Vent - babies on longnhaul flights

bubblegumcola

I really think the parents would have tried their best to try and keep their baby quiet. Do you really think parents like their kids crying and crying for hours!? It's not exactly fun for the parents of the kids either. How do you suggest keeping a baby quiet for nine hours whilst sat on a seat in a plane with nowhere to go? They have every right to be on that plane as much as you do.
The longest I have been on a plane with my kids is about 5 hours and they were ok, I took crayons and colouring in sheets, small toys that fitted into my hand luggage and snacks. It was just luck they were pretty well behaved, my youngest at the time was around 11 months old. If people are lucky enough to be able to afford an overseas holiday with their kids then they should be able to do it. I don't think you can start segregating flights to family and non family flights somehow.

PinkLipgloss

There is certainly a lot of intolerance being demonstrated on this thread!

I live abroad (my husband is not British) and last year I had to take my baby son on a long haul flight so that he could meet his Great Grandfather who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and only had weeks to live.

Thankfully my fellow passengers were lovely - helping me with the pushchair/hand luggage and the couple sitting next to me were delightful - playing with my son to keep him entertained. It made the whole journey a lot less stressful and manageable.

It meant the world to my Grandfather to meet my son before he died.

pimento

Best solution to this is to leave the nanny with the screaming kids in economy and you travel up front.

(This happened on a flight I was on to New York a few years back.)

meer53

I also think you're exaggerating a little bit too. I don't know of any baby that can scream for 9 hours constantly. They usually nod off at some stage. If your OH was giving me dirty looks, i'd be poking the baby to make it cry even more.

VitaK

Jamie_Yorkshire wrote: »

The problem was that one of the babies did not stop screaming for 9 hours which as you can imagine is extremely annoying. The parents got some very disaproving looks from my OH.

Giving the parents disaproving looks, what is this, kindergarten.

Gavin83

Take duct tape with you next time. If a baby screams offer it to the parents to cover it's mouth. Problem solved for everyone.

Culture_Vulture

Tiny little anatomy lesson for the OP. Babies ears are very sensitive to the pressure in cabins, unlike adults who can swallow, drink or chew on gum to get their ears to 'pop' babies tend to cry. Really no big deal.

pollypenny

To be honest, I wouldn't expect a baby to cry for the whole long-haul flight.

Most parents would have a bottle ready for when the plane is climbing and descending.

HiToAll

I am a parent who has taken his baby on flights, short and long haul since he was a couple of months old. Sometimes it is impossible to stop the crying, but I am sure the parent doesn't want the baby screaming either but also wants a holiday of their choosing.

I would say that if you dont like screaming children on flights (as the chances of them being in economy class are quite high) either don't fly or pay for a more expensive class if it bothers you that much.

ILW

I would pay extra to take a LH flight that guaranteed no under 5s. I truly find it rather selfish inflicting your screaming little darlings on others. An 18 month old will not have a clue what country they are in anyway.