Kids on Flights

Zubeneschamali · 31-08-2017 12:17PM

In many years of work travel, I seldom see children and never children melting down. It's always on the packed cheap summer holiday flights to sun destinations.

These also have high levels of drunks chugging cans at the entrance to Security, people who have never flown before, people who are afraid of flying but get the nerve up once a year, people who can't read terms and conditions, don't understand hand luggage, drop heavy items from lockers, fall asleep on their neighbours shoulder, "banter" with the attendants, clap when they survive the landing, and then stand in the aisle for 15 minutes before the doors open for no reason.

The children are usually the least of your worries on one of those flights.

31-08-2017 12:18PM

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

By this standard, children have to suffer every mealtime. Every bedtime. Every time they have had enough TV or Internet time. Every time they have to get up out of bed. Every time they pass a display of sweets and don't get any. Every time they have to go for a walk or play outside, or leave Granny's house.

Children's lives are a succession of things that can cause them to throw a wobbler and melt down. They usually don't, just like most kids on planes don't most of the time.

Your kid reacts like the child in the OP at each occasion you mention? Or is it not really the same?

My kid does it once. Bath time. She. Goes. Nuts. It's in our house.

We don't know what a flight might do to her, she's only 2, there's no real need for her to go to the Canaries or the Algarve. As I said, I'll try her on a short flight before saying "she and all around her can like it or lump it for 3 or 4 hours, I want my hols".

LirW · 31-08-2017 12:21PM

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

In many years of work travel, I seldom see children and never children melting down. It's always on the packed cheap summer holiday flights to sun destinations.

These also have high levels of drunks chugging cans at the entrance to Security, people who have never flown before, people who are afraid of flying but get the nerve up once a year, people who can't read terms and conditions, don't understand hand luggage, drop heavy items from lockers, fall asleep on their neighbours shoulder, "banter" with the attendants, clap when they survive the landing, and then stand in the aisle for 15 minutes before the doors open for no reason.

The children are usually the least of your worries on one of those flights.

My parents live on Fuerteventura in the schticks and this summer on my flight there and back I think I've seen it all, jesus christ.

Zubeneschamali · 31-08-2017 12:21PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Your kid reacts like the child in the OP at each occasion you mention?

No, but then my kids never reacted like that on a flight, either.

OP and many more want kids off flights just in case.

branie2 · 31-08-2017 12:25PM

Fun packs could be given to kids on the plane to keep them busy and distracted (and the adults happy)

pilly · 31-08-2017 12:26PM

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

In many years of work travel, I seldom see children and never children melting down. It's always on the packed cheap summer holiday flights to sun destinations.

These also have high levels of drunks chugging cans at the entrance to Security, people who have never flown before, people who are afraid of flying but get the nerve up once a year, people who can't read terms and conditions, don't understand hand luggage, drop heavy items from lockers, fall asleep on their neighbours shoulder, "banter" with the attendants, clap when they survive the landing, and then stand in the aisle for 15 minutes before the doors open for no reason.

The children are usually the least of your worries on one of those flights.

It's a wonder you demean yourself to go on such a flight?

LirW · 31-08-2017 12:28PM

branie2 wrote: »

Fun packs could be given to kids on the plane to keep them busy and distracted (and the adults happy)

I remember a few flights where it happened to me as a kid that we got headphones, something to draw and so on. But like everything else that's been removed due to cost I'd assume.
Also on most flights kids are usually on tablets watching Peppa pig or some Disney movie or play Candy crush.
I'd never board a plane ever again without tablet and game boy.

Zubeneschamali · 31-08-2017 12:30PM

pilly wrote: »

It's a wonder you demean yourself to go on such a flight?

I know what I'm getting into - I don't moan about it.

On one holiday flight a year or two ago, a guy with a shaved head and tattooed muscles popping out of his vest sat down next to me smelling of drink. The air hostess swiftly passed him a straight vodka, and I thought "Here we go!".

But actually, he was a very nice lad from the North who was just scared silly of flying, and couldn't do it sober. Nice as pie, even to my preteen daughter.

So it's not all bad. Go in with low expectations, and you can be pleasantly surprised.

