Opening a hornets nest ?

[Stephen]

I can't stand the sound of crying children at the best of times but I try to cut some slack on aircraft because a) I don't know if their flight is necessary and b) they're probably scared and you cannot get the mites to understand what is going on.

If a kid is kicking the back of your seat and a word with the parents doesn't stop it, then the cabin crew should be asked to intervene.

It's bad enough having little Johnny trying to rearrange your spine without the crew joining in Alan

[Silver_Shiney]

I was thinking more in terms of the crew rearranging little Johnny, Stephen.

They should install outside play areas for kids....

[suespud]

Well I'm afraid, when we booked this holiday we knew the twins would be 18 months old. Next youngest was 22 months old. Then the next two are both aged 4 nearly 5, eldest is 6.
But what we didn't figure, was that there would be another ...who will be nearly 6 months.
We took our children on holiday at an early age, there were a few tears, but otherwise fine.
We gave the older ones chewy sweets and the youngest a bottle of water to suck on.
We will be doing much the same this time.
If other passengers object ( although on a flight to Minorca in the middle of august, my guess would be they probably have kids) well I'm sorry like, if they make a noise...we will be doing all we can to keep them happy.But we have paid top wack too.. So tough..

[Boris+]

Hi Sue,

You've got it all worked out - and it will be fine.

I personally don't see a flight as something to luxuriate in and enjoy as such, it's not a time for posing or whatever - it's just a means to an end. As long as everyone (and their luggage) arrives safely that's mostly all that I ask really. Yes, ok if I've paid for a better seat with better choice of refreshment and enhanced luggage drop off or collection then I expect that 100%, but some passengers will 'play up' and I don't mean babies - simply because they are nervous or out of their comfort zone, and feel the need for attention or feel the need to call attention to themselves.

Anyway, come on - if babies express their discomfort during a flight it's not their fault; but if older children (and some of them well over 30!) 'misbehave' then they should be sorted out.

Have a great time Sue.

Em

[Manoverboard]

Good grief .... there is no way that babies and / or toddlers should be allowed to fly as it spoils everybody's enjoyment when they start to squawk relentlessly.

Didn't happen in our day, oh no, our youngest was nearly 18 when he experienced his first flight ... months that is

[suespud]

Hi Sue,

You've got it all worked out - and it will be fine.

I personally don't see a flight as something to luxuriate in and enjoy as such, it's not a time for posing or whatever - it's just a means to an end. As long as everyone (and their luggage) arrives safely that's mostly all that I ask really. Yes, ok if I've paid for a better seat with better choice of refreshment and enhanced luggage drop off or collection then I expect that 100%, but some passengers will 'play up' and I don't mean babies - simply because they are nervous or out of their comfort zone, and feel the need for attention or feel the need to call attention to themselves.

Anyway, come on - if babies express their discomfort during a flight it's not their fault; but if older children (and some of them well over 30!) 'misbehave' then they should be sorted out.

Have a great time Sue.

Em

Thank you... Counting down now.
Only waiting for four passport applications to come back....
Sue

[suespud]

Good grief .... there is no way that babies and / or toddlers should be allowed to fly as it spoils everybody's enjoyment when they start to squawk relentlessly.

Didn't happen in our day, oh no, our youngest was nearly 18 when he experienced his first flight ... months that is

Nice one moby.....

[Holiday Planner]

When our children were small my husband had to go to Bangkok on business for 3 months. It was hard waving him off at Heathrow. 2 year old Stephanie didn't know what was happening, but 5 year old Jonathan sobbed as his Daddy disappeared through security. So when Andrew phoned about a fortnight into the job to say that the Thai New Year coincided roughly with the school Easter holiday, and there were going to be 5 bank holidays over a fortnight, so if we wanted to go out he'd have some free time ... I didn't need asking twice! I'd arranged flights within 12 hours, and a month later we were on the plane. A number of people were astonished (and some were horrified) at the thought of me doing a 13 hour flight on my own with 2 such young children ,but for me it was a no brainer. We were all missing Andrew by this time, and he was feeling homesick. We flew with Quantas who were brilliant and really looked after us. I had plenty of books and games for the flights in both directions, and both children slept a lot (though I didn't). They were both very good. The only hitch was on the way back, about 2 hours before Heathrow, I think Steph had just had enough and started screaming and thrashing about. The breakfast things were in front of us, and so she didn't knock everything flying I held her above my head, whilst the stewards cleared the plates away. I would have understood if people complained, but I just got sympathy. The man behind me said he knew just how she felt!
I know children can be irritating on flights, but the most annoying fellow travellers I've had have been adults! If you see parents trying their best with children, please offer a kind word.

[Silver_Shiney]

When our children were small my husband had to go to Bangkok on business for 3 months. It was hard waving him off at Heathrow. 2 year old Stephanie didn't know what was happening, but 5 year old Jonathan sobbed as his Daddy disappeared through security. So when Andrew phoned about a fortnight into the job to say that the Thai New Year coincided roughly with the school Easter holiday, and there were going to be 5 bank holidays over a fortnight, so if we wanted to go out he'd have some free time ... I didn't need asking twice! I'd arranged flights within 12 hours, and a month later we were on the plane. A number of people were astonished (and some were horrified) at the thought of me doing a 13 hour flight on my own with 2 such young children ,but for me it was a no brainer. We were all missing Andrew by this time, and he was feeling homesick. We flew with Quantas who were brilliant and really looked after us. I had plenty of books and games for the flights in both directions, and both children slept a lot (though I didn't). They were both very good. The only hitch was on the way back, about 2 hours before Heathrow, I think Steph had just had enough and started screaming and thrashing about. The breakfast things were in front of us, and so she didn't knock everything flying I held her above my head, whilst the stewards cleared the plates away. I would have understood if people complained, but I just got sympathy. The man behind me said he knew just how she felt!
I know children can be irritating on flights, but the most annoying fellow travellers I've had have been adults! If you see parents trying their best with children, please offer a kind word.

I firmly believe (and I may well be on my own here) that small children should not fly unnecessarily. Jetting off for a couple of weeks in the sun is not, in my view, necessary.

Going off to see Daddy, who is away from home for an extended period. is.

[Not so ancient mariner]

The last time I flew with my children, we had a rather 'bumpy' flight back. My daughter (then aged 7) had the window seat next to me, and kept up a running commentary about how much the wings were 'flapping' (flexing) in the turbulence.........

As the couple behind us were not enjoying the experience one little bit, this was NOT what they wanted to hear.