I never had a problem with kids in business class or first class even with screaming kids as after all they are kids. If one can afford to even let their kids travel in F/J class, we shouldn't be discrimating them. I think most of the time it's the kids' parents which piss us off. On my YYZ - YYC flight Saturday, a dad turn on his laptop to let his kid watch "Austin Powers" with the volume turned up so loud (no headphones) that he was sitting in row 2 and I was in row 5, I can clearly hear the dialouges. The kid was behaving very good throughout the whole flight, it was ultimately the parents which made the kid look bad. Everyone around was staring at him and he didn't stop.

On another recent flight, kid behind was walking in and out pushing my seatback but it wasn't his fault. The parent told him "If you are bored, just walk around..." so he was in and out, in and out... I finally turned around and said "Would you mind?"

Have you guys had similar experience?

This is one of the topic that ressurects every few months.

You said it yourself, it's about the parents not the kids.

We took our kids (son age 4 and daughter age 16 months) to Australia over the holidays. My kids are generally well behaved, and it was no exception on the flights on UA in C. Sure they weren't perfect, but their impatience lasted about 10 minutes out of 20 hours.

You just need to bring enough of the right stuff to keep them amused. It helps to have FAs that are understanding and responsive. And ours were for the most part on all segments.

Other passengers also need to realize that the world we live in has kids that fly on planes with parents that aren't as accustomed to doing so with kids. You have the right to clue them in in some constructive fashion as to how to possibly better entertain their kids when they become anoying. But cut them some slack, flying with kids can be challenging for even the most considerate parents.

Echelon is right. Most of the time, it is the PARENTS who are to blame for the behavior of their children.

Part of this is to know your kids. My kids are very well behaved in public places. Funny story: We'd taken the kids out to dinner at a nicer restaurant in town. All of a sudden, Victoria (2.5) shouts, "EXCUSE ME, I BURPED!" About a dozen people turned and started laughing.

But as well-behaved as they are, they have their limits. Confining them to a seat for more than 2 hours would be very difficult, even if you do bring along a carry-on full of distractions.

Parents have an obligation to correct bad behavior. You can't blame a small child for kicking a seat. You CAN blame a parent for permitting it to continue.

Parents do need understanding and sympathy. If you see a parent is trying to control junior, cut him/her a litle slack. They are both (A) closer to the source of the noise, and (B) mortified (hopefully) by the display.

A parent who isn't bothering to put down the newspaper while junior does his impression of "Raid on Entebbe" is a different story. I have no sympathy with these types. I've said some things to these people (whether on a plane or not), and sometimes get a hostile response. I'm astonished at how many times people were simply oblivious to the fact their child was out of control.

Empress: As for the movie, I would have said something. I would have simulataneous complimented the parent for trying to keep the child involved and the child for his/her behavior, but request the volume be turned down a bit.

Do the airline headphones use an 1/8" plug? Offer to buy a pair. Sure, it's unfair that you have to shell out the $5 or whatever, but is peace and quiet worth $5?

Finally, don't forget that you can help yourself out while looking like the good guy. I always have paper and pens in my laptop bag - a wonderful distraction for a child whose parents have forgotten to bring them.

I also pack a couple of breakfast bars. They are something to hold me over if I get hungry, but they are also wonderful for bribing kids.

I've met some really nice moms and dads by bribing their kids. Plus it was an education for mom and dad - who noticed how effectively the breakfast bars were at quieting junior down. Hopefully it contributes to quieter skies in the future.



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"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."

Isn't taking food from a stranger a no-no?

When I was a kid i recall sitting in a restaurant watching another screaming kid. I remember my dad saying something like, "screaming kids in public places do not bother me, so long as they are not my children"

TW

I was lunching this week with a client/friend who'd just flown PHL-SEA in F on US. He was Chairman's Preferred or whatever on US (sorry, not up to speed on US elite levels) but complained mildly that he'd been surrounded by kids in the F cabin and had contemplated moving back to coach to get some peace and quiet!

The story was: my friend in 2B. Two-year-old in 1B. Two-year's-old's dad in 3B, engrossed in business discussion with associate in 3A, ignoring his child up ahead. Kid spent flight standing on his seat trying to get his dad's attention.

You can't blame the kid, really... in fact, virtually every time I see a child melt down on a plane, it's because the adults/parents involved are ignoring the child.

