Traveler's worst nightmare: .....
Jul 27th, 2010, 02:28 PM
#41
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My son has been flying with us since he was nine months old and was always a great traveller and never screamed. Nor did I ever let him tear up and down the aisles and kick people's seats. A lot of it comes down to the parents. Some of it may be individual to how the child's ears react to the cabin pressure;I agree with mom23rugrats that preparation is key.
I always have earplugs with me on a flight and am willing to help someone with a crying baby. I do get ticked off with parents who just let their kids go wild without any attempt at control.
The worst people I have had the misfortune of sitting beside were on a flight from Hawaii to Vancouver. It was their first trip away from home and it showed. They were drunk when they boarded and they were unbelievably sunburnt. They had the worst manners I have ever seen.The woman finished her meal while her husband and I were still eating.She flung her napkin into the plate,rooted around in her handbag, brought out some dental floss, crossed her legs in the seat, and began vigourously flossing her teeth!! I was so grossed out dinner was over for me, and as I was being shoved out of my seat by these crossed legs I was half out in the aisle. The husband carried on eating as if nothing was wrong.
The flight was chock a block full so I was trapped there for five and a half hours.
I wanted to tell them to stay in the trailer park from now on.
I always have earplugs with me on a flight and am willing to help someone with a crying baby. I do get ticked off with parents who just let their kids go wild without any attempt at control.
The worst people I have had the misfortune of sitting beside were on a flight from Hawaii to Vancouver. It was their first trip away from home and it showed. They were drunk when they boarded and they were unbelievably sunburnt. They had the worst manners I have ever seen.The woman finished her meal while her husband and I were still eating.She flung her napkin into the plate,rooted around in her handbag, brought out some dental floss, crossed her legs in the seat, and began vigourously flossing her teeth!! I was so grossed out dinner was over for me, and as I was being shoved out of my seat by these crossed legs I was half out in the aisle. The husband carried on eating as if nothing was wrong.
The flight was chock a block full so I was trapped there for five and a half hours.
I wanted to tell them to stay in the trailer park from now on.
Jul 27th, 2010, 02:30 PM
#42
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How I wish this scenerio was the worst thing I ever encountered while traveling.
By far, the worst travel experience I ever had was when my son got sick an hour before our departing flight. And, one hour into the flight, I came down with the same stomach bug. I would rather sit next to 7 screaming babies than ever endure that experience again.
Dealing with delayed flights, the chance of missing critical flight connections, or getting sick or injured while traveling worries me so much more.
Although if it was *my* kid crying, that would stress me out to no end. For some reason, I can listen to *your* kid crying, and it doesn't really bother me. But if it was mine, my stress level skyrocketed and all I frantically wanted to do was make him be quiet. For that reason (and others), I never flew with my kids until my youngest was 4. But we didn't have family a plane flight away, either.
I have never heard that a baby's cry could cause one to lose their hearing. That sounds like a pretty outrageous claim to me.
By far, the worst travel experience I ever had was when my son got sick an hour before our departing flight. And, one hour into the flight, I came down with the same stomach bug. I would rather sit next to 7 screaming babies than ever endure that experience again.
Dealing with delayed flights, the chance of missing critical flight connections, or getting sick or injured while traveling worries me so much more.
Although if it was *my* kid crying, that would stress me out to no end. For some reason, I can listen to *your* kid crying, and it doesn't really bother me. But if it was mine, my stress level skyrocketed and all I frantically wanted to do was make him be quiet. For that reason (and others), I never flew with my kids until my youngest was 4. But we didn't have family a plane flight away, either.
I have never heard that a baby's cry could cause one to lose their hearing. That sounds like a pretty outrageous claim to me.
Jul 27th, 2010, 02:46 PM
#43
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The woman is a moron. A crying baby, while you want to scream too, will not cause you any kind of deafness. It might leave your ears ringing and your temper burning, but that's it. The woman is 67 and was likely already partially deaf if she even does have any hearing issues.
As long as a parent is TRYING to quiet their kid, then it's fine. It's annoying but completely understandable. It's the parents who ignore their kids that make me want to smack someone. Figure out what works for your kids BEFORE the flight and try that.
