Family gets tossed off plane when child throws a temper tantrum.
Jan 24th, 2007, 05:35 AM
#102
I think Air Tran is totally in the right for throwing that family off the plane!
To now feel sympathy for the family with the uncontrollable child is ridiculous!
I can totally understand when kids cry during take off or landings whether it be fear or ear pain or whatever, but if they are not able to sit in a seat for any length of time, then they shouldn't be traveling by air. Wait until the child gets old enough.
I have two kids and it was not always easy to entertain them while they were little, but I did.
There are just some kids that get out of control like that. BUT,
that shouldn't be the other how ever many passengers problem on the plane.
To now feel sympathy for the family with the uncontrollable child is ridiculous!
I can totally understand when kids cry during take off or landings whether it be fear or ear pain or whatever, but if they are not able to sit in a seat for any length of time, then they shouldn't be traveling by air. Wait until the child gets old enough.
I have two kids and it was not always easy to entertain them while they were little, but I did.
There are just some kids that get out of control like that. BUT,
that shouldn't be the other how ever many passengers problem on the plane.
Jan 24th, 2007, 05:44 AM
#103
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This may have been said already, but think of it in the most simple terms. If an ADULT was screaming and REFUSED to be seated for take off, he/she would be removed from the plane. Everyone needs to be in their seat and restrained for take off...it's that simple.
Jan 24th, 2007, 05:47 AM
#104
The little girl wasn't seated in the row in front of her parents, in the midst of the tantrum she was sitting on the floor in front of her parents!
Phew...so many of us in agreement. Wish we could let Kuleszas know the consensus here is that they were in the wrong, not the airline! Heck, they got an extra day in Florida out of it too!
Unfortunately, that might reinforce the tantrum tactics.
Phew...so many of us in agreement. Wish we could let Kuleszas know the consensus here is that they were in the wrong, not the airline! Heck, they got an extra day in Florida out of it too!
Unfortunately, that might reinforce the tantrum tactics.
Jan 24th, 2007, 06:21 AM
#106
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I know I'm old. When I see parents try to reason with bratty kids in public ("Oh Jeremy, Mommy understands that you're sad. Would you rather have your milk in the blue cup instead of the red cup?" If Jeremy was my kid, he'd drink the dang milk from the red cup or go without. I really don't care if he's sad or not at that particular moment in time) it makes me shudder at the feel-good, PC style of parenting that is everywhere today.
I saw the parents on GMA yesterday--whew, what a twosome. Sniffed that even though they had free tickets for a future flight, they'd never fly AirTran again. For Pete's sake, take some responsibility for your child, people.
This is harsh, but I was a fellow passenger on the flight, I could care less if Elly had an earache, irresponsible parents or was just having a rotten day. I want to get to my destination on time and without a toddler screaming in my ear for the entire trip. Good for AirTran.
"The Look" worked wonderfully on my kids. Counting to three was also hugely successful. Not sure why as the most I would do was a quick swat on the bottom. We did back it up with timeouts or loss of a privilege so maybe that's why it worked. Now they're almost 18 and almost 15 and laugh about "the look" and the counting. I thnk it was place2u who mentioned the dreaded 'arm squeeze' in church. Been there!
I saw the parents on GMA yesterday--whew, what a twosome. Sniffed that even though they had free tickets for a future flight, they'd never fly AirTran again. For Pete's sake, take some responsibility for your child, people.
This is harsh, but I was a fellow passenger on the flight, I could care less if Elly had an earache, irresponsible parents or was just having a rotten day. I want to get to my destination on time and without a toddler screaming in my ear for the entire trip. Good for AirTran.
"The Look" worked wonderfully on my kids. Counting to three was also hugely successful. Not sure why as the most I would do was a quick swat on the bottom. We did back it up with timeouts or loss of a privilege so maybe that's why it worked. Now they're almost 18 and almost 15 and laugh about "the look" and the counting. I thnk it was place2u who mentioned the dreaded 'arm squeeze' in church. Been there!
Jan 24th, 2007, 06:25 AM
#108
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Children should know what the expectations are before flying. It is an adult experience and they must behave and follow directions during the flight. If not, they will have to get off or even leave the child at home.
Practice with the dining room chair and daddy's belt with Mommy or Daddy playing the part of the flight attendant and the child playing the part of the passenger.
If a child knows what to expect then they will rarely be a problem on a flight.
Practice with the dining room chair and daddy's belt with Mommy or Daddy playing the part of the flight attendant and the child playing the part of the passenger.
If a child knows what to expect then they will rarely be a problem on a flight.
Jan 24th, 2007, 06:33 AM
#110
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Blame allocation:
1. Parents: for subjecting the little girl to the first flight too soon after surgery and without appropriate pain medication.
