[QUOTE]Originally posted by paradocs:
Paul, I have boys ages 13 & 16. I have NO qualms about them in Coach and my husband and me in First. Why would I want to spend the miles to upgrade them? They are comfortable in Coach,

Hi Paradocs, judeging by your kids age and since they seem to travel alot, why not let them upgrade themselves with their miles. Thats the way it was for me in the late 80's early 90's when I was around that age. My parents would buy Y tickets, and I would use my miles to upgrade. If the trip was short, I would decline and save the miles for times when I wouldnt have parents to pay for the tickets. But that being said, I traveled enough at that age to upgrade on trips to Europe or Hawaii, but saved the miles on trips to FLA or other domestic places.

SPIDER - "Infants are NOT full fare paying passengers, so why should they spoil the trip for everyone else" WOW, I DID NOT REALISE THAT INFANTS CAN GET CREDIT CARDS NOWADAYS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO BE FULL FARE PAYING PASSENGERS.
I seriously object to any noise which interrupts my sleep. ANY NOISE HUH, DO YOU HAVE A DIRECT LINE TO GOD WHEN THE THUNDER CLAPS SHAKE THE PLANE OR WHEN SOMEONE FLUSHES THE TOILET EVERY 15 MINUTES, OR THE INTERCOM TELLS EVERYONE TO FASTEN THEIR SEAT BELTS IN THE TURBULENCE ? GEE YOU MUST BE A REAL FUN PERSON TO BE AROUND AND A DEDICATED PARENT
Noisy kids should remain in coach , HEY MAKE A SUGGESTION TO THE AIRLINE THAT THEY SHOULD BUILD A TRAVELLING NURSERY IN COACH OR TOW A KIDDIE TRAILERGLIDER
as they have nothing to do in business (IT'S USUALLY WHERE MOMMIE'S MILK SUPPLY IS(unless they are a business accessory) HEY THAT’S A NEW NAME TO BE ADDED TO THE OXFORD DICTIONARY UNDER ‘INFANT, AKA BUSINESS ACCESSORY”
nor in 1st HEY, WHAT WAS THAT US AIRLINE THAT CARRIED A PET PIG IN FIRST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO ?.
However, I do not blame the kids but rather their parents who should have more respect for their fellow premium travelers. ACTUALLY THE INFANTS’ VOCABULARY DOES NOT EXTEND TO FETCH ME A DOUBLE BREAST MILK OR CAN YOU CHANGE MY UNDIES, SO THEY CRY WHEN THEY ARE HUNGRY AND WHEN THEY ARE WET. I AM SURE YOU WOULD HAPPILY SIT THERE WHEN YOU JUST TOOK A DUMP IN YOUR PANTS BEING THE OBVIOUSLY CONSIDERATE PERSON YOU ARE .
Bringing a noisy infant into a premium cabin just shows arrogance and disrespect since most passengers there travel on business (YOU PRESUME TOO MUCH) and need to be well rested for their upcoming trade meetings (I GUESS YOU WORK FOR MOTHERCARE, HUH ?).
HOW ABOUT THIS- SUGGEST TO THE AIRLINE THAT THEY
-ADVISE THE PARENTS TO TAKE THE TRAIN
-SEND THE KID BY FEDEX TO BE HANDED OVER AT THE ARRIVAL GATE
-SEDATE THE KID AND SEND IT IN THE HOLD WITH THE CANINES AND PETS
KINDA REMINDS ME OF A GUY I KNEW MANY YEARS AGO, A PERSON OF SUCH IMPORTANCE THAT HE REFUSED TO ALLOW HIS CHAUFFEUR TO TRAVEL IN HIS LIMO WITH HIM

Marco Polo:

1) Please don't scream.
2) Your arrogant comments are totally inappropriate in this instance since you seem to like to accuse others, yet you avoid to explain yourself. If this is in retaliation to me suggesting in OneWorld forum that you might have mistaken ORD for Orlando, FL then you really need some serious help. How would you like me to accuse you of telling lies based on the fact that in AA and OneWorld forums you have claimed that there is NO Admiral's Club at ORD and that you dined at Burger King at ORD?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum71/HTML/002364.html http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum83/HTML/000394.html

edited to add the links.

[This message has been edited by Spider (edited 01-21-2001).]

A point to add after reading the string of messages on this topic is that what are we defining as Kids?

I normally find that it is the older kids (10-16) that are the problem passengers.

Several times recently in Business I have had parents with younger children directly infront or behind me, and they have been marvellous.

I am only 20 and fly in Business Class/Premium Economy whenever possible, I get quite a few stares from other passengers who think that I don't belong in 'their' cabin. Why is this? I have paid a full adult business fare like anyone else?

What makes me laugh though are the older people flying in Economy that think they should be upgraded because they are wearing a suit etc, the looks I get at check in when these people see me checking in at the business Class counter is unbeleivable, whilst they are stood in the huge Economy check-in queue. I love the fact that I can use the Business check-in even if I am flying Economy. It's worth it to see these peoples reactions!!