Rubberlegs · 31-08-2017 12:34PM

irishmoss wrote: »

73Cat wrote: »

I have been reading this thread with interest, and horror at some people's opinions. I was the parent with the child having a meltdown on a plane.
The woman behind stuck her head in between the seats and asked me to please "shut her up".

As soon as the plane landed, herself was all smiles again, ran off the plane all delighted, little wagon!
//End Quote

Sounds like the woman was desperate and all she did was say "please" ask her to shut up and you stood up in a rage? Why call her a wagon? Sounds to me like you were totally frustrated yourself with the problem and took it out on the woman.

I didn't call her a wagon, please read again. If I was going to ask someone to get their child to be quiet I wouldn't tell them to shut the child up, I'd ask nicely.

MysticMonk · 31-08-2017 12:34PM

Zubeneschamali wrote:

On one holiday flight a year or two ago, a guy with a shaved head and tattooed muscles popping out of his vest sat down next to me smelling of drink. The air hostess swiftly passed him a straight vodka, and I thought "Here we go!".

He probably needed the drink sitting next to you

darced · 31-08-2017 12:36PM

This post has been deleted.

Rubberlegs · 31-08-2017 12:38PM

Grayson wrote: »

To be fair, that happens in supermarkets, cars, sitting rooms and all over the place. I haven't got kids but I've seen my niece throw tantrums that terrify me. And she is honestly distressed at that point. However it's perfectly normal for it to happen and it can happen anywhere.

I would hate to be stuck on a plane anywhere near a child like that. I would hate even more to be the parent of a child who's doing that.

However i know it's natural and I don't hold the parent to blame. I would however be pissed if the kids were older and should know better and the parent wasn't doing anything to control them.

One last thing. If anyone out there is a parent of a toddler who threw a sh1t fit on a plane, you don't need to apologise. However it's really nice when you do.

I apologised to the air hostesses, the pilot getting off the plane, everyone around me , fookin mortified

.

Spider Web · 31-08-2017 12:40PM

bear1 wrote: »

Funny how you can tell the non parents from the people with kids who think those with kids should go nowhere near a plane until the child is old enough.

Well no you can't actually tell which of the critics are and aren't parents.
There are parents who won't bring their children on an unnecessary flight if it's going to cause the child, themselves and yes, other passengers distress.

Saruhashi · 31-08-2017 12:42PM

inforfun wrote: »

one with a tablet volume on 11 straight behind me.

I've seen grown adults do this on public transport many times so I think the kids have to get a free pass there.

pilly · 31-08-2017 12:47PM

Spider Web wrote: »

Well no you can't actually tell which of the critics are and aren't parents.
There are parents who won't bring their children on an unnecessary flight if it's going to cause the child, themselves and yes, other passengers distress.

I have children but I didn't bring them on holidays until they were out of nappies and walking and talking.

Babies do not enjoy holidays, they don't like the flight, they don't like strange places and they don't enjoy heat.

Why do parents bring babies on holidays? Simply so they can have a good time. It's selfish pure and simple. And that's okay if people admit it instead of trying to convince us all that a baby enjoys a week in Benidorm. :P

dr.fuzzenstein · 31-08-2017 12:50PM

I think in reality people react a lot more neutral than on boards. The average Boardsie seems to hate children, dogs, cats, other people (specially fordeigners or lefties), trees, traffic, other people, pelican crossings, people, sandwiches, people and people. And especially children. Just look for old threads on children. They're never positive. But they seem to love Donald Trump.
If you're stuck in a difficult situation, just keep the head down and deal with the problem at hand. Wait for the 5th "HELLO!!! EXCUSE ME!!! and then remain calm, polite, smile and say you are very aware of their concern and you are dealing with the situation as quickly as possible.
Drives them absolutely spare. That way they flipped while you stayed friendly, polite and professional throughout.
Remember, stress is something that happens to other people

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 31-08-2017 01:06PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Your kid reacts like the child in the OP at each occasion you mention? Or is it not really the same?

My kid does it once. Bath time. She. Goes. Nuts. It's in our house.

We don't know what a flight might do to her, she's only 2, there's no real need for her to go to the Canaries or the Algarve. As I said, I'll try her on a short flight before saying "she and all around her can like it or lump it for 3 or 4 hours, I want my hols".

