Anyone read this about kids on planes?

[Vijoge]

We don't fly often, maybe 2 or 3 times a year. I will say that I have never encountered bad behavior from any child on the flights we have been on.

However, we do sit in the last row, by choice, where there's a bit of engine noise so I really don't hear most of what is being said during the flight. I'm not sure I would hear a screaming baby even if there was one.

We'll be flying for the first time in Feb with a small child (just turning 3). We'll have her carseat, earplanes, sippy cup, snacks, toys, DVD's, and her Papa! We will do everything we can to make the flight pleasant for Kate and everyone else.

That being said, even though I support the idea of a family section in theory, I can't help but feel that since Kate's ticket cost the same as everyone else's ticket she has as much right to be seated (except for exit rows, of course) in any row of the plane we choose.

 

[goofy4tink]

Personally, I pay extra to sit IN the Exit row so that people ahead of me can't recline their seats into me! I find that far more annoying than having kids on the plane. I guess I just don't mind kids (and I have none of my own.) We are generally flying to and from MCO so the kids are excited about seeing the Mouse and are generally pretty cute.

The only time I worry about getting on the plane quickly is when I have a carryon that needs to go in the overhead. Otherwise, I stay back and I'm one of the last to get on.

We flew on Delta a week ago and had no carryons to stow. Good thing because by the time we boarded in our group 4 (only a few of us it seems were group 4 ) there was NO space left for carryons where we were sitting.

I could have posted both these posts myself!! For the most part, kids quiet down about 20 mins into the flight. There are going to be kids who are just unhappy due to illness or ear pain or even fear. Nothing you can do about that.
And it's true about the carryons. That's about the only time I'm concerned about boarding..if I have a carryon bag, especially on flights that make you pay for all checked bags....thanks Delta, this is a reason I don't fly with you anymore. And even if you are lucky enough to get a closer to the front seat, you still see passengers stowing their bags in those front bins, then walking back to their rear seats. Drives me nuts.

 

[Melanie230]

I can understand being annoyed by a child on a plane. I have 2 young children and 1 adult child. I was flying home with my adult child and the couple behind us had a 7 or 8 yr old that was just great. She sat reading the entire flight. They also had a 3 yr old that continually kicked my seat, screamed when she wasn't constantly being entertained, and was just having a really hard flight. The only problem I had with the parents was that they let the child kick my seat many times as well as my daughters without reprimanding her, and apologizing to me. I didn't say anything because I didnt want any more tension than they already had...but it was really annoying to fly for almost 3 hours with a foot jammed into your back several times.

 

[Melanie230]

Come on. This will NEVER EVER happen. Airlines fight let let babies fly free, despite dangers, because requiring tickets would cause too many families not to fly. If they are willing to let children be seriously hurt or even killed to keep their parents' business, they arent going to banish them from flights or to particular sections of the plane.

I dont think that is an issue. The possibility of a flight crashing is slim...and if it does...in most circumstances people do not survive. I flew with my adult daughter and her infant son. We used a device that is made for lap babies, so that he was strapped to me the entire flight. But I do agree that the family section will never happen.

 

[piglet33]

We flew on Delta a week ago and had no carryons to stow. Good thing because by the time we boarded in our group 4 (only a few of us it seems were group 4 ) there was NO space left for carryons where we were sitting.

That is what bothers me the most. My DD is almost 8, and we never can hang back and wait to board, because if we do, our carry ons are somewhere in the back of the plane and not anywhere near us. I really wish they could make people keep their bags with them instead of dropping the off in the front and heading back to their seats.

 

[Melanie230]

That is what bothers me the most. My DD is almost 8, and we never can hang back and wait to board, because if we do, our carry ons are somewhere in the back of the plane and not anywhere near us. I really wish they could make people keep their bags with them instead of dropping the off in the front and heading back to their seats.

I used to work for Midway Airlines. The flight attendants are suppose to get the passengers to use the overheads above their seats. If people are forced to put their luggage in the overheads behind them...that slows boarding and deplaning. Those that are sitting in say row 7 but have to go back to row 15 to stow their luggage will have to go back to row 15 then make their way back to row 7 to sit down. That aisle isn't very large and can't accomodate 2 way travel. Not to mention that person has to wait until everyone has deplaned before they can go back to row 15 to get their luggage. It is really frustrating. That is why we are flying Southwest to Florida this year. We can check 2 bags per person for free. Our only carry ons are the backpacks my kids bring with their games to play for our long 1hr 45 min flight. I try not to use the overheads if I can help it. It is just crazy!

 

[Inkmahm]

That is what bothers me the most. My DD is almost 8, and we never can hang back and wait to board, because if we do, our carry ons are somewhere in the back of the plane and not anywhere near us. I really wish they could make people keep their bags with them instead of dropping the off in the front and heading back to their seats.

That's exactly what happened on our flight. We were in row 10 of coach and the overhead bins were actually closed for our row by the time we boarded in the last group. I'd have been really irritated if I did have a carryon (and we always do when we fly to MCO) that didn't fit anywhere near me.

 

[esk]

I am a mom but have no patience for that. One kick, two kicks, it happens, but constantly? No.

When someone is kicking my seat, I stand up, turn around and say meanly
"Please stop it". That usually clues the parent in that they need to help their child behave. I have even said "I NEED YOU TO STOP" when a parent didn't intervene.....of course, they spend the rest of the flight whispering about how awful I am, but the kicking does stop.

Or if it is an adult, and I get a knee in my back, I will push back with my hands...push on the knee, through my seat. That helps them get it and if they don't, then I recline my seat.

Yes, I'm that person.

And honestly, what is with the carryon thing? 3 carryons above in the bins and one below? I know, you don't want to pay to check luggage, I don't either, but I also don't bring that much stuff on board. I don't know why the gate agents and flight attendants allow it. Our carryons are always small enough to go under the seat, because we like to get into them during the flight, and I'm short, but these days, i couldn't put a carryon in the overhead bin if I wanted to, they are full by the time I get on.

 

[DebbieB]

I dont think that is an issue. The possibility of a flight crashing is slim...and if it does...in most circumstances people do not survive. I flew with my adult daughter and her infant son. We used a device that is made for lap babies, so that he was strapped to me the entire flight. But I do agree that the family section will never happen.

I recently heard that the odds of being in an accident every time you board a plane is 1 in 35 million. However, if you are in an accident, the odds of survival is 95%. Think Miracle on the Hudson, the recent crash in South America where the plane broke into 3 parts on landing but only 1 person died and that was from a heart attack. Some accidents are not survivable but most are. That's why it is important to pay attention to the safety demonstrations and where the exits are.

 

[stefsko]

good stuff to know. thanks

 

[mgilmer]

I recently heard that the odds of being in an accident every time you board a plane is 1 in 35 million. However, if you are in an accident, the odds of survival is 95%. Think Miracle on the Hudson, the recent crash in South America where the plane broke into 3 parts on landing but only 1 person died and that was from a heart attack. Some accidents are not survivable but most are. That's why it is important to pay attention to the safety demonstrations and where the exits are.

Actually the odds of survival are not nearly that high.

http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/20/the-odds-of-surviving-a-plane-crash/

But you are still safer flying than driving (if you can stomach the hassle).

 

[SFRN97]

I agree with PP we went Sept 08 and decided even though DS was able to still be a lap child to get him a seat and use our car seat. DH boarded first and install the car seat and DS and I were one of the last to board so that he would not have to sit anylonger than he needed to. Just wanted to also let you know with DS he was more likely to kick seat in front of him with the carseat since he was higher up so just be aware of this. Flying back home we did not use the car seat and he could not kick the seat infront of him. (DS was not a kicker of seats as he knew this was not allowed since he would be reprimanded at home when he did it in the car so it just took to reminders that we do not kick the seat in front of us and he was fine.

 

[SFRN97]

I agree that sometimes the parents are worse then the children but on our flight home lst trip DS was 22 months but we decided it was better to get him a seat instead of him being a lap child. DS got really sick night before we left with high temp of 102 and we could not wait to get home ( had plans on stopping at the ER once plane landed if temp would not break we had been in contact with our pedi) well on the desent flight DS just wanted to be held and started to cry when we were told by the airline stewardess that he had to seta in his assigned seat. We explained that he was under 2 and technically could be a lap child but she would not hear of it so she told us we had to seat him in his seat he screamed because he was sick his ears were hurting and he just wanted to be held so the other nearby passengers were subject to this and there was nothing we could do. Husband finally got very upset and told the stweardess what would she do if we had not paid for DS seat she said he would have had to sit on one of our laps so he said then pretend we did not pay for his seat he is a lap child and as soon as we started to land DH took DS out of seat and held him and DS was quiet... I know they have there rules but we paid for the seat for convinence so I do not see why he had to sit in it if he could have been a lap child...

 

[kaytieeldr]

Just wanted to also let you know with DS he was more likely to kick seat in front of him with the carseat since he was higher up so just be aware of this. Flying back home we did not use the car seat and he could not kick the seat infront of him. (DS was not a kicker of seats as he knew this was not allowed since he would be reprimanded at home when he did it in the car so it just took to reminders that we do not kick the seat in front of us and he was fine.

Not directed at the quoted poster, who has excellent control of the situation but PLEASE - whenever possible when traveling with a child in a car seat, PLEASE arrange for a member of one's own party to be in the seat in front of that child!!!!!

Husband finally got very upset and told the stweardess what would she do if we had not paid for DS seat she said he would have had to sit on one of our laps so he said then pretend we did not pay for his seat he is a lap child and as soon as we started to land DH took DS out of seat and held him and DS was quiet... I know they have there rules but we paid for the seat for convinence so I do not see why he had to sit in it if he could have been a lap child...

Each passenger should have a ticket/seat
It's safer to fly than to drive
The FAA allows - doesn't condone, but allows - children under age two to fly as "lap passengers" because it's safer per mile to fly than to drive
This doesn't mean it's safer (or more comfortable) to hold said child in one's arms for the duration of a flight
If a passenger has a seat, that passenger is required to be in that seat - with seat belt fastened - especially during take-off and landing

 

[deegack]

I dont think that is an issue. The possibility of a flight crashing is slim...and if it does...in most circumstances people do not survive. I flew with my adult daughter and her infant son. We used a device that is made for lap babies, so that he was strapped to me the entire flight. But I do agree that the family section will never happen.

Its not crashes that are the main concern, but turbulence. You are not strong enough (no one really is) to hold a child on your lap if you hit severe turbulence. The devices that attach your child to you, all they do is turn your child into a cushion for you. Like if you held your child on your lap in a car and belted the seat belt over both of you.

Anyway, we plan on sending DH on to the plane early to deal with the seat. Then I will come towards the end, gate check the stroller and plop her in the seat. I also plan on carrying lots of singles and fives to buy drinks for those around us if she has a meltdown.

I don't think a family section would work any more than a smoking section would work. People just have to realize you are in a confined space with hundreds of others. I would rather deal with an upset child than a man who neglected to shower or use deodorant for the last week. (I've had the pleasure of sitting next to that guy before.)

 

[seashoreCM]

... because it's safer per mile to fly than to drive ...

It would take some experimenting but would a child in a separate seat be calmer if the parent put an arm around the child.

Ears hurt wicked bad on descent if you have a cold, been there done that.

OT: Everyone keeps mentioning it is safer to fly than to drive but ... considering the kind of trips people take via plane vs. via car, I wonder if it is safer per hour to drive than to fly.

 

[tinkrebell]

I am a mom but have no patience for that. One kick, two kicks, it happens, but constantly? No.

When someone is kicking my seat, I stand up, turn around and say meanly
"Please stop it". That usually clues the parent in that they need to help their child behave. I have even said "I NEED YOU TO STOP" when a parent didn't intervene.....of course, they spend the rest of the flight whispering about how awful I am, but the kicking does stop.

Or if it is an adult, and I get a knee in my back, I will push back with my hands...push on the knee, through my seat. That helps them get it and if they don't, then I recline my seat.

Yes, I'm that person.

And honestly, what is with the carryon thing? 3 carryons above in the bins and one below? I know, you don't want to pay to check luggage, I don't either, but I also don't bring that much stuff on board. I don't know why the gate agents and flight attendants allow it. Our carryons are always small enough to go under the seat, because we like to get into them during the flight, and I'm short, but these days, i couldn't put a carryon in the overhead bin if I wanted to, they are full by the time I get on.

I am your twin when it comes to speaking up I may not be a mom, but I'm a nanny, and I will enforce my own rules on your kids if you don't!

However - for the knee part - both my DH and father are 6'5" - so unfortunately, they don't fit very well into coach as is, and we can't afford to do business (but we do everything we can for frequent flier miles to try and snag upgrades). If you do see that the person "kicking" your back is just long on the legs, please please PLEASE don't recline. We usually end up spending the next few weeks trying to find a new chiropractor for the damage that incurs to their knees, and lately, the airline staff has been less than helpful in telling the people in front of them to help out by not reclining. We do try and buy bulkhead seats whenever we can, but no matter how far in advance we book, quite often they seem to be sold out (bought them already for one part of our flight next week, but can't get them for the way home )

 

[NYDisneyKid]

I am your twin when it comes to speaking up I may not be a mom, but I'm a nanny, and I will enforce my own rules on your kids if you don't!

and if that parent decides to enforce his or her rules on you for touching their kid then what?

 

[deegack]

and if that parent decides to enforce his or her rules on you for touching their kid then what?

this no one touches my child but me and my husband. If you have a problem with my child you address me.

 

[crashbb]

and if that parent decides to enforce his or her rules on you for touching their kid then what?

While shoving their seat back into your knees.

The FAs aren't telling people not to recline their seats, because they cannot. There is no rule against reclining your seat when the seat belt is not on, so there is no rule for them to try to enforce. It might be considerate of people not to recline into someone else's knees, but the FAs cannot enforce consideration.