At what age can delta seat a child by them selves?
Aug 10, 2019, 2:03 pm
#1
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At what age can delta seat a child by them selves?
my sister and brother in law are traveling to London today from Atlanta (currently en route to Atlanta)
they bought basic economy and are traveling with 3 children (7, 4, and 2). These are the seats they gave them, which would have the 7 year old sitting alone. Is this allowed or will the gate agents switch their seats?
they bought basic economy and are traveling with 3 children (7, 4, and 2). These are the seats they gave them, which would have the 7 year old sitting alone. Is this allowed or will the gate agents switch their seats?
Last edited by omaralt; Aug 10, 2019 at 2:39 pm
Aug 10, 2019, 2:24 pm
#3
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They should move him close to the parents. Ideally, next to one of them, the other parent seated with the other two kids.
They would charge a fee if no parent was traveling with a 7 year old, because by their own rules she needs care that can't be expected from a stranger sitting next to him by chance. They wouldn't let her travel unaccompanied by an adult, so they charge the fee to accompany the minor child.
Finally, my main problem with seperate seating like this is in an emergency, the parent is likely to impede other passengers as he wants to get his kid to safety - you know, be a parent. FAs will nag passengers to no end if p their baggage doesn't fit under the seat because it might impede other passengers in case of an emergency. This is far more serious.
They would charge a fee if no parent was traveling with a 7 year old, because by their own rules she needs care that can't be expected from a stranger sitting next to him by chance. They wouldn't let her travel unaccompanied by an adult, so they charge the fee to accompany the minor child.
Finally, my main problem with seperate seating like this is in an emergency, the parent is likely to impede other passengers as he wants to get his kid to safety - you know, be a parent. FAs will nag passengers to no end if p their baggage doesn't fit under the seat because it might impede other passengers in case of an emergency. This is far more serious.
Aug 10, 2019, 2:26 pm
#4
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Aug 10, 2019, 2:32 pm
#5
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Aug 10, 2019, 2:47 pm
#6
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my sister and brother in law are traveling to London today from Atlanta (currently en route to Atlanta)
they bought basic economy and are traveling with 3 children (7, 4, and 2). These are the seats they gave them, which would have the 7 year old sitting alone. Is this allowed or will the gate agents switch their seats?
they bought basic economy and are traveling with 3 children (7, 4, and 2). These are the seats they gave them, which would have the 7 year old sitting alone. Is this allowed or will the gate agents switch their seats?
BUT.... they do go on to say that families should "... know the details about flying with infants and children."
Delta clearly posts that Basic Economy DOES NOT come with pre-assigned seats.
During the ticketing process for basic economy I really wish Delta would REQUIRE mandatory seat selection for minors to a certain age next to an adult in the ticketed party. Yes, RIGHT AT BOOKING FOR BASIC ECONOMY adjacent seat assignments should be MANDATORY when there are minor children below an acceptable age traveling.
And those seat assignments should carry a fee equal to the difference between basic economy and main cabin.
Basic economy fares are discounted because the ability to select seat assignments is not included in the discounted price. Delta is clear about this, so I'm not sure why parents are not.
Or maybe Delta should prohibit the sale of Basic Economy tickets to minors, so confused parents aren't disappointed.
Aug 10, 2019, 2:49 pm
#7
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I was curious and looked through Delta's website to see if they post details and ages that would help answer this question. The most I found was Delta's cheery: "We're here to help families take flight."
BUT.... they do go on to say that families should "... know the details about flying with infants and children."
Delta clearly posts that Basic Economy DOES NOT come with pre-assigned seats.
During the ticketing process for basic economy I really wish Delta would REQUIRE mandatory seat selection for minors to a certain age next to an adult in the ticketed party. Yes, RIGHT AT BOOKING FOR BASIC ECONOMY adjacent seat assignments should be MANDATORY when there are minor children below an acceptable age traveling.
And those seat assignments should carry a fee equal to the difference between basic economy and main cabin.
Basic economy fares are discounted because the ability to select seat assignments is not included in the discounted price. Delta is clear about this, so I'm not sure why parents are not.
Or maybe Delta should prohibit the sale of Basic Economy tickets to minors, so confused parents aren't disappointed.
BUT.... they do go on to say that families should "... know the details about flying with infants and children."
Delta clearly posts that Basic Economy DOES NOT come with pre-assigned seats.
During the ticketing process for basic economy I really wish Delta would REQUIRE mandatory seat selection for minors to a certain age next to an adult in the ticketed party. Yes, RIGHT AT BOOKING FOR BASIC ECONOMY adjacent seat assignments should be MANDATORY when there are minor children below an acceptable age traveling.
And those seat assignments should carry a fee equal to the difference between basic economy and main cabin.
Basic economy fares are discounted because the ability to select seat assignments is not included in the discounted price. Delta is clear about this, so I'm not sure why parents are not.
Or maybe Delta should prohibit the sale of Basic Economy tickets to minors, so confused parents aren't disappointed.
Aug 10, 2019, 2:58 pm
#8
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Aug 10, 2019, 3:05 pm
#9
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The same parents who insist that the family be seated together on BE tickets for other trips will get FC award tickets for the parents and coach award tickets for their kids or voluntarily make similar arrangements that put the adults in a premium cabin while the kids fend for themselves back in coach.
Another easy solution would be to charge the UM fee for every child under 15 at the time of purchase for BE fares.
Another easy solution would be to charge the UM fee for every child under 15 at the time of purchase for BE fares.
Aug 10, 2019, 3:17 pm
#10
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To answer OP's narrow question, there is no requirement that a US carrier seat a child adjacent to a parent.
However, DL will, if necessary, involuntarily move another passenger in order to assure that a 7 YOA is adjacent to a parent. This does not mean that the family as a whole is seated together, it could mean that the seats are across an aisle, and it also means that the adult is moved to one of the seats at the rear of the aircraft which are held for oddball situations.
If it were my 7 YOA, I would pay the money to assign seats.
DL goes out of its way to warn passengers about the perils of BE. No need to overcomplicate things. There is only so far a business can go in telling a parent how much she ought to care about her kid.
However, DL will, if necessary, involuntarily move another passenger in order to assure that a 7 YOA is adjacent to a parent. This does not mean that the family as a whole is seated together, it could mean that the seats are across an aisle, and it also means that the adult is moved to one of the seats at the rear of the aircraft which are held for oddball situations.
If it were my 7 YOA, I would pay the money to assign seats.
DL goes out of its way to warn passengers about the perils of BE. No need to overcomplicate things. There is only so far a business can go in telling a parent how much she ought to care about her kid.
Aug 10, 2019, 3:22 pm
#11
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Update
so much for my sister promising to never buying basic economy. They went to the gate and the agent gave them the bulkhead row. They are traveling with a lap child as well so I’m sure that helped her case. The plane was 100% full so I imagine there will be some upset passengers who were in the bulkhead that are now in a middle seat
so much for my sister promising to never buying basic economy. They went to the gate and the agent gave them the bulkhead row. They are traveling with a lap child as well so I’m sure that helped her case. The plane was 100% full so I imagine there will be some upset passengers who were in the bulkhead that are now in a middle seat
Aug 10, 2019, 3:24 pm
#12
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Update
so much for my sister promising to never buying basic economy. They went to the gate and the agent gave them the bulkhead row. They are traveling with a lap child as well so I’m sure that helped her case. The plane was 100% full so I imagine there will be some upset passengers who were in the bulkhead that are now in a middle seat
so much for my sister promising to never buying basic economy. They went to the gate and the agent gave them the bulkhead row. They are traveling with a lap child as well so I’m sure that helped her case. The plane was 100% full so I imagine there will be some upset passengers who were in the bulkhead that are now in a middle seat
That's disgusting. I hope the displaced passengers complain. The GA is just *teaching* the parents to do the same thing again.
Aug 10, 2019, 3:26 pm
#13
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Edit: sounds like this is exactly what happened and why people were making remarks like "get the popcorn"...….
Aug 10, 2019, 3:37 pm
#14
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I was curious and looked through Delta's website to see if they post details and ages that would help answer this question. The most I found was Delta's cheery: "We're here to help families take flight."
BUT.... they do go on to say that families should "... know the details about flying with infants and children."
Delta clearly posts that Basic Economy DOES NOT come with pre-assigned seats.
During the ticketing process for basic economy I really wish Delta would REQUIRE mandatory seat selection for minors to a certain age next to an adult in the ticketed party. Yes, RIGHT AT BOOKING FOR BASIC ECONOMY adjacent seat assignments should be MANDATORY when there are minor children below an acceptable age traveling.
And those seat assignments should carry a fee equal to the difference between basic economy and main cabin.
Basic economy fares are discounted because the ability to select seat assignments is not included in the discounted price. Delta is clear about this, so I'm not sure why parents are not.
Or maybe Delta should prohibit the sale of Basic Economy tickets to minors, so confused parents aren't disappointed.
BUT.... they do go on to say that families should "... know the details about flying with infants and children."
Delta clearly posts that Basic Economy DOES NOT come with pre-assigned seats.
During the ticketing process for basic economy I really wish Delta would REQUIRE mandatory seat selection for minors to a certain age next to an adult in the ticketed party. Yes, RIGHT AT BOOKING FOR BASIC ECONOMY adjacent seat assignments should be MANDATORY when there are minor children below an acceptable age traveling.
And those seat assignments should carry a fee equal to the difference between basic economy and main cabin.
Basic economy fares are discounted because the ability to select seat assignments is not included in the discounted price. Delta is clear about this, so I'm not sure why parents are not.
Or maybe Delta should prohibit the sale of Basic Economy tickets to minors, so confused parents aren't disappointed.
Aug 10, 2019, 3:54 pm
#15
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There's an easy way to do this - block out the last two rows of the plane for families in BE.
(and decrease pitch to 28" while they're at it)
WNK,BNK