two year old free seat loophole?
Sep 23, 2013, 3:24 am
#16
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MAN/BHX
Programs: ABBA
Posts: 6,027
This always used to work and was a known 'trick'. I thought BA had changed their ticketing procedures but clearly not!
The airline HAS to give a 2 year old a seat under CAA regulations. Not up for debate, the plane isn't taking off if that kid is not in its own seat.
If BA will ticket it, you are good to go. But you must do the first leg.
The airline HAS to give a 2 year old a seat under CAA regulations. Not up for debate, the plane isn't taking off if that kid is not in its own seat.
If BA will ticket it, you are good to go. But you must do the first leg.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...rents-not.html
Not as serious as leavin the engine cowling open, probably more serious than poor food hygiene.
Sep 23, 2013, 3:27 am
#17
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BHX
Programs: BA GGL CCR GfL, SQ Gold, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Cafe Nero Loyalty Card (7 Stamps)
Posts: 7,358
There was a thread on here very recently which discussed this. The 2yr old (having turned 2 during the holiday) was offloaded and the parents were not. The airport staff then basically told them "they sit on your lap if you want to fly".
Not sure what the outcome was, but I may go and dig the thread out.
Edit: I see Paulwuk beat me to it!
Not sure what the outcome was, but I may go and dig the thread out.
Edit: I see Paulwuk beat me to it!
Sep 23, 2013, 5:21 am
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,874
You're wrong. One of the Ba safety cockups this month has a >2yo travelling on parents lap.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...rents-not.html
Not as serious as leavin the engine cowling open, probably more serious than poor food hygiene.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...rents-not.html
Not as serious as leavin the engine cowling open, probably more serious than poor food hygiene.
What the CAA would do if it found out is a different matter.
As I posted in that same thread, my 2-year old was offloaded in Dubai at Easter and allocated a 5-star hotel room for the day plus all the food (presumably they would have made him pasta in tomato service and could find a Weetabix somewhere) he wanted plus £200 compensation, with a view to him coming over on his own on the evening flight. And he was on our PNR. Doubt the CAA takes a great view of that either.
Sep 23, 2013, 1:57 pm
#19
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, VS Red, HH Gold, IHG Gold, Marriott Gold, SPG Basic, Alitalia Status Match
Posts: 1,173
The vs policy is not on the website (as far as I know) do you know if they have such a policy? And is it in print anywhere?
Sep 23, 2013, 2:08 pm
#20
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: London UK
Programs: BA Gold/Marriott Titanium Lifetime/UA/JetBlue
Posts: 618
I didn't personally do this, but did have a trip to Dubai where LAJr was 2 during the trip. He did get a seat in F on the way back for the infant fare (it had to be booked on a separate PNR), not that he used it much.
I mentioned to the agent I booked it with whether many people had a long break between the domestic and international flight to get a seat both ways - she told me that BA had been cracking down on gaps of anything more than a couple of weeks.
This isn't true in the situation that the OP outlines - if the passenger is an infant at the start they get the infant fare for the whole trip but, once they turn 2, they are allocated a seat.
I mentioned to the agent I booked it with whether many people had a long break between the domestic and international flight to get a seat both ways - she told me that BA had been cracking down on gaps of anything more than a couple of weeks.
This isn't true in the situation that the OP outlines - if the passenger is an infant at the start they get the infant fare for the whole trip but, once they turn 2, they are allocated a seat.
Jun 2, 2015, 5:00 am
#21
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: DXB
Programs: BA Gold, EK Silver
Posts: 246
Has anyone tried this recently? Travel out with an under 2 lap infant and then return with a 2 year old? I called both the UK and the UAE office and they both told me just to book the infant fare, and then about a week before I return I should call BA and they would assign my son a seat. I'm just pretty skeptical about it....considering I want to travel in Club World, as well.
Jun 2, 2015, 9:16 am
#22
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: London,UK
Programs: BA Silver, SPG Gold, Amex Plat, BA Amex PP
Posts: 91
I booked a ticket like this several weeks ago and you have to do it over the phone and it was all done at the same time. In fact you actually end up booking a return for the infant and then they manually assign a seat for the return flight.
I would call back and hope you get a more knowledgable person. This was done on the UK silver line.
I would call back and hope you get a more knowledgable person. This was done on the UK silver line.
Jun 2, 2015, 11:55 am
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,836
Has anyone tried this recently? Travel out with an under 2 lap infant and then return with a 2 year old? I called both the UK and the UAE office and they both told me just to book the infant fare, and then about a week before I return I should call BA and they would assign my son a seat. I'm just pretty skeptical about it....considering I want to travel in Club World, as well.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...n-sectors.html
Jun 3, 2015, 5:57 am
#24
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: London,UK
Programs: BA Silver, SPG Gold, Amex Plat, BA Amex PP
Posts: 91
The booking i made was about 6 months prior to the infant turning 2 as i was also using an AMEX 241 voucher so it can certainly be done well in advance of the second birthday.
Sep 11, 2017, 1:10 am
#25
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: North East
Posts: 207
Just about to book the return of a 241 after the little one will have turned 2..... I will still be hoping to change this booking in about a week's time to an off-peak booking (plus or minus changing from J to F)....
with that in mind should I push for the separate PNR for the little one for their seat reservation with this booking I'm about to make.... or will that lead to an extra £35 change fee for changing the booking next week ? Vs only paying the change fee for the 2 adults on the booking and not for the 'infant'... and then get them to issue a separate PNR and seat reservation after changing the booking
(all this is availability dependant of course!)
thanks
with that in mind should I push for the separate PNR for the little one for their seat reservation with this booking I'm about to make.... or will that lead to an extra £35 change fee for changing the booking next week ? Vs only paying the change fee for the 2 adults on the booking and not for the 'infant'... and then get them to issue a separate PNR and seat reservation after changing the booking
(all this is availability dependant of course!)
thanks
Oct 11, 2017, 1:02 pm
#26
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 17
Appreciate this is two years ago - but were you travelling First/Club - did you have check for award availability in the relevant class for the infant (would be child)? on the return flight?
Oct 11, 2017, 1:32 pm
#27
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,660
You wouldnt need avios availability for the reurn for the two year old. They are in affect booked and ticketed as a lap infant. The BA agent will then make a separate pnr using revenue availability to ensure two year old has a seat.
Oct 11, 2017, 1:50 pm
#28
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,660
Just about to book the return of a 241 after the little one will have turned 2..... I will still be hoping to change this booking in about a week's time to an off-peak booking (plus or minus changing from J to F)....
with that in mind should I push for the separate PNR for the little one for their seat reservation with this booking I'm about to make.... or will that lead to an extra £35 change fee for changing the booking next week ? Vs only paying the change fee for the 2 adults on the booking and not for the 'infant'... and then get them to issue a separate PNR and seat reservation after changing the booking
(all this is availability dependant of course!)
thanks
with that in mind should I push for the separate PNR for the little one for their seat reservation with this booking I'm about to make.... or will that lead to an extra £35 change fee for changing the booking next week ? Vs only paying the change fee for the 2 adults on the booking and not for the 'infant'... and then get them to issue a separate PNR and seat reservation after changing the booking
(all this is availability dependant of course!)
thanks
Oct 12, 2017, 12:43 am
#29
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 17
Thanks very much for getting back so quickly.