2. Parents: for having allowed the little girl to be successful with hitting them and screaming in the past, so that she had the expectation that this was how to do things.
3. Parents: for not medicating the child for the second flight after the horrible experience of the first -- and, relatedly, not recognizing and separating out fear from the basic spoiled-child power-battle.
4. Southwest personnel who didn't handle the situation particularly well -- extending their reaction to the tantrum to how they handled the parents -- peremptorily, uncreatively, and rudely until long after the event.
5. The media, for making such a stupid, "morality-lesson" circus out of the whole thing -- pointing fingers and then indulging all the wrong people. "Naughty naughty heartless airline," but knowing full well plenty of people in the audience were thinking "naughty, naughty clueless parents."
The one person not on the list of blame-ables? The three-year-old, who is way too young to be held responsible for disproportionate reaction to fear, poor patterning by self-absorbed but clueless parents, and maybe the dangerously tight schedules in hub airports, too.
1. Parents: for subjecting the little girl to the first flight too soon after surgery and without appropriate pain medication.
2. Parents: for having allowed the little girl to be successful with hitting them and screaming in the past, so that she had the expectation that this was how to do things.
3. Parents: for not medicating the child for the second flight after the horrible experience of the first -- and, relatedly, not recognizing and separating out fear from the basic spoiled-child power-battle.
4. Southwest personnel who didn't handle the situation particularly well -- extending their reaction to the tantrum to how they handled the parents -- peremptorily, uncreatively, and rudely until long after the event.
5. The media, for making such a stupid, "morality-lesson" circus out of the whole thing -- pointing fingers and then indulging all the wrong people. "Naughty naughty heartless airline," but knowing full well plenty of people in the audience were thinking "naughty, naughty clueless parents."
The one person not on the list of blame-ables? The three-year-old, who is way too young to be held responsible for disproportionate reaction to fear, poor patterning by self-absorbed but clueless parents, and maybe the dangerously tight schedules in hub airports, too.
Jan 24th, 2007, 06:40 AM
#111
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I am with the airlines on this. Apparently this disruption lasted for over 15 minutes, so the airlines tried to accomodate the family.
I flew at 3 (to Europe), and so did my son (across country). Knowing that he did not enjoy being confined for long periods of time, I had lots of things to occupy him and prevent behavior problems.
If the child is this controlling at 3, I'd hate to fast forward to the teenage years.
I flew at 3 (to Europe), and so did my son (across country). Knowing that he did not enjoy being confined for long periods of time, I had lots of things to occupy him and prevent behavior problems.
If the child is this controlling at 3, I'd hate to fast forward to the teenage years.
Jan 24th, 2007, 06:48 AM
#112
Great idea cmcfong. I just emailed them. http://www.airtranairways.com/contact/contact_us.aspx for anyone who wishes to do the same.
As I said to them, their only mistake IMHO, was giving all the freebies. Hotels dug themselves a very deep hole when they started this practice for anything and everything...and nothing! There is an unfortunate group of travelers now who have become professional complainers...to see just how much they can get for nuttin'. Some of it is ludicrous..such as the person who wrote corporate separate complaint letters for separate hotels, but all using the same date of stay and same complaint. Ick
As I said to them, their only mistake IMHO, was giving all the freebies. Hotels dug themselves a very deep hole when they started this practice for anything and everything...and nothing! There is an unfortunate group of travelers now who have become professional complainers...to see just how much they can get for nuttin'. Some of it is ludicrous..such as the person who wrote corporate separate complaint letters for separate hotels, but all using the same date of stay and same complaint. Ick
Jan 24th, 2007, 06:59 AM
#113
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As a parent of 2 children, I kind of agree with HKP that there is a lot of blame to go around. I can see very well why the parents are very upset about it. That doesn't mean they are completely in the right though. It just means that as a parent I can understand why someone would be very upset if that happened. My guess is that they and the airline both could have handled it better, but again, that is without knowing exactly how it was handled.
For example, if an airline employee simply kicked someone off for a crying child - wrong, wrong, wrong. If it was a situation that truly was a major problem - not sitting after 15 minutes and holding up the flight. Apologize to the parents for doing it, but ask them to get off the plane, calm the kid down, and take another flight (which would be free). Afterall, they were paying customers as well.
For example, if an airline employee simply kicked someone off for a crying child - wrong, wrong, wrong. If it was a situation that truly was a major problem - not sitting after 15 minutes and holding up the flight. Apologize to the parents for doing it, but ask them to get off the plane, calm the kid down, and take another flight (which would be free). Afterall, they were paying customers as well.
Jan 24th, 2007, 07:09 AM
#115
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I haven't the time to read ALL the responses so far but I say ...
WAY TO GO, AIR TRAN!
