Southwest Rapid Rewards - WN kicks off noisy child and mom

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2009/10/30/11584506-ap.html

Could be problems for staying at home mom gotten kick off the plane and along with his sons, too. So I think it was not appreciated it for flying on WN out of AMA-SJC from couple days ago. So unfortunately, she want to see with her husband and the 2-years-old child want to see his daddy. So unfortunately, she was accepted apologizes for her own actions during the trip.

I always thought it was the captain that made these types of decisions. So wouldn't the captain (or at least FO) need to witness it? Or did they soley rely on the Flight Attendant(s)?

While I'm sure the company will back him, I'll be bet he'll get his *&%$! chewed out for wasting time and fuel, when there was no safety issue involved.

If this was as extreme as described, I say thank you Southwest. On behalf of all the passengers who've had to put up with "screaming" (quoting the article) kids and parents who didn't parent, I salute you. But get ready, you'll get pounded by people who are outraged (how COULD you?"). But you did the right thing - nobody is asking these kids to be stone silent. Attention parents: if you can't keep your kids from ruining everyone's flight, you have nobody to blame but yourself if get tossed. So mom "grab your bag.....you're off".

If this was as extreme as described, I say thank you Southwest. On behalf of all the passengers who've had to put up with "screaming" (quoting the article) kids and parents who didn't parent, I salute you. But get ready, you'll get pounded by people who are outraged (how COULD you?"). But you did the right thing - nobody is asking these kids to be stone silent. Attention parents: if you can't keep your kids from ruining everyone's flight, you have nobody to blame but yourself if get tossed. So mom "grab your bag.....you're off".

Yes, this is real problems with those kids are scream & is talks too much. I remember where I flown back home from ATL-PHX by couple days ago. I have my seatmate right next to me. Where the father who traveling with his disabled son is too louds and screaming lots. His father is trying to calm him down and he had a feeding tube inside his stomaches. He couldn't feed himself. I chatted with him where I flown back home to Arizona and I told him that I am frequent fliers by Delta for a long time. I am really loves to flying on DL for a long time. So hopefully it won't happening again for my next Europe trip on December 2009.

I applaud Southwest for kicking off this woman and her kid. There are many well behaved kids, but I'm so annoyed with parents who think the world revolves around their child - and it's always that child that is screaming its head off. I read an article today that the woman was "forced" to buy a portable crib and diapers, and stay another night at her parents'. She is seeking a public apology and reimbursement for her flight and the stuff she was "forced" to buy.

Original article:
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_13671032?nclick_check=1

She says she was embarrassed at being kicked off, but (and my opinion only) she should have already been well embarrassed by her unruly child!

I can see where "Go Plane Go" and "I want Daddy" could be cute. He must have been really going off for them to get kicked.

It was on the front page of the San Jose Mercury news. Additionally, there are comments on it at www.mercurynews.com/extra.

For whatever reason, if a person is out of control, and a disturbance to others, appropriate action should be taken. As the plane was on the ground, returning to the terminal was the correct thing to do. The woman apparently wants the airline to pay for expenses due to this, including the need to purchase a portable crib as her baggage was not removed from the flight.

I disagree. I applaud WN for this. Removing the disturbance was the correct thing to do.
There was no reason for passengers to have to listen to this.

I can see where "Go Plane Go" and "I want Daddy" could be cute. He must have been really going off for them to get kicked.

Sorry. I don't think this is cute in the slightest. I've had to fly with kids who were being "cute" so loud that I could hear them even while wearing earplugs. If I had the money for a business venture (and if the airline industry was stable at all) I'd start a company that was 18 and up. No exceptions. ;)

Sorry. I don't think this is cute in the slightest. I've had to fly with kids who were being "cute" so loud that I could hear them even while wearing earplugs. If I had the money for a business venture (and if the airline industry was stable at all) I'd start a company that was 18 and up. No exceptions. ;)

Yeah, I didn't like it too darn loud with those kids onboard the aircraft. It should try to quiet it down during the flight. Next time you should tell the kids to keep be quiet. I remember where my last previously trip back home to PHX by few days ago. I do not appreciate it those kids during the flight out of ATL-PHX. I know one the father and along with his 2-years old disabled son who flown to PHX. He is right next to me. it was too noisy where his son is speaking too darn louds. He couldn't talk and he wearing the glasses & feeding tube inside his stomaches.