Conor, I can't believe I'm agreeing with you but I'm so taken aback I feel like I have to tell you so we can both enjoy this special day

Ah no, but seriously. Show a bit of consideration. Show consideration that not everyone is enthralled with your kid or her/his screams as you are. Show consideration that kids can't be switched on and off and will prob make noise or be a bit irritating, deal with it within reason.

Is it reasonable to expect 100 other people to be subjected to 1.5hrs of non stop hysterical screaming and crying? No it isn't. You or your child are not the only ones on the plane, may not be the only ones with sensory needs on the plane and people moving away is a reasonable response, and should not be made feel bad about the situation.

If it's not possible to move everyone (obviously) then the airline needs to step up and deal with the disturbance. It's a shared space, nobody can leave and your child, precious as he or she may be, is not the most important person on the public space

31-08-2017 01:09PM

Spider Web wrote: »

Well no you can't actually tell which of the critics are and aren't parents.
There are parents who won't bring their children on an unnecessary flight if it's going to cause the child, themselves and yes, other passengers distress.

Who's going to assertain the necessity of each flight, though? A family who haven't had a break in years and are flying out to a family occasion like a wedding might consider it very necessary, but someone who literally can't bear the sound of a child upset, and that's fair enough, might consider them selfish for it. There are plenty here who would, I'm sure.

I tend not to let it get to me if kids are noisy or upset, but if I did, I'd take it on myself to buy some noise cancelling headphones rather than tell people to stay home and not take a probably well-deserved break because it might annoy me if one of their kids gets distressed. We don't live in a bubble, we can anticipate that sometimes we'll be less than optimally comfortable and plan ahead, like adults.

I accept what you've said before about the welfare of a child who's distressed, but the kids who find any change hard to cope with (I believe a lot of autistic kids fall into that category) will be stressed at most changes of scenery, and suggesting parents avoid all potential triggers is tantamount to telling them never to take a holiday anywhere as a family. That's very hard on the other kids as well as the parents, to never once get a break or a change of scene.

The other kids in the family deserve a holiday, it's not just about the parents and the child with special needs, they're a whole family and sometimes the kids who get less attention because a sibling with special needs requires more, forgo a lot of the normal activities other kids can partake in. I wouldn't deny them a holiday, it can be very hard having a sibling with special needs, something often overlooked, and they need to have fun and enjoy carefree holidays, and all the things other families take for granted.

Of course it is annoying listening to screaming for hours and I can't deny or downplay that because it's true, but on balance I'd rather those kids and parents get a break and a change, because it can make the difference between coping for years on end, or not coping and as part of a functioning society sometimes we have to put others first, for a few hours or so.

Either way, I'll be off the flight in a few hours and getting on with my life and the annoyance will just be a memory to me, but the holiday could mean the world to the family.

GritBiscuit · 31-08-2017 01:12PM

I imagine particularly noisy kids on flights are in much the same category as octogenarian drivers holding up traffic or horny teenagers snogging and copping a feel in the middle of a packed bus or whatever - yes, it's part of life, yes most people just get on with it, yes it's easier to say nothing but that doesn't mean for one second most people aren't thinking FFS, what a colossal pain in the arse you are/do you really have to/spare me/can't wait to be a million miles away from you and yours/etc etc...airline staff included.

That said, it's damn rude to say anything or make your displeasure obvious. I've never seen a child making a commotion on a plane that the parents weren't trying their absolute damndest to subdue. I think most parents in that situation are already painfully aware that the rest of the plane cannot wait to get away from them.

_Dara_ · 31-08-2017 01:53PM

LexieOnRale wrote: »

Conor, I can't believe I'm agreeing with you but I'm so taken aback I feel like I have to tell you so we can both enjoy this special day

Ah no, but seriously. Show a bit of consideration. Show consideration that not everyone is enthralled with your kid or her/his screams as you are. Show consideration that kids can't be switched on and off and will prob make noise or be a bit irritating, deal with it within reason.

Is it reasonable to expect 100 other people to be subjected to 1.5hrs of non stop hysterical screaming and crying? No it isn't. You or your child are not the only ones on the plane, may not be the only ones with sensory needs on the plane and people moving away is a reasonable response, and should not be made feel bad about the situation.

