Dad ditches kid in coach to sit in Polaris leaving me to entertain him
Jul 13, 2018, 4:32 pm
#61
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There is another possibility here that you guys are missing. These might have been NRSAs and these were the last available seats (best case scenario for Dad) or lots of seats were available but the kid wasn't old enough to sit in business per UAs Nonrev policies so Dad abandoned him to coach or possibly they wouldn't have been sitting together anyway even in coach so Dad figures he might aswell take a good seat (as NRSAs, we are generally not allowed to ask people to change seats to sit together - at least unless it's a like for like swap).
Of course, a five star dad would have offered his Polaris seat to the OP and sat with his son....
Of course, a five star dad would have offered his Polaris seat to the OP and sat with his son....
Jul 13, 2018, 4:41 pm
#62
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A number have asked what UA's (written) policy is, per UA's CoC
Unaccompanied Minor means a Child/Minor 5 to 14 years of age when traveling alone or not accompanied on the same flight and in the same compartment by a companion Passenger at least 18 years of age or with a Legal Guardian or parent.
The other sections allow 5-14 to travel as UCM and they are UCM when a parent /guardian is not in the same cabin.
Jul 13, 2018, 5:11 pm
#63
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Would you drop off your 5-14 year old at the movies and then hope no one calls the police for child neglect? The parent could be at the hair dresser next door and give little Tommy money to go and enjoy himself until it becomes noticed that Tommy' s Mommy or Daddy are not in the theater.
The same goes for the airplane Polaris is just like being at the hair dresser on land and Tommy at the theater. Either have a 18 year old Baby sitter, Mother or other relative or friend to accompany your son/daughter or pay the UM fee, all fly in Y or Polaris or don't fly at all. Yea so the Father had the means to travel in Polaris(whether by upgrade or mile or cash) but did not even think to pay the UM fee or ask the Gate Agent or Ticket Counter Agent to fix it so they can sit together.
This Father is a frequent traveler or so we think so he should be versed on how to travel with a young son!
I have very little sympathies for the Father yes it may be a cultural difference in Europe kids are independent at a younger age and take the subway but an airplane is different and the rules are different.
The same goes for the airplane Polaris is just like being at the hair dresser on land and Tommy at the theater. Either have a 18 year old Baby sitter, Mother or other relative or friend to accompany your son/daughter or pay the UM fee, all fly in Y or Polaris or don't fly at all. Yea so the Father had the means to travel in Polaris(whether by upgrade or mile or cash) but did not even think to pay the UM fee or ask the Gate Agent or Ticket Counter Agent to fix it so they can sit together.
This Father is a frequent traveler or so we think so he should be versed on how to travel with a young son!
I have very little sympathies for the Father yes it may be a cultural difference in Europe kids are independent at a younger age and take the subway but an airplane is different and the rules are different.
Jul 13, 2018, 5:39 pm
#66
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not sure what constitutes bad parenting here
if you travel enough for example in japan or europe you probably see kids probably as young as 6-8 yo routinely commuting alone
i would have no issues leaving my 8 yo in coach alone - they know how to operate IFE/ipad eat and use lav...
if you travel enough for example in japan or europe you probably see kids probably as young as 6-8 yo routinely commuting alone
i would have no issues leaving my 8 yo in coach alone - they know how to operate IFE/ipad eat and use lav...
Jul 13, 2018, 5:45 pm
#67
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As a J traveler, I wonder if Dad hoped to bring the kid up after takeoff and was rebuffed by the staff in the Polaris cabin (rightfully so). So his workaround was to "send things back".
Jul 13, 2018, 5:47 pm
#68
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Good luck trying to do this. This kid had a never ending supply of pep, and no shame in endlessly blabbing to me. This kid could have a conversation with a brick wall... for 9 hours. The point being is I did ignore which did no good. I am hoping he uses some of the dirty words I normally use, and was constantly saying under my breath. He also fell asleep upon landing, and did not wake him up so daddy had to go back to harvest him. I was hoping to find him alone in the bathroom or something and rough him up a little bit but no opportunity.
