Toddler almost forces aborted landing - updated in post #1 with resolution

I certainly hope that family is banned from flying with that airline.
 
After five hours I mentioned to the purser that this was outrageous, and someone should have asked the family to control their behaviour.

No flames from us. On the contrary we're amazed at your patience in putting up with it for 5 hours before saying anything. :thumbsup2

We've been pretty lucky as far as screaming children go. We've yet to have any problems with disruptive kids on our flights. On the final leg of our trip home in 2005, the elderly woman sitting next to me had a serious medical issue. When the FA got on the intercom and asked of there was a physician on board, all I could think was that commercial: "No but I did say at a Holiday Inn Express last night" and got a fit of the giggles. I knew it was probably the most inappropriate time, and if I didn't DW's elbows to my ribs were a reminder, but it couldn't be helped. Fortunately there was a Dr on board and by the time we landed everything was fine...that's the only commotion we've had. *knock wood*
 
That is plain crazy...children should be restrained for their saftey at all times, behaviour like this will only encourage all airlines to require all children to have a seat. I am glad you and the other passengers/crew landed safely.
 

>>> redeposited all my miles
Excellent customer service. If all airlines did things like this we would not need a "passenger bill of rights". And if they asked questions first to see that settling up things like Tiggergate did not happen too often, they would not go bankrupt in the process.

>>> change a diaper in the small
1. Do it on the closed toilet seat with your but out the door.
2. Do it on a blanket just inside the plane door.

>>> require all children
Didn't the child in question already have his own seat?
 
I feel for you, the father with the PC really ticked me off and reminded me of a flight from LA to PHL once, the "gentleman" beside me refused to turn his pc off. The fa tried a few times to have him turn it off and he just blew her off. When it became apparent of his unconcern for the flight safety I reached over and turned his pc off, rude I know, but the safety of all of us could have been endangered. Upon landing he tried to have me arrested, but instead he was arrested for interference with the safe operation of an aircraft.
 
I, the "gentleman" beside me refused to turn his pc off. The fa tried a few times to have him turn it off and he just blew her off. When it became apparent of his unconcern for the flight safety I reached over and turned his pc off, rude I know, but the safety of all of us could have been endangered. .
Not your place to exercise self help -- yet.

Had the pilot experienced difficulty communicating, it is not his duty to find out which computer or cell phone in teh cabin is at fault. The FA would have come running back into the cabin not exactly screaming "Mayday, Mayday" but what he did scream would be the last warning. Seconds later self help would be appropriate and also there would be lots of people on your side to restrain the miscreant(s) and shut down all possibly offending electronics.

In your case the person would have been arrested even if no interference with tower communications taken place.
 
/
I don't suppose you're going to tell us which airline?

Part of the reason that I try to stick with US-based carriers on over-the-water flights is that they always allow carseats. It is no guarantee, of course, but at least when carseats are not banned there is a chance that little hellions can be buckled into them.

FWIW, I think that if a child gets loose on final descent all bets about who has charge of that child should be off. The FA should just pick up the child and forcibly restrain him in any available seat; no pleading, no argument, no quarter. Same with Mr. Laptop. Ignore the order to pack it up and that laptop belongs to the FA until the plane is on the ground.
 
From the description I would assume the OP was flying on American Airlines or United.

Which airline, OP?
 
I'm the United flyer here ;) (but my airline of choice to Europe is Lufthansa)

I think that DebbieB, Safetymom, ExPirateShopGirl, CarolA and I are all pretty loyal to our airlines (if we can be with routing, fares, etc).

I just didn't bother to share the airline as really the outcome should have been the same on any airline. I would also suspect that United would not necessarily be as generous to a non-elite flyer, but I could be wrong.

But for anyone who used points/miles/money for a seat in First that trip, the response was appropriate. I also think that anyone in row 6 and around those family members deserved something as well...
 
SeashoreCM - I agree what I did was inappropriate, but the "gentleman" was given a last warning by the FA, and he continued using the pc. I think all the passengers were a little scared as were attempting to land in a violent thunderstorm. I was just the closest to the person with the pc, a couple of passengers in the row behind us were already moving to take the same action as I did. Happily all turned out ok and the authorites did settle the issue upon landing. Thanks I do appreciate your comments about my rude behavior, seriously. Have a great day!
 
