A little ungrateful, I think

[stevepaa]

Parents and child offloaded by Air Tran because of unruly child.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070123/ap_on_re_us/flight_tantrum

FLights reimbursed and offer for free flights.

Actually, I think I'll ask them not to fly United either.

[legion]

But my kid is nothing but a little angel...

[Rikao4]

When asked ''smoking or not "
I reply NO children, seen folks get asked to leave the bus in germany,
no tokens or free rides offered. Control your childpet, or leave.

Rika

[Big Ed]

"The family said they will never fly Air Tran again."

I think I'll start flying Air Tran.

[Rick Lee]

I was on a United flight last week where a kid was just a nightmare. I would gladly pay extra for adult-only flights.

[mikester]

What exactly is a parent supposed to do? Now; don't get me wrong - I have forcibly strapped my 2 year old into the car seat on an airplane. What does that get you? A screaming 2 year old - I don't have a problem with that (other than the obvious hatred of hearing a screaming two year old) and that is what these parents should have done. It seems to me though that even that wouldn't have been good enough for you guys based on some of these comments.

It's tough man, I've got family that simply will not get on a plane and it tears me up. Because now I've got to do it with a toddler or let them slip from my life (which I suppose they are content to do). Instead I drag him on the plane and by and large he's pretty good but he still kicks the seat in front of him here and there and on occasion he simply doesn't want to be strapped in. I do it anyway and he ends up crying and throwing a tantrum (he's a toddler after all).

So I'm basically done feeling bad about having a toddler on board a plane. In my experience what I've seen most parents do the best they can but the deck is substantially stacked against them. Crowded flights, cramped quarters and flight crews and passengers with little regard for passengers as people - we're treated more like cattle and are just short of prodded for any steps out of line.

Even good parents have trouble under these conditions so if you guys can't throw us some slack then I hope you can sleep at night knowing how much you truly suck.

Best of luck to ya. (grin)

[Rikao4]

I think some parents just become numb to the noise & tantrums. I don't hate or eat little ones,
it's plain brats and dumb parents that bug me. So if during your travels your next to me, no worries....your toddler is welcome,
a out of whack 4 year is not.
Rika

[Jims5543]

The Orlando-based carrier reimbursed the family $595.80, the cost of the three tickets, and the Kuleszas flew home the next day.

Wow!! I wish I could get 3 tickets for that price! Thats what I pay for 1 round trip ticket to fly to Asheville from Orlando. I never knew it was so cheap to fly 3X farther.


The kid was a brat and the parents are in denial.

[stevepaa]

We traveled a lot with children. I really can not understand why the parents could not control their child and get him strapped in. Once you take off, then you put him on your lap or walk around. I spent most of my time with my youngest child near the exit door just holding him/her and looking out the small window.

[dd74]

Originally posted by mikester
What exactly is a parent supposed to do? Now; don't get me wrong - I have forcibly strapped my 2 year old into the car seat on an airplane. What does that get you? A screaming 2 year old - I don't have a problem with that (other than the obvious hatred of hearing a screaming two year old) and that is what these parents should have done. It seems to me though that even that wouldn't have been good enough for you guys based on some of these comments.

It's tough man, I've got family that simply will not get on a plane and it tears me up. Because now I've got to do it with a toddler or let them slip from my life (which I suppose they are content to do). Instead I drag him on the plane and by and large he's pretty good but he still kicks the seat in front of him here and there and on occasion he simply doesn't want to be strapped in. I do it anyway and he ends up crying and throwing a tantrum (he's a toddler after all).

So I'm basically done feeling bad about having a toddler on board a plane. In my experience what I've seen most parents do the best they can but the deck is substantially stacked against them. Crowded flights, cramped quarters and flight crews and passengers with little regard for passengers as people - we're treated more like cattle and are just short of prodded for any steps out of line.

Even good parents have trouble under these conditions so if you guys can't throw us some slack then I hope you can sleep at night knowing how much you truly suck.

Best of luck to ya. (grin)

You say all that, and yet your signature says The beatings will continue until morale improves.

[Rick Lee]

It was at such a young age that I can't remember when exactly, but I always seemed to know it was best to keep quiet like my parents told me to when in a restaurant or on a plane. I flew plenty when I was very young. My folks had a very magical ability to make me shut up just by telling me to, as disobeying them was far worse than for me than keeping quiet.

[MRM]

It is unfair to subject the other passengers to undue amounts of children abuse. While the other passengers have to tolerate normal kid noise and the occasional kick in the seatback, it is the parents' responsibility to make sure they do not cross the line. This is best accomplished by calming the kid down and speaking gently but firmly about sitting up and strapping in.