Jul 13, 2018, 5:47 pm
#69
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Not according to another section of the CoC
The section you referred to means a child under 5 must have their parent / guardian on the same plane and cabin to travel. No UCM concept for under 5.
The other sections allow 5-14 to travel as UCM and they are UCM when a parent /guardian is not in the same cabin.
The section you referred to means a child under 5 must have their parent / guardian on the same plane and cabin to travel. No UCM concept for under 5.
The other sections allow 5-14 to travel as UCM and they are UCM when a parent /guardian is not in the same cabin.
Jul 13, 2018, 5:50 pm
#70
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not sure what constitutes bad parenting here
if you travel enough for example in japan or europe you probably see kids probably as young as 6-8 yo routinely commuting alone
i would have no issues leaving my 8 yo in coach alone - they know how to operate IFE/ipad eat and use lav...
if you travel enough for example in japan or europe you probably see kids probably as young as 6-8 yo routinely commuting alone
i would have no issues leaving my 8 yo in coach alone - they know how to operate IFE/ipad eat and use lav...
Not defending the parent here - it was too long of a flight to leave a kid by themselves - but kids don't need constant supervision if they are taught how to be independent.
Jul 13, 2018, 6:07 pm
#71
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Will the UA/GA/FAs enforce this is a different matter, is this something people do, appears so but it is a clear CoC statement.
Jul 13, 2018, 6:46 pm
#72
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That would be the perfect time to increase the kid's vocabulary. If only you could then see his father's expression when he starts spouting those words...
(I see venomtrilogy had the same idea.)
(I see venomtrilogy had the same idea.)
Jul 13, 2018, 8:42 pm
#73
Join Date: Feb 2017
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Would you drop off your 5-14 year old at the movies and then hope no one calls the police for child neglect? The parent could be at the hair dresser next door and give little Tommy money to go and enjoy himself until it becomes noticed that Tommy' s Mommy or Daddy are not in the theater.
The same goes for the airplane Polaris is just like being at the hair dresser on land and Tommy at the theater. Either have a 18 year old Baby sitter, Mother or other relative or friend to accompany your son/daughter or pay the UM fee, all fly in Y or Polaris or don't fly at all. Yea so the Father had the means to travel in Polaris(whether by upgrade or mile or cash) but did not even think to pay the UM fee or ask the Gate Agent or Ticket Counter Agent to fix it so they can sit together.
This Father is a frequent traveler or so we think so he should be versed on how to travel with a young son!
I have very little sympathies for the Father yes it may be a cultural difference in Europe kids are independent at a younger age and take the subway but an airplane is different and the rules are different.
The same goes for the airplane Polaris is just like being at the hair dresser on land and Tommy at the theater. Either have a 18 year old Baby sitter, Mother or other relative or friend to accompany your son/daughter or pay the UM fee, all fly in Y or Polaris or don't fly at all. Yea so the Father had the means to travel in Polaris(whether by upgrade or mile or cash) but did not even think to pay the UM fee or ask the Gate Agent or Ticket Counter Agent to fix it so they can sit together.
This Father is a frequent traveler or so we think so he should be versed on how to travel with a young son!
I have very little sympathies for the Father yes it may be a cultural difference in Europe kids are independent at a younger age and take the subway but an airplane is different and the rules are different.
Jul 13, 2018, 8:45 pm
#74
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Houston
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not sure what constitutes bad parenting here
if you travel enough for example in japan or europe you probably see kids probably as young as 6-8 yo routinely commuting alone
i would have no issues leaving my 8 yo in coach alone - they know how to operate IFE/ipad eat and use lav...
if you travel enough for example in japan or europe you probably see kids probably as young as 6-8 yo routinely commuting alone
i would have no issues leaving my 8 yo in coach alone - they know how to operate IFE/ipad eat and use lav...
But this isn’t about your child and I’ll just close by saying that an 8 yr old alone in coach when the parent is in biz is just plain rude.
Jul 13, 2018, 10:07 pm
#75
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This would be the parent that would (or maybe not?) be desperately moving back to the child if there was any inflight emergency - causing further havoc and danger to other passengers and crew.