First/Business Class: Should there be age restrictions?
#226
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: OH
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I recently flew first class to Costa Rica with my 2 yo. I took a whole backpack of snacks and toys to make time go faster. She was very good except for the last 20 minutes when she announced "all done" and wanted to get up. Heck, I felt all done too and she quoted down quickly. I didn't sleep a wink on the flight because I was working to ensure my daughter was happy and well behaved. Too many parents view flight time as time to stop parenting. This doesn't change by whatever cabin they are in.
I will continue to book first when I can and will continue to be an active and involved parent.
And to the OP asking about why take kids on vacations they won't remember: while my daughter likely won't remember this trip, it was a chance for her Costa Rican family (I was an exchange student with them 25 years ago) to meet her. I doubt my host parents are going to live much longer and it gave them immense happiness to meet their American grand baby.
#227
formerly declinespecificinformatiom
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 1,140
Originally Posted by You want to go where? View Post
Personally, I think the one thing that airlines can do is both empower and require their flight attendants to be stricter with those that disrupt the cabin whether they be adults or children. If parents are being too permissive with their children, then the FAs have to spring into action. Tell the parents that they will be offloaded or banned from the airline if they don't keep their children under control. Threaten the same banishment to overly intoxicated/self-important passengers.
Would you be willing to say the same thing but change the world "children" to "mentally handicapped"?
Children seem to be the only acceptable target for bigotry these days on FT. Lots of children aren't treated as equals and enslaved all around the world.
Personally, I think the one thing that airlines can do is both empower and require their flight attendants to be stricter with those that disrupt the cabin whether they be adults or children. If parents are being too permissive with their children, then the FAs have to spring into action. Tell the parents that they will be offloaded or banned from the airline if they don't keep their children under control. Threaten the same banishment to overly intoxicated/self-important passengers.
Would you be willing to say the same thing but change the world "children" to "mentally handicapped"?
Children seem to be the only acceptable target for bigotry these days on FT. Lots of children aren't treated as equals and enslaved all around the world.
#229
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#230
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I have to admit, I laughed at both of those.
#231
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If parents are being too permissive with their children, then the FAs have to spring into action. Tell the parents that they will be offloaded or banned from the airline if they don't keep their children under control. Threaten the same banishment to overly intoxicated/self-important passengers.
Attacking and threatening people who offend you is easier on an Internet keyboard than nose to nose.
#232
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Originally Posted by You want to go where?
Personally, I think the one thing that airlines can do is both empower and require their flight attendants to be stricter with those that disrupt the cabin whether they be adults or children.
We've had some threads here that question whether FAs have abused this power as well, playing the "security" card for minor issues.
That said, if an FA feels like a passenger is genuinely disruptive to the cabin, causing some sort of safety or security issue, they can and will take action...sometimes offloading the offenders themselves and sometimes having the police do it.
#233
Join Date: May 2004
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Would you be willing to say the same thing but change the world "children" to "mentally handicapped"?
Children seem to be the only acceptable target for bigotry these days on FT. Lots of children aren't treated as equals and enslaved all around the world.
Children are not adults and cannot and should not be treated as such. Is it slavery to tell a child he is not allowed to drink alcohol or to vote in elections? It is simply lazy thinking to not distinguish the difference between placing reasonable restrictions on children and their enslavement (and yes, I do agree that child enslavement is a problem).
I also agree with others that I see more problem adults than children which is why my suggestion incorporated them as well.
As far as the 'mentally handicapped' are concerned, yes, the same prevails. You are of course unaware that my brother was mentally handicapped and I flew with him many, many times. Don't mistake my firm belief that there need to be minimum standards for flying on an airplane which flight attendants need to enforce with an intolerance of diversity. My concerns are about the extremes of behavior not minor things.
For what it's worth, they already are empowered to do this, and every few weeks we see a news story where they use this empowerment for various reasons.
We've had some threads here that question whether FAs have abused this power as well, playing the "security" card for minor issues.
That said, if an FA feels like a passenger is genuinely disruptive to the cabin, causing some sort of safety or security issue, they can and will take action...sometimes offloading the offenders themselves and sometimes having the police do it.
We've had some threads here that question whether FAs have abused this power as well, playing the "security" card for minor issues.
That said, if an FA feels like a passenger is genuinely disruptive to the cabin, causing some sort of safety or security issue, they can and will take action...sometimes offloading the offenders themselves and sometimes having the police do it.
#234
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: BA blue, LH Senator, KQ (FB) gold
Posts: 8,215
One of the first things FAs learn in training is that threats and confrontation do not make things better in a confined space. They make things worse. There are wiser ways of deescalating situations involving drunks, lechers, mile-high-clubbers, DYKWIAs, nervous flyers... and kids, who are typically the least trouble of that set.
Attacking and threatening people who offend you is easier on an Internet keyboard than nose to nose.
Attacking and threatening people who offend you is easier on an Internet keyboard than nose to nose.
#235
Join Date: Jun 2012
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That is, perhaps because they are not equals. Maturation is happening and isn't completed. Of course the parental control is 99% of the problem but children are not adults, are not equal in either reasoning or understanding and do need to be taught as they grow. And yes, I do have a degree in child psychology.
#236
Join Date: Mar 2015
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And why on earth should they be treated as equals? Do they contribute equally to society? Do they have the same level of maturity?
#238
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Clearly there's a happy medium somewhere, and clearly there are FA's on both ends of the spectrum...ones that are hesitant to use their power even for a serious situation and others who will summon the police in the name of "security" if you look at them funny.
#239
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: IAD
Programs: UA, Virgin, Amex Plat
Posts: 4
I will jump in here...
My daughter has been flying F or Business international since she was two. I have had FA thank my husband and me for having such a polite child. Compared to the drunk adults, there is no question that she is better behaved.
I think that without question, when traveling with a minor, be it in First or Coach, is all a matter of expectations. We expect good behavior, and only exceptional behavior is rewarded (e.g. no flare ups during long delays or missed connections). That said, I have no patience for people who complain about kids but say nothing about the drunk idiot who is watching soft-porn on his laptop in full view my fourteen-year-old daughter.
Honestly, can't we behave in F (or on a plane for that matter) as we would in a nice restaurant? *sigh*
My daughter has been flying F or Business international since she was two. I have had FA thank my husband and me for having such a polite child. Compared to the drunk adults, there is no question that she is better behaved.
I think that without question, when traveling with a minor, be it in First or Coach, is all a matter of expectations. We expect good behavior, and only exceptional behavior is rewarded (e.g. no flare ups during long delays or missed connections). That said, I have no patience for people who complain about kids but say nothing about the drunk idiot who is watching soft-porn on his laptop in full view my fourteen-year-old daughter.
Honestly, can't we behave in F (or on a plane for that matter) as we would in a nice restaurant? *sigh*
#240
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Some people--adults and kids--don't behave that well in nice restaurants.