Should under 3YO fly commercial services?

[mannej]

Here we go with the name calling insults again...

 

[AVC]

One of the sayings is, that there is no such thing as misbehaving children. Only misbehaving parents.

Pretty much same goes for dogs. No such thing as a bad dog, only a bad owner.

Our 4 year old flew SYD LAX return without a peep. Happily sat with her headphones on or slept. If she got a bit loud we would tell her to be quiet. No problem.

As a parent, it is your responsibility to note what your children are doing. I find teenagers way more annoying, as many tend to live in their own bubble and have no idea about how to act within the confines of an aircraft.

But then, so do some adults. On our BKK-SYD overnight leg last week, with the cabin fully darkened, most PAX asleep, an older couple thought they would open the window shade to stare out as goodness knows what for about 5 minutes. It was like someone lit up a flare. I wanted to throw my water bottle at them. This is after they were whining to the FAs earlier in the flight about their timing of their gluten-free meal or some rubbish.

 

[Berlin]

Re: 17 Things Your Flight Attendant Won't Tell You

HOWEVER, if I were paying big bucks for J or F, I most definitely would be peeved if a little kid cried and cried.

Sorry, I should have specified this from the start- I was mainly referring to J or F. If I pay cheap bucks for a ticket in the back of the bus, I don't really expect much better than crying children all around me.

 

[JessicaTam]

Re: 17 Things Your Flight Attendant Won't Tell You

Sorry, I should have specified this from the start- I was mainly referring to J or F. If I pay cheap bucks for a ticket in the back of the bus, I don't really expect much better than crying children all around me.

[/sarcasm]
Well that changes everything!
[/sarcasm end]

 

[RWJ777]

One of the sayings is, that there is no such thing as misbehaving children. Only misbehaving parents.

Pretty much same goes for dogs. No such thing as a bad dog, only a bad owner.

Our 4 year old flew SYD LAX return without a peep. Happily sat with her headphones on or slept. If she got a bit loud we would tell her to be quiet. No problem.

As a parent, it is your responsibility to note what your children are doing. I find teenagers way more annoying, as many tend to live in their own bubble and have no idea about how to act within the confines of an aircraft.

But then, so do some adults. On our BKK-SYD overnight leg last week, with the cabin fully darkened, most PAX asleep, an older couple thought they would open the window shade to stare out as goodness knows what for about 5 minutes. It was like someone lit up a flare. I wanted to throw my water bottle at them. This is after they were whining to the FAs earlier in the flight about their timing of their gluten-free meal or some rubbish.

I tend to agree with this. I find too often these days that some parents outsource their parenting to people around them, particularly in restaurants and occasionally on aircraft. I recently flew from BNE to SYD and was slightly apprehensive when I saw a toddler in the seats opposite, fearing a noisy flight. But her parents were magnificent and, as a result, she was terrific too. Hardly a squeak, except for when her ears were popping, which is understandable.

In all these things a degree of reasonableness is required -- reasonable tolerance of kiddies in Y and reasonable efforts by parents to minimise any disruption. If I see a parent making an effort to pacify their child, I'll always be much more understanding than if the kiddie is carrying on and the parent is blithely ignoring the commotion. Allowing children to "find his / her voice" is the parental equivalent of "I'm big boned"!

 

[Simo]

Re: 17 Things Your Flight Attendant Won't Tell You

HOWEVER, if I were paying big bucks for J or F, I most definitely would be peeved if a little kid cried and cried. I rather think in those circumstances parents should not travel with kiddies in J or F and opt for Y. I think the issue is more likely to arise in J -- as parents of toddlers or lttle kids, except maybe Brangelina types etc, would be unlikely to afford F -- and to my mind businesspeople are entitled to work and rest without lots of noise.

So what if I can afford and work hard all year just because of your desire to fly in J or F I have to travel in Y.

I want to stretch out in J and not cramped in Y.



I paid for 2 adults and my daughter to travel J to NAN as there was not a huge price difference so I purchased the tickets. Qantas sold them to us.

If you want total peace and quiet on a flight go private jet.

 

[Grooba]

Interesting thread.
Interesting views.

I've been flying regularly for about 6 years. The first 4 of those I had no children and honestly I wasn't super happy when my flight included a crying/upset/unhappy/etc baby or child. I think thats a general view from almost all travelers, no one really likes it. However I dealt with it. As part of the flying public that's what you do. Same as on a bus or a train.

As a non parent, I still felt for the parents of the child that was crying. Hoping that when I had kids I would not be "that" parent. Unfortunately, from my experience, all kids will have bad days when traveling.

The last 2 years I've been a parent and my daughter has traveled with me all around the world, clocking up 60,000 miles or so. Sure she has had her ups and downs, just like any kid. I certainly don't consider myself a bad parent if my child is crying or upset or whatever, it happens. She is human. She is a child.

My daughter is about to turn 2 and I will then have to pay for her seat. As a paying customer (>2) or an infant (<2), she is entitled to fly as any other person is.

As other have posted above, I'd much rather deal with an unhappy kid than an unhappy DYKWIA.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Re: 17 Things Your Flight Attendant Won't Tell You

Sorry, I should have specified this from the start- I was mainly referring to J or F. If I pay cheap bucks for a ticket in the back of the bus, I don't really expect much better than crying children all around me.

