If you are flying with young children, avoid Southwest

[vinotinto]

A mom and her 2-year old were kicked off the flight because the child was crying:

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_13671032?source=rss&nclick_check=1

Personally, I find crying children as annoying as the next person. When we travel, I bring an arsenal of new toys, DVDs, snacks and comfort items to keep them entertained and soothed. But as a parent of two young children, I have learned that you cannot have 100% control over your children's emotions, especially in today's flying environment. We've had to endure long lines at airport security, long waits for delayed planes (4 out of our last 6 flights have been delayed more than 3 hours!), cramped quarters, and enough unpleasantness that even adults need a lot of patience to be able to endure. I'm sure the kid would have eventually calmed down, if they would have been given the chance. To have been escorted out in such a humiliating fashion clearly indicates to me that this is one airline I will rather not fly in the future.

 

[LilyWDW]

So far, you only have the mother's version of the story as to what was done and said. I'm willing to wait for the airlines version before drawing conclusion. Of course the mother is gonna think her child did nothing wrong, but I would bet there is more to the story then she is letting on.

 

[dburg30]

Then why let the child cry, from what it sounds like a little more then a normal cry? If feeding him would have calmed him, why the heck not feed him a little early? I understand her 'timing' but sometimes timing doesnt really work. I dont know, we dont have the 'whole' story. Was she even trying to comfort him and calm him or just waiting to take off to kick the whole plan into motion??

And the part about having to buy a crib to stay at her parents another night.. For a 2 year old? You cant put them in a bed and sleep with them or put a couch against something to keep them from rolling out???

I just think there is more to this story then just 'SW kicked a mom and kid off the plane'. Maybe not, but something just doesnt feel right.

 

[neonurse]

I hate to hear crying kids and babies but it can't be helped especially when flying. I can't believe SW would do that!!!

 

[DebbieB]

Is it possible the child would not stay strapped in his seatbelt? If not, it would be a safety hazard to takeoff.

 

[Hannathy]

I applaud Southwest and most definitely believe there is a lot more to the story because I have been on enough SW flights with screaming kids that I know they don't routinely do this.

I'm sure the mother was completely uncooperative and obnoxious! Good for southwest.

I think this probably raised the opinion of many people for Southwest!

 

[bumbershoot]

I will continue to fly them.

Here's a more recent article.

They explained (other passengers could not hear the safety announcements), apologized publicly (and I assume privately) to her, refunded her, and gave her a $300 travel voucher.

 

[bumbershoot]

OK...she "said she thought she had a foolproof flying routine with her son. Wait until takeoff to feed Adam so his ears wouldn't hurt"...??????

One, kids change all the time, and routines that worked the day before might not work. Two, poor kid, he must have been hungry!

"The routine always made him a bit cranky but never out of control, she said." What works before won't always work.

If she reads...Earplanes are brilliant, at least for my son, for painful ears. Not waiting until the plane is taking off to feed the kidlet...


That said, I've always been glad that DS has his moments towards descent (hard to kick us off then), because he just does NOT understand that his excitement for landing translates to a statement that most people (including superstitious ME) just don't like...he will say "are we going down yet?"

Though, it turns out, kids throwing up just before landing disturbs people a whole lot more...not that we know anything about that from our last, worst-ever, trip or anything.... (sorry to all you sweet Virgin America fellow travelers, and thank you to the kind women with the gum that distracted him)

 

[aubriee]

I applaud Southwest and most definitely believe there is a lot more to the story because I have been on enough SW flights with screaming kids that I know they don't routinely do this.

I'm sure the mother was completely uncooperative and obnoxious! Good for southwest.

I think this probably raised the opinion of many people for Southwest!

Here's a more recent article.

I agree! If you look at the poll that goes along with the above article, it shows that 76.6% of the readers agree with Southwest. Crying babies are on alot of flights. They are never thrown off. So this kid and mom must have done something worse.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I will continue to fly them.

Here's a more recent article.

They explained (other passengers could not hear the safety announcements), apologized publicly (and I assume privately) to her, refunded her, and gave her a $300 travel voucher.

I was especially impressed by the response from another passenger on that plane, agreeing with the crew's version and disputing the mom's.

 

[Lewisc]

The topic heading should be changed to suggest avoiding SW if you're flying with out of control kids.

The mother thought the kid would calm down after takeoff but at that time it would be too late to do anything. A 2 year old is probably too young for the duct tape solution.

Some kids are too young to fly.

edited to add a lot of DIS fly with young kids. Many young kids can fly. Parents have to know their own kids. Some parents shouldn't fly with their kids and other parents need to talk to the GA and see if they can be accomodated on a later flight.

 

[jctwizzer]

Amen, Lewis.
Eh!

 

[DVC Sadie]

The topic heading should be changed to suggest avoiding SW if you're flying with out of control kids.

The mother thought the kid would calm down after takeoff but at that time it would be too late to do anything. A 2 year old is probably too young for the duct tape solution.

Some kids are too young to fly.

I agree and would like to include that, Some adults are still too young to fly.

 

[TrustedTraveler]

I fly Southwest often by choice and find them to be the most reasonable and accommodating airline. If Mom had no control over a screaming (not crying according to the article) child, then SWA did the right thing.

 

[rie'smom]

Please, the mom wants SW to pay for a crib at her parent's house. Did the boy sleep on the floor before? She wanted to wait until tale off to feed him but if he was cutting up, she should have fed him then and there.

 

[DonnaL]

I have to believe there is more to this story. I've been on both sides of the fence while flying SWA........as a grandparent with a crying 18 month old who had the beginnings of an ear infection on the flight home from WDW (which we didn't know at the time.....fever began after we got home) and also, as a passenger listening to someone else's child crying. And, in most cases I've witnessed, the SWA flight crew is more than accommodating when they have a cranky child onboard. I do remember one instance, however, a little boy throwing a tantrum and kept unhooking his seat belt. The mom was told she would have to keep him in his seat belt or by law, the flight could not depart........so, just maybe......something similar happened in this case........don't know.........

 

[kaseyandkaleigh]

I travel frequently with a 2 and 5 year old. We love southwest and they always have been very helpful...maybe there is more to the story we don't know about, still a unfortunate story for everyone involved, lets wait and see what else comes out about it in the next few days....

 

[TDC Nala]

Nobody gets kicked off planes because a child is crying. There's more to this story. That kid had to have been shrieking uncontrollably. The mother states she was putting off feeding him until after takeoff.

 

[crashbb]

Nobody gets kicked off planes because a child is crying. There's more to this story. That kid had to have been shrieking uncontrollably. The mother states she was putting off feeding him until after takeoff.

Especially since (as I read it) the plane had left the gate and had to return to it. Not something a pilot is going to do without a good reason (messes up the schedule of subsequent flights and can lead to trouble).

 

[Kennywife]

I applaud SW. I can't handle loud noises..I get seizures and have literally had one after hearing a child screaming. Which is why I wear noise cancelling headsets on the plane and in the airport. And no, I can't stay home...I work as a travel writer. It's my job to travel.

Anna