Ryanair better than EI - in one aspect anyway

gerdalt

Just back from a week in Lanzarote with Aer Lingus. Family group with four adults, two children and a baby - so 6 paid seats. On the way out we do web checkin (the 30 hour job - no cost) and easily get 6 seats across. Great, well done Aer Lingus.
BUT, on the way home, it won't let us check in online. It will let people without children check in BUT NOT with children. Anyone know why this is? It seems crazy. We had a long queue at the checkin desk and could only get lots of 2 seats separated from each other. This was a nightmare to handle with a baby - and really bad for other passengers.
Then I reflected that if we had booked Ryanair we could have had a choice of seats if we were prepared to queue at the departure gate.
Anyone know why Aer Lingus do this?
I'd like to know the reason - not speculation!!
Ger.

schemingbohemia

Did you not ask the Aer Lingus representatives at check-in or on the plane?

gerdalt

Yes, and they had absolutely no idea why. Didn't even know it was not possible.
Ger

Zebra3

Have you contacted AL since?

Jamie2k9

Contact AL as its strange and I don't think they will be aware. Did you ask if the checkin staff could get seats together on the aircraft at checkin.

gerdalt

Contact EI!! Have you ever tried? It's not easy.
If you do get thur' to them, once they realise there's no sale involved, you get passed from Billy to Jacky

Yes, the checkin staff did their very best to get seats together but the plane was fully booked and it was not possible.

I am now quite surprised - I had assumed this was a well known issue and had some PC reason relating to infants.
It seems not.

Ger.

P.S. Yes, I will try to call them on Monday

Jamie2k9

gerdalt wrote: »

Contact EI!! Have you ever tried? It's not easy.
If you do get thur' to them, once they realise there's no sale involved, you get passed from Billy to Jacky

Yes, the checkin staff did their very best to get seats together but the plane was fully booked and it was not possible.

I am now quite surprised - I had assumed this was a well known issue and had some PC reason relating to infants.
It seems not.

Ger.

P.S. Yes, I will try to call them on Monday

They now have a facebook page so message them

How Strange

I've had to call AL the last 2 times I booked flights as you can't check in online if you're traveling with an infant.

On both ocassions I found them to be very helpful. I never had any problem getting through either.

gerdalt

I had no problem checking in online with an infant on the flight out. The problem was on the way back.

gerdalt

The reason provided by EI is:

This is due to technical reasons involving the departure control system in use at Lanzarote.

Ger

Tabnabs

How Strange wrote: »

I've had to call AL the last 2 times I booked flights as you can't check in online if you're traveling with an infant.

On both ocassions I found them to be very helpful. I never had any problem getting through either.

Travelled to Palma last year with EI and had not trouble checking in online with an infant (in either direction).