Comments on: Kicking kids off airplanes, tantrums and more advice?

By: Airline Employee

Airline Employee — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:44:53 +0000

To those “parents” who think allowing their off spring to behave like animals, you should not be allowed out in public with your animals. Stay home and away from the other normal citizens of the world.

By: Connecting flights: Put time on your side « new-dswp

Connecting flights: Put time on your side « new-dswp — Thu, 06 May 2010 01:54:25 +0000

[...] thing more unpredictable and stressful than how your preschooler will behave during air travel. I’ve been there. Your best thing you can do is to leave lots of extra time between connections; 90 minutes should [...]

By: Jes

Jes — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:22:13 +0000

Thank you! Exactly what I think too… so we both MUST be right. My little pumpkin has gone on 6 trips in her first year (I don’t even know how many individual flights). She is such a little trooper but… the 3, maybe 15 minute, fits she has thrown I have received such looks and even a few comments…”It is so cruel to put a baby through this, they shouldn’t even allow them on the flights…” REALLY! I can hear you! I do have to say I have sat next to some real angels that helped me and engaged with my little one. On our last flight, our seat mate held her hand for almost the entire 3 hour flight. It was very sweet. Keep up the travels, your child well be a better traveler at 3 than most adults.

By: Randy

Randy — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:37:10 +0000

I can appreciate both sides of the argument. The only thing that I will not tolerate is kicking the seat. Having been a frequent flyer, I’ve had my share of situations, but honestly, the rudest, loudest, most obnoxious people are usually the adults because there is nobody to tell them to behave. Most parents are very diligent with their children’s behavior as are we when we fly.

The last time we flew first class (this past May), we boarded to the welcome of “oh no…” accompanied by another rude comment. I proceeded to get the kids settled, then loudly announced to my 3 year old that normally I’d ask him to be quiet, but that he had carte blanche to yell and play as much as he wanted on this flight. I’m sure he thought that daddy had lost his mind, but I think we made our point.
Randy´s last blog ..Cheap Winter Vacations

By: Emma

Emma — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:06:22 +0000

Here Here… I actually live in a bit of a vacuum here in Scotland with no TV and hadn’t heard this story. I am totally stunned someone with an upset child (there was probably a reason for the meltdown like airline delays) was subjected to more reason to be upset. We seem much more able to ‘laugh off’ or make excuses for adult behaviour, while we judge children and their parents harshly. Even other parents judge parents!! Its weird, we should be supporting each other.
I would also think it’s the air stewards job to help. I have to say, our long hall flight from Australia to London with Emirates was perfect. They really look after children, bring them special meals that come out first, supply in between snack boxes, and little packs of toys. They even sat us at the front (just behind first class) so we would have more room!
Emma´s last blog ..Sunday’s Stories – The Intrigue of Anonymity

By: Emily E.

Emily E. — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:35:18 +0000

indeed! I honestly can’t stand people who get upset about kids flying. Kids are human beings just like the rest of us and people need to learn to treat those of us flying with kids with a little more respect.

I laughed at your last paragraph. My husband gave my toddler and me his first class seat on our last flight. I felt a little worried about being “the one with the kid” in first class, but everyone was nice, she was very well behaved, and the extra room was a lifesaver. (Plus a fellow first-classer told me she won the award for “best behaved baby.” lol!)

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:02:35 +0000

The only (child) thing I can’t stand is kicking the back of my seat. Probably because it is usually pretty willful behavior on the part of the child. They can scream, cry, and generally be a mess. It is very stressful for them at times and uncomfortable, and they don’t have the skills to express themselves more “appropriately.”

Now, having said that, I rarely travel with my son, unless it is by car, so the only person I piss off is me!

Now as to adult behaviors, I can list a million that get on my nerves. Don’t even get me started on adult rudeness, or child rudeness at an inappropriate age ( a 7 y/o generally doesn’t need to scream or kick).

By: Jen@TwoKidsandaMap

Jen@TwoKidsandaMap — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:40:29 +0000

I am glad that someone said it…

Last week we flew home from Washington DC. My children had already peacefully survived the leg from DC to ATL. Then they survived a two hour layover in the airport (exactly one hour longer than it should have been). Then they survived sitting on the tarmac for an hour because of another delay. During this hour delay after several hours of traveling and waking up at 4am) my children thankfully were very peaceful and quite. Once we took off, they lost it. Luckily I was able to calm them down before too much damage was done, but we still got “the look” and a few ugly comments. Mind you, no one said anything to the obnoxious lady on the cell phone trying to make her hotel reservations while announcing her entire credit card, security number and all, the entire time we were sitting on the tarmac. I didn’t say anything about the guy behind me kicking my seat the entire time.
Jen@TwoKidsandaMap´s last blog ..Dreaming of Hawaii

By: Carolina

Carolina — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:49:27 +0000

So this has been all the talk in the news around here since last week, since it was a San Jose mom. Front page treatment, radio call-ins….I’m so over the kids shouldn’t fly argument. I’ve been wanting to write my own rant about it, my thing always is: I’ve had worse experiences flying with adults than kids. They’re rude, loud, drunk, you name it. Yet that doesn’t inspire people to call the radio shows.
Carolina´s last blog ..The Monarchs Are Back

By: Debbie Dubrow

Debbie Dubrow — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:03:36 +0000

You have it exactly right If I spent my life worrying what other people think of my parenting I’d never leave the house. I’d hardly be developing well-rounded people then, would I? Much better to just try to stay calm and focus on what your child needs from you.

Frankly, the comments about what a good parent I am (in the twilight-zone like moments when everyone is behaving well) rankle me just as much as the glares – kids have off moments just like we adults do, they’re just not as good as channeling that energy in a “socially acceptable” way.