Screaming Kids - Seating Allocations

[Tooner]

Of course, one of the benefits of having your own kids under 5 is you don't hear any other kids: they are just background noise to be drowned out by noise cancelling headphones!

 

[acampbel]

I have been inconvenienced far more times by recliners than screaming kids, but let's not bother trying to rank our least favourite passengers as we'll never agree.

But on the subject of Kids on a Plane ...... I think the airlines can help by giving the parents/guardians an information pack about flying with kids. This could cover topics like :-

1. Prepare the kids for the flight by telling them what is going to happen.
2. Pick a seating arrangement that suits the size of the group and cabin layout, and ring the airline to get it allocated.
3. Do a practice pack beforehand to ensure nothing will be left behind.
4. For walking kids pack a little wheelie trolly with their stuff (they love it!)
5. Get to the airport in plenty of time and blag your way into the QC
6. Pack some drinks and snacks for them (but do organise kids meals).
7. Pack some activities in their trolley (colouring-in pencils, books, games, mp3 player with some talking books or music, etc.)
8. If on the plane they freak out don't lose your temper (easy to say, I know), but be firm about seatbelt rules and not disrupting other passengers.
9. Take them for a tour of the cabin every hour or so.

If after all your efforts the kid just wants to scream, then at least the other passengers will know you've tried your best and its just one of the downsides to being in an enclosed space.

Cheers,

Andrew

 

[Tooner]

I think the airlines can help by giving the parents/guardians an information pack about flying with kids.

I think you just have - and all advice we have followed with our kids, successfully!

 

[simongr]

This could cover topics like :-

< snip >
Cheers,

Andrew

Thanks for that - i shall be doing some research for my sister who is travelling here from Cyprus with her 2 1/2 year old son later this year - no-one is looking forward to that experience...

 

[streety]

Get to the airport in plenty of time and blag your way into the QC

Not entirely sure QF would want to promote that one

 

[Sequel]

Travelled with my 18 month old for the first time last weekend (BNE-SYD return). While he has travelled a few times, this was the first time I had joined him.

As a QP PS at check in (and with out prompting) I was allocated a window in about row 18 on a 737, my wife (NB) allocated the aisle, and no-one allocated the middle seat. I thought it must have been an empty flight, but it was one of only about 5 free seats. On the return, we were alocated A & B in row 34 on a 767. At check in I asked if there was a row of 3 further back that has the chance of not having the middle seat allocated. Down to row 56 we went and he got his own (free) seat for the second flight in a row. Glad we did get the extra seats, as he is at an age where he knows what he wants/doesn't want but his negotiation skills leave a bit to be desired. Even contemplating buying his own set next time just to guarantee an easier flight.

 

[acampbel]

Get to the airport in plenty of time and blag your way into the QC

Not entirely sure QF would want to promote that one

By "blag" I mean smile pleasantly at the QCDB and hope the kids look suitably small and cherubic. This has worked the last two times the family has gone on the Blighty and Beyond tour, but this year they will be 7 and 9 by the time we fly. Sooner or later we are going to come across a QC that enforces the 1-guest rule religiously (I did on a business trip to NZ last year) , so I am trying to accumulate some guest passes just in case. Wish the bloody things didn't have a 12-month expiry.

A bigger problem for me is that all our flights beyond Hong Kong are BA metal or codeshares, and they hire the grumpiest dragons to defend their lounges against pesky infants and children. I then have the choice of playing eeny-meeny-miny-mo with the kids or doing the right thing and all sticking together in the terminal. I've asked my wife to wait at the entrance with a piece of cardboard that says "Abandoned wife and child of lounge member - please help" .... but she won't do it!

Cheers,

Andrew

 

[TonyD]

Don't any of you guys fly Y ?

Seat allocations for people with kids was discussed mid last year. I may have raised it; certainly weighed in! Travelling with wife and 3 yo - we were auto allocated near the tail several times and Q staff confirmed its policy. During several east coast trips in Jan ( on my own) I noticed processions and billy lids heading to the back. No screamers though!!

On the noise note - I usually nod off during takeoff. My wife claims I snore at home. Does anyone hear loud snorers on flights ? What do you do about it?

 

[Commuter]

On the noise note - I usually nod off during takeoff. My wife claims I snore at home. Does anyone hear loud snorers on flights ? What do you do about it?

I have had a snorer next to me. That was the days before my sanity defender (aka active noise cancelling in-ear earphones) and it was noisy but I just put up with it because there wasn't anything I could do about it.

By the way a lot of my travels are in economy.

 

[wallacej]

Always a Y traveller here (on domestic)... and as for the snorer... yes have had that too..

Didn't do anything about it though.... it was my boss!!!:shock:

 

[oz_mark]

Don't any of you guys fly Y ?

Seat allocations for people with kids was discussed mid last year. I may have raised it; certainly weighed in! Travelling with wife and 3 yo - we were auto allocated near the tail several times and Q staff confirmed its policy. During several east coast trips in Jan ( on my own) I noticed processions and billy lids heading to the back. No screamers though!!

On the noise note - I usually nod off during takeoff. My wife claims I snore at home. Does anyone hear loud snorers on flights ? What do you do about it?

Not sure that the sleeping postion in Y is conducive to lots of snoring. I would expect more snoring up front in the skybeds.