DeadHead, I took your user name as being in the airline sense, but I may be wrong... if it is, then of course you reacted! ;)

A laptop in the 'on' position would not interfere with communication unless it was using a wireless device. It would however potentially interfere with an evacuation, if necessary.
 
bavaria - as i rember the incident the passenger was reading and sending email wireless. I must admit that I'm a very leery flyer having survived going down twice in planes in the service back in the 70's while serving overseas. I do admit I may have overreacted. Thanks.
 
oh, I totally understand your reaction and am not critiquing it - good for you for standing up and taking action!

For the record, however, Outlook CAN be used offline - I often go in and clean up my mailbox and compose emails. Once I then connect to a wireless network etc on the ground the emails get sent (just in case you ever sit next to me and think that I am using a wireless device at 35,000 feet ;) )
 
I'm the United flyer here ;) (but my airline of choice to Europe is Lufthansa)

I think that DebbieB, Safetymom, ExPirateShopGirl, CarolA and I are all pretty loyal to our airlines (if we can be with routing, fares, etc).

I just didn't bother to share the airline as really the outcome should have been the same on any airline. I would also suspect that United would not necessarily be as generous to a non-elite flyer, but I could be wrong.

But for anyone who used points/miles/money for a seat in First that trip, the response was appropriate. I also think that anyone in row 6 and around those family members deserved something as well...

No worries I was just curious. I am Gold Elite with Delta so I knew from the description of how you upgrade that you weren't on a Skyteam airline. I'm pretty loyal to my airline as well but usually end up on just about all of them at some point during the year due to fares or routing.

I am glad that United took care of you. I've run into similar issues on planes in the past and Delta and Northwest have always taken very good care of me. I have wondered if it was because of the elite status too. I had a run-in once on AA and on United that didn't turn out well in my favor and am sure I would have been treated much differently had I been elite with them.

Every airline has their off day so I wouldn't hold this incident against the airline but moreso blame the parents and a touch of poor judgement on the FA's part for not reigning in the unruly child earlier in the flight.

:)
Kelley
 
I would also suspect that United would not necessarily be as generous to a non-elite flyer, but I could be wrong.

I doubt it.

You know, being Elite rightly buys one many favours, but putting up with that kind of behaviour is WAY beyond the pale. How many other Elite passengers has failure to control this family angered, and what is it going to cost to placate them? I've always thought that it should be that status is as status does, and serious safety breaches should get it revoked for a time.

There once was a time when I was loyal to AA, but those days are gone. Right now most of the domestic routes I fly are best served by SWA, and I'm more than happy to give them my business. At the moment I prefer Continental to Europe, even though their service to my home airport is minimal.
 
bavaria thanks for the support, I do know about Outlook as I was a computer specialist for the Department of Defense for 26 years before I retired. Trust me, I'm much more civil and understanding now that the Dr. gives me meds for the flights, it takes the anxiety away, usually sleep most of the time and don't notice much happening.
 
bavaria thanks for the support, I do know about Outlook as I was a computer specialist for the Department of Defense for 26 years before I retired. Trust me, I'm much more civil and understanding now that the Dr. gives me meds for the flights, it takes the anxiety away, usually sleep most of the time and don't notice much happening.

I'm suprised DeadHead needs a Dr. to supply "meds" :)
 
CPT Tripps - maybe many many moons ago that may have been possible - as it goes - what a long strange trip its been.
 
:rotfl: since it was the exit door diagonally across from me, I knew that I would be the first one sucked out if that door opened during flight!!!!

Correction - that's "blown out." A common misconception. :)

To me, an out-of-control child roaming the plane and pounding on the exit door is tha same as an adult doing the same thing - it's a clear and present safety hazard to the entire plane that should have been dealt with by physical restraint immediately.

I also fully supported AirTran's actions in the original incident. There are laws governing the behavior of air passengers. Those laws exist for safety reasons, and children are bound by those laws just as adults are. If a child is breaking one of those laws, it is the responsibilyt of the parent to force the child to comply, and if the parents fail to force the child to comply then A) it falls to the flight crew, and B) the parents can and should be charged with the violations.
 

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