Baby Ban On Airlines

[ThreeBeans]

Animal crackers!!

 

[ThreeBeans]

I find the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Those same adults you describe are usually the ones who let their children run wild with nary a disciplinary tactic to be found.

I agree...but these adults come in all shapes and sizes...teens, childless twenties, grandparent's age, elderly. For purely statistical reasons, the vast majority of adults twist 18 and 80 don't have primary custody of young kids

Full disclosure: I am the mother of three perfectly well-behaved angelic precious snowflakes, who were told they would be sold to the nearest caravan of traveling Republicans if they put a toe out of line between Hartford and Orlando.

 

[Uncle Remus]

I agree...but these adults come in all shapes and sizes...teens, childless twenties, grandparent's age, elderly. For purely statistical reasons, the vast majority of adults twist 18 and 80 don't have primary custody of young kids

Full disclosure: I am the mother of three perfectly well-behaved angelic precious snowflakes, who were told they would be sold to the nearest caravan of traveling Republicans if they put a toe out of line between Hartford and Orlando.

 

[Sydnie]

Ok sooooo...about to get jumped on here and I am going in with my eyes open

I fly to England every year because it's where my family is. From California that is an 11 or 12 hour flight. My three year old has gone three times (at 8 months, 1.5 and 2.5) and the last time I went I had two kids (9 months and 2.5) with me. We also take a lot of domestic flights. My kids are great travelers precisely because they travel so often, and they have never been the kid that everyone on the plane is glaring at. Babies cry, sure, but except in very unusual circumstances the baby can be placated pretty quickly and easily. Neither of mine fussed for more than a minute or two on any flight. Seriously. I don't think an adult is entitled to perfect silence on a plane anymore than any other place but I am conscientious and try to keep my kids happy so as not to disturb other passengers. I get that it's my responsibility as a parent to raise my children so they know how to behave properly in various social situations.

So should my two kids and I not be allowed on planes? Are we any more a distraction than the slightly drunk business executive who is loudly hitting on the flight attendant and pounding away on his keyboard. Let's ban business executives too. How about the college kid who is have an obnoxious conversation with his frat brothers about spring break? Let's ban college kids. How about that lovely little old lady who can't climb over people to get to the bathroom so insists everyone in her row stands up when she has to go to the bathroom (which, let's face it, is often, she's 80.) Let's ban old people. Ooooo and that annoying couple in row 3E who seem to be doing something a little more involved than kissing under that blanket. Let's ban couples.

Of course I am being facetious but airline travel is inherently kind of annoying and uncomfortable and you will be bothered by someone or something during your flight. I don't think children are necessarily any worse than any of the other hassles you have to deal with to fly, so while I think businesses should be free to do whatever they want in the free market I know this airline would be one that would not be getting my business.

 

[ThreeBeans]

I would like to see airlines ban That Guy who uses his iPad or his MP3 player without headphones. Really quietly, but just loudly enough that for the next three weeks, you are singing, "And my heart will goo OOOOOON AND OOONNNNN" until you give up and check into a mental hospital.

You all know That Guy.

That Guy is an @$$-&0!*.

 

[topolino]

I agree...but these adults come in all shapes and sizes...teens, childless twenties, grandparent's age, elderly. For purely statistical reasons, the vast majority of adults twist 18 and 80 don't have primary custody of young kids

I agree with you on this. I've seen plenty of childish behavior from those that have at least physically grown beyond the size of a child. Maturity level is another thing...

 

[Goofyluver]

I would like to see airlines ban That Guy who uses his iPad or his MP3 player without headphones. Really quietly, but just loudly enough that for the next three weeks, you are singing, "And my heart will goo OOOOOON AND OOONNNNN" until you give up and check into a mental hospital.

You all know That Guy.

That Guy is an @$$-&0!*.

That Guy was on our last plane trip and he was playing Angry Birds without the sound turned off.

That Guy also had a picture of his wife as his screen-saver on his phone in skimpy lingerie. His wife was sitting right next to him. Upon seeing the picture at the same time, my wife and I looked at each other and to the wife and then back to each other and said: "Airbrushing"...cause she didn't look anything like she looked in the picture on his phone.






Oh, and as to the topic at hand, no one's saying ban babies from all flights. Plenty of people are saying that they'd pay extra to ride on a flight without 'em. There's a difference. And for the record, I may pay extra to exclude That Guy, his Angry Birds and his nekkid wife pictures from my flight too.

 

[topolino]

That Guy was on our last plane trip and he was playing Angry Birds without the sound turned off.

That Guy also had a picture of his wife as his screen-saver on his phone in skimpy lingerie. His wife was sitting right next to him. Upon seeing the picture at the same time, my wife and I looked at each other and to the wife and then back to each other and said: "Airbrushing"...cause she didn't look anything like she looked in the picture on his phone.






Oh, and as to the topic at hand, no one's saying ban babies from all flights. Plenty of people are saying that they'd pay extra to ride on a flight without 'em. There's a difference. And for the record, I may pay extra to exclude That Guy, his Angry Birds and his nekkid wife pictures from my flight too.

I'm with you. It's not just the kids. I'd pay extra to not have to share a flight with "I have to be the first on and off the plane guy" too!

 

[ThreeBeans]

I'm with you. It's not just the kids. I'd pay extra to not have to share a flight with "I have to be the first on and off the plane guy" too!

I'm actually just cheap enough that I'll tolerate That Guy and Those Undisciplined Snotty Children for certain sums of cash. Perhaps the airlines could simply alter their plans; you can bring your Spawn onboard. Every time he cries above a predetermined decibel, you must pay all the other passengers twenty dollars. Each.

It would be like Strip Poker, but more exciting and with fewer giblets.

 

[mamacatnv]

And what would your ideal minimum age be for a flight? A restaurant?

I realize that this does not pertain to all kids and certainly very few Dis'ers kiddlets since in general Dis'er kiddos are well behaved, well traveled, well disciplined and trained.
For the rest of the general public, I'd say.......

Flight - I'd say 7/8 when they should be old enough to start amusing themselves and stop annoying those around them as well as able to sit for extended periods of time.

Restaurants - 6/7 when they should be old enough to SIT through a meal without screaming, throwing stuff or wandering around tripping the waitresses.

 

[topolino]

I'm actually just cheap enough that I'll tolerate That Guy and Those Undisciplined Snotty Children for certain sums of cash. Perhaps the airlines could simply alter their plans; you can bring your Spawn onboard. Every time he cries above a predetermined decibel, you must pay all the other passengers twenty dollars. Each.

It would be like Strip Poker, but more exciting and with fewer giblets.

I just don't get the mindset of "first on the plane guy". If it's a flight on which you have an assigned seat, why do you want to spend more time on the plane than you have to?

 

[descovy]

Maybe I don't get the controversy

I have kids. I fly with kids. That said, I wouldn't dream of flying 1st class with children. Conversly, there are special occasions where I get to be childfree, I would love an option to have a 18 & over section of an airplane.

I love kids. I love my kids. I love other people's kids. That said, kids don't have to be EVERYWHERE.

No kids in first class... BTW... I would have loved a "family-friendly" section as well!

 

[Andtototoo]

I think what I want most is a "Natural Consequences" section.

As in, if your kid is kicking the seat in front of her, then YOU as the parent must move into that seat and live with your kid kicking YOU for the next 2 hours.

Of if your kid is flailing around and throws OJ over the person next to you, YOU must give up clean clothes to the victim and wear their sticky and stinky OJ covered clothes until you get to your destination. ESPECIALLY if where you are going is a job interview.

 

[PlutoPony]

I just don't get the mindset of "first on the plane guy". If it's a flight on which you have an assigned seat, why do you want to spend more time on the plane than you have to?

To make sure you get space in the overhead bin for your luggage - seriously. First on the plane guy is probably someone who flies a lot and has status on the airline that nets him a good seat up front. If he doesn't get on the plane early/first he runs a real risk of not having a place to put his luggage overhead and thus having it gate checked. It's very very common for people boarding planes to look for the first open space overhead and shove their luggage in there, regardless of how close that is to their seat. So seat close to the front +board late=good potential for gate checked luggage which adds time and hassle.

