Probably a risky topic: kids on planes

[wideeyes]

As parents of generally well behaved children - why should we be put in the rabble! Overall I had four pretty
good long-haul flights with my children last year, I wouldn't have enjoyed my holidays so much if I was made to travel in an area of families only.....

I completely agree with this, Why should families with well behaved children be stuck with other peoples bad behaved children while childless people demand to be away from them just because the don't have children?
Do they think we want someone else's child climbing all over are seat just because we have children? it is puzzling why they think they are so different from parents with young children.

 

[warrior]

I completely agree with this, Why should families with well behaved children be stuck with other peoples bad behaved children while childless people demand to be away from them just because the don't have children?
Do they think we want someone else's child climbing all over are seat just because we have children? it is puzzling why they think they are so different from parents with young children.

But your idea of your children being 'well behaved' may not be the same as someone travelling without children - it's a very tricky (and subjective) area.

Personally I'd be delighted if there was a child free area, most parents believe their child is well behaved but that's because it's their children.

The other point I wanted to make is with regard reclining seats and meals - In the past i've always heard the steward/ess ask a person to sit up when meals are being served. last year this wasn't done and I was struggling to eat my meal as the person infront put their seat back. I asked the stewardess (as she was passing) if she could ask the person to put their seat upright in a loud voice she said to the person infront of me 'Can you put your seat upright as the lady behind is complaining!!'

 

[wideeyes]

I would be very anoyed if I could not get booked on a flight because I had a child, I am sure some people would feel descrimanted against, children are apart of society!

I also don't see why I should have to put up with other peoples badly behaved children just because I have a child more than someone who does not have a child. I only have one child and I am not used to being around lots of children, they give me a headache too! however I put up with it just like you have too! why should you be any different to me? Are we not all apart of the same society and have to tolerate all kinds of people we would not get along with?

Oh and my DD spent the whole flight colouring or watching TV, as an only children she is used to keeping her self occupied. She knows not to kick chairs and slam or bang trays, she would never do it as she would be too scared of the person sat in that seat telling her off!

 

[pixiepower04]

Sandals Resort on wheels - perhaps someone like VA, BA etc should offer an 'adults only' plane service in addition to the current service.

People with children perhaps wouldn't feel discriminated against and people without children wouldn't be so ---------- (fill in the blank!).

Maybe I should patent the idea

 

[PoppyAnna]

But your idea of your children being 'well behaved' may not be the same as someone travelling without children - it's a very tricky (and subjective) area.

Personally I'd be delighted if there was a child free area, most parents believe their child is well behaved but that's because it's their children.

I find it deeply offensive that you think as a parent I don't know the difference between a well and badly behaved child. I am a firm but fair parent, it's tough love in my house - my children DID NOT kick the chair in front, were NOT loud and disruptive, we DO NOT allow them to walk (of run) around the cabin by themselves. They eat their meal or they get nothing else - this is made clear. They spent the flights playing with small toys, playing snap, drawing, colouring, watching TV & films and a little sleep. They weren't angelic like all children they had their "moments", but they were few and short lived, as they know not to get out of hand with us.
I admitted in my other posting that my youngest had been a bit disruptive on one out of four of the long-haul flights she took last year.

A woman from my DD's pre-school was in Orlando with her two children (2 &4) at the same time as us. They bring their children up very differently to us (spoilt, never disciplined) She travelled with TCD, I said we chose Virgin as the seat back TV helps (note: I wasnt being snobby her holiday cost much more than mine). I asked her how she was going to amuse them for 9 hours and her response was that she would let them get out of their seats and walk around and visit her other family members on the flight and she was sure they would "get friendly" with some other children on the flight When I met with her in the MK for a few hours she said the flight had been a nightmare and she had no control of the children.

Believe me, I know the difference.

 

[T16GEM]

Sandals Resort on wheels - perhaps someone like VA, BA etc should offer an 'adults only' plane service in addition to the current service.

People with children perhaps wouldn't feel discriminated against and people without children wouldn't be so ---------- (fill in the blank!).

Maybe I should patent the idea

Then you'd get people saying that they were unable to get a flight becuase there were too many flights that allowed children.

I know that when I travelled with the kids last week I was VERY aware of everything that they did and tried very hard to make the flight as enjoyable for everyone as I could, including those around me, sometimes a meltdown is unavoidable though. I fuly agree with Poppyanna - if we seperate them from the rest of us how will they learn how to behave - and as other posters have said often the adults are far worse behaved than the little ones.

I will continue to take my toddlers on transatlantic flights, and take each minute of the flight as it comes, and deal with the sitations that may arise as best I can, I think that is all anyone can do.

 

[warrior]

I find it deeply offensive that you think as a parent I don't know the difference between a well and badly behaved child. I am a firm but fair parent, it's tough love in my house - my children DID NOT kick the chair in front, were NOT loud and disruptive, we DO NOT allow them to walk (of run) around the cabin by themselves. They eat their meal or they get nothing else - this is made clear. They spent the flights playing with small toys, playing snap, drawing, colouring, watching TV & films and a little sleep. They weren't angelic like all children they had their "moments", but they were few and short lived, as they know not to get out of hand with us.
I admitted in my other posting that my youngest had been a bit disruptive on one out of four of the long-haul flights she took last year.

