Mum & crying baby asked to Leave First on DL [they didn't]

[serfty]

Real F or J ?

More J than F

My experience of US domestic F is worse than most J elsewhere!

This is much closer to the transcon J offerings in AU.

As for US Dom F flights, I've had AA flights that were way better then QF J flights, and some that were worse.

it was not really First but a form of Business - "DELTA ONE™ BUSINESS CLASS"

As TomVexille states, '... closer to transcon J offerings in AU ..." ...

Business Class Flights: Fly in Luxury with Delta Oneâ„¢ | Delta Air Lines

 

[TheRealTMA]

Ok. LOTFAP version of F, not real F so that's fine. But if one has paid $15K for F, one should not have to put up with adults who insist on sharing their offsprings tantrums with others. Amusingly, it's usually the parents (like some dog owners) who are oblivious to the antics of their offspring and feel it's ok to not control them in public.

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip> Amusingly, it's usually the parents (like some dog owners) who are oblivious to the antics of their offspring and feel it's ok to not control them in public.

Not that amusing when it happens. I'm always sympathetic to the parent who has a much-crying baby/infant on an aircraft and of course babies will cry when they want to and may not be able to be calmed easily.

But as to the situations when the parent thinks its appropriate to ignore said crying baby/infant, I see red. Like the time in Qantas F where there was a lady with an infant who got into screaming mode during take-off and it continued, on and on. She was apparently immune to it, as there was little done to comfort said child as far as I could see when I got up to see if some cruelty was being perpetrated. Fortunately another pax eventually got up and went to a FA, who then got the mother to take the child for a walk in arms.

Being in an aircraft, in close confinement with lots of other people for sometimes long periods, necessitates changes in behaviour of everyone. Some more tolerance of close disturbances and equally, moderation or elimination of habits which may occur at home, but may bother people in close confinement, such as:

* snoring; (I rarely snore, but on aircraft, after I introduce myself to my seat-mate, I always tell them to wake me if I snore. No-one ever has - probably because I sleep so little on planes );

* letting crying or misbehaving infants/children 'get over it' by ignoring them;

* loud conversations;

* bare feet, especially propped up on seats or sides of the cabin;

* getting drunk;

* swearing etc.

 

[theweaselsteve]

Ok. LOTFAP version of F, not real F so that's fine. But if one has paid $15K for F, one should not have to put up with adults who insist on sharing their offsprings tantrums with others. Amusingly, it's usually the parents (like some dog owners) who are oblivious to the antics of their offspring and feel it's ok to not control them in public.

Not control them in public? Haaaaaaaaaaaaa ha ha ha ha ha! My three year old is awesome. She was awesome when she was three months too. Does that mean I can "control" her in public? Sometimes, but not always. This is not a reflection on the parents. They're children, they're learning about the world around them, and when they're upset the only way the have to communicate this is vocally, usually by crying. If the airlines allow it and I pay for a first class seat for my child then that's where she's staying. Anyone who doesn't like it can suck it up.

 

[RooFlyer]

Not control them in public? Haaaaaaaaaaaaa ha ha ha ha ha! My three year old is awesome. She was awesome when she was three months too. Does that mean I can "control" her in public? Sometimes, but not always. This is not a reflection on the parents. They're children, they're learning about the world around them, and when they're upset the only way the have to communicate this is vocally, usually by crying. If the airlines allow it and I pay for a first class seat for my child then that's where she's staying. Anyone who doesn't like it can suck it up.

You miss the point. Its not that the children might or might not be able to 'controlled' but whether the parent makes any attempt or is generally thoughtful of those around them (who, to use your situation, have also paid for F).

And as for 'sucking it up if anyone doesn't like it'. Really? That's your attitude when cooped up in a tin can with strangers for 10-15 hours? Wonder if one would just 'suck it up' if a child in the seat behind one banged on one's seat back for hours at a time.

Good grief.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Unfortunately 'lawnmower' parents spoil it for the rest.

Rather than try to pacify the child it's a case of 'let's embrace it' because 'baby is exploring the world' and 'learning to express themselves/communicate'.

 

[theweaselsteve]

The point I'm trying to make is that an individual really doesn't have any idea of the nature of the baby. I have the experience of one child, and one child only. I've done a fair bit of flying with her and the only way she would fall asleep was to cry. If I held her tight in my arms and rocked her, she would eventually go. This could take anywhere from 10 minutes to half an hour.