If it's not possible to move everyone (obviously) then the airline needs to step up and deal with the disturbance. It's a shared space, nobody can leave and your child, precious as he or she may be, is not the most important person on the public space

What would you suggest the airline do? How should they deal with it? Everyone on the plane is going from A to B. The plane is in the air. What's the solution?

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 31-08-2017 01:56PM

_Dara_ wrote: »

What would you suggest the airline do? How should they deal with it? Everyone on the plane is going from A to B. The plane is in the air. What's the solution?

Have a designated area to take disruptive passengers to calm down/sober up?
Be more aware of people with "additional needs", if SuperValu can cater for asd families I'm sure an airline can? A child with autism or a naughty child or a child throwing a tantrum is what it is, but they're not everyone else's responsibility nor are they the only ones that need to be considered

LirW · 31-08-2017 02:00PM

But how exactly is that supposed to work really? Airlines don't care about it as long as you throw them the money down the throat really. If you designate like 2 rows on an average plane for that, they'd lose out the profit of 6 seats. Ask Michael O'Leary what he thinks about that :P
Also a cabin wouldn't work really because that'd take up some space. Especially on cheap summer flights you'd need at least 10 of them.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 31-08-2017 02:09PM

LirW wrote: »

But how exactly is that supposed to work really? Airlines don't care about it as long as you throw them the money down the throat really. If you designate like 2 rows on an average plane for that, they'd lose out the profit of 6 seats. Ask Michael O'Leary what he thinks about that :P
Also a cabin wouldn't work really because that'd take up some space. Especially on cheap summer flights you'd need at least 10 of them.

If the airline is providing a service to families they need to be equipped to deal with families. A screaming child is more their problem than my problem. Deal with it. Don't put the issue on those who are quite reasonably pissed off

Yeah_Right · 31-08-2017 02:16PM

_Dara_ wrote: »

What would you suggest the airline do? How should they deal with it? Everyone on the plane is going from A to B. The plane is in the air. What's the solution?

Drug the kids. Obviously. Have you not read the thread?

LirW · 31-08-2017 02:23PM

LexieOnRale wrote: »

If the airline is providing a service to families they need to be equipped to deal with families. A screaming child is more their problem than my problem. Deal with it. Don't put the issue on those who are quite reasonably pissed off

So families should be excluded? What's with people that smell, are having a cold, or the obnoxious lad's stag on the plane? Go on my nerves too.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 31-08-2017 02:32PM

LirW wrote: »

So families should be excluded? What's with people that smell, are having a cold, or the obnoxious lad's stag on the plane? Go on my nerves too.

Reread the original post, whoever is causing the disturbance.

jmayo · 31-08-2017 02:33PM

jackofalltrades wrote: »

So wanting to move away from a screaming, kicking child having a serious meltdown makes you ignorant now.
That mother need to cop on a bit.

Love all the posters falling over themselves to show how tolerant they are.
An hour or two of being kicked in the back and having to listen to very loud screaming, they'd be sitting there like a Tibetan monk, yeah we believe that.
Everyone has a limit to what kind of behaviour they'd be will to accept on a flight.

Flying is stressful for most, an scary for a lot of people.
Your trapped in a tiny space, deprived of oxygen and you can't escape from.
There's a limit to how much disruption, danger, loud noise others should be subjected too.
The parents need to realise that their child's behaviour could scare, upset and anger others.
Labelling everyone else who isn't 100% understanding as ignorant, is well pretty ignorant.

What did I say earlier about parents who think that everyone should love and appreciate their kids.

The amount of people, parents AFAIK, who have been telling others tough shyte put up with it and show some tolerance actually shows nothing but intolerance.

Oh BTW before someone jumps in about people with no kids, I have three kids of my own.
And on the flight this summer the 4 year old did act up a bit due to no tablet (my fault admittedly) and was kicking seat in front and slapping the tray.

Thankfully I was sitting in front of him.

inforfun wrote: »

...
But what i really, really dont get is that when there are 4 flights a day on a route, why pick the 10 pm one when having 3 kids of which the oldest is 6.
I book that flight in the hope to have a quiet flight but i usually end up with a set as described behind me kicking my chair, screaming their lungs out because they are exhausted.
No kids under 12 on flights after 8 pm please.

