Comments on: Absurd: your airline ticket costs $60; your baby’s ticket is $1,280

By: Sue

Sue — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 04:25:41 +0000

It’s hard to be outraged about this. 10% of a full-priced ticket seems very reasonable. The fact that it’s over $1000 is completely irrelevant, as we’re talking percentages. Business class is indeed expensive. A $12,000 ticket is unreasonable for me, which is why I choose not to buy a business class ticket. The headline is extremely misleading. The $60 ticket price is only after frequent flier miles are applied. We’re not talking about a $60 Southwest flight between Baltimore and NY.

Since this thread has degenerated into a separate issue about bringing babies onto planes in the first place, I’ll go ahead and add my 2 cents. I don’t have kids, don’t want kids, and certainly would be very unhappy if I had to share a plane ride with a baby, but those of you calling for the banning of babies on planes or within certain cabin classes are selfish and ignorant beyond belief. Given a choice, I can’t imagine why anyone would want to take a baby on vacation either, but if someone paid to have their baby on board, then they’re just as entitled to to be on board as you are! Further, as someone else already pointed out, what if they’re actually moving? Should they ship the baby in a box? Sail across the ocean instead? Get real.

That said, too many parents get undeservedly self righteous when it comes to their “precious little snowflakes,” and just seem to lack the capacity to comprehend why others get irritated at parents’ inability to control their children out in public. Too many people believe they somehow deserve special treatment just because they have children, just like too many people (some whose comments appear on this thread) have a false sense of entitlement because they have more money. To those of you self-righteously declaring you deserve a child-free ride because you paid “good money” for a “premium cabin,” I agree you are entitled to a child-free plane ride–if you are fortunate enough to be able to afford a private plane. If not, I guess you have to endure children, even in first class, with the rest of the rabble.

By: Arizona Road Warrior

Arizona Road Warrior — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:34:28 +0000

For years, it is the policy for all US-based airlines that the fare for a lap child on an international flight to be 10% of the fare (usually the highest fare not the fare that the parent paid) for the class of service that the parent is flying. Also, it is the policy for most of the international-based airlines to charge 10% of the fare for a lap child for an international flight. I don’t see why Ms. Poon was upset since she was purchasing a $ 12,000 ticket and the airline was following an established policy?

Ms. Poon could have purchased a seat for her child with miles or find another airline in the Star Alliance group that didn’t charge 10% of the fare for a lap child.

Depending upon the age of the child, I would have purchased a seat for the child especially if the child is over 1-YO and is active. To “hold” an older infant (i.e. 1-YO to 23-MO) that is active in your lap for a long flight of this is difficult. Also, you can have a car seat in case of turbulence.

By: karen g

karen g — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:59:57 +0000

I just booked a first class from dc to lima for my hubby and me using my miles with AA, called the airlines to add my 8 month baby they charged me $145, they said I only had to pay the taxes, when I got the email confirmation it says economy class… Hope I won’t have any problems.
Yes kids are difficult in airplanes but it also depends of their parents… I hope my won’t fuss too much

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:56:16 +0000

I agree with Mother (who posted a message in March) about being more compassionate and sympathetic to others. I used to have an adult lying flat in front of my seat all the time and I was left with xx inches to move. I also think Buckster’s message is slightly discriminatory.

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:59:45 +0000

Infant fares are typically 10% of an adult fare, so if your biz fare is $10,000 your infant fare is $1000. That’s how it is.

By: barbie45

barbie45 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:01:11 +0000

Kimberly, my feelings exactly.

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:28:44 +0000

Oddly enough I really haven’t had much of a problem with babies on planes. I had one child about 5 behind me once…kicking the seat. I simply turned and asked “please stop kicking the seat” and he did. End of problem. Another time I did recall one kid screaming and after a while it did get tiresom. Alas…that’s why I NEVER travel without earphones/plugs and a DVD player. Once you take off…well that’s it. I do expect and understand some crying as their ears pop. Or parents who don’t plan for some form of entertainment on a lengthy flight.

Now…for those parents who can’t get the children to settle down BEFORE the flight takes off. Sorry…it’s obviously better for the child and all the other passengers to have them wait for the next available plane so the parent can have an opportunity to calm the child down. There’s no sense in taking off with a child that’s “out of control”. Sometimes it’s better for them to calm down a bit but not at the expense of delaying the plane. I’ve not seen a family yet that wasn’t compensated in some way or at least equally placed on another plane.

Alas…back to the story. Was the $1200+ ticket for business class or coach? I wonder why they didn’t just buy a “coach” ticket and then seat the baby on their lap ANYWAY.

By: Shari

Shari — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:51:47 +0000

@ Bianca: They’re being mean because they’re selfish themselves. They want everything their way, because they’re the only important ones (especially if they have money). No compassion, no understanding, and no desire to care or understand. Shut up and do what they say. I live not far from NYC, in an area that has a lot of money, and I see this attitude all the time. It’s disgusting, quite frankly.

I’ve been on several flights where there was a kid screaming the whole way. Did I like it? No. You think the parents liked it? No. But there’s only so much that can be done sometimes.

Back to the topic at hand – Lily, I’m glad that you flew. Kudos, too, for getting so many compliments on a well-behaved child. Perhaps some of the haters here will take note of that. I agree that United’s policy makes absolutely no sense. There is no way that your child – or any child on a lap – should be charged that much. Shame on you, United.

@ Linda: Yes, I thought of that too. It’s obscene to think that that’s what the full-fare would be, but then, I have seen such fares listed before. I’ve seen $15,000 fares. Can’t imagine paying that, personally.

By: Bianca

Bianca — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:56:20 +0000

Why are you people so mean sometimes parents do all they can and babies still cry. Why are we flying with babies? Sometimes you live in california and your dad dies so you have to fly home to Texas for the funeral and to help your mom out. Sometimes your husband is in the marine corps and getting sent to Iraq and you have to move back home with family. There are many reasons why people fly with children they are a part of our lives what kind of parents would we be if we just left our children at home or with baby sitters that we can’t trust fully. Not all of us can do that. And you make the point of people paying good money to fly or for a better seat well we paid damn well the amount that you paid and we can take our seats and sit in them with every right that you have.. and if you don’t like it then go ahead and act like more of a child and complain about a tiny baby selfish jerks.

By: Anne

Anne — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 05:36:19 +0000

I don’t think United is doing anything wrong. This is being promoted as a “baby costs 200x as much” story but that isn’t what is really going on here. Ms. Poon is buying a $12,800 ticket + 10% for a lap child which comes to $14,080. Is everyone okay with this idea? It’s expensive but it IS international business class to a popular destination. She wants to use her miles to buy the ticket. Okay, that will bring it to $1,340. Wow, great savings!

But, it probably went like this: “Hello United. I want to use my miles to buy a business class ticket to Hong Kong.” “Okay, ma’am. I see you have enough miles to purchase this ticket with a minimal fee of $60.” “Oh, that’s wonderful. Also I will be carrying an infant in my lap.” “Oh, well there is a 10% charge for a lap child, which will be an additional $1280.” “WHAT! That’s insane! I’m calling Elliott.”

This is why you must ALWAYS get all possible information for a customer before quoting ANY prices. Because the first number they hear will be the set-point and any higher number is unreasonable after that. She is going to fly two people to Hong Kong in the cabin with real beds, real food and uncrowded toilets for under $1500. If she doesn’t want that ticket, I’ll buy it. Even if I do have to carry a baby the whole way.