+1 on this decision...

If Southwest reserves the right to deny boarding for "questionable attire", then I'm 100% supportive that they prevent unruly passengers (adult or child) from ruining the flying environment as well. Clearly, the booted lady had been watching too much reality tv...as she feels entitled to attention/compensation she's not due.

+1 on this decision...

If Southwest reserves the right to deny boarding for "questionable attire", then I'm 100% supportive that they prevent unruly passengers (adult or child) from ruining the flying environment as well. Clearly, the booted lady had been watching too much reality tv...as she feels entitled to attention/compensation she's not due.

Unfortunately, she got the attention, compensation and apology she wanted:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6695359.html

Now who is gonna be the lucky one to sit near that kid next time?

This is why you let kids board first.

They should have also pulled the luggage off the flight. I see this all the time esp with International flights, if the person gets taken off, so does the luggage.

If this was as extreme as described, I say thank you Southwest. On behalf of all the passengers who've had to put up with "screaming" (quoting the article) kids and parents who didn't parent, I salute you. But get ready, you'll get pounded by people who are outraged (how COULD you?"). But you did the right thing - nobody is asking these kids to be stone silent. Attention parents: if you can't keep your kids from ruining everyone's flight, you have nobody to blame but yourself if get tossed. So mom "grab your bag.....you're off".

Stay home or drive. That's what my family did when I was young.

Unfortunately, she got the attention, compensation and apology she wanted:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6695359.html

Now who is gonna be the lucky one to sit near that kid next time?

The mother's average supporter would most assuredly have a totally different tune had she been breast feeding a child. :rolleyes:

I don't assume Southwest's reasoning was purely for the comfort of other passengers. With a kid as out of control as this one who's to say he wouldn't resist sitting down and wearing his safety belt. If mom can't get him to shut up does anyone really have confidence in her ability to get him to buckle-up? Had the kid been thrown around the cabin at 30K feet I can see the headlines for the lawsuit now "Mom says airline should have known the risk and not allowed now paralyzed kid to travel." Again :rolleyes:

"The crew bounced Root and her son Adam off the San Jose-bound flight because passengers could not hear preflight safety announcements in Amarillo on Monday".

I think this goes a bit past "Go Plane Go" and "I want Daddy".

"The crew bounced Root and her son Adam off the San Jose-bound flight because passengers could not hear preflight safety announcements in Amarillo on Monday".

I think this goes a bit past "Go Plane Go" and "I want Daddy".

... and endangered the safety of other pax. Then WN apologizes to her instead of accepting thanks and accolades from the FAA, NTSB, and WN customers for insuring the safest possible flight. Truly pathetic. WN did right... until they caved to PR gods.

... and endangered the safety of other pax. Then WN apologizes to her instead of accepting thanks and accolades from the FAA, NTSB, and WN customers for insuring the safest possible flight. Truly pathetic. WN did right... until they caved to PR gods.

Give me a frickin break like anyone on here was/would be listening to begin with

what a crock of .... excuse for kicking them off

WN should be paying more than what they did

I don't like screaming kids as much as you but if you are going to kick kids off for screaming.. i have seen a lot of adults who cause more commotion that do not get booted..

Give me a frickin break like anyone on here was/would be listening to begin with

what a crock of .... excuse for kicking them off

WN should be paying more than what they did

I don't like screaming kids as much as you but if you are going to kick kids off for screaming.. i have seen a lot of adults who cause more commotion that do not get booted..

Perhaps those adults should have been booted. WN, like many airlines, will refuse boarding or even deplane a passenger who appears intoxicated. As with an intoxicate person, a child that can not be controlled for screaming might not be able to be controlled when seat belts are required.

If the safety announcement is moot then be done with it. Until then it will still be necessary to give pax a chance at hearing it even if FTers have it memorized.

This article (http://www.mercurynews.com/travel/ci_13680219) states that SW does not regret kicking them off, and I'm glad for that.

I don't see what allowing kids to board first has to do with anything? I'm not around toddlers much anymore, so I really don't know.

As far as the safety announcement goes, while many of us ignore them because we have heard them many many times, it is still protocol. Having a kid wail over the PA so that other passengers can't hear them is akin to not playing them at all, and can you imagine what would happen in the case of an emergency, and people said "SW never told us what to do"???

