Children and drunks on planes
By danjenkins
@danjenkins (646)
United States
January 24, 2007 7:45am CST
Perhaps you heard the news .. the family was put off the plane because their three year old daughter would not stay in her seat and was throwing a total tantrum.
There is a safety issue that AirTran had to enforce .. the child would not stay in her seat .. they were airborn .. perhaps 4 miles above the surface of the earth. There was also the issue of the comfort of 200 plus OTHER passengers in an enclosed space. Do we have to tolerate the bad behavior of ONE person just because they bought a ticket to? Or do the "rights" of one person mean more than the rights of the group?
What if you were on that plane and NEEDED to sleep because you were going to a very important business meeting?
What if you were on that plane and already had a problem with sound sensitivity, and now there is a screaming child in the aisle next to you? What if the screaming were PAINFUL to your ears?
Whose rights are more important in this kind of situation?
10 people like this
27 responses
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
24 Jan 07
I have to say that I think the safety of all the other passengers outweighs the fact that this family had tickets etc..A child THAT disruptive isnt good for safety or business really...and whether its plane, train or automobile the operator is responsible for EVERYONE on board so if a child or drunk etc is THAT out of control then yes they should be kicked off....and I'm sorry but I doubt very much that this kid is normally well behaved and all of a sudden snapped..where were the parents? why didnt they have her in her seat with a firm stern talking too? I have reason to believe that this child is normally a hellion who's parents have no control and I'm sorry but if thats the case, goin on vacation is goin to mean driving their in their own car IMO
6 people like this
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
25 Jan 07
I have to agree with the airlines. It was not safe for the child or the other passengers. Parents need to have better control over a child like that. Yes, it is common for a child entering the "terrible twos" to throw a fit, but by age 3 the parents should have better control over the child. If the child cannot go places without "throwing a total temper tantrum" the child should not be taken places. I do not know all the circumstances of why they were on the flight or where they were going but there are other modes of transportation and/or one of the parents could have stayed home with this child or left the child with a relative/friend for a while (if they could find one that would take her). If they don't take control this child will end up in serious trouble later on. The parents have to act like PARENTS and not let a child run wild.
4 people like this
@uath13 (8192)
• United States
25 Jan 07
Exactly. If my daughter had acted like that I'd have taken her off the plane myself out of consideration for the other passengers. The officials wouldn't have needed to ask. I have left both a resturant and a movie because she was misbehaving before. After not getting to eat or see the movie she learned her lesson.
@lonewolfnan (4366)
• Canada
25 Jan 07
If the child was by definition a safety issue or being inconsiderent to those around her,then I agree with the decision to have her leave the airplane.
I guess the parents were not right in believing the child would behave for the flight.
@kawillow74 (1416)
• United States
25 Jan 07
I just heard about it today, and I do have childern and if Idid not have control of my child yes I should have to get off. There is nothing worse then a child throwing a tantrum and yes don't get me wrong mine have but I don't what to have to here it they should have took her to the restroom and tried to get her under control and if that didn't work then yes they needed to get off I don't want to hear a screaming kid for 2 hours.
@emilieespino (963)
• Philippines
25 Jan 07
It's about time something is done about this problem. I for one get really annoyed if a child is crying endlessly on the plane when I need to catch up on sleep. However I am quite patient when it's a small baby as I can understand its discomfort, but if it is an older bratty child, you would really want to spank him or the parents themselves for being inconsiderate and for not being responsible enough to discipline their kid or keep them occupied with books or toys.
@fizzytom (752)
• Maribor, Slovenia
25 Jan 07
The trouble is that people with children often forget that other people do not like their child as much as they do and so they take it very personally when someone complains about them.
First off - no child should be allowed in first class, business class, or club class - those people have paid heavily for the privilege and deserve not to be bothered by children.
However, not everyone can afford such seats but also deserve a restful a journey as possible. I am quite a nervous flier in spite of the fact that I have travelled by plane all over the world. The noise from a fractious child sets my teeth on edge and upsets me. Rather a drunk anyday than a screaming child getting me all wound up.
@coffeechat (1961)
• New Zealand
25 Jan 07
It is true as you say that people forget that other people do not like their.......
Similar, I guess to the Crow; its child is the most attractive object in the world. The sparrow may find the crow's kid a bit ugly, or downright revolting. That is Nature.
