Nov. 6 VA flight 1357 7:10pm BOS-SFO: if you were distressed by the inconsolable 2 year old near the rear of the plane, blame the pax in front of child who fully reclined immediately after takeoff, obviously heard the thunk as she hit the car seat, and stayed reclined even after announcement for seats up prior to landing. Did bother to glare at Mom several times when the child cried but never put it up. The toddler was startled, exhausted and could not sleep sitting straight up so Mom took her out of her SAFETY seat and cradled her. No offer to help came from any FA. But thank you to the pilot who observed help needed as the pair exited loaded with bags, carseat and toddler who was too tired to walk. This is a child who has flown easily over a dozen times while sleeping and whose enthusiasm cheerily ranks high in anticipation("airplane, airplane!"). There was no bookable seat on the plane that did not have a reclinable seat in front that allowed a carseat. Solution?

Please follow discussion in the Virgin America forum.

NewbieRunner, co-moderator, CommunityBuzz

Why would I blame a passenger on a night time transcon flight for using his seat in the manner in which it was designed to be used to try and get some rest? And how is he possibly to blame for your exhausted child?

It sounds like it was a rear facing car seat. Correct me if I�m wrong but I didn�t think those were approved for flying. Can�t see any way for a forward facing seat to be impacted by the seat in front reclining.

They are, and they are the appropriate seating choice for kids that are small enough to still be in a rear facing seat. I was wondering about this conflict last time I flew with ours; there was no way for the seat in front to recline. I'm generally anti-recline and would prefer no one recline, but I do recognize the airlines put the button there, which implies people have the right to use it. I guess a kid's need for safe, appropriate seating trumps the recline right in those circumstances though.

If the child was a "toddler," then it couldn't have been a rear-facing seat which, IIRC, are really only used for the first ~6 months. (At the same time, I agree that the description of a "thunk" upon hitting the seat doesn't really make sense for a forward-facing seat, since the recline presumably would be hitting the kid's legs in that case.)

I wish airlines would just remove the recline option in coach. There isn't really room for it.

The OP said the child was an "inconsolable 2 year old".

Gotta wonder if the recliner would have cared if she'd crushed the kids legs either. Likely to have felt that a child with legs was an imposition on her.

Book another flight.

If what you say is accurate, you knowingly booked a flight where you're child might be put in this situation, then try to make out it's someone else's fault.

If you haven't purchased a car seat lately, or read up on car seat laws, many states require that a child be in a rear facing seat until 2 years old. As such, many FAA approved seats now are rear facing for toddlers. My average sized 2 year old does not yet meet the requirements of his seat to be forward facing and as such is rear facing both in the car and airplane. We often book a bulkhead to avoid the issue of reclining even if we have to pay extra.

I understand that everyone wants to be as comfortable as possible when flying however safety should always be the priority and if a reclined seat impedes the ability of my child to ride safely then I am going to make a fuss about it.

And are you going to compensate the pax in front..for taking away part of their amenity?

The entitlement parents feel so casually and subconsciously can be staggering. Ah well..at least you BUY A SEAT for the child.....

Note AS does not allow car seats or lap infants in bulkhead rows due to airbags in seatbelts. https://www.alaskaair.com/content/tr...lers-car-seats

To the OP, did the person in front of you recline? If not why didn't you put the child seat in your seat and you sit in the seat your child was in? Seems this could have easily solved the problem. Or is the person in front of you allowed to recline but the person in front of your child not allowed?

mmm - book business class for more room seems to be the solution.

It does sound like a good idea to switch seats so Mom is behind the reclining seat, but aren't babies and toddlers required to be in the window seat?