Advice needed after equipment change leaves us without bassinet seat
Aug 15, 2018, 5:06 pm
#47
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 65
And regarding the luggage - I can't see why on Earth this is a policy? We were significantly under our allowance, and having extra bags would have made getting around the airport with a newborn virtually impossible: four suitcases, four cabin bags, two car seats, one push chair, two children, all to be handled by two adults...
Another case of not being reasonable with families...
Another case of not being reasonable with families...
Aug 15, 2018, 7:43 pm
#48
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 6,338
Well..the problem is the allowance is for X number of bags at or under 23kg. NOT for a total weight... Perhaps an attempt to keep the number of truly heavy bags to a minimum?
As the problem with bassinet seats is they are not guaranteed by any airline I'm familiar with...
I don't understand why people don't buy seats for the number of people travelling..instead of expecting special treatment by virtue of having children.
I seem to be Mr Grumpy today......but the OP has suggested quite clearly they think it would be "fair" to move OTHER PEOPLE.....for their convenience...
As the problem with bassinet seats is they are not guaranteed by any airline I'm familiar with...
I don't understand why people don't buy seats for the number of people travelling..instead of expecting special treatment by virtue of having children.
I seem to be Mr Grumpy today......but the OP has suggested quite clearly they think it would be "fair" to move OTHER PEOPLE.....for their convenience...
Aug 15, 2018, 8:42 pm
#49
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: LAS/DXB
Programs: LH HON
Posts: 1,193
And then what? Do you believe that just because I'd buy a seat for my little one, he's happy to spend his time in the car seat? The bassinet is by far the best option until they come of age (or size, whichever happens first). Unfortunately you can't buy a seat for an infant AND request the bassinet. If that'd be an option I'd concur with you.
Aug 15, 2018, 10:19 pm
#50
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
And regarding the luggage - I can't see why on Earth this is a policy? We were significantly under our allowance, and having extra bags would have made getting around the airport with a newborn virtually impossible: four suitcases, four cabin bags, two car seats, one push chair, two children, all to be handled by two adults...
Another case of not being reasonable with families...
Another case of not being reasonable with families...
)Anyway I guess that is what luggage carts are for (not a perfect solution - but I have smiled at small children sitting on a cart on top of the luggage
)
Aug 15, 2018, 10:56 pm
#51
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: YYC
Programs: BA bronze, Aeroplan peon
Posts: 4,746
Your baggage allowance isn't cumulative. It's very similar to the duty free allowance for customs. To pull a number out of the air, suppose you can bring back £500 worth of goods duty free. If you are a family of 4 travelling together than doesn't mean one person can buy an item worth £2000 and bring it in duty free.
For baggage, the allowances are pieces and weight per piece, they are not additive for a total weight of all the allowed pieces. I.e. 2 x 23kg ≠ 1 x 46kg
For baggage, the allowances are pieces and weight per piece, they are not additive for a total weight of all the allowed pieces. I.e. 2 x 23kg ≠ 1 x 46kg
Aug 15, 2018, 11:54 pm
#52
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 413
And regarding the luggage - I can't see why on Earth this is a policy? We were significantly under our allowance, and having extra bags would have made getting around the airport with a newborn virtually impossible: four suitcases, four cabin bags, two car seats, one push chair, two children, all to be handled by two adults...
Another case of not being reasonable with families...
Another case of not being reasonable with families...
Having just returned from Australia with 5 checked bags, all but one of them between 20-23 kg, an infant, pram, car seat, and 4 cabin bags, I wouldn't call it fun, but it's doable.
Aug 16, 2018, 12:29 am
#53
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Silver/ows, CX AsiaMiles (not even GR anymore!) missing my GO days
Posts: 1,581
Wow, I can't believe this is becoming a pile-on of the OP on the luggage front. BA messed the family around with the seating assignment, refused to help on the plane (a reminder for those saying "oh the cabin crew are always happy to help") and then couldn't be bothered to show a little flexibility with luggage charges as a form of service recovery?
This is an example of a point I made in another thread recently: If BA is going to retreat behind a legalistic interpretation of its own rules and obligations, it should expect an increasingly hostile, or anyway standoffish, relationship with its customers.
This is an example of a point I made in another thread recently: If BA is going to retreat behind a legalistic interpretation of its own rules and obligations, it should expect an increasingly hostile, or anyway standoffish, relationship with its customers.
Aug 16, 2018, 12:51 am
#54
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: BAEC Gold, Marriott Plat
Posts: 686
Wow, I can't believe this is becoming a pile-on of the OP on the luggage front. BA messed the family around with the seating assignment, refused to help on the plane (a reminder for those saying "oh the cabin crew are always happy to help") and then couldn't be bothered to show a little flexibility with luggage charges as a form of service recovery?
This is an example of a point I made in another thread recently: If BA is going to retreat behind a legalistic interpretation of its own rules and obligations, it should expect an increasingly hostile, or anyway standoffish, relationship with its customers.
