First/Business Class: Should there be age restrictions?
Aug 29, 2010, 3:24 pm
#31
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Washington State
Programs: Delta Platinum, Marriott Gold
Posts: 330
Not what dg said
Is the thought of someone in a wheelchair boarding before a so-called Elite really such a problem?
I have a relative who is wheelchair bound and I assure you she would gladly swap her early boarding privileges on aircraft and Disneyland with you if you'd take the hand she has been dealt.
I have a relative who is wheelchair bound and I assure you she would gladly swap her early boarding privileges on aircraft and Disneyland with you if you'd take the hand she has been dealt.
He suggested using the general boarding lane rather than the elite lane. He did not say that elite should precede wheelchairs.
Aug 29, 2010, 3:27 pm
#32
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: DC|NYC
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Posts: 3,201
Aug 29, 2010, 4:53 pm
#33
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: OAK
Programs: AS MVPG 100k
Posts: 3,756
Is the thought of someone in a wheelchair boarding before a so-called Elite really such a problem?
I have a relative who is wheelchair bound and I assure you she would gladly swap her early boarding privileges on aircraft and Disneyland with you if you'd take the hand she has been dealt.
I have a relative who is wheelchair bound and I assure you she would gladly swap her early boarding privileges on aircraft and Disneyland with you if you'd take the hand she has been dealt.
Aug 29, 2010, 5:24 pm
#34
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 698
[QUOTEi do not recall any non-resort hotel, or any restaurant with a no children policy.[/QUOTE]
There is a list here of restaurants which have various child-restriction policies, including a number which have a flat "no children under age n" policy.
A Google search on hotels "no children" turns up a lot of hits, at least some of which seem to be non-resort hotels. Many of them seem to be smaller British hotels.
There is a list here of restaurants which have various child-restriction policies, including a number which have a flat "no children under age n" policy.
A Google search on hotels "no children" turns up a lot of hits, at least some of which seem to be non-resort hotels. Many of them seem to be smaller British hotels.
Aug 29, 2010, 5:36 pm
#35
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: chicago
Posts: 149
This is not a new point to make re: this chestnut of a topic, but most of the disruption I've seen in premium cabins is caused by rude or drunken adults, and a polite child is usually much better flying company than a grown-up jerk.
A lunatic adult flipping out over window shade position, meal choice availability, getting cut off from the bar cart, coming on to FAs and female pax, etc., is far more annoying to me than an excited child.
If it were possible to exclude all rude, stupid, or out-of-control people from business and first class I'd be all for it. Sadly it's not, and it is public transport as planemechanic says, so... stiff upper lip.
A lunatic adult flipping out over window shade position, meal choice availability, getting cut off from the bar cart, coming on to FAs and female pax, etc., is far more annoying to me than an excited child.
If it were possible to exclude all rude, stupid, or out-of-control people from business and first class I'd be all for it. Sadly it's not, and it is public transport as planemechanic says, so... stiff upper lip.
btw, i LOVE your sig line!
Aug 29, 2010, 6:00 pm
#37
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
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Posts: 21,690
I took an AC flight Tuesday from IAH to FCO (still here now) and had a less than pleasant experience in Executive Business Class. The cabin (about 2/3 full) included a family of five-2 parents and 3 children about 7,4 & 2. After this flight I firmly believe that there should be at least a minimum age of 12 to travel in the business class cabin. Like dining in a nicer restaurant I don't expect to be subjected to someone elses screaming children after paying a hefty premium (in either dollars or miles). Plus, the pod style seats basically leave these kids sitting alone. To top off the eight hour nightmare, the 4 year old "had an accident" soaking the seat. The next person assigned to that seat is really going to appreciate that little surprise! I don't hate children, have my own, but would never think about subjecting people paying a premium to their antics.
I suggest an age restriction that varies based on whatever year you were born to exclude you so that you never have to travel in Executive Business class again. That should solve your problem.
Aug 29, 2010, 6:16 pm
#38
Join Date: May 2008
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC*SE, SPG Gold, HH D
Posts: 1,130
I'm of the opinion that anyone who disrupts my flight should be hogtied, duct-taped, and thrown into the cargo hold for the remainder of my flight, whether that's the screaming 2 year old two rows back or the drunk DYKWIA in C.
But I'm mean that way
But I'm mean that way
Aug 29, 2010, 6:50 pm
#39
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: louisville,ky usa
Programs: Delta Platinum, HH Diamond, , AA Gold, Bonvoy Titaniu
Posts: 619
My observation has been that drunk pax are far more frequently disruptive than children. And yes, as a FA I did have to deal with more drunk ADULTS misplaced urine than childrens (ok, in all honesty, neither was frequent- three incidents of drunk adults urinating either outide the lav or in their seat and one incident of a toddler throwing up down the neck of the pax in the row in front of them in my 5 years flying).
But, I am amazed that a child was permitted to punch passengers in the arm more than once. As a FA, i would have told the mother that she needed to keep the child in his seat 'for safety reasons' and that the child could not be permitted to touch other passengers. As a pax, I would have told the child directly, in no uncertian terms, not to touch me again. If the child then hit me again, i would repeat my message, loudly, directly into the child's face, while VERY FIRMLY holding his arm.
But, I am amazed that a child was permitted to punch passengers in the arm more than once. As a FA, i would have told the mother that she needed to keep the child in his seat 'for safety reasons' and that the child could not be permitted to touch other passengers. As a pax, I would have told the child directly, in no uncertian terms, not to touch me again. If the child then hit me again, i would repeat my message, loudly, directly into the child's face, while VERY FIRMLY holding his arm.
Aug 29, 2010, 8:59 pm
#40
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA Plat, DL GM and Flying Colonel; Bonvoy Platinum
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In about a million actual flight miles, the great majority of the unpleasant passengers I've encountered have been over 21 - often a lot over. I have yet to see a child with a "do you know who I am?" attitude, a desire to get roaring or sick drunk, a compulsion to sell me insurance, or a need to convert me to his version of the true faith. I have encountered adults with all of these. Perhaps adults shouldn't be allowed in J.
Aug 30, 2010, 10:36 am
#43
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Aug 30, 2010, 5:40 pm
#44
Join Date: May 2008
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC*SE, SPG Gold, HH D
Posts: 1,130
I'd love to say you're exaggerating, but I've seen elite tags on handbags before. Sigh.
Aug 30, 2010, 8:34 pm
#45
Join Date: Oct 2003
Programs: MP, 1K 1MM
Posts: 1,255
EEK!
I think PB3 hit it: there's financial motivation for the airlines to sell as many elite class tix to as many pax as possible, regardless of the age of the pax.
A recent flight had a 2 year-old behaving badly for most of the 5-6 hour flight as the rest of the family sat 2 x 2 in business, mom across the aisle with an infant in her lap. When the kickee finally turned around and barked at the child, the youngster settled down, though Mom was quick to reply "He's only 2!!!!"
My seatmate put down his paper, eyed me over his specs and said, "Nevertheless, it worked."^
A recent flight had a 2 year-old behaving badly for most of the 5-6 hour flight as the rest of the family sat 2 x 2 in business, mom across the aisle with an infant in her lap. When the kickee finally turned around and barked at the child, the youngster settled down, though Mom was quick to reply "He's only 2!!!!"
My seatmate put down his paper, eyed me over his specs and said, "Nevertheless, it worked."
^