Debate? Should 22 month olds be "lap babies in First Class?

[justhat]

That leads me to believe that you think that children are allowed to disturb as many passengers as they happen too, just because they pay for the seat.

I don't agree. I said a similar statement and I take it to mean, at least when I said it, that people shouldn't be disturbed anywhere, no matter how much they pay. But unfortunately you can't control some of your kid's behavior on a plane. Like I said, my daughter cried for about 40 minutes on the 2nd flight home from Hawaii and there was simply nothing I could do about it. She wanted out of the carseat and that was that. Didn't get her way so she cried till the plane landed and we took her out. Yes, it sucked for the people around us, but that would be the case in coach or 1st class, and as much as we tried there was nothing we could do to get her to stop crying.

And while you wouldn't take a child under 7 to Hawaii, I, obviously, wouldn't hesitate to do it. I went at 5 months, 5 years, and 10 years old and was fine on every flight. My daughter, ironically, has never cried on a flight until the 2nd leg of the return from Hawaii and she's been on over 15 flights since she was just under 3 months old-all coach seats except Hawaii.

 

[DawnCt1]

miles were expiring? And Dawn, you stated that YOU wouldn't go to HI with a child younger than 7. That is YOU not THEM.

That is ME. Its a long flight for anyone and a family vacation should be fun. I don't know of many children 6 and under that really look forward to a 13 hour flight. I know more adults who tell me they would love to go to Hawaii but wouldn't fly that long. I think there is a big difference between having to get somewhere, vs. picking a family vacation and flying there. By the time we flew to Hawaii the first time, everyone was old enough to enjoy the flight...and the vacation.

 

[allie&mattsmom]

Personally there's no way I'd fly to Hawaii with a baby/babies in our laps. Really, I don't think I'd fly that long of a flight with a baby/babies period. That's way too long of a flight. When we went to Hawaii, my kids were 7 & 9. All's I can say is thank God for Game Boys and DVD's! Actually, I think my kids handled the long flight better than me! When our kids were infants, we flew with them on our laps a few times but the longest flight was maybe like 4 hours or so.

 

[DawnCt1]

Personally there's no way I'd fly to Hawaii with a baby/babies in our laps. Really, I don't think I'd fly that long of a flight with a baby/babies period. That's way too long of a flight. When we went to Hawaii, my kids were 7 & 9. All's I can say is thank God for Game Boys and DVD's! Actually, I think my kids handled the long flight better than me! When our kids were infants, we flew with them on our laps a few times but the longest flight was maybe like 4 hours or so.

I think the flight makes it difficult for younger children and I think some of the activities that we like to do, would be difficult for young children. Its a strenuous hike through the lava fields to see the flow. The first time we went, the youngest DS was anxious about that hike after dark. The trip up to Haleakala at 3 am isn't something I would want to bring a toddler on either.. If we are looking for just a beach vacation, the Caribbean and Fla. are a lot closer.

 

[aprilgail2]

I would never ever allow my child to fly on a plane and NOT be secured in her car seat at any age! I wouldn't drive in my car with her as an infant or toddler without her car seat and no way would I take her on a plane and not spend a few more dollars to keep her safe n her car seat on a plane. Last plane trip she was five years old and still secured in her car seat!

 

[Meezers]

I don't have children but there is something here I just don't understand.

Any child travelling in a car has to be in a child seat....but on an airplane they can sit in your lap until they are 2 years old? Does this make sense to anyone else?! This is about one of the dumbest things I have heard in a long time!

 

[DawnCt1]

I don't have children but there is something here I just don't understand.

Any child travelling in a car has to be in a child seat....but on an airplane they can sit in your lap until they are 2 years old? Does this make sense to anyone else?! This is about one of the dumbest things I have heard in a long time!

In severe turbulance a child would probably be safer stuck in the overhead bin or "under the seat in front" of you than in your lap, while you are trying to hold on.

 

[robinb]

Of course toddlers belong in first class! Does it make a difference if their parents buy them a seat or not? My DD has thousands and thousands of airline miles under her belt. We live in Wisconsin and by 6 she has been to Orlando countless times, LAX x 3, Hawaii x2, NYC x 2, SF, London, Paris and (drumroll please) Tokyo. The absolutely worst time flying with her was when she was 4. OMG! She was a nightmare. She was too big for her car seat and she kicked the seat in front of her all the way to LAX. In retrospect, I should have removed her from the carseat that gave her those extra couple of inches, but you don't think very clearly when you're in your own parenting nightmare. She was an angel when she traveled (lap baby, BTW) before she was two.

 

[kidshop]

I don't have children but there is something here I just don't understand.

Any child travelling in a car has to be in a child seat....but on an airplane they can sit in your lap until they are 2 years old? Does this make sense to anyone else?! This is about one of the dumbest things I have heard in a long time!

What? It doesn't make any sense to you that every human being on the plane is wearing a seatbelt EXCEPT babies under 2? And what's the reason...oh, b/c it is not required by law, it's must be perfectly safe to have unrestrained babies while everyone else IS properly belted in? Sure, it's completely rational!


Ahh, but it's cheaper that way...

 

[monsterkitty]

If a child cries on a flight, he or she cries. Annoying but unavoidable and very forgivable.

