Depending on airline policy the cabin crew may intervene if the seating arrangements contradict their ops manual or cabin services manual but don't necessarily have to do any it's just because someone doesn't get their first choice. As with everything first come first served but the problem seems to be resolved anyway.
No I'm not in customer services. I sit behind a bullet proof door locked safely away from it all :-). And sorry for the attitude but many people use their kids as bargaining chips and that doesn't sit well with me.
If I want something for my kids, or I feel there is no one to look after them, or to take care of them in the unlikely event of something go wrong, or if I feel they may be at all distressed then I'll pay. If you've paid £3500 for a flight then he allocated seating fee is a drop in the ocean.
Not meant to be aimed at Piltdown.
One of the worst tricks used by some SLF is to buy one Club seat and two economy seats for family of three travelling.
Man takes club seat when boarding complete looks around to establish how many club seats are empty. Approach senior cabin crew with sob story
about poor wife and child squeezed together in back of aircraft and could they take the empty seats available in club.
Then get shirty when the answer is no!
It's also amazing how many of these folk are friends of Chief Executive, Chairman or such and love to tell you your career is virtually over!
One of the worst tricks used by some SLF is to buy one Club seat and two economy seats for family of three travelling.
Man takes club seat when boarding complete looks around to establish how many club seats are empty. Approach senior cabin crew with sob story
about poor wife and child squeezed together in back of aircraft and could they take the empty seats available in club.Then get shirty when the answer is no!
It's also amazing how many of these folk are friends of Chief Executive, Chairman or such and love to tell you your career is virtually over!
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And sorry for the attitude but many people use their kids as bargaining chips and that doesn't sit well with me.
Piltdown Man, either pay for the seats you want, or else accept that you'll have to accept whatever the magic seating computer in the sky gives you.
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I'm obviously hopelessly out of touch with the real world. The reason for my question was exactly as I wrote it, who is responsible for my children if we get spilt up? I think it reasonable that I should be responsible, but I cannot perform that task if a third party's policies, in this case an airline, mean that my children are allocated seats in such a location I am not able to look after them. I wasn't trying to blag seats for free, but merely asked a question. Furthermore, I have little faith in those who run airlines. Their rapacious attitude to their customers appears to have no bounds and I do not trust them not to make money out if deliberately seating children away from their parents.
But I have to say we were treated well by TCX on our flight out of NCL. The minimum time between check-in and flight was reasonable at one hour. The check-in itself was slick, the time between the call to the gate and boarding was short and the boarding well managed. The capacity of the overhead lockers helped with this process. When sat together in our allocated seats. It appeared that there were a few individuals sat all over the plane and a three groups who were unable to sit either together or in close proximity. So overall, I would describe our first experience of TCX as pretty good.
However, I'm glad I didn't pay for window or aisle seats. 48 hours prior to departure "window seat" might not have a window. It appears that over the wing not every row seat has a window. I'm also not a fan of aisle seats. There were too many comings and goings to make this space available for your legs.
There we are. One more flight to do this year, then I'm done.
But I have to say we were treated well by TCX on our flight out of NCL. The minimum time between check-in and flight was reasonable at one hour. The check-in itself was slick, the time between the call to the gate and boarding was short and the boarding well managed. The capacity of the overhead lockers helped with this process. When sat together in our allocated seats. It appeared that there were a few individuals sat all over the plane and a three groups who were unable to sit either together or in close proximity. So overall, I would describe our first experience of TCX as pretty good.
However, I'm glad I didn't pay for window or aisle seats. 48 hours prior to departure "window seat" might not have a window. It appears that over the wing not every row seat has a window. I'm also not a fan of aisle seats. There were too many comings and goings to make this space available for your legs.
There we are. One more flight to do this year, then I'm done.
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I had one of them 3 weeks ago with bags in the emergency exit.
She moved though when instructed.
Turns out she was one of the company owners daughters.
Last week i recieved an email from him with a one liner and no signature.
"Throw the bitch off next time"
Pilt that made me laugh an organised plan with pax seating. Your can be assured that level of premeditated planning is far out reach for most if not all airlines. The pre allocated goes in then its random with whats left. It has been suggested that they block a section of statisically low requested seats for familys but it falls on deaf ears in commercial.
When the high request seats are gone most will then try and get two seats in the same row to try and get a whole row to themselves in the chance the flight isn't full and there are empty seats.
So you end up with blocks of groups then a chess board of taken seats in the cabin leaving singles free in most rows.
They don't want to lock booking groups together for some reason which would solve the problem.
She moved though when instructed.
Turns out she was one of the company owners daughters.
Last week i recieved an email from him with a one liner and no signature.
"Throw the bitch off next time"
Pilt that made me laugh an organised plan with pax seating. Your can be assured that level of premeditated planning is far out reach for most if not all airlines. The pre allocated goes in then its random with whats left. It has been suggested that they block a section of statisically low requested seats for familys but it falls on deaf ears in commercial.
When the high request seats are gone most will then try and get two seats in the same row to try and get a whole row to themselves in the chance the flight isn't full and there are empty seats.
So you end up with blocks of groups then a chess board of taken seats in the cabin leaving singles free in most rows.
They don't want to lock booking groups together for some reason which would solve the problem.
Last edited by mad_jock; 28th Jul 2014 at 11:15.
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Piltdown Man, either pay for the seats you want, or else accept that you'll have to accept whatever the magic seating computer in the sky gives you.
You are obviously OK with this but I find this method of business un-justifiable, abhorrent and unacceptable. I will do all I can to stifle this style of business.
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I think it reasonable that I should be responsible, but I cannot perform that task if a third party's policies, in this case an airline, mean that my children are allocated seats in such a location I am not able to look after them.
Paid seat allocation has been around for years, not exactly like its a new thing that has just cropped up in the last few months.
Piltdown, I know how you feel with a family of identical ages.
Airlines force you to pay to sit together, especially if you have young children and need to look after them. Lufthansa did this to us twice despite being a 'full service airline'. Fortunately cabin crew can try to help, but the computer knows who has booked and what ages so should ensure that families with vulnerable children are sat together. I dont want my daughter sitting next the latest incarnation of Jimmy Savile and see no reason why I should pay to ensure her safety if I have already paid £500 each to fly.
Airlines force you to pay to sit together, especially if you have young children and need to look after them. Lufthansa did this to us twice despite being a 'full service airline'. Fortunately cabin crew can try to help, but the computer knows who has booked and what ages so should ensure that families with vulnerable children are sat together. I dont want my daughter sitting next the latest incarnation of Jimmy Savile and see no reason why I should pay to ensure her safety if I have already paid £500 each to fly.
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The only way your going to stop the practise is by getting your euro mp to lobby the transport committee.
They are currently putting maximum effort into forcing airlines into accepting two items of handbaggage in the cabin.
But i should imagine that a policy for seating children next to parents under the age of 14 might click with them.
They are currently putting maximum effort into forcing airlines into accepting two items of handbaggage in the cabin.
But i should imagine that a policy for seating children next to parents under the age of 14 might click with them.
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I dont want my daughter sitting next the latest incarnation of Jimmy Savile
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the safety of children, but in a realistic and balanced form that also preserves the sanity of and respect for your average perfectly law-abiding adult !