This is an example of a point I made in another thread recently: If BA is going to retreat behind a legalistic interpretation of its own rules and obligations, it should expect an increasingly hostile, or anyway standoffish, relationship with its customers.
The OP is peeved, but ultimately he was expecting other people to be inconvenienced in preference to his own family. Sometimes these things really do “just happen” and you have to suck it up and move on.
Aug 16, 2018, 12:52 am
#55
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,771
Wow, I can't believe this is becoming a pile-on of the OP on the luggage front. BA messed the family around with the seating assignment, refused to help on the plane (a reminder for those saying "oh the cabin crew are always happy to help") and then couldn't be bothered to show a little flexibility with luggage charges as a form of service recovery?
This is an example of a point I made in another thread recently: If BA is going to retreat behind a legalistic interpretation of its own rules and obligations, it should expect an increasingly hostile, or anyway standoffish, relationship with its customers.
This is an example of a point I made in another thread recently: If BA is going to retreat behind a legalistic interpretation of its own rules and obligations, it should expect an increasingly hostile, or anyway standoffish, relationship with its customers.
Aug 16, 2018, 1:03 am
#57
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Provincie Antwerpen, Vlaanderen, België
Programs: MUCCI Gold
Posts: 2,512
On a packed plane, beyond politely asking folks to shuffle around, what exactly are CC meant to do in situations like this? Given the horrible y seating on these planes are you really surprised the people in the bulkhead seats (who may well have paid for them) didn’t want to move?
The OP is peeved, but ultimately he was expecting other people to be inconvenienced in preference to his own family. Sometimes these things really do “just happen” and you have to suck it up and move on.
His seating arrangements were fine until BA started messing around with equipment changes, left the OP with nowhere to go and then refused to do anything about it. Travel with young children must be stressful enough at the best of times, without compounding it with extra hassle like this.
Aug 16, 2018, 1:16 am
#58
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
All a dog's dinner really.
The baggage - well this is a health & safety issue. The allowances are clear and to avoid handlers being off for months with injuries from trying to lift excessive bags. In the end BA waived the excess so in my eyes it was resolved. Ok, a supervisor was called, but that is what supervisors are there for.
On the seats, well to this day I don't understand why the passengers were shifted. Someone with greater need? Systems error? The difficulty here was that trying to resolve this on the day wasn't easy, as it meant shifting other passengers who may well have objected. I imagine the crew, gate staff etc saw it as a no-win situation, someone would always have been unhappy, add to this the fact that BA culture is not a 'can do' one and the inevitable outcome was reached.
Frustrating for the OP but I fear the story has reached the inevitable end.
The baggage - well this is a health & safety issue. The allowances are clear and to avoid handlers being off for months with injuries from trying to lift excessive bags. In the end BA waived the excess so in my eyes it was resolved. Ok, a supervisor was called, but that is what supervisors are there for.
On the seats, well to this day I don't understand why the passengers were shifted. Someone with greater need? Systems error? The difficulty here was that trying to resolve this on the day wasn't easy, as it meant shifting other passengers who may well have objected. I imagine the crew, gate staff etc saw it as a no-win situation, someone would always have been unhappy, add to this the fact that BA culture is not a 'can do' one and the inevitable outcome was reached.
Frustrating for the OP but I fear the story has reached the inevitable end.
Aug 16, 2018, 1:24 am
#59
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,604
[left]So we got to the airport 4 hours early and went to the families check in. The agent there wasn't interested in helping at all. No offers to move anyone, no attempt to do anything. Just a perfunctory "yes, sorry, this happens sometimes.
He then said we would need to pay £130 in excess baggage because we only had two bags, each at about 30kg (so we're 32kg under our total allowance) and because we had opted to reduce the number of bags to make it possible for me to carry them all, we'd have to pay a big excess. Had to speak to a supervisor.
He then said we would need to pay £130 in excess baggage because we only had two bags, each at about 30kg (so we're 32kg under our total allowance) and because we had opted to reduce the number of bags to make it possible for me to carry them all, we'd have to pay a big excess. Had to speak to a supervisor.
Originally Posted by Midlander
Then at the gate: No, sorry l, we can't move anyone. This happens sometimes.
On the plane: No, sorry.
The other pax weren't interested either. So we'll just have to lump it.
On the plane: No, sorry.
The other pax weren't interested either. So we'll just have to lump it.
You had, iirc, the opportunity to get one of the bulkhead seats , just not for all together
Aug 16, 2018, 1:28 am
#60
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: BAEC Gold, Marriott Plat
Posts: 686
Cut the OP some slack, for heaven's sake.
His seating arrangements were fine until BA started messing around with equipment changes, left the OP with nowhere to go and then refused to do anything about it. Travel with young children must be stressful enough at the best of times, without compounding it with extra hassle like this.
His seating arrangements were fine until BA started messing around with equipment changes, left the OP with nowhere to go and then refused to do anything about it. Travel with young children must be stressful enough at the best of times, without compounding it with extra hassle like this.