Air Tran Rewarding the Bad Kid Syndrome

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

I 100% believe in an airline/restaurant's right to ask people to leave when they are having major children issues (in fact I think it should be done MUCH more often). However, the part I am really having a problem with is rewarding the "bad child" with extra plane tickets!!!!

I'm sure most of us know a family that has a badly behaved, inappropriate child and to be honest it always seems that this is the child who sucks all the attention and energy out of the family and those arround them. I really feel badly for the well behaved, respectful kids that get overlooked. Perhaps if we all noticed the good kids more often there would be no benefit, special accomadations for parents and children that do not follow good parenting, manners and respect for others.

 

[hvivona]

I 100% believe in an airline/restaurant's right to ask people to leave when they are having major children issues (in fact I think it should be done MUCH more often). However, the part I am really having a problem with is rewarding the "bad child" with extra plane tickets!!!!

I'm sure most of us know a family that has a badly behaved, inappropriate child and to be honest it always seems that this is the child who sucks all the attention and energy out of the family and those arround them. I really feel badly for the well behaved, respectful kids that get overlooked. Perhaps if we all noticed the good kids more often there would be no benefit, special accomadations for parents and children that do not follow good parenting, manners and respect for others.

Wow! That seems a little harsh to say. I know several good parents who have children act up or throw temper tantrums. Everyone, including kids, are allowed to have a bad day every now and then. The girl that threw a fit on the airplane was having ear problems and a lot of pain on the first flight. On the return flight she was scared to go because she was afraid her ears would hurt again. She's a child, they can freak out and cry when they are scared. I'm sure the parents did everything they could to help calm her. Just because they were unsuccessful that time does not make them bad parents.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Wow! That seems a little harsh to say. I know several good parents who have children act up or throw temper tantrums. Everyone, including kids, are allowed to have a bad day every now and then. The girl that threw a fit on the airplane was having ear problems and a lot of pain on the first flight. On the return flight she was scared to go because she was afraid her ears would hurt again. She's a child, they can freak out and cry when they are scared. I'm sure the parents did everything they could to help calm her. Just because they were unsuccessful that time does not make them bad parents.

If the child was having ear problems there was ne need to fly........excuses, excuses.

 

[Hixski]

Wow! That seems a little harsh to say. I know several good parents who have children act up or throw temper tantrums. Everyone, including kids, are allowed to have a bad day every now and then. The girl that threw a fit on the airplane was having ear problems and a lot of pain on the first flight. On the return flight she was scared to go because she was afraid her ears would hurt again. She's a child, they can freak out and cry when they are scared. I'm sure the parents did everything they could to help calm her. Just because they were unsuccessful that time does not make them bad parents.

Uh no, the parents didn't do everything they could for her. Here is a quote from someone on ABC News.com message board that witnessed the scene.

Quote:
I was at the gate in Ft. Meyers waiting for the Air Tran flight to take off for Boston so I could board the next arriving flight that would be headed to Atlanta. I witnessed this family 30 minutes prior to their flight taking off and this child was disobedient and unruly to the parents. Several waiting passengers commented on the lack of control. Then I saw the family deplane and the child was absolutely out of control for another 30 to 40 minutes. She was screaming, kicking, and crawling across the floor. The mother had NO control and the father ignored the situation. I am upset that the media has played this as a sympathetic situation to the parents as it was clearly an issue of poor parenting. I too am the mother of two children and this would have NEVER occured as I would have gotten both myself and my child away from the other passengers had either of my children behaved this way.

The parents used the ear problem as an excuse. They said she was a "dream" flying down with no "ear" problems at that time.

 

[Maria395712]

air tran gave them their money back a free flight the next day and 3 more roundtrip tickets for the future that's just crazy all the should have gotton was a flight home the next day
maria

 

[WDWBetsy]

I'm sorry, but if my daughter won't get in her seat and throws a fit, I'll put her in the seat. There is no reason for the actions (or inaction) of one family to disrupt an airline, not to mention the travel plans of the other passengers. When interviewed on TV, the parents made it sound like she was just crying. It was far worse than that. She was on the floor throwing a royal fit - "she was climbing under the seat and hitting the parents and wouldn't get in her seat" - I also read that they checked her carseat, which would have been extremely helpful in restraining her.