As far as the safety announcement goes, while many of us ignore them because we have heard them many many times, it is still protocol. Having a kid wail over the PA so that other passengers can't hear them is akin to not playing them at all, and can you imagine what would happen in the case of an emergency, and people said "SW never told us what to do"???

If she could not control the child while the safety announcements were being made, when it is usually calm and quiet, why would anyone assume she could control the child when the pilot comes on amidst turbulence and notifies everyone to be seated and buckle up? Or in the case of an emergency.

I am happy the FA's used the announcement as a baseline standard, which this woman could not meet.

Children has to learn when they need to listen and follow instructions, and perhaps when it is ok to push some boundaries. Problem I see is some parents always relent, because it is just easier for everyone.

Some Children are not capable, as some parents are not capable of making it happen.

However then you run into situations when you need to make them do something, and they think you again don't mean it. I was on a flight the other day, when a 3 year old refused to sit in her seat and put on her seatbelt. OK you say, but we were taking off. This continued throughout the flight and the same thing happened during landing.

Even when asked by the FA to put the toddler in seat belt, parent didn't get it done because child just keep undoing it and crawling out with NO repercussions from parent.

Children has to learn when they need to listen and follow instructions, and perhaps when it is ok to push some boundaries. Problem I see is some parents always relent, because it is just easier for everyone.

Some Children are not capable, as some parents are not capable of making it happen.

However then you run into situations when you need to make them do something, and they think you again don't mean it. I was on a flight the other day, when a 3 year old refused to sit in her seat and put on her seatbelt. OK you say, but we were taking off. This continued throughout the flight and the same thing happened during landing.

Even when asked by the FA to put the toddler in seat belt, parent did get it done because child just keep undoing it and crawling out with NO repercussions from parent.

And had the child been injured during landing I am confident the airline would have to defend themselves in civil court or pay a settlement.

Seems like they are damned if they do and damned if they don't. Preventing injuries is becoming more expensive than just letting them happen and gambling for a cheap settlement. I just wish WN had apologized in a different way. Go ahead and express sympathy for the mother who had to stay another day but be clear that you (WN) took appropriate action and would do it again if the same situation presented itself. The FAA makes many of the rules and will fine an airline for not following them. Let the mother complain to the FAA and we will see no apology from their end.

I just sent southwest a letter saying that they were wrong to apologize to the Mom.

They should NEVER undermine their Flight Attendants for making a safety decision. People couldn't hear crew member instructions because of this little monster and his incompetent mom.

By undermining the authority of their Flight Attendants, they have made Southwest a little less safe for the rest of us.

People couldn't hear crew member instructions because of this little monster and his incompetent mom.Yes, because we all know that EVERYONE on a plane listens to every word during the safety instructions. :rolleyes:

Next time you should tell the kids to keep be quiet. You don't have kids, do you? I can tell because you don't just go up to a 2 year old, tell them to be quiet, and then magically watch them settle down and be...you know...quiet.

Oh...in before the lock.

...you don't just go up to a 2 year old, tell them to be quiet, and then magically watch them settle down and be...you know...quiet. ..Then please enjoy the car ride you seem to advise sharing with such creatures. If they're that unruly, there's the Baby Benadryl (http://consumerist.com/277696/mom-and-toddler-kicked-off-continental-flight-for-talking-too-much) solution isn't there? ;)

Then please enjoy the car ride you seem to advise sharing with such creatures. If they're that unruly, there's the Baby Benadryl (http://consumerist.com/277696/mom-and-toddler-kicked-off-continental-flight-for-talking-too-much) solution isn't there? ;)


Unfortunately it (Baby Benadryl) can have the opposite affect. Is it safe to sedate my baby for travel? (http://www.babycenter.com/404_is-it-safe-to-sedate-my-baby-for-travel_7263.bc)

You don't have kids, do you? I can tell because you don't just go up to a 2 year old, tell them to be quiet, and then magically watch them settle down and be...you know...quiet.

Oh...in before the lock.

Understood. I'm also equally aware that sometimes there's not much a parent can do, but too often there are parents who refuse to do anything because their cherub is too precious to be dealt with. This is not just on airplanes but at restaurants, movies, post offices, banks, stores (grocery and clothing), etc...

In this case you have 2 displaced people vs. a plane full of passengers having to suffer in a locked tin can because of those 2 people. If you're in a public place and your child is screaming, don't act surprised when you're asked to leave. The solution to me seems very simple, and I'm glad Southwest acted on it.

