advance tickets _ proportion of no shows

[Flamingo]

what if you had paid for the child's seat and had a valid ticket ?

Then if there is a vacant seat when you join the train, the child is entitled to it, if anybody joins after you are under no obligation to give the seat up (but it might be seen as a nice thing )

 

[bb21]

what if you had paid for the child's seat and had a valid ticket ?

A child having paid for a child-rate ticket is entitled to a seat, regardless of age.

It is only when under-5's travel free with adults that they are not entitled to a separate seat unless they pay child-rate fare.