Anyway, usually the little kids can be toned down with a "death glare" if the parents aren't doing anything. If the parents are just oblivious, they usually see the glare and remember that the midget sitting next to them is their kid and their responsibility. I'd rather fly near a young child than a young teenager any day. The teens often smell funky and have loud, stupid conversations that make me want to bang their head on the tray table until they're silent.
Sicilyan,
>>
Maybe I missed it, but I think you were actually the only one who said that kids should be put in their own section.
As long as a parent is TRYING to quiet their kid, then it's fine. It's annoying but completely understandable. It's the parents who ignore their kids that make me want to smack someone. Figure out what works for your kids BEFORE the flight and try that.
Anyway, usually the little kids can be toned down with a "death glare" if the parents aren't doing anything. If the parents are just oblivious, they usually see the glare and remember that the midget sitting next to them is their kid and their responsibility. I'd rather fly near a young child than a young teenager any day. The teens often smell funky and have loud, stupid conversations that make me want to bang their head on the tray table until they're silent.
Sicilyan,
>>
Maybe I missed it, but I think you were actually the only one who said that kids should be put in their own section.
Jul 27th, 2010, 03:29 PM
#46
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Back in the 'good old days' when I flew with Qantas we used to have cargo planes which had the end part of the plane dedicated to cargo and horses etc. If we still had this configuration there could be a 'crying room' set up like in the cinemas - that could work for all crying babies, badly behaved passengers etc. Lock them in there until after landing, would work a treat I say!!
Schnauzer
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Jul 27th, 2010, 03:45 PM
#47
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>
I'll admit it, I was prepared (food, toys, etc.) for the flight but my toddler (who did fine on previous flights) still yelled his head off after we ended up sitting on the runway for a couple of hours in Chicago. I was stressed and apologized to everyone around me and fortunately they were very gracious and told me it was fine.
Somehow, I'm able to tune out crying/screaming babies that belong to other passengers. It doesn't bother me and I'm thankful I'm not in their situation. In fact, I appreciate parents who keep their child buckled in and crying rather than letting the child run up and down the aisle.
I'll admit it, I was prepared (food, toys, etc.) for the flight but my toddler (who did fine on previous flights) still yelled his head off after we ended up sitting on the runway for a couple of hours in Chicago. I was stressed and apologized to everyone around me and fortunately they were very gracious and told me it was fine.
Somehow, I'm able to tune out crying/screaming babies that belong to other passengers. It doesn't bother me and I'm thankful I'm not in their situation. In fact, I appreciate parents who keep their child buckled in and crying rather than letting the child run up and down the aisle.
Jul 27th, 2010, 03:49 PM
#48
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It's torture for me to be near a crying baby not only because of the noise itself but because it means there's a small one who is REALLY unhappy and uncomfortable, possibly in severe pain. If you think it's rough on you, imagine 6 hrs. of excruciating ear pain and no way to tell anyone what's happening other than screaming - and if you're baby, the 6 hrs. is forever.
I think airlines could do a lot more re: informing and preparing parents with infants/toddlers - beginning with saying the parents must inform the airline ahead of time that they will have a child under 3 with them. Parents should KNOW or be instructed re: how to deal with this, although nothing is foolproof: pacifics or bottles to induce sucking to clear ears; food; frequent diaper changes; and pediatrician-approved medication perhaps.
Think smart FAs should carry pacifiers anyway - if not for miserable babies, then for whiny passengers.
I think airlines could do a lot more re: informing and preparing parents with infants/toddlers - beginning with saying the parents must inform the airline ahead of time that they will have a child under 3 with them. Parents should KNOW or be instructed re: how to deal with this, although nothing is foolproof: pacifics or bottles to induce sucking to clear ears; food; frequent diaper changes; and pediatrician-approved medication perhaps.
Think smart FAs should carry pacifiers anyway - if not for miserable babies, then for whiny passengers.
Jul 27th, 2010, 04:02 PM
#49
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Travel nightmare would be sitting between a pregnant mom with a crying toddler squirming in her arms on one side, and an obese sweaty salesman with a hard on on the aisle.
That lady complaining is a wackadoodledoo.
That lady complaining is a wackadoodledoo.
Jul 27th, 2010, 04:57 PM
#53
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I never cared much for people who thought they were above being near select groups of their fellow human beings. Or, for that matter, should be able to by their way out.
I've seen many, many children on planes over the years who were fine. And many adults I'd would have preferred stayed home if I'd had a vote. Que sera.
