Another Child - Kicked off Airplane

moped wrote: This is interesting to me - I heard it on the radio on my commute in - I have mixed feelings about this. In a way I feel sorry for the parents, but in another way I feel that they should have better control of the child....I don't know

It concerns me that Jack and I are flying soon - do you think he would act up like this? I don't but I am scared now!!!!

C&K*s Mommie replied: Here is the link to the story:Toddler's Temper Ousts Family From Plane

skinkybaby replied: I have no problem with that. Its not fair to the other passengers if you can't control your child. Besides, they were given a refund AND free tickets.

C&K*s Mommie replied: If the child was misbehaving while on the ground, then the airline was within reason to remove this family.
The airline did a noble thing to offer the family extra tickets, and still reimburse their tickets.

moped replied: Thanks Nicole - I couldn'd find it!!!!!

stella6979 replied: I myself am terrified of flying, and the last thing I would want is to listen to a screaming toddler during the flight. Heck, if anything, they made out. A refund AND free tickets. I think that's a bit much.

mom2my2cuties replied: I think the airline was right. The child was out of control. I have been on the plane with a screaming child of my own before, who of course, waited until we were in the air to decide to utterly loose it and I can sympathize with the parents desire to have time to calm the little girl. But if it was as fox news reported and the child was under the seat and hitting the parents, the parents weren't even much sounding like they were trying.

I think the Airline was very gracious about it, the parents got thier money back, and still flew home, AND got free tickets for a future flight. I dunno, sounds like the family got the better end of the deal.

moped replied: Don't get me wrong - I totally agree with the airline, but what concerns me is that the parents couldn't seem to get a handle on the situation. We don't know the child so we can't make judgements, but I can peomise you that that would not have happened with Jack under the seats and kicking etc..........that is what I don't like.

stella6979 replied:
Unfortunately some parents just don't care how their children behave, regardless of where they are. It frustrates me to no end, just going to the grocery store. I always see kids running around freely with no adults even near them. And I'm talking about real young kids. It's like the parents could care less what they're doing as long as they're not bothering them.

redchief replied: It's difficult to see a story about a child being removed by any disciplinary action, but I understand the need of the airline to maintain schedule and put the needs of the greater number of passengers ahead of that one family.

I wonder if there's some way to prepare a child for an airline flight... perhaps a little role playing. Two is kind of young for that, but maybe some of our more toddler minded parents could think of a way to make airline travel less traumatic for a small child by familiarization?

MommyToAshley replied: I think the airline was right and acted in everyone's best interest, the other passengers and even the family that was removed. I am sure there are safety concerns that reflected the decision not to let the child sit on the mother's lap. I think it was generous of the airline to refund the money and give additional tickets. .... I wonder how the child did on the flight on the way home the next day.

cameragirl21 replied: you know, i have flown quite a bit where there were kids on the plane and for the most part, the kids behaved really well, often not really knowing what was happening. once the plane takes off and we've been up in the air for a while, they sometimes get bored and restless but obviously at that point it's too late to remove them from the plane. the key is to bring things for them to do, favorite toys, games, and snacks and even candy in some cases. i've noticed that the ones who stay quiet have coloring books, regular books, card games, game boys, etc.
the takeoff is crucial in an airplane and the crew have to be very focused on what's happening and they can't be distracted by a child whose parents can't control him. the times i've seen kids acting up before the takeoff i must say the airline crew went to great lengths to help the parents out, usually offering cookies and other treats to get the kids interested and quiet.
one great thing to do if you're traveling with a child that's still taking a bottle is shove a bottle in their mouth as the plane starts to ascend so they keep swallowing, thereby precluding that piercing ear pain that some people get during takeoff. or bring an older toddler a drink and get them to drink as much as they'll drink during takeoff.
i don't know if any of you have experienced that ear pain during takeoff but i sure have and i don't know of any child on this planet that won't scream hysterically if s/he experiences something like that and on top of everything is forced to sit still and restrained.

Kaitlin'smom replied: I was terrified of this happing with Kaitlin when we first flew, I tried to pre-pair her, and brought new things for her to play with, and snacks to eat and drink. I dont think the parents were tring to consloe the child, I mean you have time if you get on when they ask for parents with small childern, certanilly make me wonder. I think it was fine for the airline to remove them from that flight however giving them a refund and free tickets seem to be over the top.

moped replied:
Jack and I have flown tons, but of course now he has to have his own seat, which is different than the last few times when he was younger.

