Comments on: Children in first class? 3 suggestions for the kids ‘up front’ http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/children-in-first-class-3-suggestions-for-the-kids-%e2%80%98up-front%e2%80%99/ The last honest travel site Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:38:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: alavery7 http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/children-in-first-class-3-suggestions-for-the-kids-%e2%80%98up-front%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-13393 alavery7 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:24:25 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=15783#comment-13393 Is this a free country and a capitalist economy, or isn't it? 1. Rude individuals of any age should be politely corrected, through their guardians if they are a minor, regardless of their seat assignment. 2. If a premium service is available, it should available to all ages except where doing so would be in volation of the law (such as serving alcohol to minors). I don't understand how people can continue to call for airlines to restrict the freedoms of some (parents and minors, in this case) to protect the convenience of others. If *you* are bothered by a baby's cries, *you* should buy noise cancelling earphones, the same as I am not allowed to prohibit people from talking on bluetooth headsets while standing in front of me in line. If a child is kicking a seat, or misbehaving in a way that would also be inappropriate for an adult, the parents and flight staff should work together to resolve, and the other passengers should raise any objections politely with the flight staff. Quit the kid bashing. They and their parents have every right to fly that you do. Is this a free country and a capitalist economy, or isn’t it?

1. Rude individuals of any age should be politely corrected, through their guardians if they are a minor, regardless of their seat assignment.

2. If a premium service is available, it should available to all ages except where doing so would be in volation of the law (such as serving alcohol to minors).

I don’t understand how people can continue to call for airlines to restrict the freedoms of some (parents and minors, in this case) to protect the convenience of others. If *you* are bothered by a baby’s cries, *you* should buy noise cancelling earphones, the same as I am not allowed to prohibit people from talking on bluetooth headsets while standing in front of me in line.

If a child is kicking a seat, or misbehaving in a way that would also be inappropriate for an adult, the parents and flight staff should work together to resolve, and the other passengers should raise any objections politely with the flight staff.

Quit the kid bashing. They and their parents have every right to fly that you do.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/children-in-first-class-3-suggestions-for-the-kids-%e2%80%98up-front%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-13274 Kevin Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:16:41 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=15783#comment-13274 I don't know why a parent would need first or business class. I used to wish I could afford to fly up front, so I could actually stretch my legs and maybe, for once, sleep. But now that we have a little girl, I hardly have time to get uncomfortable. What once was a long 10-12 hours of ignoring the movie, trying to hear the music program over the jet noise, and getting bored with the book I brought, is now, except for nap time, really quite busy interacting with our daughter. The hours fly by! So maybe that's the parent's real error-- not being too permissive, but just not engaging with the child and spending time with him/her. Is it really a problem for people for children to cruise the aisle? When my daughter was 1, she got a lot of walking practice between the two sets of lavatories. I felt like we were famous, everyone knew our faces... and they smiled. I don’t know why a parent would need first or business class. I used to wish I could afford to fly up front, so I could actually stretch my legs and maybe, for once, sleep. But now that we have a little girl, I hardly have time to get uncomfortable. What once was a long 10-12 hours of ignoring the movie, trying to hear the music program over the jet noise, and getting bored with the book I brought, is now, except for nap time, really quite busy interacting with our daughter. The hours fly by! So maybe that’s the parent’s real error– not being too permissive, but just not engaging with the child and spending time with him/her.
Is it really a problem for people for children to cruise the aisle? When my daughter was 1, she got a lot of walking practice between the two sets of lavatories. I felt like we were famous, everyone knew our faces… and they smiled.

]]> By: Ronnie http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/children-in-first-class-3-suggestions-for-the-kids-%e2%80%98up-front%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-13265 Ronnie Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:28:40 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=15783#comment-13265 How about "special needs" people in first class that behave like five year olds? I was on a flight with a family of three--the parents and a daughter who was 30+ going on 5. The parents sat in the row behind her, leaving her to sit next to me. She was rude, threw her food, screamed and yelled about "Harry Potter living in her closet" and stomped around the cabin when the lavatory was occupied and she wanted to use it. One of the FA's nudged the parents (at my behest) to switch seats with the daughter. The mother did and all I got was an earful about how some people don't have the patience for "beautiful" people like her kid. How about “special needs” people in first class that behave like five year olds? I was on a flight with a family of three–the parents and a daughter who was 30+ going on 5.