I was flying long haul to the UK and the looks of disapproval from the cabin were horrendous, as if I had no idea what I was doing. There were people suggesting that I take her for a walk etc. For my kid this would have made things much worse, she would want to look around and play which would mean she'd be much more likely to stay awake, and annoy everyone else in the long run. The parents know the child, and they know what is likely to settle them. I fail to see how any parent would deliberately ignore their screaming child, but I can understand how people around them may misinterpret their actions.

 

[drron]

But your statement-

Anyone who doesn't like it can suck it up.

seems pretty definite and not an attitude I would respond to well.But you say that you hold the baby-in my eyes that means you are doing something so no problems with me.There are though parents who really don't seem to give a damn-then I join the complainers.
Understanding is a 2 way street.Sure people should understand a crying baby but surely the parent/s should understand why some others get upset.

 

[tuapekastar]

I really don't like the sound of squalling infants, but if the money has been stumped up, they have as much right to be in F as I do, and I just eresign myself to some (hopefully temporary) inconvenience. The only thing that would annoy me is if the parent(s) was making no apparent attempt to end the noise.

 

[Happy Trails]

I flew LHR-SIN-PER in J with my, then, 10 month old daughter.
Lots of crying for the first half hour of each flight, but I settled down when they brought me a G&T.

 

[bullerdude]

However, in saying this, some parents are conscious of how their baby affects others around them and parents who don't seem to care/want attention etc.
I would be frustrated in first class (real first class, not fake first class aka: delta or domestic travel) with a crying baby and the parents or helper were making little effort to remedy the problem.

I always take Miss TRR for a walk down the back if she's loud. 9 times out of 10 the crew at the rear are happy to play games with the baby

I look at it from this perspective as well... there is nothing wrong with babies and infants being present in premium class.

The issue is when there are parents that do little to nothing to try and settle their babies and infants which results in them crying non-stop - this I have seen and it is very frustrating.

At the end if the day, it really comes down to the parents being respectful of their surrounding and doing what they can no to disturb fellow passengers.

 

[ermen]

Once I took my 3 yo daughter on a MH J status run (building her to BA Silver )

She started throwing a tantrum and crying so i took her to the toilet to tell her off and so not to inconvenience other pax.

Its all about understanding I think and trying your best to make the whole cabin a pleasant place. I wouldn't like a screaming baby within my earshot for prolonged periods.. and it just looks bad if the parent is just nonchalent about it. i would say that an airplane is not the place to do the "cry it out" form of parenting lol...

 

[drron]

One mile at a Time has a current article on it with an interesting conclusion-
Can Kids Fly In First Class? - One Mile at a Time

 

[theweaselsteve]

Exactly. The Issue I had though was that people thought they knew best, which in turn led to the feeling (I presume) that I wasn't trying. The eye rolls certainly made me feel that way. At the end of the day it's public transport. Doesn't matter how much you've paid for the ticket.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Exactly. The Issue I had though was that people thought they knew best, which in turn led to the feeling (I presume) that I wasn't trying. The eye rolls certainly made me feel that way. At the end of the day it's public transport. Doesn't matter how much you've paid for the ticket.

Presumably it works both ways? It's public transport so passengers have to 'suck it up' when babies are in the cabin, and likewise it's public transport so parents have to 'suck it up' with the eye rolls?

 

[Denali]

......
She started throwing a tantrum and crying so i took her to the toilet to tell her off and so not to inconvenience other pax....

I feel bad for a kid being told off for having a meltdown. I appreciate you trying to stop her and its your kid but it sounds harsh.

Im also amused by the person that said when her/his kid is crying, they go for a walk to the back of the plane, thus disrupting many, many rows of paxs. I guess a Y pax should be able to walk to the pointy end when their kid is having a crying jag as well.

 

[Moody]

If there were two flights to choose from, everything the same, except one flight does not allow any children, I know which one I would pick!:mrgreen:

Why stop at child-free flights? Where can I sign up for flights that don't allow any arrogant bigots??!?? Oops .... looks like I'm stuck in my own Catch 22 there!

 

[JohnK]

Im also amused by the person that said when her/his kid is crying, they go for a walk to the back of the plane, thus disrupting many, many rows of paxs.

That was me. Do you have a better suggestion to calm my daughter when she is screaming?

 

[Quickstatus]

If the only qualifying factor for entry into First Class is Cold Hard Cash, then anyone who pays the cash is entitled to First Class including babies - lap babies included. Interestingly and unfortunately "Class" is not a requisite for First Class entry

 

[BettyB]

If the only qualifying factor for entry into First Class is Cold Hard Cash, then anyone who pays the cash is entitled to First Class including babies - lap babies included. Interestingly and unfortunately "Class" is not a requisite for First Class entry

That might work if the baby actually paid for their own seat. Clearly that doesn't happen.