First/Business Class: Should there be age restrictions?
Sep 1, 2010, 8:19 am
#76
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 488
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.
Sep 1, 2010, 8:35 am
#77
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
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Delta747
Sep 1, 2010, 1:04 pm
#78
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PDX
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Thirty to forty years ago when I first started to fly in coach, it was very common for parents holding an infant in arms, that was crying uncontrollably, to go to the rear of the cabin until the child quieted down. These parents obviously showed consideration for other passengers. Unfortunately, this is not the norm for today.
Sep 1, 2010, 2:18 pm
#79
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Thirty to forty years ago when I first started to fly in coach, it was very common for parents holding an infant in arms, that was crying uncontrollably, to go to the rear of the cabin until the child quieted down. These parents obviously showed consideration for other passengers. Unfortunately, this is not the norm for today.
Sounds like they moved the problem from where they were to the back of the bus. Why would the back of the bus deserve to deal with the problem?
Sep 1, 2010, 2:32 pm
#80
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Thirty to forty years ago when I first started to fly in coach, it was very common for parents holding an infant in arms, that was crying uncontrollably, to go to the rear of the cabin until the child quieted down. These parents obviously showed consideration for other passengers. Unfortunately, this is not the norm for today.
Sep 1, 2010, 3:43 pm
#81
Join Date: Aug 2008
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Perhaps I should have elaborated by indicating the back of the cabin was the area of the galley and lavs, away from other seated passengers. Hope this clarifies my previous post.
Sep 1, 2010, 3:49 pm
#82
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Regardless, the screaming child is closer to back of the bus passengers than they were before.
Sep 1, 2010, 4:30 pm
#83
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: RDU
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Posts: 5,499
My kids have flown in biz and F plenty of times and have behaved very, very well. We had one bad night flying with my daughter when she was 6 months old in BA club world. But hey we tried our best.
I have seen grumpy old men drunk and causing problems, being abusive and generally being a PIA
So what the heck does age have to do with anything?
I am glad my family will continue to enjoy travelling in comfort
I have seen grumpy old men drunk and causing problems, being abusive and generally being a PIA
So what the heck does age have to do with anything?
I am glad my family will continue to enjoy travelling in comfort
Sep 1, 2010, 4:50 pm
#84
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PDX
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Perhaps in hindsight I should have informed the parents of the screaming children, that according to some individuals, their attempts to be considerate of other passengers were futile and they should return to their assigned seats.
Last edited by rbwpi; Sep 1, 2010 at 5:11 pm Reason: grammar
Sep 1, 2010, 4:56 pm
#85
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
Get real-it's 2010 and people aren't going to take the bus, especially TATL. When I'm in coach, I hope for the best but I take what shows up. Coach really is public travel and if a kid cries, that's part of the deal.
That's why C and F should offer some refuge. People pay (a lot) more in dollars or miles and if they don't get more, they might as well go back to coach. With the condition of C on US legacy carriers, that's about where I am.
Sep 1, 2010, 5:36 pm
#86
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA
Programs: UA, NW
Posts: 3,752
The problem isn't the children; it's the parents who don't enforce good behavior and treat their children as unstoppable forces of nature who will "send them to the cornfield" (there's an allusion for Twilight Zone fans) if they reprimand them.
I once spent an uncomfortable overnight flight seated next to a father who let his approx. 5-year-old son use him as a jungle gym. (This was in Y, but the principle is the same.) I could block out the noise with my headphones, but there was no blocking the feet in my lap and the knees in my ribs. (This was a few hours after the boy had thrown his dinner tray on the floor in disgust and demanded candy.)
When I got off the plane the next morning, I was astonished to find that there had been half a dozen other equally small children in Y, in addition to several older ones. None of them had been the least bit obtrusive. In other words, they had considerate and conscientious parents.
I once spent an uncomfortable overnight flight seated next to a father who let his approx. 5-year-old son use him as a jungle gym. (This was in Y, but the principle is the same.) I could block out the noise with my headphones, but there was no blocking the feet in my lap and the knees in my ribs. (This was a few hours after the boy had thrown his dinner tray on the floor in disgust and demanded candy.)
When I got off the plane the next morning, I was astonished to find that there had been half a dozen other equally small children in Y, in addition to several older ones. None of them had been the least bit obtrusive. In other words, they had considerate and conscientious parents.
Sep 1, 2010, 7:51 pm
#87
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Perhaps you should recognize that by being considerate of some passengers closer to the front of the airplane they were being inconsiderate to other passengers near the back.
Sep 1, 2010, 7:53 pm
#88
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I will assume you did not read post #3 in this thread.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/14564671-post3.html
I fully support children flying in all classes of service. We all live in the real world, some just appear to want to be isolated from it with no cost to themselves but at great cost to others.
Sep 1, 2010, 8:15 pm
#89
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Sep 1, 2010, 9:08 pm
#90
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
I will assume you did not read post #3 in this thread.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/14564671-post3.html
I fully support children flying in all classes of service. We all live in the real world, some just appear to want to be isolated from it with no cost to themselves but at great cost to others.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/14564671-post3.html
I fully support children flying in all classes of service. We all live in the real world, some just appear to want to be isolated from it with no cost to themselves but at great cost to others.
You said yourself "at no cost to themselves"; yet C and F passengers have incurred whopping additional costs in miles and/or dollars. I can't argue with that logic. Or find any, for that matter.
You're welcome to accept the indignities thrown your way by the rude and inconsiderate. I prefer not to.