With new regs you cannot take liquid on a plane - you wait until they serve you...........but Jakc has never had any problems.

I just thought it was interesting - I think the airline did the right thing.

When we go I am getting Jack the CARS movie for his mini DVD player, some chips (which he never gets) and his file folder games that he loves!

mom2my2cuties replied: Jen - I don't think you are going to have any problems with Jack, he always sounds like such a great kid I always let my kids bring there 4 most favorite "quiet play" toys plus a video game or movie (usually two) on the flight. For Andrea, it is things like her Thomas Book, Coloring Books, that sort of thing. For Mikee it is usually anything Star Wars related. I have never really had any major problems out of them except when Andrea was pretty small and absolutely terrified.

And if it's a long flight, there is usually a movie



Actually you can take them on the flight, you just have to buy them AFTER the security check point.

cameragirl21 replied:
that's true, i didn't even think about that...wow, that does make it harder for those with babies who take a bottle...what if they get hungry mid flight?
i'm sure you and Jack will have a great flight, where are you traveling to?

moped replied:
We are just flying to see my family in Manitoba - about a 2 hour flight!!!!

Then another 3 hour drive after the flight.

Right into a Winter WOnderland - it will be cold and miserable - but that is where the love is!!!!!

Calimama replied:
I agree. The airline shouldnt reward their child's behavior. I understand the refund but free tickets? They barely give those when they "overbook".

Calimama replied:
We were allowed to bring Bella's formula in a clear container not yet mixed. They would not however let us go through with the bottle she was currently drinking until my husband got mad and said he refused to DENY his child food when she was hungry. The supervisor checked it and let us go.

CantWait replied: I completely agree on the airlines decision with this one.

The parents say they weren't given the chance to console her etc... whatever the case may be. Maybe the parents should have prepared a little bit, telling their child what was going to happen, make a trip to the airport ahead of time etc.

Not only that, but passengers with children are allowed to preboard before everyone else so they had the chance to seat the child before it was time for take up.

It obvious that the parents don't have a handle on the child as is, or else I don't think the temper tantrum or whatever you want to call it would have gotten so out of control in the first place.

cameragirl21 replied:
sounds wonderful except for the three hour drive. for the first time i've been longing for snow and seasons this year. i need a winter wonderland vacation! i'm going to illinois in february, and i'm praying for snow already!

luvbug00 replied: Sorry but ITA with the airline. there is NOTHING i lothe more ( other then kids who run arround stores and such unsupervized ) then kids who cry like crazy on planes and other modes of public transperation and their parents ( who have learned to "block" the sound ) don't get them quiet. I would have demanded as a paying passenger of that flight that they get the kid off!. now rembursing them was good but free tickets?? Note to self . Have Mya scream like bloody murder the next time we fly.

Boo&BugsMom replied:
Those were my thoughts. My children would not be allowed to act like that. Tanner knows better than to act like that. I sometimes would love to be a fly on the wall in some peoples homes... .

I think the airline did the right thing. They would have had way more angry people to deal with had they not done what they did.

Also, if the child had enough time to get under the seats, hit her parents,and rinky dink around, then they had enough time to console her!!! Of course, it's not their fault...it's easier to blame someone else...in this case, the airline.

redplaydoh replied: ITA with the airline. Without knowing the whole situation it's hard to comment on the circumstances. Maybe they were trying and the toddler thought he could really push their buttons being in public. Maybe they didn't care he was acting this way. Maybe they were more conservative in their discipline because they thought everyone was watching them and it backfired. I've been in public places when my kid decided to throw an all out tantrum and I was embarrassed and ended up just scooping him up and leaving while all the other parents of perfect children stared, getting up and leaving on an airplane is hard to do. As we all know, even our best-behaved kids sometimes get the better of us or try to. I think the airline was fair and just, but I can't bash the parents unless I know the whole story.

Btw, for ear pain in adults and children while flying... have the flight attendant place a paper napkin in one of those plastic drink cups and wet the napkin with hot water (from the coffee pot) and hold the cup firmly over the affected ear. The heat creates a vacuum and releases the pressure. Just make sure there isn't excess hot water that can scald. It just needs a trickle to wet the napkin.