 

[PigletsPal2]

I don't know if this is still a policy, but about 20 years ago, United Airlines reserved the business class seats in the "bump" for adults only. They may be first class seats now; I don't fly much now that Uncle Sam isn't paying, and when I do fly, I pay the cheapest fare I can find!

Queen Colleen

 

[topolino]

To make sure you get space in the overhead bin for your luggage - seriously. First on the plane guy is probably someone who flies a lot and has status on the airline that nets him a good seat up front. If he doesn't get on the plane early/first he runs a real risk of not having a place to put his luggage overhead and thus having it gate checked. It's very very common for people boarding planes to look for the first open space overhead and shove their luggage in there, regardless of how close that is to their seat. So seat close to the front +board late=good potential for gate checked luggage which adds time and hassle.

Which reminds me of another source of frustration regarding air travel: people who bring oversized luggage onto the plane as carry-ons. I swear, the airlines don't enforce this rule, if anything they'll gate check the bag, but carry-on bag size should be addressed more thoroughly, IMO.

 

[tomthebarncat]

QUOTE=Uncle Remus;41674824]I don't like the general attitudes in society about babies 'n children either.[/QUOTE]


The problem is that many people who have kids cannot and will not be bothered to parent them, Oh look little Johny is burning down the building! Isn't that cute!! so I think the real problem is not the kids but their parents. I had to listen to a screaming baby in a restaurant that caters to US military, here in Germany. I timed it after 8 minutes, I asked the father at what point do you take that kid out of here? He glared at me, grabbed his kid and went out to the parking lot. Mom never got off her cell phone the entire time and did not even give her child a second thought I also complained to the waiter about why management would allow this behaviour to go on for so long and disturb entire room full of paying diners. His response was startling, the last time, they said something the father got in a waiters face and physically threatened to hurt him. I did get my meal for free, as they felt that was the least they could do in this situation. I have not been back!

 

[tomthebarncat]

QUOTE=Uncle Remus;41674824]I don't like the general attitudes in society about babies 'n children either.[/QUOTE]


The problem is that many people who have kids cannot and will not be bothered to parent them, Oh look little Johny is burning down the building! Isn't that cute!! so I think the real problem is not the kids but their parents. I had to listen to a screaming baby in a restaurant that caters to US military, here in Germany. I timed it after 8 minutes, I asked the father at what point do you take that kid out of here? He glared at me, grabbed his kid and went out to the parking lot. Mom never got off her cell phone the entire time and did not even give her child a second thought I also complained to the waiter about why management would allow this behaviour to go on for so long and disturb entire room full of paying diners. His response was startling, the last time, they said something the father got in a waiters face and physically threatened to hurt him. I did get my meal for free, as they felt that was the least they could do in this situation. I have not been back!

 

[Imzadi]

I'd pay extra to be assured no children or babies were aboard.

I think what I want most is a "Natural Consequences" section.

As in, if your kid is kicking the seat in front of her, then YOU as the parent must move into that seat and live with your kid kicking YOU for the next 2 hours.

Of if your kid is flailing around and throws OJ over the person next to you, YOU must give up clean clothes to the victim and wear their sticky and stinky OJ covered clothes until you get to your destination. ESPECIALLY if where you are going is a job interview.

I think I am on several airline watch lists. I swear the FAA have issued orders to remove any pillows on board on any of my flights, especially when there is a screaming child on board for 6 hours. They don't want the "Natural Consequences" that would occur with me + pillows on board together. Given the opportunity, I would be sorely tempted to stuff one of those pillows over a screaming infant's face.

 

[JKMJ441724]

Full disclosure: I am the mother of three perfectly well-behaved angelic precious snowflakes, who were told they would be sold to the nearest caravan of traveling Republicans if they put a toe out of line between Hartford and Orlando.

No one deserves that.