The parents sat in the row behind her, leaving her to sit next to me. She was rude, threw her food, screamed and yelled about “Harry Potter living in her closet” and stomped around the cabin when the lavatory was occupied and she wanted to use it.

One of the FA’s nudged the parents (at my behest) to switch seats with the daughter. The mother did and all I got was an earful about how some people don’t have the patience for “beautiful” people like her kid.

]]> By: DCTA http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/children-in-first-class-3-suggestions-for-the-kids-%e2%80%98up-front%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-13254 DCTA Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:57:30 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=15783#comment-13254 I'm all for children in Bus/First as long as they actually buy a ticket and are not on someone's lap. you want to bring your kid in first, please pay at least what I did for the treat of sitting in those nice big seats. That way, when your kid misbehaves I'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you paid a premium for his/her experience. I’m all for children in Bus/First as long as they actually buy a ticket and are not on someone’s lap. you want to bring your kid in first, please pay at least what I did for the treat of sitting in those nice big seats. That way, when your kid misbehaves I’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you paid a premium for his/her experience.

]]> By: thelees3 http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/children-in-first-class-3-suggestions-for-the-kids-%e2%80%98up-front%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-13225 thelees3 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:13:03 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=15783#comment-13225 I'm a bit put-off by your comment about parents have allowed their offspring to run wild on a flight. “Don’t blame the children,” he says. “Blame the adults for their permissive ways and their lack of parenting skills.” New walkers who've just gotten their walking legs cannot contain themselves and sit in a seat. I don't care what kind of parenting skills are employed, you're going to either have a child walking in the aisles or one screaming to get out of their seat to walk. I personally prefer the cute waddling toddler cruising up and down the aisles better than a screaming unhappy one. But then again, if people want a screaming child, let me know! If passengers are annoyed by the patrolling of the aisle by toddlers, I would suggest installing some sort of treadmill for new toddlers to occupy their new found legs. I’m a bit put-off by your comment about parents have allowed their offspring to run wild on a flight. “Don’t blame the children,” he says. “Blame the adults for their permissive ways and their lack of parenting skills.”

New walkers who’ve just gotten their walking legs cannot contain themselves and sit in a seat. I don’t care what kind of parenting skills are employed, you’re going to either have a child walking in the aisles or one screaming to get out of their seat to walk. I personally prefer the cute waddling toddler cruising up and down the aisles better than a screaming unhappy one. But then again, if people want a screaming child, let me know! If passengers are annoyed by the patrolling of the aisle by toddlers, I would suggest installing some sort of treadmill for new toddlers to occupy their new found legs.

]]> By: Carrie Charney http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/children-in-first-class-3-suggestions-for-the-kids-%e2%80%98up-front%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-13221 Carrie Charney Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:34:38 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=15783#comment-13221 Amen, Bodega! Amen, Bodega!

]]> By: Bodega http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/children-in-first-class-3-suggestions-for-the-kids-%e2%80%98up-front%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-13218 Bodega Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:03:33 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=15783#comment-13218 Put all the kids in first and business and all the business travelers in the back. Wanna bet which group acts up first! Kids are kids and can't often control themselves. Adults on the other hand can and don't. I feel sorry for the young child who becomes uncomfortable on the plane. I don't feel sorry for the adult that acts out and I seem to see that far more these days. The front of the plane is for anyone who can afford the cost of the ticket or has the mileage to upgrade. The comment that the front of the plane is where business people sit is bunk! Put all the kids in first and business and all the business travelers in the back. Wanna bet which group acts up first!

Kids are kids and can’t often control themselves. Adults on the other hand can and don’t. I feel sorry for the young child who becomes uncomfortable on the plane. I don’t feel sorry for the adult that acts out and I seem to see that far more these days.

