Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Fed up passengers demand child-free flights
The New York Times devoted some of its coverage to another of those always controversial airline topics - children on planes.Once again, passengers are apparently voicing their concerns about children in the cabin, and some of them propose to outfit planes with a child-free zone.
The article even mentions a frequent flier from Boston who has started a Facebook group called "Airlines Should Have Kid-Free Flights".
Stories like this pop up at least once every six months, and the passengers they talk to have very little understanding of kids or the aviation industry.
When the Boston based frequent flier sat behind a screaming child on a flight from LA to the UK, he said:
"The parents were not doing a thing to stop it," he said. "They were just sort of weakly smiling and giggling like, 'Oh, what can you do?' But give them a pacifier, do something to make them stop."This is the solution that comes from all people who either don't have kids, or don't understand them. Pacifiers only work on children that are used to using them, and even with one, the cabin pressure may be too great to stop annoying them. But of course, "do something to make them stop" is something these people think the parents didn't try themselves.
In all my flying, I've come across plenty of screaming babies - and it is not fun, but I've come across more pompous frequent fliers who irritate me more than babies. Babies eventually get tired and fall asleep, but the loud business traveler is one that never knows when to shut up.
The concept of creating a child-free zone on the plane is another that will never work - simply because airlines are hurting enough as it is. Sure, there may be a niche airline that considers creating special seating areas for families, but the investment and ticketing challenges may prove to be too great for it to ever be a success.
Of course, a lot of these complaining passengers fail to realize that there is already a (virtually) child free zone on the plane - the business and first class cabins. Instead of demanding that parents do something about their kids, people who don't like the sound of a crying baby should just pony up the cash and sit up front. Alternatively, bring some ear plugs and noise canceling headphones.
What are your thoughts?
| Yes - crying children on a plane are a real pain. Get rid of them. | |
|---|---|
| No - kids are kids. If you can't deal with it, take the bus or pay for first class. |
[Photo courtesy of: Online Photography Course]
Filed under: Airlines
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
Sabrina Nov 15th 2010 3:45PM
I think most people understand when a child screams because it is in pain. However, I have no understanding for parents who don't understand that other people are bothered because their kids keep kicking the seat in front of them or grab other people's hair or clothes, etc. I don't care what you let your kids get away with at home, but at least try to keep them under control when you're in a public place.
TheInfamousJ Nov 15th 2010 11:29PM
I am with you. The thing that annoys me about children on airplanes (and all forms of long-ish term public transit, for that matter) are children who are not policed in their exploring.
I get why youngins grab hair, climb over seatbacks, crawl into laps, kick seats, and run in aisles. They are learning about their world and using all of their senses to do so.
However, it comes to the parents to restrain their children's exploring instinct when everyone is seated in close quarters in a public transportation vessel. Unlike the park, playground, or house of a friend or relative, this is not an area where children can do the exploring they wish to do. Children, being children, are not metacognative enough to have this explained to them, thus it comes to parents to simply use physical restraints to keep the children from doing as they want.
I have asked the parents of the explorers what research they have done on childhood learning. Usually the answer is none. The parents of the "well behaved children" (those who restrain their children's exploration) have responded to my question with the names of books they have read. Oddly enough, the more educated a parents is about being a parent the better behaved their child is perceived to be.
biggred Nov 16th 2010 1:36PM
If children who are not tought good manners of behavor at home, they will not learn it on an airplane. The cabin pressure is very painful for adults so children are not prepared unless the parents use a pasifier for babies or chewing gum for older children. I few from Frankfort Germany with a 6 mo old and the only problem was me, the mother, having to wait 35 hours for a flight. You really don't want to hear the whole story.
Sabrina Nov 16th 2010 2:54PM
@TheInfamousJ: Much better said than I could :)
@ biggred: I never considered that. I guess if the kids can do whatever at home, they wouldn't start listening on a plane. Sorry about the 35 hours. I've been there without kids and I can't even imagine it with! ;)
Scott Carmichael Nov 15th 2010 3:46PM
I agree 100% - I too have seen kids run up and down the aisles and make a racket unrelated to air travel pains. I can understand passengers who get annoyed by that.
But I have no patience for passengers who demand that parent make their baby shut up.
John Nov 16th 2010 6:29PM
well first of all it isn't really the childs fault at all it stems back to the parents for not teaching their kids not to be brats . The parents tend to ignopre the kids and let them do what ever they want to do as long as they leave their parents alone . the parents need a lesson in manners and how to teach their kids to act in public
John Nov 16th 2010 6:27PM
well first of all it isn't really the childs fault at all it stems back to the parents for not teaching their kids not to be brats . The parents tend to ignopre the kids and let them do what ever they want to do as long as they leave their parents alone . the parents need a lesson in manners and how to teach their kids to act in public
Vikas Nov 15th 2010 4:41PM
It's the parents who do absolutely nothing to stop or pacify their child that are the problem. Beyond that I've sat next to adults who are just as annoying on a flight as a child.
But some passengers are idiotically oversensitive. One person actually screamed at my friends' two year old for singing "Wheels on the Bus" at a relatively low volume.
