Flight off boarding

I’m not one to complain on social media, but when a momma bear is crossed and her child is made to struggle, she goes all out - as one should.

I firstly want to thank FlySafair for making my baby’s first flight ever an exciting and calm experience, allowing him to sit on my lap when he felt frightened on our flight from Cape Town to George.

And now on to Airlink - honestly words cannot express the disappointment in what entailed yesterday on what was supposed to be our flight home from George to Cape Town.

We were happily sitting in our seats when my two year old got anxious and didn’t want to sit in his own seat but on my lap and was crying to be held tightly - I then buckled the seatbelt over both of us and we were secure.

An air hostess approached me and told me to put my two year old in his seat, I again tried to put him in his seat and he became hysterical - I then asked the hostess to please explain to my baby why he had to sit in his own seat - to which she very brazenly told me that she is not the child’s mother.

I again tried to put him in his seat and he became hysterical again - this time another hostess approached me and told me if I do not put him in his seat they will off board us - I again tried but saw the fear in my child’s eyes and that was it - I was NOT subjecting my TWO year old that is barely 11kg to a fear of planes because of an airline that has no decency to stop and assess the age and size of the child and offer alternative safety devices for my two year old - a terrified BABY.

The flight attendant explained that the reason my two-year-old needed to sit in his own seat was to ensure he could perform the brace position in the event of a crash. I must question the practicality of this reasoning—how is a two-year-old child, who is barely 11kg, realistically expected to understand or effectively execute the brace position?

I quote from a google insert regarding rules on Airlink - where it states a child turning two should have a booked seat, however does not state that is in mandatory for the baby to sit in said seat, they do however advise this ::

“In-flight The cabin crew will brief parents on safety information and offer baby restraint devices. They will also check that the child is comfortable and entertained.”

Not once was an extra baby seatbelt offered but both hostesses and the pilots decided to off board us.

When we got to the front of the plane, the pilot opened the door, glared at my child crying and just shrugged his shoulders.

I urge Airlink to reflect on this incident and provide training to your staff on how to handle situations involving young, distressed passengers. Psychological trauma at such a young age can have lasting effects, and it is in no airline’s interest to create a fear of flying in future generations of travelers.

Not so sincerely, A furious momma bear