A woman from my DD's pre-school was in Orlando with her two children (2 &4) at the same time as us. They bring their children up very differently to us (spoilt, never disciplined) She travelled with TCD, I said we chose Virgin as the seat back TV helps (note: I wasnt being snobby her holiday cost much more than mine). I asked her how she was going to amuse them for 9 hours and her response was that she would let them get out of their seats and walk around and visit her other family members on the flight and she was sure they would "get friendly" with some other children on the flight When I met with her in the MK for a few hours she said the flight had been a nightmare and she had no control of the children.

Believe me, I know the difference.

I don't understand why you should feel 'deeply offended' by my comments - As I said it's a very subjective matter. The people who's children you find a problem may think that their children are well behaved, surely it's all relative.

I have been on flights with problem adults but it seems acceptable to address these people but if you address a parent you are viewed as being intolerant.

This is a forum where everyone is entitled to an opinion and I just don't understand why you should feel so 'deeply offended'.

I've travelled with children and no matter how hard you try children will be children. So why is it so unreasonable for people who travel without children to want a child free zone?

 

[pixiepower04]

So should we start having child free zones in Magic Kingdom and Cinderella's Royal Table too, where does the buck stop and aren't we all just forgetting that Orlando is the worlds biggest playground and as such children are the rule and NOT the exception.

I have a DD9 and a DS7 who last travelled in 2004 ages 6 and 4 and like PoppyAnna were well behaved, no kicking chairs, banging, screaming or even crying and yes they know the difference between good behaviour and bad and yes I hate other children misbehaving, I get wound up easily and I can feel my blood pressure rising rapidly.

I won't apologise for this either but i'm quite happy letting a parent of an unruly/rude/disruptive child know that they are giving me grief. If my children are respectful, polite and on the whole well behaved then I expect the same in return.

But kid free zones, get real!

 

[wayneg]

So should we start having child free zones

But kid free zones, get real!

It has already started V&A a few weeks ago announced no kids under 10. Not something I agree with but many do.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...08jan05,0,1847874.story?coll=orl_tab01_layout

 

[warrior]

But kid free zones, get real!

'on a plane'

This thread has totally proved my point, we dare not make any comments about children without being made to feel like the childcatcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!!

The idea was to try and satisfy everyone, but what comes across is that some parents want it all!!

I'm taking cover now!!

 

[Neoshoegal]

Don't the Disney Cruise Line ships have adult only zones?

 

[wideeyes]

so if there is a child free zone on a plane in econ/pe, and I want to book to be on that flight and the plane is all booked apart from the child free zone why should I be told I can't book to be on the flight just because I have a child.

no, it not about parents wanting it all, it is about equality, you think because you are traveling without children you deserve to be away from distruptive children while other people should have to put up with it as they have kids.

 

[wideeyes]

Don't the Disney Cruise Line ships have adult only zones?

Are they refused a room because they are a child? I doubt it, it is a different thing.

 

[Neoshoegal]

I think you'd be surprised how quickly an adult only zone would fill up probably well before any other zone

 

[wideeyes]

I think you'd be surprised how quickly an adult only zone would fill up probably well before any other zone

In the school Holidays? when adults are less likely to travel without children, bit of a strange time to travel if they want to be away from kids!

 

[Neoshoegal]

In the school Holidays? when adults are less likely to travel without children, bit of a strange time to travel if they want to be away from kids!

So now it's strange for adults without kids to travel during school holidays? What people who want to visit family around Christmas or Easter? School staff who don't have kids? People who like to go on vacation during the summer months because of the weather?

You seem think I'm being discriminative towards people with kids, but you seem to be the same towards people without them. Even if your kids are darling angels, that still doesn't mean I'd like to travel with them

Maybe we should make a deal, you don't travel with kids outside of school holidays and we don't travel during school holidays

 

[Neoshoegal]

Are they refused a room because they are a child? I doubt it, it is a different thing.

No they are not refused a room, but they wouldn't be refused a seat on the plane either.

 

[wideeyes]

So now it's strange for adults without kids to travel during school holidays? What people who want to visit family around Christmas or Easter? School staff who don't have kids? People who like to go on vacation during the summer months because of the weather?

These people will only be denied seats if the flight is fully booked as they will be able to book any seats on the plane, however someone on the flight may be unable to book a seat simply because they have a child, so it is not a fair situation.

 

[wideeyes]

No they are not refused a room, but they wouldn't be refused a seat on the plane either.

They could be refused a seat if the only seat left is in this adult only section, everyone should have equal options of booking a seat.

 

[Neoshoegal]

They could be refused a seat if the only seat left is in this adult only section, everyone should have equal options of booking a seat.

but even now everyone doesn't have equal booking options either. If economy is fully booked and there are only seats left in UC, than most people will have accept that they won't be on that flight either.