As a family we insist on travelling business class because of the space; we cannot afford first class. Airlines are in business to sell seat space to people who will pay the price.
It is a bit odd to hear that airlines should not allow children in first or business class, after all they pay just as much as anyone else pro rata of course.
3 people like this
@danjenkins (646)
• United States
25 Jan 07
I've seen several people post asking why others did not help in this situation? First, it is the airline crew's responsibility, because the child was in violation of the safety laws ... would not stay in their seat. This is not a problem for other passengers to involve themselves in. Second, when we offer to help the parents of a misbehaving child, the parents correctly understand this is a rebuke of their parenting skills, and either reject the help or get angry.
So, either the public has to take the abuse, or demand the parents stop the child from whatever the problem is .. running around a restaurant screaming, picking up things that do not belong to them (the risk of someone else's property being broken by a child), etc
In my view, the bad behavior of a child in public is just the manifestation of the rudeness of the parent.
2 people like this
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
25 Jan 07
well, i think i should agree with you... in this case, the child has to be thrown out of the airplane if she can't stop screaming and disturbing other passengers... where are her parents??? can't they discipline her??? i am sorry to say that her parents might not have educate her well... and i believe that her parents always allowed her to behave in that way... if her parents are firm with her, they might not have to experience this incident... it is so sad that nowadays parents can't take control of their child anymore...
3 people like this
@sureshmoe (974)
• India
25 Jan 07
I controlled myself....if this continues too much, i asked the children to come to my seat and say the good things to that children. That means i would understood the activities done by the children to that children....For my love, surely the children take my considerations into account...Finally i can say that if u told anyone with love and patiently, all must or many of the person in the world, should pay attention to your words....
3 people like this
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
25 Jan 07
Everyone on board has a right to a safe and mostly pleasant journey. I don't think it's fair or safe for a child to spend the entire time screaming, and it isn't a prejudice against children, it's consideration for other passengers. What did the parents expect everyone else to do? Jut put up with their screaming child for an entire flight?
I've been on board planes with children before. Most of the time, they are pleasant, although they do tend to be messy, loud, and talk to everyone around them. I'm fine with these things, I don't expect kids to be silent or perfect. But their parents should have control of them.
3 people like this
@danjenkins (646)
• United States
25 Jan 07
Thank-you. One of the things that astonishes me in this discussion is how many people think it is OK for a child to behave however they behave in public. There is no strong social expectation that parents will keep their children from being a problem to others when they are in public. That is sad.
1 person likes this
@Dolcerina (3376)
• Hungary
25 Jan 07
I think everybody has the right to enjoy the business class, if he wants the silence. Anyway I can not tolarate if somebody bothers me on a long time trip. But as you said in your other discussion, if you are in the hell, go through. (or something like that) so we have to survive in each situation :)
If the stewardes can not handle this situation, you have to handle it inside of you. Good luck :)
3 people like this
@moderno71 (2)
• Italy
25 Jan 07
yesterday i had a trip by train and there was a child making a lot of noise for two hours...it was terrible. i complain his mother not doing anything to stop or calm his child.
3 people like this
@venshida (4836)
• United States
25 Jan 07
I think the right of the 200 passengers is more important. This is another example of parents not parenting their child. This child had to be off the chart because most people do tolerate a little tantrum because understandable its a child. I donot want to be on a plain with a child screaming uncontrollable. Airtran did the right thing, who wants to sit for hours with a screaming. My God can you think of the headaches. I spoke to a MD who said a little Benadryl is good solution to this problem.
@jenalyn (675)
• United States
25 Jan 07
The airline has the duty of making all passengers safe, and rid the plane of anyone who is causing disomfort to the other passengers. Even if it is an entire family that couldn't control a three year old. Why should everyone have to be uncomfortable because 1 person is screaming?
I don't like it when a child is throwing a tantrum anywhere. A plane, a restuarant, a movie theater, anywhere at all. I think it is the parents job to get their child under control without making everyone else go through it with them. I have a daughter and whe she tried throwing a tantrum in the middle of a store I took her out of the store, and I would do the same if I were on a plane and it wasn't off the ground yet, and i could not get her to calm down and behave. I could not be on the plane with her like that myself, much less disturb everyone else on the plane.
