Dad ditches kid in coach to sit in Polaris leaving me to entertain him
Jul 13, 2018, 11:23 am
#46
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 343
If this had happened to me, that child would leave the flight with many interesting additions to their budding vocabulary.
The closest I've come to this was a parent in F who spent the majority of a PHL-ORD flight standing in the Y aisle talking to his son in the middle seat rather than simply switching with one of the adults in the row.
The closest I've come to this was a parent in F who spent the majority of a PHL-ORD flight standing in the Y aisle talking to his son in the middle seat rather than simply switching with one of the adults in the row.
Jul 13, 2018, 11:50 am
#47
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Traveling the World
Posts: 6,072
I had an issue on a flight and informed the Flight attendant right away who rectified it. In this case I would be more worried that if there was an air crash or some other incident the Father would not be there to help his child.
Also I feel its quite selfish for the Father to impose his child on you. Either the two fly in Polaris or the Father sits next to the child in Y. To separate the child and Father unless the Uaccompianed fee was paid is not legal I believe for safety reasons. The flight attendant is not responsible for the child unless they are a UM,
I would have brought it up at the first instance the child was bothering me and would ask for the child to be moved with his Father. The pursuer has the manifest and can put the two together.
You should be compensated and see if United can find the Father's PNR and send the Father a letter about the behavior of his son constantly talking to another passenger and that in the future they should be seated together.
Something tells me this Father expects strangers in other situations to look after him without compensation or at least a conversation about how to behave with other passengers and to have distractions to pass the time.
I have flown a lot as a kid and was sometimes seated away from my Parents but I would not constantly bother fellow passengers. If they were interested in a conversation I would talk but keep it minimal but otherwise would share pleasantries and then listen to my music or watch the movie.
Sorry this happened to the OP!
Also I feel its quite selfish for the Father to impose his child on you. Either the two fly in Polaris or the Father sits next to the child in Y. To separate the child and Father unless the Uaccompianed fee was paid is not legal I believe for safety reasons. The flight attendant is not responsible for the child unless they are a UM,
I would have brought it up at the first instance the child was bothering me and would ask for the child to be moved with his Father. The pursuer has the manifest and can put the two together.
You should be compensated and see if United can find the Father's PNR and send the Father a letter about the behavior of his son constantly talking to another passenger and that in the future they should be seated together.
Something tells me this Father expects strangers in other situations to look after him without compensation or at least a conversation about how to behave with other passengers and to have distractions to pass the time.
I have flown a lot as a kid and was sometimes seated away from my Parents but I would not constantly bother fellow passengers. If they were interested in a conversation I would talk but keep it minimal but otherwise would share pleasantries and then listen to my music or watch the movie.
Sorry this happened to the OP!
Jul 13, 2018, 11:59 am
#48
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Traveling the World
Posts: 6,072
What if the child told his daddy "A passenger in row X Harassed me and you were falsely accused of such an act". There are other issues that can arise being separated. A child needing help to eat his meal or extra attention that the Flight Attendant has no time to deal with as the child is not a UM.
Furthermore is the OP responsible to help the child in case of a cabin depressurization. What if the passenger did not help the child with his oxygen mask or put on his lifevest in an emergency could the Father sue the passenger for not helping his child? I for one am not ready to help a brat in an emergency sorry.
I would never sit separated from my child if I had one even if it means that I pay to both fly in Polaris and you can be damn sure that I would have a conversation with my child about how to act when traveling and how its a privilege and not a right to fly and not every kid gets to fly in Polaris or visit the lounge.
As soon as my child acts up its a warning and then a discrete word with the pursuer to talk with my Child about his behavior and how he could be asked to go back to coach as other passengers are trying to sleep.
Its called proactive parenting!
Jul 13, 2018, 12:04 pm
#49
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
Also I feel its quite selfish for the Father to impose his child on you.
You should be compensated and see if United can find the Father's PNR and send the Father a letter about the behavior of his son constantly talking to another passenger and that in the future they should be seated together.
Something tells me this Father expects strangers in other situations to look after him without compensation or at least a conversation about how to behave with other passengers and to have distractions to pass the time.
Sorry this happened to the OP!
Compensated by UA? Forreal? But isn’t it the fathers fault? So UA is now responsible for the actions of all its passengers. Oh great. So God forbid I ever get drunk on a plane (not happening since I don’t drink on airplanes) and I hit someone, I’ll just tell them that UA is responsible for my actions, so they should expect compensation From UA. Yes it’s a very drastic example, but stating that UA owes the father compensation is just as drastic imo.
a letter is a a lot of work. And a lot of billeable hours. Too much effort for United to do. I wouldn’t expect it even if the OP asked for it and said he’d take a copy of the letter instead of compensation.
I see see your point in that the father might expect strangers to look after his child, but I’d caution against making such a judgment. I’m pretty sure most parents don’t expect others to look after their children, whether in public transit, trains, subways, MUNI, etc. i don’t think I’ve quite met a parent who does expect Others to look after their child, which is why I’m stating this. Plus this is only one side of the story. What if it wasn’t even his child and instead his nephew or something?
