Dad ditches kid in coach to sit in Polaris leaving me to entertain him
Jul 13, 2018, 11:02 pm
#77
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hi Flyertalk. Just got off ord to pek and too my delight I had a maybe 8 year old boy sitting next to me the whole flight while his dad was in Polaris. I had the distinct pleasure of entertaining this kid who wouldn’t shut up for 12 hours. Should I complain about this?
Also the the ife didn’t have sound. I will be composing about that!
Also the the ife didn’t have sound. I will be composing about that!
Jul 13, 2018, 11:23 pm
#78
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Yea so when I went to sit down he was in the middle seat behind the kiddo and I guess giving him a pep talk. The poor kid had just a stack of Pokemon Cards which I should have pillaged for compensation. The dad did show up once during the flight to give the kid some food from Polaris.... of course we had to figure out what to do with the plate which the flight attendants did not want back. The dad was about 5 foot 6, 120 pounds. Complete waste of a polaris seat if you ask me. Luckily the kid fell asleep on landing so the dad had to wait for everyone else to clear out to retrieve the kid. He was standing at the transition between business first and global first giving everyone the stare of death.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 14, 2018 at 10:17 am Reason: unneeded descriptive comment removed, FT rule 12.2
Jul 13, 2018, 11:34 pm
#79
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Yea so when I went to sit down he was in the middle seat behind the kiddo and I guess giving him a pep talk. The poor kid had just a stack of Pokemon Cards which I should have pillaged for compensation. The dad did show up once during the flight to give the kid some food from Polaris.... of course we had to figure out what to do with the plate which the flight attendants did not want back. The dad was about 5 foot 6, 120 pounds. Complete waste of a polaris seat if you ask me. Luckily the kid fell asleep on landing so the dad had to wait for everyone else to clear out to retrieve the kid. He was standing at the transition between business first and global first giving everyone the stare of death.
I guess when he was there you didn't know he was Polaris or you could have asked him when he came back for a nice Ice Cream Sundae, or Lays/Dove/Instant Noodles or other snack from Polaris as babysitting fee ;D
On the way out you could have said " Lucky You " "Poor Kid" or worse
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 14, 2018 at 10:19 am Reason: quote updated to reflect moderator edit; response to deleted content removed
Jul 14, 2018, 3:57 am
#80
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Yea so when I went to sit down he was in the middle seat behind the kiddo and I guess giving him a pep talk. The poor kid had just a stack of Pokemon Cards which I should have pillaged for compensation. The dad did show up once during the flight to give the kid some food from Polaris.... of course we had to figure out what to do with the plate which the flight attendants did not want back. The dad was about 5 foot 6, 120 pounds. Complete waste of a polaris seat if you ask me. Luckily the kid fell asleep on landing so the dad had to wait for everyone else to clear out to retrieve the kid. He was standing at the transition between business first and global first giving everyone the stare of death.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 14, 2018 at 10:20 am Reason: quote updated to reflect Mod edit
Jul 14, 2018, 5:33 am
#81
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+1. In Japan in particular, but also in Hong Kong and parts of Europe with good public transportation kids go about their own business. Get on a train/subway in Japan and there will be 8-9-10 year olds off by themselves. We will let our kids (now 11 and 14) go off on their own in Hong Kong or Japan, they know their way around. And in San Francisco we know lots of kids who take the bus/light rail around, starting at about 11-12 y/o.
Not defending the parent here - it was too long of a flight to leave a kid by themselves - but kids don't need constant supervision if they are taught how to be independent.
Not defending the parent here - it was too long of a flight to leave a kid by themselves - but kids don't need constant supervision if they are taught how to be independent.
Jul 14, 2018, 8:50 am
#83
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Before the change in UM, my 12 year old flew alone all the time. No big deal. I have also put teenagers in the back while my wife and I sat in front. 3 out of 4 times, the FAs have come up to my wife and commented what a pleasure it was to have them aboard.
I would much rather sit next to an 8 year-old than an corpulent businessman who takes up both armrests and needs to go to the bathroom every 30 minutes. Kids are great.
I would much rather sit next to an 8 year-old than an corpulent businessman who takes up both armrests and needs to go to the bathroom every 30 minutes. Kids are great.
Jul 14, 2018, 9:18 am
#84
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Last edited by enviroian; Jul 14, 2018 at 10:44 am
Jul 14, 2018, 3:30 pm
#86
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Jul 14, 2018, 5:56 pm
#87
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Jul 15, 2018, 8:33 am
#88
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Wow that was a lot to read.
It seems like OP's true gripe is being seated next to an annoying passenger, and that the age of the pax or that daddy was on board is less relevant. On UA, OP could have been seated next to noisy/bothersome UM (with or without parent on board), or perhaps a compulsive talker with a legit neurological disorder, or even an adult who has trouble picking up verbal or nonverbal cues indicating that OP wasn't interested in discussion (similar to the 8 year old).
FWIW, on certain OALs (major carriers), OP would not have been seated next to UM, as UM will only be seated next to female pax.
It seems like OP's true gripe is being seated next to an annoying passenger, and that the age of the pax or that daddy was on board is less relevant. On UA, OP could have been seated next to noisy/bothersome UM (with or without parent on board), or perhaps a compulsive talker with a legit neurological disorder, or even an adult who has trouble picking up verbal or nonverbal cues indicating that OP wasn't interested in discussion (similar to the 8 year old).
FWIW, on certain OALs (major carriers), OP would not have been seated next to UM, as UM will only be seated next to female pax.
Jul 15, 2018, 9:11 am
#89
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Really, even these days? It seems unfair to female pax dropped into that situation (although I'd be happy with that policy, not being female myself).
Jul 15, 2018, 10:19 am
#90
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The time to complain about the dad would have been on the flight, if you were adversely affected. Otherwise chalk it up to showing a child a act of kindness. The only thing complaint worthy to United is then non working IFE.