My wife and I travel often with our son and have been doing so since he was about 1 1/2. He is almost 5 now. We would try to schedule flights a little after his nap time and we would keep him awake until we took off. He would be a real tiger in the airport but would normally fall asleep by the time we hit 10,000 feet and wake up just before landing:).

When not flying at naptime and now that he does not nap, we have a DVD player with movies, little toys, coloring books and all kinds of stuff to keep him occupied. Our SW IFE:). You have to have some sort of strategy to entertain the rug rat(s).

I think a 2 year old is a handful for any parent. There is a reason why they call it the terrible two's. That being said I can’t imagine that we couldn't keep our son's noise level low enough to stay on the plane. I have seen a lot of crying, screaming kids on planes and I have never seen them so loud that they were booted off. How loud was this kid? I wish someone on the plane besides the mother was interviewed.

[QUOTE=FlyerX;12744488
.. and I'm glad Southwest acted on it.[/QUOTE]

More specifically, Southwest FAs acted on it but then Southwest ran tuck tailed (tail tucked?).

Seems strange that a Canadian news website would pick this up.

Also, she's not quite a "stay at home Mom" now, is she? :D

Seems strange that a Canadian news website would pick this up.

Also, she's not quite a "stay at home Mom" now, is she? :D

Yes, I am aware of staying at home mom.

You don't have kids, do you? I can tell because you don't just go up to a 2 year old, tell them to be quiet, and then magically watch them settle down and be...you know...quiet.


I agree, and parents these days are in the 'damned if you do and damned if you don't' position if they do discipline their child in public. When I was growing up, a spanking (not a beating) would have solved the problem. Now, you are at risk of firm parental discipline (I'm not suggesting abusing children) putting you in the position of defending yourself with the police or social services. While some behavior issues (maybe even most) are parental problems, anyone that has had more than one child knows that each one is different, some are easy and some are not so easy to raise, even in the same environment.

My issue with this situation is not that the mother and child were removed, but that their luggage was not removed also. If you are going to deny them service then you have a responsibility to give them back their possessions as well. I also find it hard to believe that this child was a 'little angel' while in the terminal or immediately after boarding so this situation should have been resolved before the plane ever left the terminal.

In terms of child vs adult behavior, I was on an AA flight several weeks ago with an adult sitting on the bulkhead and the FA had to tell him no less than four times to put his carry on bag under another seat. Twice, after she stowed the bag somewhere during taxi and takeoff he grabbed it and put it back in front of him at the bulkhead. She was very aggravated with the pax but he stayed on the flight. Childish or adult behavior?

Why don't planes put in a 2-3 of video camera recording activity in the cabin. It would verify any problems/complaints. Also FAs should always ask nearby passengers to volunteer to be witnesses to what happened -- a sure way to get veriification. Cost and weight would be minimal - with a reset/clear of hard drive every day if no incidents occurred.

Why don't planes put in a 2-3 of video camera recording activity in the cabin. It would verify any problems/complaints. Also FAs should always ask nearby passengers to volunteer to be witnesses to what happened -- a sure way to get veriification. Cost and weight would be minimal - with a reset/clear of hard drive every day if no incidents occurred.

If we get a choice, I'd like to vote for an IFE system first. Although pax on delayed flights are generally pretty calm, the extra distraction from the IFE on Virgin America, Frontier, and Jetblue seems to shorten even their longest flights (well, except maybe those Jetblue on-the-tarmac all-nighters...).

I'd like to thank the FA for having enough balls to do this. Excellent job!

I just read about this incident over at "The Consumerist".


Good that WN kicked them off. Not good that WN ultimately compensated them (travel voucher).



That's all.. back to the AA forum I go. :D

I just read about this incident over at "The Consumerist".


Good that WN kicked them off. Not good that WN ultimately compensated them (travel voucher).



That's all.. back to the AA forum I go. :DI agree. Now back to UA for me. ;)

Wait I thought those were the types of PAX that are normally on WN? One of the reasons I refuse to fly them even on 45 minute flights unless there are no alternatives.

Any chance we can get a FT eye witness to this event? It would help clarify what really happened.

I think there is more to the story than lets on.