Really?

I've said it before and I'll say it again: There is no reason in the world why an under 3 year old should be traumatized (and hundreds of other paying passengers inconvenienced) only for the egocentric parents to have a nice far away holiday. :evil::shock:

Which aircraft are you referring to in OP where a 3 year old can have "hundreds of other paying passengers inconvenienced" ? If indeed your original post was referring to J or F
The only ones I can think of would be the BA city flyer from LCY-JFK, or the now defunct SQ A340 SIN-EWR

 

[Simo]

I did a red eye flight from SIN to MNL one night and a kid cried nearly the entire way to MNL.

About half an hour before we landed the mother had to go the toilet so she took her child up to a FA to watch will she went to the toilet and the kid was a sleep in her arms as soon as they did the walk down the aisle. The mother should have done that 3 hours ago.

 

[Grooba]

Re: 17 Things Your Flight Attendant Won't Tell You

Sorry, I should have specified this from the start- I was mainly referring to J or F. If I pay cheap bucks for a ticket in the back of the bus, I don't really expect much better than crying children all around me.

Why is ok to put your headphones on in Y but not J/F?

 

[anat0l]

just ridiculous how some people get into a rage just because I dare to state my opinion.

Your opinion would not attract such rage if it were better qualified to start with.

 

[RWJ777]

Re: 17 Things Your Flight Attendant Won't Tell You

So what if I can afford and work hard all year just because of your desire to fly in J or F I have to travel in Y.

I want to stretch out in J and not cramped in Y.



I paid for 2 adults and my daughter to travel J to NAN as there was not a huge price difference so I purchased the tickets. Qantas sold them to us.

If you want total peace and quiet on a flight go private jet.

If your kiddie were well behaved, I'd have no probs. I think I was quite clear that my concern would relate to a child crying and crying. In those circumstances I don't think children should travel in J or F; others pay a lot of money and i consider that they're entitled to a reasonable degree of quiet. I didn't say that total peace and quiet is warranted. And as I have commented below, reasonable tolerance (of noise) and reasonable supervision (by parents) goes a long way.

 

[Berlin]

One of the sayings is, that there is no such thing as misbehaving children. Only misbehaving parents.
Our 4 year old flew SYD LAX return without a peep. Happily sat with her headphones on or slept. If she got a bit loud we would tell her to be quiet. No problem.
As a parent, it is your responsibility to note what your children are doing.

Thanks for that responsible comment, I can wholeheartedly agree and have witnessed cases of well-behaved (because well looked after) kids like this as well. I just wish all parents thought like this!

 

[LAH]

Thanks for that responsible comment, I can wholeheartedly agree and have witnessed cases of well-behaved (because well looked after) kids like this as well. I just wish all parents thought like this!

Hey Berlin! Wish all adults were well behaved and well looked after too - it's probably time for another chardonnay! Most fun I've had all day reading this thread!

 

[ashleyn]

Re: 17 Things Your Flight Attendant Won't Tell You

If your kiddie were well behaved, I'd have no probs. I think I was quite clear that my concern would relate to a child crying and crying. In those circumstances I don't think children should travel in J or F; others pay a lot of money and i consider that they're entitled to a reasonable degree of quiet. I didn't say that total peace and quiet is warranted. And as I have commented below, reasonable tolerance (of noise) and reasonable supervision (by parents) goes a long way.

Some of the comments on here, really people, take a long hard look at yourselves. Berlin, you start and RWJ777 seriously ?

 

[ashleyn]

Hey Berlin! Wish all adults were well behaved and well looked after too - it's probably time for another chardonnay! Most fun I've had all day reading this thread!

I haven't shaken my head in so much disbelief in a long time. What an intolerant society we have become.

 

[Blinky]

[ content moderated]

Berlin, my wife and I are "breeders" with seven kids. When our oldest was 16 we decided to take the whole family on an overseas holiday because after about 17, it's just seriously uncool to go away with the family. The youngest two were 11 months and 3 (thankfully, just over your arbitrary and irrational allowable age). The baby was breast fed, relaxed the whole way and slept for most of the flight in the bassinet. The others were simply having the adventure of their lives, as were we.

I wasn't a frequent flyer then, so didn't pick up any cues indicating irritation or disapproval. But guess what? If I did, I wouldn't have cared. And that's the point Berlin. Your intolerant opinion simply doesn't matter.

 

[LAH]

I haven't shaken my head in so much disbelief in a long time. What an intolerant society we have become.

so sorry if I have offended you Ashleyn : was just meant to be light hearted.

 

[ashleyn]

so sorry if I have offended you Ashleyn : was just meant to be light hearted.

Not at all LAH, my comments were mostly directed at the OP.

 

[Berlin]

Your intolerant opinion simply doesn't matter.

My opinion very much matters, as much as anyone else's. Funny how it's the ones who are completely intolerant to the needs of other people around themselves who preach tolerance for all things!

Some of the comments on here, really people, take a long hard look at yourselves. Berlin, you start and RWJ777 seriously ?

Funny that- I think it's other people commenting on here who should looks at themselves before starting their purely self-obsessed, aggressive comments against other members!