Screaming Kids - Seating Allocations

[NM]

If the rule is one guest and mum dad and 2 kids are flying - go buy another QC membership - I can't believe that people think its a funny thing to break the rules so openly...

Which is what I did a few years back when travelling with the family. As a QF Platinum member, I was allowed 2 guests. So when travelling with Mrs NM and three kids, I purchased a Partner Qantas Club membership for Mrs NM and between us we were entitled to 3 guests (2 for me and one for her). This worked very well for our trip.

 

[Harpoon]

You know what settles screaming kids... lollies and ice cream! Oh wait....

I think if you catch a plane you ALWAYS run the risk of noisy kids or sick people. That's just how it goes. Unless you want to pay $top-dolla$ for a seat at the pointy end, you just have to deal with it. I find that turning up the iPod or headset volume always helps, although it wont disguise every scream. However the worst thing to do is try and watch a movie or read a book where you need to concentrate. Nothing worse than missing critical parts of a story due to screaming kids. If theres screaming kids, pause the movie/put the book down and listen to some music or something else that won't matter if you're distracted.

If you worry about it, it'll only annoy you more. You have to try to laugh at it and sympathise with the parents. Otherwise you'll have a coughpy flight because you'll be annoyed about something completely out of your control. Which can be bad a bad thing if you turn up to customs in a bad mood....

 

[Therma]

You know what settles screaming kids... lollies and ice cream! Oh wait....



If you worry about it, it'll only annoy you more. You have to try to laugh at it and sympathise with the parents. Otherwise you'll have a coughpy flight because you'll be annoyed about something completely out of your control. Which can be bad a bad thing if you turn up to customs in a bad mood....

I always arrive at the Indian customs grumpy. It reminds me of the time the assholes in Hyderabad stole my passport and told me to come back tomorrow in case they find it! Seriously though, I am so unnerved by my Indian trips I need to get a couple of Cognacs in the lounge (even if it is my usual 0710 flight to BOM!) so I can put up with construction workers smelling of brut 33 and hollering at the top of their lungs, queue jumpers who hog the gate during preboard, grandmothers with huge plastic bags that they think is carry on, people in turbans resting their heads on my shoulder and snoring, body odour, and seeing people who have never been on the plane get an empty seat between them while a quintiple gold member has to endure someone's elbow in his ribs. Babies just add to it, and brats that climb all over you while parents ignore them are an icing on the cake. I have perfected my "Look of Death" and counterstrike elbow in the ribs. Not a stereotypical racial profiling remark, just brute reality. And don't get me started on Indian domestic routes, especially when only budget airlines serve them:shock:

 

[JohnK]

I find that turning up the iPod or headset volume always helps, although it wont disguise every scream.

Here we go again. Next to recliners then next most irritating thing in an enclosed environment is the loud screeching noise that emanates from someones headphones, presumably attached to an Ipod, mobile phone or cd/dvd player.

Why should I have to be the one to get noise cancelling headphones to avoid all the noise? What the hell was happening 15-20 years ago when none of this rubbish existed?

 

[Therma]

Here we go again. Next to recliners then next most irritating thing in an enclosed environment is the loud screeching noise that emanates from someones headphones, presumably attached to an Ipod, mobile phone or cd/dvd player.

Why should I have to be the one to get noise cancelling headphones to avoid all the noise? What the hell was happening 15-20 years ago when none of this rubbish existed?

Unfortunately noise ruducing headphones do not appear to work on Hindi rap

 

[Commuter]

Unless you want to pay $top-dolla$ for a seat at the pointy end, you just have to deal with it.

Or get paid to fly, and then you don't get any screaming kids. coughpit is kids-free. :mrgreen:

Of course there's another way... private jets. I have got to say I am sometimes tempted.

Unfortunately anything with a seat number is no guarantee of being screamer-free, be it business or first class.

 

[Harpoon]

Here we go again. Next to recliners then next most irritating thing in an enclosed environment is the loud screeching noise that emanates from someones headphones, presumably attached to an Ipod, mobile phone or cd/dvd player.

Why should I have to be the one to get noise cancelling headphones to avoid all the noise? What the hell was happening 15-20 years ago when none of this rubbish existed?

Hmmm have I opened another can of worms? :|

Mind you not everyone with an iPod listens to loud screechy stuff that resonates around them (although plenty do!). I mostly listen to chat podcasts which have no treble or bass

 

[Commuter]

Here we go again. Next to recliners then next most irritating thing in an enclosed environment is the loud screeching noise that emanates from someones headphones, presumably attached to an Ipod, mobile phone or cd/dvd player.

I always make sure that there is no sound leak that is discernible from 10 or so cm away from my ears, because I hate to be a nuisance to the passenger seated next to me. I got subjected to headphone/earphone noise so often on various forms of transport that I am determined not to do it to others, even if I am using the 'noise' to block out other people's noise.

 

[Therma]

My headphones usuall get used to watch the movies. When I listen to music I am also considerate unless the screaching gets too loud (whether from babies or open headphones next door) But since mine fit around the ear I still think they are not so bad

 

[simongr]

I have Ultimate Ears in ear headphones (like the shure ones that NM raves about) which basically block all sound and can't be heard outside that. I have been fortunate with the lack of kids recently - lets hope next week is the same...

 

[drron]

Well off to tassie for a months work and flying DJ to MEL on a Sunday so it looks like 3+ hours of the little screamers again.However I am flying into Burnie from there and if all the males at Burnie airport are still David Boon look alikes my sanity will be restored quickly.

 

[ozscot]

I have Ultimate Ears in ear headphones (like the shure ones that NM raves about) which basically block all sound and can't be heard outside that.

I use Etymotic 6i earphones which you can pick-up on-line in Australia or at most Apple stores when traveling. These are also the type the fit deep within your ear canal and have a rubber flange which forms an air-tight seal.

They take a little getting used to to fit properly, and a good seal is critical to get decent bass, but once fitted correctly they provide excellent isolation from surrounding noise and great sound too. I've asked my wife to check and basically no sound leaks out - even at full volume the person sitting next to you can't hear anything.

I prefer these to say the Bose QuietComfort headphones as they're much smaller, don't require a power source and for me are more comfortable and reproduce the rock type music I play better.

Cheers,
Steve.

 

[admin]

For your interest, this thread has been referenced in the article Guidelines in Response to Degrees of Anti-social Behaviour Airline passengers and children as a case study

You can view the article at Guidelines in Response to Degrees of Anti-social Behaviour

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