My gut says this was a clash beteween a mother who gave no effort to calm her kid and mouthed off to the FA/refused the request to try a couple things to calm her child down. Nothing like baby benadryl either--basic parenting stuff like (gasp) offer a small toy to play with, a snack, or accept WN's offer of a free coloring book.

You don't have kids, do you? I can tell because you don't just go up to a 2 year old, tell them to be quiet, and then magically watch them settle down and be...you know...quiet.

Oh...in before the lock.
My daughter never caused any trouble on planes, whether she was 3 months old or now when she flies alone between my house and my ex's at the age of 8.

A 2 year old is plenty easy to control if you don't allow the child to control you. This wasn't a kid in the throes of a tantrum that needed to be calmed, this was a kid speaking (screaming) too loudly.

Parents just don't discipline these days........they need to stop being "best friends" to their children and be PARENTS who do more than provide snacks and "time out". Other 2-3 year olds are behaved, disciplined, trained and don't disrupt an entire planeload of passengers. WN rewarding the parent after the fact left what message ???

I'd like to thank the FA for having enough balls to do this. Excellent job!

I just sent southwest a letter saying that they were wrong to apologize to the Mom.

They should NEVER undermine their Flight Attendants for making a safety decision. People couldn't hear crew member instructions because of this little monster and his incompetent mom.

By undermining the authority of their Flight Attendants, they have made Southwest a little less safe for the rest of us.

I sent a letter to WN too. Just got the response in my email box (bolding mine):
Dear Evan!,

Thank you for taking the time to voice your thoughts regarding another Customer's experience in Amarillo on October 26. As we know you appreciate, the Safety of our Customers is the number one priority for every Southwest Employee. Our Flight Attendants are trained to follow all Safety procedures to ensure comfortable and safe travel in the manner that every one of our Customers so deeply deserve. Although it is extremely rare for us to remove a Customer from a flight under any circumstances, with Safety first, we support our Crew’s decision. Again, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. Your patronage is important to us, and we hope to have the privilege of serving your future air travel needs.

Sincerely,

Michelle, Southwest Airlines

How can Michelle, representing WN, say "...with Safety first, we support our Crew’s decision." ???? It is apparent by the press release that WN does NOT support their Crew's (capitalized?) decisions or they wouldn't have apologized and rewarded the mother with $.

I now have a new formula for success! (If you measure success by easy money.)
1) Get kicked off a WN plane
2) Get press coverage
3) Make sure you involve a child
4) Make sure a cute-as-can-be picture of the child is part of the press coverage
5) Bank the apology money (voucher)!

Gee, and here I was taught to go to school, get a good job, live by the golden rule, and remember that my kids are not everyone's kids. All this time all I really needed was a good press agent.

It's called sucking up to everyone in sight. Collectively the picture might look a bit mangled but they are trying to please everyone. Backing up the FA does not mean that they can't also try to appease & shut up the mother.

I think there is more to the story than lets on.

My gut says this was a clash beteween a mother who gave no effort to calm her kid and mouthed off to the FA/refused the request to try a couple things to calm her child down. Nothing like baby benadryl either--basic parenting stuff like (gasp) offer a small toy to play with, a snack, or accept WN's offer of a free coloring book.

That was my reaction, too. There are usually two sides to the story - the mother got the initial news hype but I'll be the FAs would tell a different story.

Although as a parent I am generally sympathetic, I'd be willing to bet that this kid was out of control and the parent wasn't doing her job. WN FA's deal with rowdy kids and toddlers every day and you don't read about them getting kicked off planes.

Our 3-year old has been on 60+ flights - mostly on WN - and we've never had any problems. Of course, we are sure to bring plenty of food, liquids, books, games, toys, etc. And if he were to yell my hand would be covering his mouth in an instant.

It's hard to determine whether the compensation was appropriate, given all the facts we don't know, but certainly makes sense from a PR standpoint.

Nb. Benadryl is not a good idea unless you've tested first - some kids (like ours) have an opposite reaction and become hyper. :eek:

The more difficult situation is when you have an autistic child (or adult) where you would be required to transport them or risk ADA violation (assuming there were no safety issues).

I don't call it supporting the FAs if the public gets the message that anything goes and the FAs are never entitled to boot you. IMHO, Southwest cannot have this both ways. When you back your employees, you should do it publicly. JMO.

