British Airways - child turns 2 during travel
Jan 6, 2016, 3:58 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 1
British Airways - child turns 2 during travel
Can anyone offer any advice please. We fly to Barcelona with British Airways before our cruise on 3rd Feb (son will be on Dad's knee, while we are away he turns 2. Our return flight from Barcelona is 14th Feb and he will be 2, therefore he has to have a seat. A friend questions whether we have a seat on the way back so we ring British Airways today who say - we can't change his seat until he turns two. Meaning we will have to ring British Airways from the Mediterranean Sea to try and book a seat for him and if there are no seats - he can't fly! There state they cannot make any changes to the flight until he actually turns two. Meaning the want us to ring them on the 6th Feb, or after to confirm he has a flight home.
Is that not the most ridiculous thing in the world?! Surely a huge company like British Airways have encountered this before?
My apologies if this in the wrong area of the forums.
Is that not the most ridiculous thing in the world?! Surely a huge company like British Airways have encountered this before?
My apologies if this in the wrong area of the forums.
Last edited by Catty212; Jan 6, 2016 at 4:00 pm Reason: apologies added
Jan 6, 2016, 4:44 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 1,282
This would be best answered on the BA forum. In fact it came up a few days ago on another thread.
Answer from the BA website was :
"If you're travelling with an infant who reaches the age of two during their journey, your child will need their own seat for any flights on and after their 2nd birthday. However, there is no charge for this; you will still only pay the infant fare for the entire journey.
As your infant will only be required to have a seat for part of your trip, this can't be booked online, so contact us and we'll be pleased to help you."
http://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/family-travel/planning-your-trip#tickets
Answer from the BA website was :
"If you're travelling with an infant who reaches the age of two during their journey, your child will need their own seat for any flights on and after their 2nd birthday. However, there is no charge for this; you will still only pay the infant fare for the entire journey.
As your infant will only be required to have a seat for part of your trip, this can't be booked online, so contact us and we'll be pleased to help you."
http://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/family-travel/planning-your-trip#tickets
Jan 6, 2016, 5:49 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,811
Ring up again.
From ba.com:
http://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/...ning-your-trip
See also:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...n-sectors.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...oophole-2.html
From ba.com:
How old is an infant, child or young adult?
Infants: 0 - 23 months
You must always have a ticket for your infant's journey.
Children: 2 - 11 years
Young adults: 12 – 15 years
Infants who become children while travelling
If you're travelling with an infant who reaches the age of two during their journey, your child will need their own seat for any flights on and after their 2nd birthday. However, there is no charge for this; you will still only pay the infant fare for the entire journey.
As your infant will only be required to have a seat for part of your trip, this can't be booked online, so contact us and we'll be pleased to help you.
Infants: 0 - 23 months
You must always have a ticket for your infant's journey.
Children: 2 - 11 years
Young adults: 12 – 15 years
Infants who become children while travelling
If you're travelling with an infant who reaches the age of two during their journey, your child will need their own seat for any flights on and after their 2nd birthday. However, there is no charge for this; you will still only pay the infant fare for the entire journey.
As your infant will only be required to have a seat for part of your trip, this can't be booked online, so contact us and we'll be pleased to help you.
See also:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...n-sectors.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...oophole-2.html
Jan 7, 2016, 2:20 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hotels.com Gold
Posts: 576
We were in this situation recently.
You have to make the booking on the phone. BA policy is generous - you will be charged an infant fare both ways. They will allocate a seat on the return flight for free at the time of booking.
The BA agent I spoke to on the phone sorted this out really efficiently.
You have to make the booking on the phone. BA policy is generous - you will be charged an infant fare both ways. They will allocate a seat on the return flight for free at the time of booking.
The BA agent I spoke to on the phone sorted this out really efficiently.
Jan 7, 2016, 4:00 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,659
Can anyone offer any advice please. We fly to Barcelona with British Airways before our cruise on 3rd Feb (son will be on Dad's knee, while we are away he turns 2. Our return flight from Barcelona is 14th Feb and he will be 2, therefore he has to have a seat. A friend questions whether we have a seat on the way back so we ring British Airways today who say - we can't change his seat until he turns two. Meaning we will have to ring British Airways from the Mediterranean Sea to try and book a seat for him and if there are no seats - he can't fly! There state they cannot make any changes to the flight until he actually turns two. Meaning the want us to ring them on the 6th Feb, or after to confirm he has a flight home.
Is that not the most ridiculous thing in the world?! Surely a huge company like British Airways have encountered this before?
My apologies if this in the wrong area of the forums.
Is that not the most ridiculous thing in the world?! Surely a huge company like British Airways have encountered this before?
My apologies if this in the wrong area of the forums.
As others have stated this is wrong.
If they have been booked as an infant and turn two mid travel then another booking reference is set up for the return to hold availability for a seat.
This is tcp to the main booking to ensure that they are given a seat next to someone from your party.
Last edited by Anonba; Nov 20, 2022 at 2:34 pm
Jan 9, 2016, 12:35 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: QF
Posts: 128
Does this apply in any cabin? I will be travelling SYD - LHR next year with my daughter around her second birthday (I'm doing it this year just after her first birthday on SQ) and we'll be travelling F likely with BA.
If we fly out with her as a lap infant before her 2nd birthday and return after, will she get her own F seat? Surely not?
If we fly out with her as a lap infant before her 2nd birthday and return after, will she get her own F seat? Surely not?
Jan 9, 2016, 1:18 am
#10
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,776
Apologies Catty212, for some reason we didn't spot your arrival here, so welcome to Flyertalk and to the BA Board. Please make yourself at home here, and it would be good if you could let us know how this worked out in the end. Welcome on board.
Jan 9, 2016, 10:02 am
#12
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: DXB
Programs: BA Gold, EK Silver
Posts: 246
Does this apply in any cabin? I will be travelling SYD - LHR next year with my daughter around her second birthday (I'm doing it this year just after her first birthday on SQ) and we'll be travelling F likely with BA.
If we fly out with her as a lap infant before her 2nd birthday and return after, will she get her own F seat? Surely not?
If we fly out with her as a lap infant before her 2nd birthday and return after, will she get her own F seat? Surely not?
The only down side, is they do not ticket the child until the morning of the flight. I was unable to get him a seat until we checked in at the airport, and then he was assigned a seat. I could check myself in online, but not my son. Ticket agents at JFK mentioned they had received the info about him that morning; he had the last seat on the LHR-DXB so I imagine there may be a case where a seat is unavailable. I have no idea what would happen in that situation.
Jan 9, 2016, 12:24 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: QF
Posts: 128
The only down side, is they do not ticket the child until the morning of the flight. I was unable to get him a seat until we checked in at the airport, and then he was assigned a seat. I could check myself in online, but not my son. Ticket agents at JFK mentioned they had received the info about him that morning; he had the last seat on the LHR-DXB so I imagine there may be a case where a seat is unavailable. I have no idea what would happen in that situation.
Thanks.
Jan 9, 2016, 12:48 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 231
Rest assured that the gate will make sure you are seated with your 3 year old if it is not sorted out, as is likely, way before then.
Nov 1, 2016, 2:49 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 8
I had the same scenario with my son turning 2 after his departure flight ,I called BA with a ref no. For him to have his own on his return flight they confirmed it for me .But no seat was assigned so here had to sit on my wife's lap for a 12 hour flight!
BA are giving me the runaround about a explanation!
BA are giving me the runaround about a explanation!