Baby Ban On Airlines

[FredinFL]

I think it should be a combo flight of kids and non-reclining seats. Two birds, one stone.

 

[skater]

:



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.

Maybe I am losing my sense of humor. This doesn't seem funny to me.

 

[skater]

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.

And don't forget fat people. And we don't want to allow the developmentally disabled in first class either because they might have loud outbursts that might disturb the elite. Or how about someone with Touret's?

 

[skater]

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.

Thanks for your open opinion. I really see both sides of this issue. I've seen parents who truly don't care what their kids do and who they are disturbing. Like most of us, I've seen kids being allowed to run freely in a restaurant, or cry, or scream. And when I'm out with my DH, it can ruin some of our rare moments alone. Still, this thread bothers me. I guess in a perfect world, parents would do the right thing (at least most of the time) and the rest of us would be more tolerant and friendly towards children.

 

[tlbwriter]

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.

But you would have to forfeit your winnings if you were caught actually poking the kid...

 

[rie'smom]

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

We flew back from Dublin and a baby cried all the way to Newark. It was a nightmare. If she wasn't crying, she was screaming. I did not realize that a baby could carry on for so long.

 

[ThreeBeans]

No one deserves that.

I tried the Bogey Man, but they looked at me and said, "MOooo-om. We know there's no such thing as the Bogey Man."

 

[FigmentFinder]

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

I agree with this. I'm perfectly happy to be in the 'Applebees' plane, as long as everyone understands little kids will be there. I wouldn't take an infant or toddler into a nice restaurant or a first class airplane section.


All I need to do is win the lottery now so I can afford a nanny to take the baby in coach..

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

And don't forget fat people. And we don't want to allow the developmentally disabled in first class either because they might have loud outbursts that might disturb the elite. Or how about someone with Touret's?

I would prefer to hear a baby cry than having someone's thigh meat touching me!!!!!!!

Tuesday night when we were flying home there was a new baby in 1st class and people were getting up and trying to find seats in coach. That isn't fair, period.

 

[mdsoccermom]

I would prefer to hear a baby cry than having someone's thigh meat touching me!!!!!!!
Tuesday night when we were flying home there was a new baby in 1st class and people were getting up and trying to find seats in coach. That isn't fair, period.

Amen. A 5 hour totally full flight from LAX to HNL, I was sandwiched between the window and a fat woman whose thigh touched me. I tried maneuvering myself so we'd have some separation, and she asked me to stop moving around so much.

 

[deegack]

We pretty much only fly first class because dh is 6'7" and can't fit in most coach seats. Dd flew in seat 1A last time and hardly a peep was heard from her. Why I was prepared. New books, DVD player, special treats and her own seat so she could nap. We actually had some one comment on how she was worries when she saw the baby but she was so well behaved. Is she always perfect no, but I would take my chances with her over a drunk businessman or someone who hasn't showered in a week or thinks because he is a man he can take up half of my space.

 

[sbell111]

It should be noted that Malasia Airlines only banned infants from First Class cabins. It should also be noted that many of their aircraft have no First Class cabins. Further, none of their aircraft offer a choice of only First or Coach cabins as all of their aircraft also offer 'Golden Club' cabins.

 

[sbell111]

We flew back from Dublin and a baby cried all the way to Newark. It was a nightmare. If she wasn't crying, she was screaming. I did not realize that a baby could carry on for so long.

Air travel can be pretty painful to baby ears.

 

[sbell111]

Maybe I am losing my sense of humor. This doesn't seem funny to me.

agreed

 

[FredinFL]

Air travel can be pretty painful to baby ears.

I remember a flight where, on descent, it all of a sudden felt like someone was stabbing me in the left eye with a sharp pick. The pain was excruciating. I thought my eye was exploding. So yeah, I can see a child being in a lot of discomfort during a flight. It's important to make sure you give them something to keep fluids from being in the sinuses or ears. Dimetapp worked for us.

Believe me, I NEVER forget to use it now.

 

[Carly_Roach]

Add DH and I to the list of people who will gladly pay more for adult-only flights.

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.

Maybe I am losing my sense of humor. This doesn't seem funny to me.

Lighten up, Francis. Who hasn't had the thought of using a pillow to suffocate SOMEONE in their lifetime whether it was their spouse, coworker or snotty teenager? I declare myself GUILTY of Imzadi's thought too, only mine involve drink boxes and seconal. Just because a thought occurs to people doesn't mean they'll actually carry it out.

 

[ThreeBeans]

I don't think it's funny, either. Infants are helpless, and are also sometimes smothered by people who can't control themselves.

I have a pretty encompassing sense of humor, and I found that to be pretty tasteless.

 

[ols386]

Air travel can be pretty painful to baby ears.

That's a good point. And when a baby feels pain, all they know to do is cry.

I've never flown overseas, only domestic. I can deal with a crying baby on short-term flights, but long-term flights might be kind of miserable.

 

[ols386]

Add DH and I to the list of people who will gladly pay more for adult-only flights. Lighten up, Francis. Who hasn't had the thought of using a pillow to suffocate SOMEONE in their lifetime whether it was their spouse, coworker or snotty teenager? I declare myself GUILTY of Imzadi's thought too, only mine involve drink boxes and seconal. Just because a thought occurs to people doesn't mean they'll actually carry it out.

No. Can't say that I've thought of suffocating someone. Honestly. Don't think that's ever crossed my mind.

 

[Carly_Roach]

I don't think it's funny, either. Infants are helpless, and are also sometimes smothered by people who can't control themselves.

I have a pretty encompassing sense of humor, and I found that to be pretty tasteless.

Allow me to amend my post, then: I'd gladly pay more to be on a flight without children and their parents. Everyone wins:

Imzadi and I and everyone else like us can read or work in peace, drink our cocktails without having to worry about setting bad examples for children who aren't even ours, enjoy adult conversation without worry about offending someone else with our humor, and our parenting friends won't have to deal with us.