Dad ditches kid in coach to sit in Polaris leaving me to entertain him
Jul 13, 2018, 7:38 am
#17
Join Date: Aug 2012
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Sorry to the OP this happened but I actually find it funny that a parent would leave their kid behind, I mean come on, how bad of a parent can you actually be?
I've left my wife behind while sitting in the jumpseat for landing at a new airport (outside the US before anyone says something, and I'm a pilot as well) and even then I feel bad.
I've left my wife behind while sitting in the jumpseat for landing at a new airport (outside the US before anyone says something, and I'm a pilot as well) and even then I feel bad.
Jul 13, 2018, 7:42 am
#18
Join Date: Feb 2004
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I'm confused.
if you didn't want to entertain the kid, put on headphones and ignore the kid.
If the kid was disruptive, flag down an FA.
How is this worthy of a complaint??
if you didn't want to entertain the kid, put on headphones and ignore the kid.
If the kid was disruptive, flag down an FA.
How is this worthy of a complaint??
Jul 13, 2018, 7:50 am
#19
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 581
How was he sending stuff back ? with the FA ? or was he bringing it back himself ? And if he was sending it with FA, did he physically visit the kid during the 12 hour flight ?
Jul 13, 2018, 7:54 am
#20
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,120
OP, you were very kind to a child who obviously could use a good role model. It was tough on you for such a long flight but you did a good thing.
You have some suggestions now on how to handle this in the unlikely event that it repeats. It is ok to create develop boundaries for how much of your time to give.
You have some suggestions now on how to handle this in the unlikely event that it repeats. It is ok to create develop boundaries for how much of your time to give.
Jul 13, 2018, 8:11 am
#22
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I dunno I sat next to small kid maybe 8 or so on LAX-MEX in F earlier this year (flying AS). His mom was somewhere back in Y. Think they were NRSA. Kid was fine, nbd.
Jul 13, 2018, 8:37 am
#24
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From what I was told by UA CSR that no minor should be seated alone. However I have proven this wrong: the CSR was able to put my 9 year old sitting on his own. She said the gate agent will override and will get us to be seated together.
I initially got 4 E+ seats with 2 UA S, then after 2 hours UA bumped us back to E-. My 4 seats was given to some other people, I called UA and got 2 good seats at E+ so I was ready to trade. We got no help from any FA and no one basically cared.
The kid of me kept flipping the bulkhead armrest during the flight and the mum next to him didn't bother. They were 3 people and I got a seat next to them as as soon as they saw me moved they immediately captured the seat to prevent me from moving back. That mum also changed her baby diaper inside the bassinet and she was doing big and small. The dad lifted the heavily soiled diaper up to try to find somewhere to dispose it and guest what - they didn't use the bathroom since (didn't even see the mum cleaning her hand using wet wipe). I smelled the brown stuff and extremely stale urine and it was just before the landing snack. FA went past saw the whole thing and I saw his month saying OMG so I didn't even bother complaining to them.
I initially got 4 E+ seats with 2 UA S, then after 2 hours UA bumped us back to E-. My 4 seats was given to some other people, I called UA and got 2 good seats at E+ so I was ready to trade. We got no help from any FA and no one basically cared.
The kid of me kept flipping the bulkhead armrest during the flight and the mum next to him didn't bother. They were 3 people and I got a seat next to them as as soon as they saw me moved they immediately captured the seat to prevent me from moving back. That mum also changed her baby diaper inside the bassinet and she was doing big and small. The dad lifted the heavily soiled diaper up to try to find somewhere to dispose it and guest what - they didn't use the bathroom since (didn't even see the mum cleaning her hand using wet wipe). I smelled the brown stuff and extremely stale urine and it was just before the landing snack. FA went past saw the whole thing and I saw his month saying OMG so I didn't even bother complaining to them.
Jul 13, 2018, 8:48 am
#26
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: BNA (Nashville)
Programs: HH Diamond
Posts: 6,229
Just to clarify the dad was sending stuff back to the kid from polarisis; and the kid even told the flight attendants that his daddy was up in Polaris class.
They knew it wasn’t my kid.
This is was also one of the worst crews I’ve ever seen from United. Just for example they rammed a guy with their cart and yelled “ you need to keep out of the aisle” and the guy was like “ are you even going to apologize?”
They knew it wasn’t my kid.
This is was also one of the worst crews I’ve ever seen from United. Just for example they rammed a guy with their cart and yelled “ you need to keep out of the aisle” and the guy was like “ are you even going to apologize?”
I would have asked to move or make sure the lights were on the entire time, or something. I would have been uncomfortable the entire flight. Sorry you experienced this, but I’m not sure I would have kept quiet about it.
Jul 13, 2018, 8:50 am
#27
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Some airlines require that if a child is young enough to qualify for unaccompanied minor service, then the parent has to be seated in the same cabin as the child OR pay the unaccompanied minor fee, but I don't know if UA has such a rule.
Jul 13, 2018, 8:51 am
#28
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Of course, because I’m not nearly as dumb as I look, I then gave my wife the upgraded seat ....
Jul 13, 2018, 8:53 am
#29
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Jul 13, 2018, 8:55 am
#30
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Parents can be bad enough that Delta has an explicit rule that child and parent must be seated in the same cabin. Kid under 15 in coach, and parent in Business? Pay the unaccompanied minor fee.