But FA was never contacted.. and OP never clarified whether the child had a ticket or not.

The age of the child being 2 is required FAA to have a ticket.. How old is this child? Us from Canada, we can't circumvent passport requirements by not having a valid ticket for a child two years or older. The child will have a passport with age.

So you're a sexist? Again, the only person who seems helpless is you?

No it doesn't.. It is inconclusive that the child has a ticket or not.

Let's find out if the child had a ticket. That the FA wasn't contacted is the fault of the parent.

So are you now bringing up that that a parent is stealing by not buying a ticket for a child 2 years of age or older? That sounds like a discussion for another thread.

I'm not inferring that the parent is stealing at all..

I"m pointing out that its actually impossible for Canadians to board a plane to the US without a passport, including children from ages 0. So a ticket is required to be purchased because the age is verified.. In the case where a child is two, then the FAA requires that the child has a ticket, and this would be useful info to obtain from the OP.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree about this.

From my perspective, it's not the kid to whom the favor/kindness is extended, but the parent who brought the kid on board. There's nothing wrong with extending favors or kindness to strangers and, in fact, I do it all the time. The problem I have is with any expectation that it should be extended in this circumstance.

I understand your inclination to be sympathetic to parents traveling with small children. I do not, however, share it. I am sympathetic to people who find themselves in a difficult situation that is not of their making. I am considerably less sympathetic to people who expect strangers to accommodate, to their detriment, their specific and deliberate choices. As I indicated earlier, I am no fan of lap children -- I think, by definition, they result in an automatic imposition on other passengers, as well as a potential hazard in the event of severe turbulence. I understand that sometimes it is unavoidable -- families must travel in emergencies and sometimes seating is limited. However, for any other reason, my personal view is that flying with a lap child, particularly in coach, in and of itself constitutes discourtesy. I am not inclined to extend kindnesses or favors to those who have already shown discourtesy to me. In my view, "common decency" would preclude flying with a lap child, irrespective of the parents' finances unless it is an emergency and no alternative was available. In emergencies I am, of course, naturally inclined to assist anyone who needs help. Otherwise, it is simply a question of, "If I didn't take her as a lap child, I couldn't afford to fly and she wouldn't get to see Aunt Sarah who lives on the East Coast." I don't care whether she sees Aunt Sarah or not, and I'm not going to extend kindnesses or courtesies to someone who decides that their personal desires justify imposing on strangers. I would add, too, that neither would I be rude or cruel -- I just don't care, and certainly won't inconvenience myself in such a situation.

This is, of course, my own personal opinion and others will, no doubt, feel differently.

Shouldn't the onus of doing this FIRST fall on the parent of that child?


and that this parent in the OP has now suddenly morphed into a "helpless single mother" who is down on her luck and short on cash.... cry me a river

Ok.

rbwpi doesn't mention anything about flying from Canada to the US. Are you purposely not focusing on what rbwpi stated when rbwpi created this thread?

No, I'm not purposely not focusing on what rbwpi stated.. For the multiple times I've pointed out, child of 2 years of age will have a ticket, and OP didn't state whether the child had a ticket, nor the age of the child. If the child is 2 or older than the child would have had a ticket.

Reading into your comment.. its nice to do nice things for people.. but when people feel entitled to it, then the buck stops there. So the entitlement and attitude of those who feel that they are entitled is the problem.

So had the parent not assumed that the seat was there for the child, then the possibility of being generous by offering the child the seat would have been a possibility. However, because the parent asked the aisle passenger to move expecting that the seat would be there for the child you feel that the aisle passenger had every right to refuse because of the attitude in which it was asked.

I have to admit that I do this at times, but under different circumstances. However, with a child in play, I would first focus on the well being of the child first and foremost, rather than the parent who had the attitude. IMO.

Got any more sweeping, passive-aggressive generalizations of the posters on this board? I'm really enjoying this.

You forgot this gem in response to one of my comments
LMAO

You were the one who pointed out whether the aisle passenger was a man or woman, and the parent was neither pointed out man or woman? I confirmed this element of your argument. Why would you call me sexist and helpless?

You find that funny? What a sad, sad person you are.

rjw242.. I think Vicarious MR'er is on your team.. and you just cut his legs off.