"if the FA determines that the mom can't take care of the child, it is the FA's responsibility to take care of the child - not a stranger who happens to sit next to the child."

Thank you, starrsville, for cutting to the chase! And yes, I too, was amazed that someone would let a complete stranger escort their child to the restroom.

I am a flight attendant for AA, and would like to add a note. Basically, f/a's don't just make things up and expect you to believe them (response to "The FA can tell you anything. Doesn't mean it's true/ accurate"). No, it is not the responsibility of the passenger sitting next to the unaccompanied minor to take care of the child. Maybe the f/a meant it in a joking manner when she said it was your responsibility, maybe not. As to mrwunrfl "It was up to the FAs, not the gate agent, to fix the mess since it was already on board.", it is actually the gate agents responsibility, not the f/a's, as long as the aircraft door is still open. Whenever there are serious boarding issues/dissatifaction with seat assignment, etc, general policy is to advise the passenger to go speak with the agent. Many people don't like to be told that, but we do not have a magic wand to fix things. We can not give away seats until the person actually assigned that seat agrees to move. We can not go talk to the agent for you because per FAA rule f/a's are not allowed to get off the plane once boarding has begun.
We often try to move other passengers so families can be seated together, but we can't force someone to switch seats. Commenly people are noncompliant. Also, many families will put the children in one row (together) and sit in another row, even though they could have one adult with each child. I frown upon this because of possible emergency situations, but it's the parents choice.
I hope this helps.

aagirl - Well said. Thanks for your input and clarifications on this thread! :)

aagirl - I know you don't make the regulations, but it seems awfully cumbersome to expect a family to de-board the plane to go talk to a gate agent. I can imagine planes being mighty delayed if several people left to discuss their seat assignments with the gate agents.

Also, we have sat our boys together so they could share the DVD player that we bring. (DVDs are the best things in the world to keep my kids occupied on long flights). Another time, the closest seating we could get was 2 in an exit row and 2 in front of the exit row. Kids are not allowed to sit in exit rows, so they had to sit together in the row in front of us.

I'm glad to hear you try to facilitate seat changes on your flights. USAir flight attendants would never help us.

I said on 2/8 10:05pm that it's the gate agent that should have handled the seat change. They can try to do it while at the gate, or they can do it on the plane. Most of you probably has seen a gate agent on board before they close the door, doing exactly what we're talking about here - making last minute changes if possible. I know I see them on the plane very often. Sometimes actually counting the exact number of people onboard. They also handle last minute op-up of elite passengers to FC. Once they're off the aircraft, the FA cannot upgrade passengers to the front.

I totally agree with aagirl. It's not the FA's responsibility to rearrange people's seating assignment. Their responsibility is to make sure the carry-ons are properly stowed, the overhead compartments can close, people getting buckled and not leaving bags in the aisle.

Okay, sure I've seen the gate agent on board, checking seats and counting heads. Apparently, the gate agent screwed up. The mom would be unable to take care of the girl in an emergency, What the gate agent should have done didn't happen. What the mother should have been capable of was not going to happen.

So, what was the FA supposed to do? FA couldn't leave, per FAA rule, to straighten it out with the GA. FA is not responsible for finding volunteers to trade seats (so that this little girl can sit with her mommy) so FA should just let this problem, created by the GA, persist? Should FA not tell the passenger next to the girl about the situation? The FA got extremely lucky in the story related above. By talking to the passenger the FA can get a handle on whether or not the passenger is willing/able to take care of the girl <u>in an emergency</u>. A lot of things can happen in an emergency and the FA might not be able to immediately attend to the child (assuming that is the FAs responsibility). Things like the top of the fuselage tearing off and the FA getting sucked out of the airplane (was that Aloha or Hawaiian Airlines).

In a non-emergency, like the girl has to to to the toilet, the passenger has no responsibility for escorting the girl. Does the FA have responsibility in that situation? Does the passenger have some responsiblity, e.g. to page the FA?

In a non-emergency situation if the parent is unavailable then the f/a needs to assist the child, not the passenger seated next to him/her. A little note, I had Dwayne Wade, Miami basketball superstar on board once, and I ended up doing everyhing for his son, even helped him with his pants. Mr. Wade was quite capable but didn't seem willing. We, as f/as, are always concerned with being accused of &quot;crossing the line.&quot; Often times, I will volunteer to hold the baby so the mother/father can take the other child to the bathroom. IMHO that's the best situation.
In an emergency it's the f/a's responsibilty to assist any unabled passengers, adult or child. Unless our lives are at stake (which they often are) we must make sure our designated cabin area is clear. F/As have been know to drag 300lb. incapacitated men to exits. Of course, I would hope that if anyone was sitting next to someone who needed help, you'd be willing to reasonably assist, whether to told/asked to or not.

&quot;Things like the top of the fuselage tearing off and the FA getting sucked out of the airplane (was that Aloha or Hawaiian Airlines).&quot;

It was Paradise Airlines.