The front of the plane is for anyone who can afford the cost of the ticket or has the mileage to upgrade. The comment that the front of the plane is where business people sit is bunk!

]]> By: occasional traveler http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/children-in-first-class-3-suggestions-for-the-kids-%e2%80%98up-front%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-13209 occasional traveler Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:05:16 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=15783#comment-13209 It sounds like this needs to be determined on a kid-by-kid basis. My husband and I were upgraded to business on a flight from Sao Paulo to Chicago. Business class was pretty much empty so we moved over to three empty seats, strapped in our little 1.8 mth old, fed her a ton of food and milk to make her sleepy and then she slept 8 of the 9hr flight. People complimented us on how quiet she was. So it is entirely possible to do -- but she also had the temperament to endure intl flights with little screaming, kicking, or crying. Would I do it again now that she is 2.5? Not so sure. I think reasonable parents should consider their fellow passengers before making that decision. It sounds like this needs to be determined on a kid-by-kid basis. My husband and I were upgraded to business on a flight from Sao Paulo to Chicago. Business class was pretty much empty so we moved over to three empty seats, strapped in our little 1.8 mth old, fed her a ton of food and milk to make her sleepy and then she slept 8 of the 9hr flight. People complimented us on how quiet she was. So it is entirely possible to do — but she also had the temperament to endure intl flights with little screaming, kicking, or crying. Would I do it again now that she is 2.5? Not so sure. I think reasonable parents should consider their fellow passengers before making that decision.

]]> By: L. C. http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/children-in-first-class-3-suggestions-for-the-kids-%e2%80%98up-front%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-13207 L. C. Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:17:32 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=15783#comment-13207 Age should be left out of this discussion entirely. No one on a plane should be screaming, running in the aisles, drooling on other passengers, climbing over the seats, kicking the seats, throwing toys, etc. I would like to see the airlines establish and enforce a civilized code of conduct for all passengers on a plane. And no, of course this should not be necessary. However, since it obviously is necessary, put the expectations of a civilized society in writing, communicate these expectations clearly to all passengers, and fine or remove violators (and their parents) from the flight at the first available opportunity, with no refunds. Age should be left out of this discussion entirely. No one on a plane should be screaming, running in the aisles, drooling on other passengers, climbing over the seats, kicking the seats, throwing toys, etc. I would like to see the airlines establish and enforce a civilized code of conduct for all passengers on a plane. And no, of course this should not be necessary. However, since it obviously is necessary, put the expectations of a civilized society in writing, communicate these expectations clearly to all passengers, and fine or remove violators (and their parents) from the flight at the first available opportunity, with no refunds.

]]> By: Frank http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/children-in-first-class-3-suggestions-for-the-kids-%e2%80%98up-front%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-13202 Frank Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:56:26 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=15783#comment-13202 · An overwhelming majority of air travelers to a recent survey by Skytrax — 9 in 10 respondents — said families with children should be seated in a separate section on flights, presumably not in first class. ============================================================== Skytrax, great website. What I've observed over the years is interesting. "Parents" in FIRST, kids in coach. "Kids" in FIRST, parents in coach. The "women" in FIRST, the guys in coach....etc..etc. The summer months show an increase in kids in FIRST. I just had two unaccompanied minors in FIRST the other day. Well behaved. Crying infants, ohhhh boy. Especially on late night flights or red eyes. I've placed a blanket on the toilet seat of the lavatory and said, "want some privacy?" many times. · An overwhelming majority of air travelers to a recent survey by Skytrax — 9 in 10 respondents — said families with children should be seated in a separate section on flights, presumably not in first class.
==============================================================

Skytrax, great website. What I’ve observed over the years is interesting. “Parents” in FIRST, kids in coach. “Kids” in FIRST, parents in coach. The “women” in FIRST, the guys in coach….etc..etc. The summer months show an increase in kids in FIRST. I just had two unaccompanied minors in FIRST the other day. Well behaved.
Crying infants, ohhhh boy. Especially on late night flights or red eyes. I’ve placed a blanket on the toilet seat of the lavatory and said, “want some privacy?” many times.

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