Originally Posted by
bse118
And how does that translate to an expectation that the airline should compensate an annoyed passenger?
Answer: it doesn't.
It's public transport...sometimes on public transport you get a less than ideal travelling companion. Wether that's a crying baby, a barking dog, someone who forgot their deodorant, someone who ignores the headphone jack on thier tablet, or some DYKWIA on a power trip. Want it perfect everytime - fly private.
This thread...
And you are missing the point. A child that screams for a prolonged period of time is an abnormal event and one most likely avoided. The issue isn't the short crying fits children can have. The parents had an obligation to calm the child or to not fly if the child was physically or emotionally unfit to travel. Physically or emotionally unfit children are not secrets and they do not appear magically. If the guardian is aware of the condition and still flies, the guardian is responsible for the noise event.
The airline has a vicarious liability because it controls the cabin and did not do its utmost to ensure the complainant customer's enjoyment of use of the cabin paid for. The airline has the option of seating children in a specific section of the aircraft, and it also has an option of excluding young children from the premium cabin. The airline did not do this.