I was due to fly in the afternoon approx 1300 and arrive early evening approx 1700.
Lovely.
The week before departure the flight was changed to leave at 1900 and arrive 2300.
There was no way we could fly with three small kids at that time, get a hire car, and travel one hour to accommodation and thus had to change departure to following morning at 0800.
Some people may not have been able to change so may have had to fly at that late time.
If you are flying to Asia you may often depart London late in evening.
If you are returning from states you may leave late in evening and arrive early morning.

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

This is a very strange thread. People are talking about how they are bothered, how they are annoyed and inconvenienced, how their flight time is not enjoyable - and now how much sympathy they have or don't have for the parents.

Why does anyone imagine that any parent cares about any of this? You buy a ticket, you sit in your seat, you get to the other end. No-one promised you a child-free flight, and your annoyance or otherwise is nobodies problem but yours.

That is a very self centered approach.
We are all part of a society and if everyone adopts the "screw you and who gives a fook if you are inconvenienced" then what type of world do we live in.

Saruhashi · 31-08-2017 02:38PM

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

I think in reality people react a lot more neutral than on boards. The average Boardsie seems to hate children, dogs, cats, other people (specially fordeigners or lefties), trees, traffic, other people, pelican crossings, people, sandwiches, people and people. And especially children. Just look for old threads on children. They're never positive. But they seem to love Donald Trump.

To be fair, people probably come here for the discussion/debate/argument.

It would be a tad boring if the reply to any given topic was "you are quite right, end thread".

ariana` · 31-08-2017 02:39PM

pilly wrote: »

I have children but I didn't bring them on holidays until they were out of nappies and walking and talking.

Babies do not enjoy holidays, they don't like the flight, they don't like strange places and they don't enjoy heat.

Why do parents bring babies on holidays? Simply so they can have a good time. It's selfish pure and simple. And that's okay if people admit it instead of trying to convince us all that a baby enjoys a week in Benidorm. :P

There are other reasons to bring babies on planes than a week in Benidorm, my kid's only cousins live in the US, if i didn't bring my kids on a plane occasionally and my sibling didn't bring their children then they may as well have no cousins.

It's easy to say not to bring your kids away until they're walking/talking & out of nappies and that might work for some families that are small and/or the kids are all close in age but for example if you have 4 kids with a 2-3 yr age gap then by the time the 4th kid is out of nappies the oldest could be 10 yrs or older. I don't think anyone in that circumstance would claim that the reason they are going is for the benefit of the baby/toddler, but the family is made up of 5 other people, the parents and 3 other kids who could be 10, 8 & 6 yrs and their happiness is all part of the decision to go abroad on holiday, the baby/toddler just gets dragged along for the ride really as they do to all year round to the older kids' football matches and dance classes and so on.

pilly · 31-08-2017 02:44PM

ariana` wrote: »

There are other reasons to bring babies on planes than a week in Benidorm, my kid's only cousins live in the US, if i didn't bring my kids on a plane occasionally and my sibling didn't bring their children then they may as well have no cousins.

It's easy to say not to bring your kids away until they're walking/talking & out of nappies and that might work for some families that are small and/or the kids are all close in age but for example if you have 4 kids with a 2-3 yr age gap then by the time the 4th kid is out of nappies the oldest could be 10 yrs or older. I don't think anyone in that circumstance would claim that the reason they are going is for the benefit of the baby/toddler, but the family is made up of 5 other people, the parents and 3 other kids who could be 10, 8 & 6 yrs and their happiness is all part of the decision to go abroad on holiday, the baby/toddler just gets dragged along for the ride really as they do to all year round to the older kids' football matches and dance classes and so on.

I specifically said holidays so don't know what the first part of your post is about. That's visiting relatives.

On your second point, yeah it's hard waiting until kids are older but that's the sacrifice you make, especially if you're going to have 4. It's not about the happiness of the older kids either, kids are as happy in Courtown as they are in Benidorm, probably happier.

I had 3 and didn't have any holiday abroad until they were all able to walk and past the tantrum stage.

Kids on Flights

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