Couple leave baby behind at airport after being told they had to pay extra for him to fly
Two parents tried to leave their baby at an airport in Israel after being told they'd need to pay extra to take the child with them on the plane.
I know babies aren't always the best travel companions, but come on. That's what dummies, toys and cartoons are for - they're not a plastic water bottle you can leave behind before security.
And yet, that's exactly what these particular parents are accused of doing at Israel's Ben-Gurion Airport, where they sought to board a Ryanair flight from Tel Aviv to Brussels, Belgium.
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The couple had two tickets for themselves, but no ticket for the baby, said to be a young boy. Assuming that they'd want to take the baby with them - a fair guess, given that they turned up with him - they were asked to hand over the cost for his travel.
Ryanair offers two options for adults travelling with infants; they can either pay for a 'lap infant', or an infant with their own seat.
A lap infant fare allows children aged between eight days and 23 months to travel on the adult's lap, and costs an extra £25 per flight.
If the infant requires their own seat, Ryanair charges a full fare which can vary depending on the flight. Adults can choose between a 'comfort seat' used for comfort and convenience during the flight, an Amsafe CARES child restraint which allows infants to occupy their own seat, or an airline-approved forward-facing car seat.
Whatever the cost, it's a small price to pay to be able to enjoy a trip with your child, but local media reports the parents refused to pay for the baby.
According to the Israel Airports Authority, the couple had arrived late to the terminal, after the check-in counter had already closed. In an attempt to go ahead with their travel plans, they are then said to have abandoned the baby by the check-in desk and tried to go straight to security.
Luckily airport staff spotted what was going on and contacted police, who found the parents before they boarded the plane and took them in for questioning.
Speaking to N12, the manager of the Ryanair desk commented: "We've never seen anything like this. We couldn't believe what we were seeing."
In a statement to Tyla, Ryanair commented: "These passengers travelling from Tel Aviv to Brussels (31 Jan) presented at check-in without a booking for their infant. They then proceeded to security leaving the infant behind at check-in.
"The check-in agent at Ben Gurion Airport contacted Airport Security, who retrieved these passengers, and this is now a matter for local police.”
It's unclear what happened to the parents and the baby after the adults were detained by the police.
Emily Brown