I've seen many, many children on planes over the years who were fine. And many adults I'd would have preferred stayed home if I'd had a vote. Que sera.
Jul 27th, 2010, 05:42 PM
#54
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sicilyan and others: I agree
<Airplanes should have a special section for people with babys and small children. I think it would be nice if the people with children were all seated together.>
On my last trip, (to Buenos Aires) a male teenager kicked the back of my seat, continually. When, I entered the bathroom after he had used it, he had peed all over the toilet seat. Babies are innocents. But, this teenager was piece of work!
Where would he be placed on a plane?
<Airplanes should have a special section for people with babys and small children. I think it would be nice if the people with children were all seated together.>
On my last trip, (to Buenos Aires) a male teenager kicked the back of my seat, continually. When, I entered the bathroom after he had used it, he had peed all over the toilet seat. Babies are innocents. But, this teenager was piece of work!
Where would he be placed on a plane?
Jul 27th, 2010, 06:05 PM
#56
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Where would he be placed on a plane?
Right there in that wet toilet seat. Head first.
ps - I wouldn't be bothered by an attempt to collect people with kids together, per se.
But I have a toddler who has traveled to 4 continents; has lived on 3; is 10000 miles from grandma that can't travel due to medical issues. The notion that she, or so many like her, shouldn't travel because one day some opportunistic nitwit had a bad couple of hours with someone's upset or even bratty kid and also forgot something as simple as earplugs.. and apparently refused to put on the earphones Qantas supplies... well, that whole notion is asinine. It's just someone trying to use some stupid incident to justify why they should have things the way they want them.
Right there in that wet toilet seat. Head first.
ps - I wouldn't be bothered by an attempt to collect people with kids together, per se.
But I have a toddler who has traveled to 4 continents; has lived on 3; is 10000 miles from grandma that can't travel due to medical issues. The notion that she, or so many like her, shouldn't travel because one day some opportunistic nitwit had a bad couple of hours with someone's upset or even bratty kid and also forgot something as simple as earplugs.. and apparently refused to put on the earphones Qantas supplies... well, that whole notion is asinine. It's just someone trying to use some stupid incident to justify why they should have things the way they want them.
Jul 27th, 2010, 06:34 PM
#57
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I adore toddlers and babies that have their own seat and always go out of my way to make both the parent and the child comfortable in my presence. But i do resent lap babies, now that flights are scheduled to sell out, leaving no option for them to poach and empty seat.
Jul 27th, 2010, 06:43 PM
#58
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Clif - excellent point about the earphones supplied by the airline.
We had a loser guy in our gym who constantly complained that people were conversing with each other around him. After listening to him complain about this for the 5th time, I told him the gym wasn't a library and there were no rules against talking. He went to complain to the management.
She asked him, if the talking bothered him so much, why he just didn't turn the volume on his headphone up. (He wore huge noise cancelling headphones. I really don't know how he could hear anything, b/c when I'm wearing my ipod earplugs, I can't hear people talking to me). He replied that "he shouldn't have to do that".
Apparently - everyone surrounding him was supposed to cater to his needs.
sicilyan - to avoid sitting next to children, you could fly on a private plane. Or, like PeterAus suggests - purchase a seat in first or business class.
We had a loser guy in our gym who constantly complained that people were conversing with each other around him. After listening to him complain about this for the 5th time, I told him the gym wasn't a library and there were no rules against talking. He went to complain to the management.
She asked him, if the talking bothered him so much, why he just didn't turn the volume on his headphone up. (He wore huge noise cancelling headphones. I really don't know how he could hear anything, b/c when I'm wearing my ipod earplugs, I can't hear people talking to me). He replied that "he shouldn't have to do that".
Apparently - everyone surrounding him was supposed to cater to his needs.
sicilyan - to avoid sitting next to children, you could fly on a private plane. Or, like PeterAus suggests - purchase a seat in first or business class.
Jul 27th, 2010, 07:06 PM
#59
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I was just reading the Brit "Daily Mail" and they had a bit about this.
Apparently the woman was wearing hearing aids to begin with and the kids screams short circuited them.
Daily Mail says she won the case.
just sayin
Apparently the woman was wearing hearing aids to begin with and the kids screams short circuited them.
Daily Mail says she won the case.
just sayin