Jul 13, 2018, 12:10 pm
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,909
imho you should be thankful you have 8 yo kid rather than some 300lb dude seated next to you for 12 h
what exactly did you have to do to "entertain" that kid?
ime 8 yo alone is gonna be very shy and get completely consumed by ipad or ife watching... did his ife have sound?
what exactly did you have to do to "entertain" that kid?
ime 8 yo alone is gonna be very shy and get completely consumed by ipad or ife watching... did his ife have sound?
Jul 13, 2018, 12:10 pm
#51
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 343
If it meant not sitting next to an unaccompanied 8-year old for a TPAC, I would probably tell an FA or the parent that I was a sex offender just to get out of that situation.
Jul 13, 2018, 12:53 pm
#52
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: NYC, BLR, LHR, SIN and a few others
Programs: UA 1K 1.01 MM
Posts: 1,245
A number have asked what UA's (written) policy is, per UA's CoC
Other references
UA's website - Children traveling alone
UA unaccompanied minor (UCM) policy - nonstop only, age (now 14 & lower), same cabin
Other references
UA's website - Children traveling alone
UA unaccompanied minor (UCM) policy - nonstop only, age (now 14 & lower), same cabin
Jul 13, 2018, 12:54 pm
#53
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: ua Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver, Hyatt Gold, National Executive, Avis First
Posts: 203
I would never leave my kid on his own, particularly from another cabin. That said, this thread is amusing because everyone is talking about how bad the Dad is not sitting with his kid, and yet there are multiple threads on here about families trying to sit together that always have dozens of posts of "why would I move so a family could sit together....kids are fine by themselves for a while...." Flyertalk in all its uniqueness.
Jul 13, 2018, 1:07 pm
#54
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
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hi Flyertalk. Just got off ord to pek and too my delight I had a maybe 8 year old boy sitting next to me the whole flight while his dad was in Polaris. I had the distinct pleasure of entertaining this kid who wouldn’t shut up for 12 hours. Should I complain about this?
Also the the ife didn’t have sound. I will be composing about that!
Also the the ife didn’t have sound. I will be composing about that!
ROTFLOL
Last edited by GUWonder; Jul 13, 2018 at 1:22 pm
Jul 13, 2018, 2:29 pm
#56
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: HHonors, TrueBlue, Delta SkyMiles, Hyatt Discoverist, Starwood Preferred Guest, American Airlines.
Posts: 2,035
Jul 13, 2018, 3:39 pm
#58
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,219
UA869 (Wednesday): mother says to her two young children (I think 8 and 10) behave and I will see you in Hong Kong and sits in her Polaris seat. Stands up and addresses me with words to the effect she is looking forward to the break from her kids. I looked at her and said something to the effect I believe kids are supposed to be in the same cabin as the parents. She told me I obviously do not have children to which I responded my son is always in the same cabin as me, perhaps a row behind. Even at 20 on the few flights together these days I enjoy spending time with my child.
He was always well behaved and knew how to behave, and loved UM as he got through security and immigration and customs quicker.
Feel sorry for these kids whose parents do not want to spend time with them now. Reminds me of the Harry Chapin song.
He was always well behaved and knew how to behave, and loved UM as he got through security and immigration and customs quicker.
Feel sorry for these kids whose parents do not want to spend time with them now. Reminds me of the Harry Chapin song.
Jul 13, 2018, 3:49 pm
#59
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,410
My wife and I travel with two children ages 3 and 5. Twice we have been the victims of an equipment swap where we have been booted from E+ and dispersed throughout the airplane (four seats none of which are next to each other in E-).
Flight attendants did nothing to help get the seats back together. They felt they had no responsibility. I had to rely on the kindness of strangers switching seats to get us next to the kids.
Is there an official policy on this which UA requires my child sit next to me? Would be helpful to me if the computer disperses my kids again in an unusual situation.
Flight attendants did nothing to help get the seats back together. They felt they had no responsibility. I had to rely on the kindness of strangers switching seats to get us next to the kids.
Is there an official policy on this which UA requires my child sit next to me? Would be helpful to me if the computer disperses my kids again in an unusual situation.
Jul 13, 2018, 4:32 pm
#60
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
UA869 (Wednesday): mother says to her two young children (I think 8 and 10) behave and I will see you in Hong Kong and sits in her Polaris seat. Stands up and addresses me with words to the effect she is looking forward to the break from her kids. I looked at her and said something to the effect I believe kids are supposed to be in the same cabin as the parents. She told me I obviously do not have children to which I responded my son is always in the same cabin as me, perhaps a row behind. Even at 20 on the few flights together these days I enjoy spending time with my child.
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...ml#tcm:76-6615
Rule 13 Acceptance of Children/Minors and Infants
- Children/Minors/Infants Traveling Accompanied
- Children under the age of five (5) must be “accompanied” by an Adult Passenger or the child’s Parent/Legal Guardian on the same flight and in the same compartment. UA reserves the right to require and charge the applicable service charge for Unaccompanied Minor service when a child age five (5) to fourteen (14) is traveling with a passenger who is not at least 18 years old or the child’s Parent/Legal Guardian.