I travel often with my 5-year-old and, if I do say so myself, he is an experienced, well-behaved air passenger. But I wouldn't take him into F with me -- I do believe it's supposed to be an adult environment -- and when we're flying together, keeping him occupied and even-keeled is my first and only full-time job.

I remember killing 5 hours once on a flight to hawaii... I brought a bag of rubber bands along and made a rubber band ball. It has to be the most mindless activity, but it kept me busy... I still have the rubber band ball to the day.

On all flights involving childrend, I've noticed problems with the descent. Children don't know how to clear their ears and have fits because of the changing pressure. Make sure the kids have some ice to chew on at the top of the descent.

I do remember a recent JFK-LAX flight on AA in C. Behind my row, there were two children and their father in a 2-wide center row on a 767. They made constant noise. They decided to "play Barbie" on the floor, and their game extended too far into the aisle. I was livid, but as a lowly non-rev afraid to say/do anything, and idiomatically bit my lip. My seat-mate remarked about how the children were kicking and knocking his seat.

Obviously one of the children could pass as under 2 years old. If you are that young, you shouldn't be up front, even if the parents are willing to pay full sticker for the seat, it isn't appropriate to others who pay full price to get away from coach and children. I think 6 years is an appropriate cut-off for premium cabins on 3-class flights.

- Derek

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50 cents an hour not a big Advantage?
Be paid $20-$120 an hour with BePaid.
http://www.bepaid.com/users.rhtml?REFID=10063853

Derek: I love your rubber band ball idea. Keeping a pack of rubberbands in a carry-on to hand out when necessary could be a great idea, well as long as it doesn't start any rubberband fights. Never made one though - I assume you need a plastic or rubber ball to serve as the inner core to stretch the bands around??

The topic was young children in First or Business, not coach. I could not care less if they are back there.

MAny international airlines such as Delta and Lufthansa do not allow children under 6 in Business class anyway.

Speaking of this however, I was recently on an AF flight CDG-JFK where the cabin crew instantly upgraded a young family with two small children into Business. These people nwere obviously AF employees. The children screamed and kicked the entire flight (they were right behind me). I complained to the purser who did nothing except send a FA who basically palyed with the kids for 5 minutes and then went back to drink her coffee with the rest of the crew.

For $5,000 for a ticket I do not ever want to hear screaming children.

I complained to AF who sent me a $200 certificate. A**HOLES.

Recently I flew from HKG to Adelaide, Australia on Cathay Pacific. At check in I was informed that I was flagged for one of those mysterious upgrades to business class. I was very happy until the check-in bloke realised I was travelling with a 11 year old boy. He apologised and informed me that they do not upgrade kids. Needless to say my son was not too happy especially considering he holds gold status (Canadian). But this did not phase CX. It seems Oneworld privileges do not apply to the younger crowd.

Anyway the Mrs. took her upgrade to business class and I stayed in steerage with my son. I never saw her for the entire flight - Business class changed her into a pompous traveller. Oh well! It was the best flight she ever had. As for me - well!

Actually, I learned the art of Rubber-band-balling at a young age (wait a minute, I still am at a young age )... chicks dig it! I usually start with a quarter, but I can even use a dime. Eventually it goes from a disc to a sphere... about the time it's golfball sized. The thinner rubber bands will be more uniform in shape and easier to work with, but the ball will grow slower... I think there needs to be a perfected combination of thin ones to start and thick ones for once it's spherical.

Teaching the kids to make a rubber band ball will give them attention, too. Eventually they'll get the hang of it. It's not for the little ones as rubber isn't a major food group.

But watch out, the rubber wears off... they were serving little pan pizzas with cookie time. Every piece of the crust I touched ended up tasting like rubber... it was pretty bad.

Does this belong in OMNI??? I digress.

- Derek

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50 cents an hour not a big Advantage?
Be paid $20-$120 an hour with BePaid.
http://www.bepaid.com/users.rhtml?REFID=10063853

Thanks, Derek. Ya just never know what you might learn on FlyerTalk.

I flew with my family from JFK to YVR on Cathay last December and we got one of those unasked for upgrades to Business. My children are ages 8years and 19 months. Cathay had no problem with all of us in Business and went out of their way to take care of the childrens needs.

Tango - you must be better looking than me. Lately I have found CX to be consistently second rate or should I say - they aint what they used to be.