Becky Nov 15th 2010 5:10PM
I'm totally with Sabrina on this one!! I've lost count of how many flights I've taken over the years where it wasn't crying, per se, that was bothersome - it was the annoying child sticking it's fingers through the seats and grabbing my hair, or kicking my seat for an hour without cessation, or throwing his Happy Meal a row or two ahead because he's bored. The best children I saw were with a mother who came FULLY PREPARED, backpack full of games and toys and snacks (back when you could have snacks). WORST FLIGHT? Honestly, I sat immediately behind 3 20-something British men who were loud, obnoxious, and almost jammed my knee when one of them knocked his seat back to catch some ZZZ's cross-Atlantic. I couldn't move, I couldn't stand up... and he behaved as though he were oblivious. I was floored by his boorish behavior.
Kimberly Nov 16th 2010 9:24AM
I was one of those moms that brought a backpack of stuff to keep my little one busy. Stickers were among the favorites!! Crayons, clay/playdoh....even baby headphones with music. I was a frequent flyer myself and there was a time or two when those things didn't work as well, but with patience along with love and restraint (physically) it wasn't too long before my child was quiet or sleeping. Humming softly in a babies ear or even just talking. As long as you do those type of things at home and are consistent with it, then you should have a great and well-behaved child with you on board.
HinRSF Nov 16th 2010 11:49PM
I agree with all the replies about being prepared. I have complete compassion for a child in pain - although annoying, the poor baby can't help it's small eustasian tubes. It's parents on public transportation (trains are bad too) who have NO toys or activities planned that drive me nuts! I used to carry play dough, legos in a baggie, string licorice with fruit loops & gummy savers to string, along with the paint free paint books. Once on a trans Atlantic flight when my kids got bored I told them they could draw anything they wanted (in Sharpie) on my arms & legs. It lasted across the continent, although I looked very odd getting off the plane. My worst experience was recently on Amtrak from Santa Barbara to San Diego in first class. An Israeli couple with a young girl of about 4 had brought no activities. They sat talking, drinking wine while their daughter amused herself with piercing shrieks every 5 minutes. I finally told them to take charge of her & the mom told me she could do nothing - sorry.... The dad stepped in & began reading to the little girl, who was as good as gold the rest of the trip. This poor child has learned to misbehave to get attention.
Sabrina Nov 16th 2010 3:31PM
Thanks Becky! And, yes, totally! If you are prepared and you try to keep your kids occupied, then who would complain if they scream? Parents are only human. As long as I see that they try, why would I add to the frustration by complaining?!
Jen Nov 15th 2010 6:07PM
A crying child irritates my ears as much as the next person, but I understand children are children, and they will cry on planes. What I cannot stand, however, are children who are allowed to be a conscious nuisance to other passengers: kicking the seats in front of them, throwing things, etc. A parent can only do so much to quiet a crying child, but they should be able to do everything to keep their child well-behaved in public.
Greg Nov 15th 2010 9:57PM
As a flight attendant, I have seen my share of children problems on the airplane.
My solution would be to have the ticket agents weigh your bags, then check them. Then weigh your child and administer the appropriate dose of Dimatap. By the time they are through security, they would be limp rags, docile and ready to sleep through the flight.
I have considered selling those childrens Nyquil suckers to the parents. If they wouldn't buy one, I'm sure the passengers around them might. Could help to offset the lower wages...
Brett Nov 16th 2010 6:48AM
I second this plan. In fact, when I'm flying I'll buy the suckers for every child on the plane. Do they come in cherry?
Lucy Nov 16th 2010 8:24AM
Greg, some of us do not permit the use of drugs, do not approve of them, are aware that they are unsafe for use in children. A better solution would be allowing parents to bring on their own toys, snacks that the child is familiar with, games, puzzels, etc. I did notice on my last flight from Atlanta to Orlando that we had our own personal TV. Children's cartoons on those would be a brilliant idea. I had a seat-kicker on that flight, sitting in his grandma's lap right behind me and simply undid my seatbelt, turned around and got up on my knees in my seat and said, "If you do not stop kicking me in the back, we are going to have an incident." It stopped. And believe me, if it had not, there WOULD have been an incident. I'm a grandma too and I do understand how difficult it can be to travel with a child.
Sue Nov 16th 2010 12:56PM
I DO hope you are kidding. That is the most dangerous, stupid thing I have ever heard!
Paul Nov 16th 2010 1:08PM
Why not give all passengers a sedative? I have never been on one of these flights y'all talk about. Most kids I have come in contact with were well behaved, even though some have sung " itsy bitsy spider" [oh the horror!} Maybe put all the kids, and parents in the first few rows and that way their crying or whatever will be aimed towards the front of the cabin.
Mandy Nov 16th 2010 3:13PM
Dear Greg,
Since you would like to forcibly drug children with substances that can be FATAL to them, how about we do that to you?
karmabottle Nov 16th 2010 6:38AM
Actually, the article's author strikes me as a bit arrogant----implying that only childless people would ask that a parent work to quiet a screeching child. That's the silliest thing I ever heard.
The author also suggests that all parents are taking an active role in calming the child----that too is arrogant. I've seen plenty of parents ignore screaming children (both babies and four-year olds alike).
The argument that people who dislike children should pay for first class sounds fine on paper, however, it is far from fair. Those with children would freak out if asked to pay a premium to fly with kids, therefore it's just as unfair to ask someone to pay a premium to fly without kids.
It seems to me that it is reasonable to require that anyone, with or without a child, keep the noise level to a *minimum*. Figure out how or travel another way is just as fair to say to a noisy mom and toddler as it is to a businessman.