I say that you have NOT hurt your public image; in fact, you'll have everyone wanting to fly your airline if you're brave enough to stand up to parents of out-of-control *kiddies.* (I'd like to see more of it!)
WAY TO GO, AIR TRAN!
I say that you have NOT hurt your public image; in fact, you'll have everyone wanting to fly your airline if you're brave enough to stand up to parents of out-of-control *kiddies.* (I'd like to see more of it!)
Jan 24th, 2007, 07:14 AM
#117
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I've heard of the "Me Me ME" generation but some of you really take the cake! Now you're ENTITLED to peace and quiet at all times and in all places? A 3 year old should just be whisked away for your comfort?
Since when does an airline offer compensation after doing something that their lawyers consider right and just? Obviously the other passengers complained about the treatment of this family. When the child started acting up, and the mom apologized, other passengers said "we understand, we have kids".
How about a little more understanding and a little less "I DESERVE AN ON-TIME DEPARTURE! A ONE MINUTE DELAY IS NOT ACCEPTABLE IN MY PERFECT WORLD!
AND THE SHEETS IN MY HOTEL ROOM BETTER NOT HAVE A WRINKLE IN THEM OR I'M GIVING THE HOTEL ONLY 1 STAR IN MY REVIEW! AND THE TERRIBLE HOSTESS TOOK THREE MINUTES TO SEAT US IN THE DINING ROOM!"
Since when does an airline offer compensation after doing something that their lawyers consider right and just? Obviously the other passengers complained about the treatment of this family. When the child started acting up, and the mom apologized, other passengers said "we understand, we have kids".
How about a little more understanding and a little less "I DESERVE AN ON-TIME DEPARTURE! A ONE MINUTE DELAY IS NOT ACCEPTABLE IN MY PERFECT WORLD!
AND THE SHEETS IN MY HOTEL ROOM BETTER NOT HAVE A WRINKLE IN THEM OR I'M GIVING THE HOTEL ONLY 1 STAR IN MY REVIEW! AND THE TERRIBLE HOSTESS TOOK THREE MINUTES TO SEAT US IN THE DINING ROOM!"
Jan 24th, 2007, 07:14 AM
#119
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NeoPatrick, you can rent my toddler for a flight anytime. Of course, I need a full background check on you and any of your travelling companions
My 2.5 year old boy loves airports, planes, the whole nine yards, so flying has been good with him so far with the exception of a pre-flight tantrum coming this past Thanksgiving. I now realize that was due to my booking us on a 9pm flight and he was very tired. Learned from it, won't do it again. I was still able to (forcefully) buckle him into his seat, and once we took off, he fell asleep.
My challenge is that our solution for dealing with tantrums at home is to calmly put him in his special tantrum place, and tell him to come find us when he is done. Then we leave the room. This allows him get his rage out, knowing that Mommy and Daddy won't reward it. It works great at home, but obviously this strategy can't readily be taken on the road. What do you people back the "look" up with when in public. By the way, I have perfected a look that would terrify Robert DeNiro.
My 2.5 year old boy loves airports, planes, the whole nine yards, so flying has been good with him so far with the exception of a pre-flight tantrum coming this past Thanksgiving. I now realize that was due to my booking us on a 9pm flight and he was very tired. Learned from it, won't do it again. I was still able to (forcefully) buckle him into his seat, and once we took off, he fell asleep.
My challenge is that our solution for dealing with tantrums at home is to calmly put him in his special tantrum place, and tell him to come find us when he is done. Then we leave the room. This allows him get his rage out, knowing that Mommy and Daddy won't reward it. It works great at home, but obviously this strategy can't readily be taken on the road. What do you people back the "look" up with when in public. By the way, I have perfected a look that would terrify Robert DeNiro.
Jan 24th, 2007, 07:23 AM
#120
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joesorce,
Yes. If you read the posts, we're blaming the parents, not the child. She can't help it if mommy and daddy aren't responsible enough to 1.) sit with her on the plane 2.) give her some Benedryl to ease her hurting ears and make the flight easier. 3.) teach her (lovingly, not forcefully) that the world does not revolve around you.
Sure--any of us who have had toddlers empathize when we see a frazzled mom dealing with a toddler who decided that the main aisle of Target would be a dandy place to have a tantrum. That's different than the situation we're talking about here.
Yes. If you read the posts, we're blaming the parents, not the child. She can't help it if mommy and daddy aren't responsible enough to 1.) sit with her on the plane 2.) give her some Benedryl to ease her hurting ears and make the flight easier. 3.) teach her (lovingly, not forcefully) that the world does not revolve around you.
Sure--any of us who have had toddlers empathize when we see a frazzled mom dealing with a toddler who decided that the main aisle of Target would be a dandy place to have a tantrum. That's different than the situation we're talking about here.
