Originally Posted by boifromtroy (Post 7042794)

I'll just throw this out there for consideration, but maybe the reason UA only allows the lap fare discount from the $11,000 C ticket is that they want to discourage infants in the C cabin?

I know if I were sat anywhere near an infant having paid for a C seat, I would be irate.

Originally Posted by boifromtroy (Post 7042794)

I'll just throw this out there for consideration, but maybe the reason UA only allows the lap fare discount from the $11,000 C ticket is that they want to discourage infants in the C cabin?

Originally Posted by boifromtroy (Post 7042794)

I'll just throw this out there for consideration, but maybe the reason UA only allows the lap fare discount from the $11,000 C ticket is that they want to discourage infants in the C cabin?

I know if I were sat anywhere near an infant having paid for a C seat, I would be irate.

Originally Posted by flyinryan (Post 7042863)

Why should premium cabin pax be discouraged from bringing their babies?

Originally Posted by flyinryan (Post 7042656)

This still does not clear up how you flew SFO-FCO via ORD.

United does not fly ORD-FCO, or currently, to anywhere in Italy.

Am I the only one who is really :confused: ?

Originally Posted by ksmith142 (Post 7042919)

Count me in the confused column...we still have a mystery on our hands -- how did the OP get to FCO "on UA"?

Originally Posted by flyinryan (Post 7042863)

Why should premium cabin pax be discouraged from bringing their babies?

Originally Posted by rar indeed (Post 7042878)

It degrades the integrity of the premium cabins.

Originally Posted by Dr_wanderlust (Post 7042806)

that would make sense to some extent. I've seen very quiet babies on flights too though. and then there was the F class breast feeding mother who also CHANGED A DIAPER in F (on the floor) and the FA did nothing. but that is a different rant :)

Originally Posted by boifromtroy (Post 7042794)

I know if I were sat anywhere near an infant having paid for a C seat, I would be irate.

Originally Posted by Dr_wanderlust (Post 7042806)

and then there was the F class breast feeding mother who also CHANGED A DIAPER in F (on the floor) and the FA did nothing. but that is a different rant :)

Originally Posted by jsgoldbe (Post 7042986)

This thread is no longer on topic. Perhaps a mod could clean it up or close it.

And for the record ... there are many things that devalue a premium cabin (or "degrage its integrity," as rar indeed puts it), and babies (especially well-entertained, quiet ones) are usually at the bottom of this list (drunk/loud businessmen, chatty NRSAs, poor service, lackluster wine/champers selection, incorrect meal choice priority, cold nuts, etc.).

Originally Posted by SAT Lawyer (Post 7042596)

Couldn't disagree with you more. The two times my wife and I have flown with our infant son, we have taken him as a lap child. Given his age, we would have wound up holding him in our arms during most of the flight even if we had bought him a seat, so I saw no reason to shell out additional money for unnecessary additional real estate. Even if both trips were on $109 UA mistake fares. ;)

I, for one, agree with the original poster that charging 10 percent of a full fare for international travel with a lap child is often excessive. Contrary to what other posters have suggested, lap children do not consume many resources. Their weight is extremely nominal, meaning that any added fuel cost to the airline of carrying the infant is de minimis. They don't consume the catered meals. They don't offset a sizable portion of any ticket cost by drinking copious amounts of alcohol. Sure, the flight attendant might be asked to provide the family with some water or juice every few hours, but that's hardly a major imposition and certainly doesn't bring with it significant cost.

If I don't require a bassinet and am willing to suffer any misery associated with having my child on my lap throughout the flight, I don't think the airline should charge me anything for that "privilege." Furthermore, to the extent that UA insists upon charging 10 percent of the value of a full fare ticket in the cabin of travel, it should be willing to offer a discounted award at 10 percent of the regular miles for lap children. Otherwise, the value of using one's hard-earned miles for premium cabin travel can easily be erased by the hefty cost of transporting junior on a lap.

Originally Posted by jhayes_1780 (Post 7043001)

***Disclaimer... slightly off topice but UA related, and for information only (so don't flame me). I understand the feding thing, hopefully she was somewhat discrete about it (but the baby does have to eat), but where else should she do it? The cockpit? Now, RE the diaper in F.... I had to do this in F for little 1780..... why? Because UA doesn't have changing tables in the lavs on 763 (domestic), 752, 733, and the 735's! Blame UA on that one not the mom.

Originally Posted by Karan97 (Post 7043112)

Well put SAT. Obviously mahasamatman either doesn't have kids or hasn't flown with any. It is much safer to hold the infant in your lap as they wouldn't be able to support themselves in the sligtest of disturbances.