Do you know what is worse than sitting by an upset baby or toddler on a flight to Hawaii? Sitting by an upset baby who has a dirty diaper and the parents won't change it.

The people in front of us had a baby that was about 6 months old. The baby needed a clean diaper. The parents did nothing. After about an hour the man sitting behind us said something to the flight attendant. She brought the couple a diaper, thinking maybe they had run out. No, the parents had plenty of diapers, they just didn't want to change the diaper in the small bathroom. The attendant said they could go to an open area and change the baby on the floor. Nope, they wouldn't do that either. Finally, they changed the poor baby's diaper while sitting in their seats. We all know how wonderful ventilation is on a plane. Wasn't pretty, guys.

I felt worse for that poor baby sitting in a dirty diaper than I did for our noses.

 

[frozone]

That leads me to believe that you think that children are allowed to disturb as many passengers as they happen too, just because they pay for the seat.

Allowed? They are "allowed" to do anything that meets Federal guidelines for safety within the aircraft.

You may not like it, but tough. If you buy a first-class seat and find the experience less than suitable, you can 1. tell the flight attendant, 2. talk directly to the parent or child who is annoying you, or 3. choose not to do business with that airline again.

But it sounds like what you are trying to do is restrict who is or isn't first class material, based on your standards, and that's elitist.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I road with my 23 month old as a lap child in coach. I would imagine first class to be a lot more conducive space-wise. Regardless of how the parents paid their ticket--a lap baby is a lap baby regardless of class of service.

Additionally--there is no age restriction on who is entitled to be in first class either.

I also flew with that 23 month old 6 months earlier as a lap child to England. So if the parents are willing to put up with it, then really, noone else's opinion matters on the subject. Parents should exercise all measures during flight to ensure that no other passenger is disturbed--but with munchies and tv's and cushy seats---If I could do it in coach, I'm sure these parents will suffer in first class just fine.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I wouldn't have considered Hawaii with a child younger than 7.

Why on earth not? Children newborn and up live in Hawaii after all.

 

[yeartolate]

If you are asking should there be lap babies at all - I would say no.

But should there be a differentiation between lap babies in 1st vs. coach? Nope. Might as well ask should infants be allowed in Ist class at all.

Frankly, I have been more bothered by grownups whining on flights than I ever have been by a baby crying.

 

[L107ANGEL]

Well color me clueless again. What is this thread? Who belongs in first class, do thier children belong in first classs, how about the proper actions for a 22 month od and where does he/she belong? Really?!?! Get a grip! There will be children of all ages EVERYWHERE! I just love how this is a board for people who "love Disney world" who but who also feel this to be a sounding board for those of us that no longer have children "that may offend others"! Put me on a plane with you for 13 staight hours and we will see who would be the better of the choice.

 

[MELSMICE]

Personally, I wouldn't have wanted to have my twins as lap babies for any flight when they were 22 months, but if that's what allowed, I don't think there is much that can be done about it.

Also, I don't think age matters on whether or not a child can be "annoying" or not on a flight. I've seen some infants & toddlers that are great on planes, while others are not. I usually attributed irritability & crying children this age to ear pain.

I've seen older children & even teens be a royal pain in the butt. One teen kicked my seat for the entire flight from Orlando to NYC. I asked her twice to stop until I finally turned around & angrily yelled, "knock it off"!!! Last flight we were on the parents of 2 kids - ages about 7 & 8 allowed them to continually change seats - walking across the aisle, pulling on our seats, kicking the seats. The mom was sleeping. Sure wish those kids would have been lap children or restrained somewhere (in the overhead would have been good).

Anyway, my point is that I don't see a problem with them being in first class - even as lap babies - I think it's all a matter of how the parents handle the situation.

 

[ZachnElli]

I'm against lap babies period. We flew to Maui in June when Noah was 3 1/2 months old. He had his own seat. He didn't bother anyone, he was too young.

 

[disykat]

For me, the important part of this thread is that the parents had enough FF points to get seats for their toddlers if they all sat in coach, but chose to sit in first class instead. I think something is wrong with their priorities if they would use all those points to get whatever perks they get in first class over a seat belt for their kids.

 

[marybet]

First class seats are larger, there is more leg room. If they raise the armrest they can probably have one child sit between them and there will be room for the child to stand. Maybe they figure they will have more room with 2 first class seats than with 4 coach, plus they can all sit together.

The last time we flew the man next to me had a cold, a runny nose and no tissues or a handkerchief. It was not pretty. There are a lot of annoying people, not all of them are babies.

 

[princesspumpkin]

First class seats are larger, there is more leg room. If they raise the armrest they can probably have one child sit between them and there will be room for the child to stand. Maybe they figure they will have more room with 2 first class seats than with 4 coach, plus they can all sit together.

The last time we flew the man next to me had a cold, a runny nose and no tissues or a handkerchief. It was not pretty. There are a lot of annoying people, not all of them are babies.

I was thinking the exact thing. The toddles could walk around in front of the seats, since there is more leg room. Also, it's just the two of them in the row. And, because first class is a little more isolated, if the children were bothersome, it would mostly annoy just those few in first class, and not a whole lot more in coach.