Odd. Usually it's not the 5-year-olds causing the greatest behavioral disruptions. On the rare occasions when I've seen kids at restaurants, malls, etc. getting loud or borderline disruptive, they're nearly always older. Usually late elementary school or junior high...

I see it on these boards often...this notion that kids shouldn't use public transportation. Do people feel the same way about kids on trains, ferries, buses, etc. as they do on planes?

It was just his observation. and you can't tell me there are times you wouldn't feel like the OP where you see a couple bratty kids driving you crazy and you think, "crap, why am i back here."

I just think the snooty remarks of posters who rarely show any compassion and write the standard "you can get your own private jet or shut up" is way over the top. That tone makes it hard for people to really engage on the boards because pretty much any annoying travel story that has some funny parts to it is off limits because the same group of people come in with the same comments.

All i'm saying is that i understand his frustration, and i think that's all that poster and similar posters want to hear.

Sure, the presence of genuinely disruptive kids or adults in public drives me crazy. (Holds true on an airplane, other forms of public transportation, in restaurants, malls, etc.)

But that wasn't what the OP was about. It was just that other people got the upgrades (or actually bought F tickets) that he wanted. No mention or evidence of a disruption in F caused by the kids or anyone else. Kind of a spoiled brat me-first attitude if you ask me...

The frustration is the lack of an upgrade, not the behavior of anyone in F.

There would be parents complaining about that as well. Some Park Slope BARS in Brooklyn have had to go as far as to put stroller bans in place.

In the case of a lapheld infant they aren't paying for the infant using miles.

Same with an unaccomonied minor. I have been on Delta flights before where they have moved a UM from coach up to first. Hopefully in the case of UM's on a Y ticket they have cleared every elite on board first.

I'm missing your point. You're jealous? Or feel that kids don't belong in first class? Both?

How come OP is not participating in this thread anymore?:confused:

Nice personal attack. :rolleyes: You know nothing about me, my kids or my travel habits. That last sentence was childish and an apology is appropriate.

Nevertheless, there are no restrictions on kids on planes or in airport lounges, nor are there any signs indicating as such. You and the countless parents have the right to your opinion, but the airline disagrees with you.

If you are hearkening back to the pre-deregulation days when everyone wore a coat and tie on the plane, people could smoke to their hearts' content and the FAs were primarily waitresses, you need to realize that air travel has changed. Whether you think that is good or bad is irrelevant.

Again, you have every opportunity to fly without kids, as long as you hire the jet. If you don't, you have to follow the airline's rules, and neither my opinion nor yours matters when it comes to whether we think kids belong in F.

Mike

It's not a lack of compassion but the fact that we've been having these discussions for years and they get as contentious as the middle east peace negotiations. Pointing out the obvious, that anyone is allowed to fly F per the airlines' rules, does not seem to be working. Whether we like it or not, the airline sets the rules. Everyone has the right to their opinion of whether kids should be allowed on planes, in lounges or outside the house. But, given the rules set forth by the airline, the only way to control whom is on your flight is to rent out the plane.

I'm not unsympathetic to the fact that a screaming child is no fun, no matter what class of service you are in. But when the discussions hit the point of someone getting into how much better they were raised than those pesky kids and parents today, it becomes clear that emotion has taken over. At that point, the only rational suggestion becomes the private jet one.

I disagree that "any annoying travel story that has some funny parts to it is off limits." We have funny stories all over FT. In this case, though, we have somebody who is upset by the fact that they are stuck in coach while there are kids in F. It's not funny, it's sad.

The plus side is that this thread will likely be closed soon. Don't make anything larger than the small bag of popcorn.

Mike

That last sentence about the private jets was actually quoting me. My point was that kids should be and are allowed on planes in any class of service and, if you want to travel without seeing them, you have to fly private.

Mike

^ I wonder how many of the parents that think the misbehaved kids have a right to be in First Class and Airport lounges would have a problem with people being drunk or kissing/gropping in lines at Disney or at McDonalds. I am sure many of them would complain about adults behaving that way in a childrens sitting.

One time when I was flying in coach, I sat beside a mother and her child. I wanted to sleep on the flight but the kid was getting up every 5 minutes (not sure why people don't book aisles if they will get up nonstop) and ended up deciding to just watch my DVD and the mother had the nerve to complain that the movie (horror) was disturbing to her child LOL. Let's just say I continued to watch it and told her if he didn't like what was on my screen he didn't have to watch it:)

Kids should be allowed in any class if they are PAID and if they BEHAVE, I agree. But a paying passenger shouldn't have to tolerate a kid or adult that doesn't behave.

If I am paying for a seat in First, or even Y, I have the right to relax without having to tolerate a misbehaved kid. Just like your kids have the right to not put up with a drunk adult passenger.

My kid has no choice but to put up with a drunk adult passenger :)

LOL

Alcohol is one way to make kids more tolerable:)

Ha ha ha! Good one. Oh wait, were you being serious? :eek: