Vent - babies on longnhaul flights

ellay864

Jamie_Yorkshire wrote: »

No it's not a wind up. We work very long hours each week for our holidays and dont appreciate 9 hours of screaming and neither did the the majority of people sat near us.

No we dont have children but equally have made the decision when we do we would not fly long haul with them as babies and change our holiday choices accodingly as we would not want to upset other people,so sorry if that makes us selfish.

So how many hours screaming is OK? I'm glad that when you have kids you know you can do a 3 hour flight with no screaming, while a long haul will result in the stuff of nightmares. I've flown long haul with little baby disturbance; I've done trips to Europe with non-stop screaming. The thing with babies is that you can't predict when they might scream or how long for.
You have worked hard for your holiday but that doesn't give you a right to dictate who you fly with. Maybe you should pick a more exclusive/less popular destination where there's less chance of families travelling. Has it ever occurred to you that the parents of those babies may have also worked very long hours to afford their holiday? And they have a right to travel, even if that means being sat near a whinging yorkshireman for the journey, something that might not appeal to them either

gregg1

Jamie_Yorkshire wrote: »

Thanks for the sarcasm, I'm not saying they shouldn't do anything. I was actually quite concerned as how can you enforce on a plane that no one eats nut products they brought with them. Some people may not even think about it. Also the standards in the Dominican are a lot different to the UK, the buffets always have people using the wrong scoops in each dish, which the staff can't control which inevitably leads to cross conamination.

You are correct, you can't enforce it. Just hope that people on the flight are understanding enough to do without peanuts for the duration of the flight as we were when the same request was made on our recent flight. I can honestly say that my life did not undergo any radical decline for the the short period I deprived myself of nut products. I would assume anyone with that severe an allergy would know how to deal with their food requirements once at a hotel (or perhaps they were self catering, which would be the sensible holiday option).

System

Jamie_Yorkshire wrote: »

Thanks for the sarcasm, I'm not saying they shouldn't do anything. I was actually quite concerned as how can you enforce on a plane that no one eats nut products they brought with them. Some people may not even think about it. Also the standards in the Dominican are a lot different to the UK, the buffets always have people using the wrong scoops in each dish, which the staff can't control which inevitably leads to cross conamination.

They probably don't eat at the buffet. I'm sure there are other food options

gregg1

Jamie_Yorkshire wrote: »

No it's not a wind up. We work very long hours each week for our holidays and dont appreciate 9 hours of screaming and neither did the the majority of people sat near us.

No we dont have children but equally have made the decision when we do we would not fly long haul with them as babies and change our holiday choices accodingly as we would not want to upset other people,so sorry if that makes us selfish.

The screaming would get on my nerves too. But it is just something you have to put up with on flights. You can't stop kids from crying or stop people from travelling. More annoying was the mother on our recent long haul flight who decided she would change her kid's stinking nappy whilst sitting in her seat directly in front of us just as our meals were about to be served, despite the fact that the (empty) toilet was right next her!!! Now that IS selfish.

bod1467

Screaming kids I can cope with - never heard of earplugs/headphones?

It's the annoying brat in the seat behind that keeps kicking the back of my seat that gets my goat.

Nairn1980

I've been on both sides of this! We go to Florida every year and for years endured the screaming kids on board.

Now we have our own little boy who we try and get to behave but kids being kids they won't sit still and do get distressed. I am really aware of other passengers and always feel awful if he has screamed or cried even for a short time during the flight.

However destinations such as USA and many parts of Europe will have screaming kids... It's just expected - especially in economy.

Best ways to avoid screaming kids are to book off season although with Florida there is never an off season really, and consider business class or first class as they tend to have few/no kids but you'd be paying much more for the flight.

I understand both sides but as mentioned kids have every right to be on the plane and in many cases pay close to adult fares.

elisebutt65

bod1467 wrote: »

Screaming kids I can cope with - never heard of earplugs/headphones?

It's the annoying brat in the seat behind that keeps kicking the back of my seat that gets my goat.

Or the annoying twonk who pulls themself out of their seat using my headrest and hair! Or who reclines onto my lap at food time. Or who farts non-stop during the flight.

Flying in economy is generally crap but its a necessary evil if you want a cheap holiday. If you want to avoid all of the above, then payout for business.

gb12345

zaksmum

I was on a flight home from Cyprus when the child in front of me screamed the entire flight.

Rather than give disapproving looks, I felt SO sorry for the poor mum and dad, who were only young themselves and had a three year old to look after as well. The parents were totally harassed and kept apologising to the passengers around them but were met with nothing but kindness and offers of help.

They allowed us to do a bit of colouring in with the three year old to keep her entertained for a while and I had nothing but sympathy for them.

Anyone who had moaned about the child screaming would've been the ones getting the disapproving looks.

whitewing

Babies pick up on tension very easily so the more grumpy passengers whinge and tut, the worse they are.