Aircraft and babies

MrSmartprice

The constant here the notion parents have that everyone else thinks their little darlings are as cute as they do. In truth, the worst parents in these situations are those over-indulgent idiots who just let their brats run riot without a thought for other passengers. These are probably the same people whose social circle disappeared soon after sprog arrived, due to the fact that their conversation covered just one topic.

I have flown on floghts where there have been well behaved children, even small ones. I have also had to enure screeching, boisterous horrors who throw tantrums lasting for ever.

I believe that most parents know perfectly well whether or not their offspring will travel in a civilised manner. Yet they travel regardless. I would say that due to parents who cannot control their kids, it is time to at least put all passengers with, say, under 7s to be seated in the back 10 rows. If parents with known fractious ones were to be honest and stick to Skegness, it would not be necessary!;)

Voyager2002

Yes, in-flight noise and rowdiness is a real pain. I find that drunk adults and loud business men are far and away the worst offenders. Not to mention advertising announcements from the airline.

M4RKM

if anyone on this board knows me, you'll know i've flown around 13 transatlantic flights, and some other ones too...

so, the subject of kids or no kids... Now, i've been lucky.. not really had any instances of screaming children throughout a whole flight, and the parents not doing anything, i'm sure that just happens on package holiday flights (yes, i am being judgmental here!), but if i were to fly on that kinda flight, I'd love to pay more to get on a flight without the threat of not being able to relax, and have someone kicking the seat back all the time.

For the comment, "that is what kids do", but surely, telling the child that kicking the seat back, is unkind and not nice "is what parents should do".

Some parents these days seem to think that their kids are always right, never have to tell their child off, and teach them right from wrong, and that letting them scream, throw things, kick seat backs, is perfectly normal. Well, if your child kicks my seat back, i'll sit behind you and start kicking yours, then you'll feel how uncomfortable it is!

lynzpower

Minniethemoocher wrote: »

Having flown with a baby who did nothing but cry for 2.5 hours, no matter what I did to try to soothe her, sometimes babies do just cry, and despite, feeding, changing, and cuddling there is nothing that you can do to stop them...so pleased don't be too hard or judgmental on the poor parents, who are suffering too.....

I remember coming back from Venezuala- very hungover and really tired and wished with every shred of my being that there "are no kids"

Imagine my horror when I found myself next to mum & dad with a baby/toddler who was crying before we even took off.

parents were clearly very stressed and could not calm the little one. After an hour I really had had enough.

I asked, politely , would you mind if I take her for a bit to see if that helps? they said sure- dont think it will though. But it did Little cherub sat on my knee for most of the flight home, cherub and me slept most of the way- woke up for the meal, she ate my cheese- fell back asleep. Parents managed to get a bit of shut eye and said it was the best kip theyd had all holiday

So no, I wouldnt pay more to not be sat with children. There is something very magical about the excitement of children on flights ( are we nearly there yet) that makes it a lovely experience! Its not just kids who boot the back of chairs after all !

trisha

Yes I would definitely pay.
It's not as much babies as older children who are allowed to run riot and kick the back of your seat, bang the tray up and down, jump up an down in their seats, run up and down the aisles screaming all ignored by their doting mothers.

The worst thing I experienced was a mother changing a toddlers dirty nappy on her knee behind us, just as the cabin crew were serving coffee, she actually asked the cabin crew to take it away on the drinks trolley, naturally she refused, the stench was awful.

The best idea would be to have a section of the aircraft curtained off just for parents and children.

Do I hate children... no not at all, just the type of parents who have no idea how to control them or keep them amused on the flight.

blindman

sturll wrote: »

Driving home from work earlier i was listening to Jeremy Vine as i do most days and the debate was whether airlines should run 'adult only' flights.

Interested by this i looked online and found the following:

http://consumerist.com/5081977/airlines-considers-10-fee-for-sitting-away-from-babies

I guess the basic question is - if it were available would you pay extra for the 'privilege' of not having to be near a child when traveling on an aircraft?

It is available:- it's called Business class...;)

abbecer

When my son was one we flew to Turkey. He was absolutely distraught and made himself ill. Luckily we were near the toilets. My poor husband spent 3 1/2 hours of the flight in the loo with him, rocking and soothing him. Not ideal, but better than giving all the passengers headache!!!

Rebecca x

islandannie

blindman wrote: »

It is available:- it's called Business class...;)

That`s the answer.

Although I take my two little darlings with me and I travel Business class whenever available,it`s always amusing to see the look on peoples faces when we embark

sturll

blindman wrote: »

It is available:- it's called Business class...;)

Having flown business class plenty of times there has been more than one occasion where children have been present. Although i have to admit, they do tend to be better behaved than those i have encountered in economy.

Aidenr

sturll wrote: »

Having flown business class plenty of times there has been more than one occasion where children have been present. Although i have to admit, they do tend to be better behaved than those i have encountered in economy.

whenever I am working a flight and in our "business" cabin there are sometime kids.

I agree with you Sturll, they do seem to be better behaved. I somehow think that it is due to the parents being soo embarresed by the constant tut's sighs and glares that they get, that they are forced to drill behaviour into there little treasures!

"Business" class travellers are not the most forgiving IMO
although I dont work for them, I do know that BA will not allow infants/small kids (under a certain age)in there premium cabins regardless or how much the price is.

A