If you can't keep the kids within normal social bounds you shouldn't fly with them.

[red-beard]

Or take them out to dinner

[krichard]

I travel a lot for business and cannot stand sitting anywhere near kids. Most parents ignore them the entire flight and just let them kick and push the seat in front of them. I usually have to end up turning around and have to ask the parent to do something about their stupid fing kid. I do ask nicely and get the "look" by the parent like I am crazy for asking that they control their monkey. I don't feel sorry for you bringing your kids on a flight. I feel sorry for the other people on board that have to put up with your creation...

[mikester]

MRM, You think it's unfair much like I'm sure a toddler does. It seems you have about the same tolerance level. Which is my point basically - the toddler doesn't understand what's going on. They are toddlers, you are an adult - act like one.

We fly quite a bit with our son and observe successful toddler excursions and unsuccessful ones. Our trick is to pretty much let him run amok in the terminal to get him tuckered out. We give him FREEDOM during that time because on the plane we can't. If you see a child running around the terminal, it's a tired parent doing their best to make sure YOU get a quiet ride on the plane. Buy them a cup of coffee so that they can keep up with the bugger.

In my experience with meltdowns on the plane, which always happen when you're trying to strap the kid in for take off is that it's simply a product of an overtired child who needs a nap. We've had one serious one but it was before he was 2 so my wife was able to hold and nurse him (at which time he promptly went to sleep). This happened within just a few minutes, again - I don't have a 4 year old but I can imagine that they would require a little more time but control should be had within 5 minutes. If not is removing them from the flight the best way to handle the situation? I mean come on - are we so intolerant as a society that we can't give parents the chance to get control of or console their children? Especially on such a small flight.

Adults...self-important adults.

Luckily it doesn't seem like I'm flying with any of you - we have been quite lucky I suppose to fly with tolerant folks who if they don't understand are at least sympathetic to the plight of our child on his journey.

And yes...the beatings will continue...

[island_dude]

My sympathy for the family is zero. I have flown with my daughter a lot. She started when she was an infant and traveled right through to her current age of 6. She has been on very long flights too. At 9mos she went with us to Hawaii. Never ever would I have held a flight up if she refused to get into her seat. I know it can be tough, but there are rules that airlines follow, and we have to work around them. I don't care if the parents think that they needed a few more minutes to calm the child. The fact is they should have boarded early and had the kid read to go well be before the flight time. This was poor planning on the parents part.

I remember getting on a flight to go home after the bussiness trip from hell. I got something like 3 hours of sleep a night and was dying to get home. I had this 4 year old kicking the back of my seat the whole way cross country. The parents thought it was cute. Every time I turn around I got this extra evil eye from the father. I think at one point I called the flight attendant and ask to be moved (no luck, totally full flight).

If you are flying with kids you need to be flexible. You should not expect the world to bend around your needs. Its too bad they didn't make their flight, but I am sure the rest of the passengers were much happier.

[wreckersteve]

Not too long ago I was in the line in the bank. The lady in front of me had her child with her. It would run between her and her husband. The would pick it up to have it scream and run to the other. When she was at the teller window it started to hit the mother. The father just stood there. It was so disrupting. When we left I looked at my boys who stood there and watched the whole thing. My youngest looked the same age as the brat. I asked what they thought would happen if they ever acted that way. The both knew they would be in alot of trouble. No kidding I told them. Parents get what they deserve when it comes to toddlers.

[TWork]

+1 for the Mikester.

Oh if only we were all the well behaved children that Rick Lee seems to recall being, the world would be a quieter place.

I'm certainly not saying the parents should let their child run around without any control or minding on the part of the parents. But, the reality is that sometimes kids just meltdown. If you think you are *entitled* to pay your $49 fare on SW and not have to deal with the public -- including crying children from time to time, then you're sadly mistaken. These days flying on any of the major commercial airlines is public transportation folks. I don't like flying seated next to the guy who doesn't seem to use soap "within the normal social bounds" either, but such is life.

[Dan in Pasadena]

With kids if you expect a lot you get a lot. If you expect "not much" you get "not much".

My kids, now 24 and 25 never pitched a ***** hemmorage anywhere. They weren't perfect but come on? You "can't" get them to sit down? You "can't" get them to behave at least marginally? To me that is ineffective parenting and any other label is just politically correct whitewashing. This kid was a brat plain and simple.

[dd74]

I agree with Dan. I have seen perfectly behaved children in public, and ones who throw fits in places such as restaurants, airports, planes, etc. And if that behavior fails in some way, Mommy and Daddy's discipline isn't far behind.

Of course, soon disciplining your child will be illegal in CA.