Travelling with my 8 year old daughter in revenue F Madrid to Dubai return. On the inbound was able to grab 2EF so we can sit together. On the outbund, 1EF and 2EF and occupied and 3EF is blocked (as it is also blocked on the inbound).

Call center says under they are Blocked and doing a little ExpertFlyer analysis it seems they are always indeed blocked. In the past, i recall that 2A and 3A were sometimes blocked for minors but easily releasable with a call.

In this case, I have hit a brick wall. I have reminded them of their written policy that "Children under 13 will always be seated next to an accompanying adult" but I am not getting anywhere.

Any ideas on how to fix this ahead of the flight? As i fear that by the time i get to the airport it may be too late?

Many thanks in advance!

Have you tried the call centre more than once?
You are right in that some seats are often (always?) blocked, depending on the route. And in your case they should be released.

Thanks for your response thijsseh

I have indeed called several times and spoken to a supervisor one of those times. Also tried the Chat function just in case.

Basically they are claiming those seats are now always reserved for infants/bassinet, but those seats, other having the wall on top behind you, are no different than other FC seats with respect to how a bassinet may operate. Makes no sense.

I am finding this process perplexing and somewhat disconcerting as typically EK is quite good at ensuring families travel well together.

Odd. I've never had an issue getting them to assign me a blocked seat in F. In fact I am in 3E for an upcoming flight, however 3E/F were the only seats left. Maybe status helped.
Tell them you will move if necessary, but to please assign you the seats.

Thanks S.R.

I am starting to believe it is a new restriction and not sure whether it is route dependent or not - but certainly from Madrid 3EF are blocked everyday and I am not getting anywhere with releasing them, whether it is multiple supervisors in the call center or the chat function (they all blame the airport). And in your case, I do believe that given everything else was taken, they would have to release them to you, but that just highlights the arbitrary nature of this issue - not wanting to seat an 8 year old with their parent when there is space and it is in their purview to unblock and assign is somewhat ridiculous, especially in FC (and against their explicit policy).

Any ideas of who to contact? Pretty frustrated by this...

I don’t think it’s a new restriction. My partner and I are flying with our kids later this month. 3E and 3F were blocked. My partner called to unblock, and the call centre agent did so. This would have been last week. Suspect something else is going on, but can’t think what.