V-Flyer

Are there any rules the airlines have about when kids can be in different parts of the plane to the adults they are travelling with? I'm not talking about toddlers etc. more teenagers and the like.

Of course the decision in many cases will be based on many other factors and I don't want to open up a discussion on the rights/wrongs of abandoning your children

Mine are way too young to be anything other than sat right next to me but have done many flights and at some point will enjoy the freedom and adventure of being semi-"on their own". Just wondered if any have put the kids at the back whilst they sip champagne at the front! What ages were they and how far away from you - probably a huge difference between being at opposite ends of the plane and just having a curtain separating you!

I plan on keeping the "kids" in the back on my net trip.
And I'm part payng for 'em ii)
I'll go UC and #1 Son and GF will go in Y..maybe PE if I can get a miles upgrade...they're not kids though..24 and 21 years old, but still treat them like they're young 'uns.
Most teenagers are always full of beans when going on a trip, some know how to behave, some just take the p.$$ if the parents aren't around...
I'm lucky in that mine respect most things in life....what happens when I'm not there though...

Never mind where to put the kids - where should you put a parent. I am on a lovely G to Boston on Wednesday but as she decided to go lateish I could only upgrade her to PE.
So that will be a curtain and a bar of separation.
Still she will get private security and clubhouse as a guest and UC back home.

im pretty sure the rule is under 16's must not be seperated by more than 1 aisle or 2 rows, however if you did want to travel seperate cabins or parts of the plane you would have to register them as unaccompanied minors, you would be supprised how many people do this!

johnvscrew wrote:im pretty sure the rule is under 16's must not be seperated by more than 1 aisle or 2 rows, however if you did want to travel seperate cabins or parts of the plane you would have to register them as unaccompanied minors, you would be supprised how many people do this!

VS had no problems splitting up my family on a trip a few years back. They put my 5 year old on her own and 8 year old on his own way back in the plane as we were over 3 supposed linked bookings and a plane change supposedly occurred.

VS desk suggested I ask passengers on the plane if they'd mind switching seats rather than VS sort it before boarding. Managed to get someone with common sense to sort before boarding after 1/2hr argument

I am amazed to read about children as young as that being split up. I have had my seat changed at the gate in order to get a family seated together. I wasn't asked . It was just done. Also I have been asked once I have got on board. Sadly one has to remember the caveat that VA cannot/will not guarantee giving you your pre selected seat.

sickbag wrote:They put my 5 year old on her own and 8 year old on his own way back in the plane as we were over 3 supposed linked bookings and a plane change supposedly occurred. VS desk suggested I ask passengers on the plane if they'd mind switching seats rather than VS sort it before boarding.

Alternatively, you could ask whomever you find sat with your child to look after them. Sort of a free 'nanny in the air' service. I know of a certain Mr Mannion who would be absolutely delighted at the prospect should he be fortunate enough to find himself seated next to a 5 year old in need.

I have in the past travelled in a different part of the plane from my Parents or Guardian for the trip. I've been doing it from about the age of 16 with me in J and parents further back. Not had any problems as it's just a separate booking I think.
Under 16 and children can travel as unaccompanied minors.

I sometimes left the Miss S's in the back since they were 16 when flights have been too expensive.

A word of warning though to all of you like us who had always taken their kids in J while growing up is that they get used to it and Y is a total shock to them :0 |:)

Sunshine 8D

if you are ever split from your children who are under 16 you should inform the crew, they would have to force other passengers to move. under 16's not be split by more than 2 rows or 1 aisle, unless they are travelling as unaccompanied minors with all the paperwork that goes with them. sometimes the ground staff over look it, as they normally have alot on their plates when the flight is full, as no one wants to be split from the people they are travelling with! but its always going to happen on a full flight! children are the only exception.

When my daughter was 11, she got upgraded to PE so that she could sit with her 11 year old friend, who had flown lots of times in the past but never on Virgin before.

The friend and her parents were upgraded to PE randomly,(not Flying Club members or anything, 1st time on VS) the friend was upset to be separated from her buddy so, a cabin crew member came to the back of the aircraft to ask us if our daughter could join her pal up front.

We ended up with an empty seat between us, room to spread out and child free too. Win win situation y)

Apparently there were lots of mutterings amongst other passengers in PE who wanted and had asked for their family members to be moved up front to other empty seats which fell on deaf ears

thelaceys

johnvscrew wrote:if you are ever split from your children who are under 16 you should inform the crew, they would have to force other passengers to move. under 16's not be split by more than 2 rows or 1 aisle, unless they are travelling as unaccompanied minors with all the paperwork that goes with them. sometimes the ground staff over look it, as they normally have alot on their plates when the flight is full, as no one wants to be split from the people they are travelling with! but its always going to happen on a full flight! children are the only exception.

When we realised during ocli I phoned VS and they said they'd put a note of the system for ground staff to reallocate seats. We turned up over 3 hours before flight just in case of issues and were told there was no note on the system and we should have checked in 6hrs before if we wanted to make sure we were sat together.

On return I emailed customer services about the rude staff and how i managed to find someone who was able to sort it out and so not sure why other staff found it impossible. They provided £150 voucher for the trouble.

I must say it wasnt a great start to the holiday with the youngest thinking they'd be sat on their own