The mother wanted to be able to hold her on her lap during take-off. There are FAA regulations that prohibit that for 2 years and up. They also asked for 15 more minutes to calm her after delaying the flight for 15 minutes. The airline can also be fined for the delay.

I know all kids have good days and bad days, and sometimes things happen that make them very upset, like ear pain. However, we as parents need to talk to our kids so they know how to act on flights, and what behaviors are unacceptable. Perhaps this family should stick to driving.

As to the free plane tickets, the dad said he wouldn't fly AirTran again. I say - GOOD!

 

[2giddy4wdw]

I am one of the parents on the side with the airline. I have been flying with my children since my youngest was 3. I thought it was great that the airline was thinking of the other passengers as well. Lets face it...in this day and age...we think that just because we pay for it, we deserve the best, at others expense. Case in point, our past Disney trip we were eating dinner and at the table next to us this very young little boy was throwing a fit that his mom got up and went to the buffet for food. I mean he was at the most 2. The father sat right there and didn't do a single thing. Just kept feeding his face like nothing was happening. I'm sure that everyone around was thinking the same thing as we were...do something with the little boy. By the time the mother finally came back...he was so upset that it took quite a while for him to calm down.

If anything like that ever would have happened when my children were younger...I would have gotten up and moved as not to disturb everyone else around. It's called common courtesy, which people now a days seem to have forgotten what it is.

After reading that the child was acting up before getting on the flight and after...sounds like a case for "Supernanny"!!!!

 

[Hixski]

I am one of the parents on the side with the airline. I have been flying with my children since my youngest was 3. I thought it was great that the airline was thinking of the other passengers as well. Lets face it...in this day and age...we think that just because we pay for it, we deserve the best, at others expense. Case in point, our past Disney trip we were eating dinner and at the table next to us this very young little boy was throwing a fit that his mom got up and went to the buffet for food. I mean he was at the most 2. The father sat right there and didn't do a single thing. Just kept feeding his face like nothing was happening. I'm sure that everyone around was thinking the same thing as we were...do something with the little boy. By the time the mother finally came back...he was so upset that it took quite a while for him to calm down.

If anything like that ever would have happened when my children were younger...I would have gotten up and moved as not to disturb everyone else around. It's called common courtesy, which people now a days seem to have forgotten what it is.

After reading that the child was acting up before getting on the flight and after...sounds like a case for "Supernanny"!!!!

Your experience is why DH and I sit at the bar in most restaurants to eat. That happens all too often for us. We were in an O'Charleys a couple of weeks ago. Sat at the bar as usual. We noticed a family with 4 kids under the age of 5 come in. The older 2 were fighting and roughhousing just waiting for a table. Sure enough we heard sceaming about 5 minutes after they sat down that lasted for quite awhile. We could still see them from where we sitting. Both parents just ignored everything that was happening.

 

[stitchlovestink]

I also applaud AirTran for their decision.
I was at WDW in August and wished that a bus driver would've put a father and his beyond out of control 5ish y.o. son off of the bus. We were coming back from MK around 7ish and this kid was screaming in line, and on the bus. He was completely out of control and everyone (and I'm not just making this up) was turning around to see what this kid's problem was. . Well the father was holding the kid (I was sitting very close but not immediately next to them) on an isle seat. Mostly, the father ignored the kid and let him have his temper tantrum. However, the kid started kicking and managed to kick this poor little girl right square in the back. She was standing in the isle and he kicked her so hard she actually fell to the floor of the bus. The father's response was to tell his son that "that was not okay." DUH!! The dad never told the kid to apologize (not that he probably would've) nor did the dad apologize on his kid's behalf. Nor did he even ask the little girl if she was okay or needed anything. I was seething and it wasn't even my kid that was kicked. Had it been, there would've been a rather large confrontation. I kid you not, when the bus arrived back at the hotel, the father took the kid off of the bus and dropped him on the sidewalk and walked off. He never turned around (that we saw), and the kid just continued to sit there and scream. I know some kids have true behavior issues (I have a friend in this situation) but, there area ways to deal w/ those types of kids too. Why do parents allow their kids to be so disruptive like that?
Glad the dad from the AirTran episode said they would never fly AirTran again 'cause that's who we use and I wouldn't want that kid on my flight. Also, for the record, my younger DD has had over 10 sets of p.e. ear tubes, has ruptured her ear drums 3 X , perpetual ear troubles and we have flown w/ her. My point being, there are things you can do to ease pressure when flying for children w/ ear problems. Maybe the parents need to prepare better?!

 

[MyZoeJane]

It's sick how many parents think that having a child means the world owes them special PRIVILEDGES... when in actuality, having a child is a LIABILITY that, as a parent, you must account for.

Shame on those loser parents for making such a big deal out of this. I can't believe that Air Tran gave them free tickets. \

Being understanding and kind to parents for a couple of minutes is the right thing to do, yes... and if the parents were worth anything, they would have willing removed their child from the plane and shown the little brat right to a time out chair in the terminal before it got to the point where they had to be
REMOVED from the plane.

Only self righteous, rude parents would expect any more than that.

 

[CinderellasSister]

Wow! That seems a little harsh to say. I know several good parents who have children act up or throw temper tantrums. Everyone, including kids, are allowed to have a bad day every now and then. The girl that threw a fit on the airplane was having ear problems and a lot of pain on the first flight. On the return flight she was scared to go because she was afraid her ears would hurt again. She's a child, they can freak out and cry when they are scared. I'm sure the parents did everything they could to help calm her. Just because they were unsuccessful that time does not make them bad parents.

I, for one, really don't buy the whole "ear pain" story. I have 2 kids with chronic ear problems. DD5 has already had pe tubes 3 times, and DS3 just had his 2nd set put in. Before our trip last January, both kids were suffering with a terrible ear infection. Guess what I did? Took them to the ENT, and they both had tubes put in a week before flying!! No more pain, and more importantly, no problems flying (and it was the first plane flight for both of them). If your child has a history of ear problems, you should actively take them to the doctor, especially before flying. Like others have said, they shouldn't have flown if the child was having ear problems. And this whole hitting thing?! Absolutely would that not happen!! That's nothing more than bad parenting.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

I 100% believe in an airline/restaurant's right to ask people to leave when they are having major children issues (in fact I think it should be done MUCH more often). However, the part I am really having a problem with is rewarding the "bad child" with extra plane tickets!!!!

I'm sure most of us know a family that has a badly behaved, inappropriate child and to be honest it always seems that this is the child who sucks all the attention and energy out of the family and those arround them. I really feel badly for the well behaved, respectful kids that get overlooked. Perhaps if we all noticed the good kids more often there would be no benefit, special accomadations for parents and children that do not follow good parenting, manners and respect for others.

Well said! I agree 100%!

 

[jdsmom97]

You need a license to drive and school to get a job, but anybody can be a parent. Some parents do not have a clue how to handle challenging children and are so embarassed, they do nothing! You absolutely cannot reason with a child once they get past a certain point. The easiest thing to do after you've tried the rest is to remove the child from a situation. It not only shows respect for other guests, but teaches the child that if they act a certain way, they miss out. I have left my husband in a restaurant to finish his dinner, left a full shopping cart in the middle of the store, and pulled over to the side of the road and waited. I have only had to do it a few times as the "challenging" child quickly learns that their behavior does not deserve an audience and will not work or get them extra attention. So easy, but some people just don't get it. Airtran did exactly what I would teach in a parenting class, and that is if you can't change the behavior, change the environment and get them out of there!

 

[byoung]

I 100% believe in an airline/restaurant's right to ask people to leave when they are having major children issues (in fact I think it should be done MUCH more often). However, the part I am really having a problem with is rewarding the "bad child" with extra plane tickets!!!!

I'm sure most of us know a family that has a badly behaved, inappropriate child and to be honest it always seems that this is the child who sucks all the attention and energy out of the family and those arround them. I really feel badly for the well behaved, respectful kids that get overlooked. Perhaps if we all noticed the good kids more often there would be no benefit, special accomadations for parents and children that do not follow good parenting, manners and respect for others.

I agree should not have been rewarded.

 

[Luv'sTink]

You people are just toooooo funny! Keep hashing it over and over and over.

As for the poster who witnessed the family don't believe every thing you read on a discussion board.