Thanks,
Richard

I'm opposed to anyone on an airplane being rude/annoying/loud.

That said, I'll make an exception for kids *IF* the parents are really trying to make the situation better. An infant doesn't know what's going on. All he/she knows is that his/her ears hurt, or there's this REALLY loud noise that's bothering them, or that they can't get up and crawl around.

As long as the parent is trying to be a good parent, I have no problem with kids traveling -- either in coach or in first class.

HOWEVER, if the parent's aren't being good parents -- entertaining the kids, playing with them, trying to get them to behave properly -- I think the kids AND their parents should be subject to the same treatment that any loud/obnoxious adult would be subject to on a flight. When a parent takes a small child on a flight, they have a responsibility to at least try to do whatever they can to make the flight as painless for everyone else on the plane -- and for their child. They don't have an obligation to succeed, but they do have one to at least try.

Well put, 2 Many Miles!

Went to London in Y. On both the outbound and the return there were kids screaming for at least half the flight. Noise-canceling headphones kept the blood pressure at a comfortable level and even allowed me to sleep through most of the howling by listening to the classical music channel instead.

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"Sire, it is not a revolt. It is a Revolution!"

As a parent of 2 year old twins we are well aware of the looks that we get when we are in the boarding area and then when we are on the plane with the two car seats. It is important for my girls to be able see thier grandfather and be with the family on special events.

With the two car seats, we are stuck with being in the middle and window seat (most of the places we fly are serviced by 737, A320, 757) and are unable to sit together (since you can't put 2 car seats in the same row). If I had miles, upgrade certs or money to upgrade I would. We have the same right to be comfortable and having kids should not force us to the back of the plane.

Why? They would have no knowledge, or future recollection, of such events. But you put them through a lot of stress with air travel.



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Craig

MUCH similar discussion here at:

www.planebusiness.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000062.html

My worst nightmare is to board a UA plane LAX-SYD, in the nice padded First or Business seats, carefully booked and pre-assigned ages ago, knowing there are 15 hours of comfy flying in front of me, and see a couple sit down within a few seats away with a couple of very young kids. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

On a one hour shuttle flight we can all live with that. NOT 15 hours of it though. Babies are cute. In my left ear for 15 hours they are NOT CUTE tho. Happened 2 weeks ago. A half full C cabin, RIO to JFK, 13 hours, on a 767 and there was a veritable STAMPEDE to get re-assigned to last row seats, as the family settled in the first row, 5A-5E. I got smart and discreetly asked purser first, and got very last row #13. (1K cards do have their benefits). Most folk just moved, and pursers do not like that on It'l, before take off! Something to do with pax manifests being a total mess for next 15 hours. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

The family (with THREE young kids) seemed blissfully oblivious to the chaos and consternation their arrival caused about ten pax, many probably paying the $8,000 C fare and wanting a relaxing sleep on the 9pm departing flight. Well, if they were anywhere near row #5, they did NOT get it, I can assure you.


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~ Glen ~

[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 01-22-2001).]

"Do not like that" is perhaps an understatement. I've been on more than one flight where I've heard on the intercom "we will not be leaving the gate until all passengers are in the seat marked on their boarding pass".



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Craig

Welcome aboard Craig!

It's nice to see a new memeber with enough guts to speak his mind! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cool.gif

And nice to see you too Glen! What took you so long to join this discreet and intelligent http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif thread? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif One would have thought that a seasoned traveller such as yourself would have had a lot of input on such a delicate issue.

intelligent thread, though not everyone seems to posess the same quality.

one word of advice to many:-
the scariest one letter word in the English language- "I" - avoid it.

i think a lot of people raised the same issues again and again. while screaming kids bother me on flights, I do not get particularly militant about it.

one thing is hard to understand. how do these infants grow legs long enough to kick the seats in front of them in first class? i travel at the back mostly in what should be the wailing kid walking area , so pardon my ignorance.

its a wonder how many people manage to offend without intending to (forget the psychopaths who do it intentionally, they are really the ones with NO CLASS)

sincere regards to all.

intelligent thread, though not everyone seems to posess the same quality.

one word of advice to many:-
the scariest one letter word in the English language- "I" - avoid it.

i think a lot of people raised the same issues again and again. while screaming kids bother me on flights, I do not get particularly militant about it.

one thing is hard to understand. how do these infants grow legs long enough to kick the seats in front of them in first class? i travel at the back mostly in what should be the wailing kid walking area , so pardon my ignorance.

its a wonder how many people manage to offend without intending to (forget the psychopaths who do it intentionally, they are just showing their CLASS)

sincere regards to all.

Even more annoying than crying, screaming infants in First Class, are the people sitting in First Class who think they are better than the rest of the people on the plane http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Also, to add to the above, are the FA's who work First Class, who think they are better than the rest of the people on the plane http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Not all people, or FA's, are like this, of course.. But they are out there..