It seems there are many articles from many sources indicating WN apologized for them being taken off the flight. I believe the media is dropping wording and it is appearing in articles that WN did not support the crew. Here is something from an earlier link in this same thread. Here's an excerpt from the article I'm refering to:

But Southwest spokeswoman Marilee McInnis told the Mercury News the airline did not regret its decision to yank Pamela Root and her son, Adam, off the plane — which flight attendants made in the interests of safety, she said — just the inconvenience it caused the family.


http://www.mercurynews.com/travel/ci_13680219

But Southwest spokeswoman Marilee McInnis told the Mercury News the airline did not regret its decision to yank Pamela Root and her son, Adam, off the plane — which flight attendants made in the interests of safety, she said — just the inconvenience it caused the family.

That's BS. Southwest does not compensate drunks for being booted, so why this lady? The public views compensation as an admission of fault, and they are correct to do so. Southwest is wrong in trying to have it both ways. That cannot be done, as much as Southwest would wish it do be so. JMO again.

If Southwest wants to compensate these people, buy them a ticket on another airline and blacklist them so they can never fly Southwest again. THAT is what I would call supporting the FAs and minimizing inconvenience, except to the customers of the other airline.

SWA is saying that the crew made the correct decision removing the mother and child but, since this wasn't a situation where someone was intentionally behaving badly they regret the inconvenience that their action caused the family. I don't see anything inconsistant with that.

That's BS. Southwest does not compensate drunks for being booted, so why this lady? The public views compensation as an admission of fault, and they are correct to do so. Southwest is wrong in trying to have it both ways. That cannot be done, as much as Southwest would wish it do be so. JMO again.


^

Thank you Southwest!!!! Go plane go!!

There is an even better way to shut up a screaming child. Instead of putting your hand over the mouth, clamp your fingers on his nose so he has to breathe out of his mouth. Cannot scream and breathe at the same time. Kids HATE it and eventually stop the screaming to get you to let go of their nose. No harm to the kid. I had to do it once on a flight with a kid that was not mine. Mine were along and were aghast at the other kid's behavior. Everyone around was glaring. Screaming children are very high pitched and amazingly loud. This kid was not crying, he was screaming with no letup in sight.

Interestingly, just about the time this hit the news, we were on a train to SF where a grandmother boarded with a 2 yr old. This girl also screamed at full tilt - I WANT MY MOMMY!-over and over. Grandma tried soothing, food, etc and nothing was working. They sat right next to my husband and me. About the time I was ready to move to another car - not an option on a plane - she calmed down. Anyone besides me remember the old "Shut up or I will give you something to cry about!" Especially coming from Dad, it was an instant shape up!

Kids HATE it and eventually stop the screaming to get you to let go of their nose. No harm to the kid. I had to do it once on a flight with a kid that was not mine. Mine were along and were aghast at the other kid's behavior. Everyone around was glaring. Screaming children are very high pitched and amazingly loud. This kid was not crying, he was screaming with no letup in sight.

Have I got this right? You did this to a child that was not yours on a flight? You reached out on your own and grabbed some unknown child by the nose and held it to stop them from screaming/crying/whatever??

WN should be paying more than what they did

I disagree. I would not have given her a dime, nor an apology.

I applaud WN for their actions.

I don't like screaming kids as much as you but if you are going to kick kids off for screaming.. i have seen a lot of adults who cause more commotion that do not get booted..

I agree with this.

There is an even better way to shut up a screaming child. Instead of putting your hand over the mouth, clamp your fingers on his nose so he has to breathe out of his mouth. Cannot scream and breathe at the same time. Kids HATE it and eventually stop the screaming to get you to let go of their nose. No harm to the kid. I had to do it once on a flight with a kid that was not mine. Mine were along and were aghast at the other kid's behavior. Everyone around was glaring. Screaming children are very high pitched and amazingly loud. This kid was not crying, he was screaming with no letup in sight.

This is the sort of thing I have fantasies about having the nerve to do. ^

I guess we all have to pack clothespins in our travel bag.

"Ma'am, would you like to borrow my De-volumeizer for your child? Please feel free to keep it after you are finished.....":p

Wood or plastic? :D

Saw this story as well.

You can always try to calm the kid down, but your not always successful. I have had crying babies on flights before. They generally stop after 5 or 10 minutes and everyone moves on. This toddler didn't apparently, that's why they were asked to get off.

I remain neutral on this one.