 

[JohnK]

Not sure that the sleeping postion in Y is conducive to lots of snoring.

I am sure I do lots of snoring in the WHY sleeping position.

 

[straitman]

I am sure I do lots of snoring in the WHY sleeping position.

I resemble that comment

 

[reg]

:shock: NM Summed it up perfectly. It is often the rude, obnoxious, prententious, people up near the front who are generally travelling on someone elses (company) nickel who are more annoying than children. BTW my wife and 3 kids flew J on QF BNE - LAX upstairs and were probably amongst the quietest.

 

[simongr]

I dont actually think that was what NM said - he said not to discriminate against kids and to put loud obnxious people at the back. There was no hint from him thathe was referring to people travelling on business on company money were the loud obnoxious ones.

I travel 95% excluisve on company business - I like to think that if you travelled on the same aircraft as me you would not even notice my presence - even if sat next to me. I get on board, make my notes about the checkin/lounge experience, have a glass of bubbles and snooze through take off. I then get my laptop and work or watch laptopTV. That's it. In the same way that we dont lump all children together lets not lump all business travellers together.

I do hope that all the people that carp on about business travellers realise that if there wasnt a business demand for business class it is unlikley that the leisure traveller would warrant the same level of business class.

 

[NM]

I dont actually think that was what NM said - he said not to discriminate against kids and to put loud obnxious people at the back. There was no hint from him thathe was referring to people travelling on business on company money were the loud obnoxious ones.

Indeed I was not making any correlation between annoying behaviours and the type of fare purchased. discriminating against kids could be seen as apartheight (as seen in The Goodies show of the same name).

 

[QF WP]

Ah, a subject near and dear to my heart, having an 11 month old who has already racked up 10 flights (all on her parent's laps).

I have to add that the common sense of the parent(s) and the general demeanour of the child can play a part in the volume of the child, as well as other influences like state of health and time of flight (well, it does in our case).

From her first flight (at 10 weeks of age) to last weeks flights (BNE/SYD/AKL...WLG/AKL/BNE), we have always used the time tested use of sustenance (breast feeding initially but for last weeks flights, bottle of formula or dummy) to help mini-LW to equalise her ear pressure upon take-off and landing (given she has no idea yet how to do it for herself). We have had success on 9 of the 10 flights - barely a murmur (and most paxs sitting hear us have been surprised with the lack of noise).

The first 3 trips (BNE/MEL/BNE, BNE/CNS/BNE and BNE/ADL/BNE) were all in whY and pre-allocated seating due to my status has helped (to be towards the front).

Last weeks was mostly in J (points upgrade on QF BNE/SYD, SYD/AKL on LAN in J and AKL/BNE in J on QF) and I did see a couple of people cringing when we sat down in J with her. Thankfully, mini-LW loves looking at other people around her and laughing (particularly when other pax are friendly towards her). She also loves 210mls of formula which most times have put her to sleep with no troubles.

We did have some trouble with her on the final sector (as she'd slept the whole way on WLG/AKL filight so was wide awake for the whole AKL/BNE flight), but an excellent female cabin crew took her off us and I saw them disappearing down into the whY cabin, only to re-appear about 30 mins later (which allowed us time to eat). Seems that mini-LW made lots of friends down the back.

Still, everybody'sd experiences are different - I can relate well to Homer's comments now.

 

[millesm]

have a trip to the UK in a few months and we're taking a 15mth old with us.

she's done a few MEL-SYD and MELB-AKL trips, but was only very young so was on placed the cough when she screemed which solved the problem.

What do you do for 24 hours with a 15mth old walker? she plays quite happily on her own at home, but I don't fancy reading the same few stories 100's of times from Oz to UK.

Also, what about food... she needs milk, but we can't carry that on. While she eats most of what we eat, there are also many things she won't eat.

Do QF have normal milk on board for babies?

 

[SFSC]

Also, what about food... she needs milk, but we can't carry that on.

Don't worry. You can take milk and other baby products.

Exemptions

Where you are travelling with a baby, baby products in reasonable amounts required for the flight are exempt from LAGs restrictions. Where the volume of baby products is deemed excessive by security screening staff, it will not be allowed through the screening point.
If you are carrying any baby products have them ready for inspection. It is also reasonable for security screening staff to expect that you will be carrying a baby with you. So if you're travelling in a large group or as a family, ensure that you and your baby go through the security screening point together.
Baby products may include:

• baby milk;
• sterilised water;
• baby juice;
• baby food in liquid, gel or paste form; and
• wet wipes.

Security screening staff have the final say regarding what items are allowed through the screening point. If the security screening officer decides that you are attempting to take unreasonable amounts of non-prescription medication or baby products through the screening point, you may be asked to surrender some or all of these products. If you fail to do so you will not be allowed to proceed through the screening point.

Our Son-in-Law and our 10 month old grandson travelled SYD-LHR last Wednesday and had no trouble taking everything baby needed on board. He was also able to defer checking in the stroller until at the gate.

The baby was reportedly very good on the flight. Slept 2 hours SYD-SIN and 9 hours SIN-LHR despite having to be moved from the bassinet to lap for a while because of turbulence.

 

[TanyaGordon]

Sennheiser PXC 150 Noise Reduction Headphones $200

Problem solved.