@danjenkins (646)
• United States
25 Jan 07
When my daughter was less than a year old, and we were at a restaurant, if she started crying, we just had to quickly finish our meals and leave. She was too young to understand, and we did not believe in abusing the other patrons.
When she was three and a half I took her on a trip to see her great-grandfather. We had to go by plane, of course. We were in the airport, going up to check in at the jetway. Jen saw the airplane through the big windows and headed over there. I said "Jennifer, come back here." 3 and a half! She turned around and came back to me. No threats, no tantrums .. ... The lady ahead of me said in surprise "she obeyed you"! I told her "I expected her to". It is called parenting rather than trying to be a good buddy to a child.
2 people like this
@marief2rnurse (2704)
• United States
25 Jan 07
I know airlines have strict rules so they only did the proper thing. I watched some videos of airline companies before because I worked in the travel setting and even with passengers that look drunk or had too much to drink, they really don't allow them on the plane for everyone else's safety and comfort.
3 people like this
@danjenkins (646)
• United States
25 Jan 07
Thank-you for that reminder. The crew (stewards) have clearly defined rules to act in certain situations.
@Kaldonya (277)
• United States
25 Jan 07
I had heard of this too. But I heard that the plane was late taking off to begin with, and not yet taken off...? Anyway, I think that the airline was correct in removing the family. For whatever situation, the parents were unable to control that child, and measures needed to be taken.
3 people like this
@danjenkins (646)
• United States
25 Jan 07
You are correct. The plane had not gotten off the ground yet. Which is why the crew had to take action .. the child refused to stay in his/her seat. It was a safety issue.
@hariharbhat (1312)
• India
25 Jan 07
It is difficult to give an opinion in this case.
The child is innocent and the parents, what can they do when the innocent child starts crying and it turns out to be unmanageable.
The airlines should think of bringing out it's own guidelines to the parents of the child, who like to go for air travel and also demand the government to amend the rules suitably.
@coffeechat (1961)
• New Zealand
25 Jan 07
Perhaps in addition to bassinets, Airlines should carry straitjackets and offer them to parents to restrain recalcitrant kids.
Maybe Fiscer-Price the toy company can capitalize on this by marketing a new child restraint and grade it by age!
This is barmy. The parents had the responsibility of managing their child, and they failed to do so to the detriment on several passengers, crew and now mylotians.
1 person likes this
@danjenkins (646)
• United States
25 Jan 07
The one rule is clear to EVERYBODY .. the seat belt sign was on... the child refused to stay in his/her seat with belt fastened. End of story. That was sufficient cause to remove the family.
@danjenkins (646)
• United States
25 Jan 07
I love your sense of humor, coffeechat. And, now I have to look up a new word .. mylotians! Thanks for the information.
1 person likes this
@rameshgopal365 (918)
• India
25 Jan 07
Our right to travel safe with smooth/sleep/comfort is very important, as we may be going to a country on a business meeting where we've to perform well to get good-name to our home country know?
3 people like this
@danishcanadian (28955)
• Canada
25 Jan 07
I have a problem with sound sensitivity. I think the rights of the well-behaved people are more important than the rights of those who misbehave.
2 people like this
@danjenkins (646)
• United States
25 Jan 07
Thank-you .. I agree. Not sure how we have come to the point where the rights of an individual to be disruptive are more important than the rights of the people who behave with respect and courtesy for others.
@pratew3y (1893)
• India
25 Jan 07
well according to me both the people are correct in such a situation since children are not aware of whats wrong and whats right and they are not even so much disturbing that they should be thrown out of the plane, if thats the reason then a persoon with small children should be not allowed to travel by plane, on the other hand children wont trouble you so much that you have to row them out of the plane and one thing we forgot that we were too children like that before and when we have our own children then what will you do, wont you travel in the plane or if other passengers object the way you are doing then what will you do at that time
2 people like this
@danjenkins (646)
• United States
25 Jan 07
Your statement reflects the opinion of many that children just behave like this, and should be tolerated simply because they are children. That isn't true. Children do not, in general, behave like that if properly parented.
@danjenkins (646)
• United States
25 Jan 07
If you keep copying what others post, mylot.com will see that and remove your posts.
2 people like this
