Still Traveling

By Cathy

June 27, 2007 11:07 AM | Link to this

Sure! I’ve already had this idea. I think people with small children (3 and under?) should sit in a separate, SOUND-PROOF section of the airplane! Children are great, but on an airplane they annoy the entire cabin when they cry, and they annoy the people nearby when they move around a lot, or when annoying parents change their diaper in the seat, etc.

By Jen

June 27, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this

I’m both a mother and a business traveler. I’m in total favor of this idea, thought I don’t see airlines not booking flights to total capacity. Perhaps they might agree to group people by family, singles, business, or whatever, but they’re going to try to book every empty seat. So you might just end up with a kid next to you anyway.

Personally, I don’t mind crying babies. Babies cry. It’s what they do. No other way for them to communicate. It’s misbehaving children who get to me, because they should know better. And if they’re ill then mom and dad should know better….

My husband, 5 year old son, and I will be traveling this August. I would certainly not mind if we were grouped with other families. My son makes friends instantly and if he could sit next to another child his age (boy or girl) then he’d be happy and relatively quiet for the entire trip….

By Leah

June 27, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this

As a former road warrior, I would definitely choose an airline that had a designated family section over one that did not. I don’t have a problem with kids generally, but the stress of travel seems to bring out the worst in them (and probably most adults, too). At a minimum, they should get rid of the infant-in-arms flys free rule, because I have never, ever seen a mother able to keep her little one corralled and out of the way of others for the entire duration of a flight. What happens when they spill on the suit that you won’t have a chance to change before going to a client’s site?Or knock over your company’s laptop while you try to get work done during a Monday morning flight? Or prevent you from sleeping off your jet lag during the flight, thus sending you home drained and grouchy to the family that hasn’t seen you in 2 weeks?

I have nothing against children, and while my own parents were courteous enough not to take us on planes until ALL THREE children could behave like young adults, I understand that this isn’t possible for everyone. So as a compromise, the ‘family section’ seems like a great way to put the burden of travelling with kids squarely on the parents that brought them — and not the whole cabin.

By Temp

June 27, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this

YES, YES, YES! I wholeheartedly approve of this idea. There’s nothing worse than being trapped in the seat next to a screaming child on an airplane. You can’t blame the kid for screaming, because all they know is that their ears are hurting. But if the parents are forced to wallow in misery together, maybe the rest of us can have a nice, relaxing flight. At least until the boneheads at the FAA allow cell phones on airplanes.

By lovelyliz

June 27, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this

When I flew British Airways a couple of years ago on a flight to London, the families with babies were seated in a section behind a bulkhead that was set up for handling baby carriers.

This made things easier for those with small children and the childless passengers on the rest of the plane.

One of the most heinous flights I have ever been on was a military flight where babies and their bulky equipment where everywhere. Nothing was set up for them and everyone was miserable.

By JD

June 27, 2007 11:54 AM | Link to this

YES! I flew on Delta last month, and a lady two rows ahead of me changed her baby’s very dirty diaper. The stench was sickening, and it lasted for many minutes. This is the second time that I’ve experienced an incident like this on a plane.

By Jen

June 27, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this

Yeah….no changing dirty diapers in your seat. Wet diapers ok. Muddy one not.

Us parents get used to that smell and forget how sickening it is to others.

Bring the diaper-wearer to the bathroom for a change. Airlines should install changing tables if they haven’t already. I can’t remember. My child is old enough that I no longer notice those things….

By Flyer

June 27, 2007 12:03 PM | Link to this

I think all airlines should do this. I was once surrounded by children that were loud, crying, and fighting the entire 4 hour flight! I couldn’t get my headphones loud enought to drown out the sound. I have three young children and would never do this to them, myself, or the other passengers.

By withheld

June 27, 2007 12:21 PM | Link to this

I agree the stench of the diaper is bad but the bathrooms do not have changing tables and there is no where to lie a child down in there to change because it is to small. As for a separate family area the problem with that is those of us who have kids that do behave well would have no choice but to be stuck next to the crying baby or misbehaving kids. And as another person said the airline is in the business of having max capacity so they are going to sell every seat they can.

I think a better way to do it is to have the more frequent business travelers get more upgrades to business class or first class and keep small children out of there.

By River Rat

June 27, 2007 12:27 PM | Link to this

Changes are needed, most of the time it’s not a problem,but on long flights it can be miserable.

By Lynn

June 27, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this

Yes, babies and small children can be annoying on a flight…. but the worst flight I experienced was one with a bunch of recent high school graduates. They were yelling across the plane to each other and not following any safety rules. One girl spent several minutes sitting on the arm of the seat during turbulence. I was afraid she’d fall and hurt herself and someone else.

By Michelle

June 27, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this

As a mother of many children I would say no to this idea. My children are always well behaved when on a plane and we’re always complimented when we are to our destination. Why should we be penalized by being forced to sit where other children are acting like maniacs? Why should we be the ones to put up with the other parents who don’t keep their kids under control? Because we have kids ourselves? I think it’s a slippery slope… soon you can find special sections for all kinds of people.

By CDog

June 27, 2007 12:37 PM | Link to this

A family section would be great. I wouldn’t have to sit around a bunch of alcoholics on the plane. I will take crying babies over nausea from smelling beer any day.

By Joan

June 27, 2007 12:41 PM | Link to this

I have flown with my very small child numerous times. The first time she was 5 weeks old, the second time she was 9 months old, and has flown two or three times a year since. NEVER EVER EVER have I had a problem with her on a flight. I’ve had other passengers roll their eyes at me as we are boarding, seeing a mom with a small child. But never once has there ever been a problem. I even had one gentleman roll his eyes at me as we were boarding the plane, but as we were getting off the plane, he came up to me and apologized for his stares, and complimented me on taking care of my child during the flight.

You all need to relax. Buy the earphones, watch a movie, read a book, have a cocktail, and be a little more polite to your fellow fliers. And if you see a parent struggling with their kids, offer some assistance. Don’t just go running and tattling. HELP THEM OUT. Geez.

By John Chambers

June 27, 2007 12:42 PM | Link to this

People who wish to seperate themselves from the general public on commercial airlines should buy their own plane.

By John

June 27, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this

Joan- You try reading a book with a kid screaming in the row in front of you. If you have kids then you probably learned to tune it out. Us kid-free people get distracted easily when little Hunter starts screaming his head off.

By Joan

June 27, 2007 1:00 PM | Link to this

John Put your headphones on.

And no I have learned to tune it out. And if you read my post you will see that I have flown with my young child numerous times.

John Chambers AMEN!!!!! The same goes for restaurants too!!!!

By Amanda Miller

June 27, 2007 1:02 PM | Link to this

Hi Michelle

I think you make a good point about a slippery slope. I personally would rather sit by a nice family than a hairy man in a sleeveless T-shirt who smells like he’s been out exercising vigorously before boarding the plane.

Amanda

By Hurry and Implement this

June 27, 2007 1:10 PM | Link to this

YES!!! A family section is NEEDED ! Crying kids are bad enough but PARENTS WHO JUST SIT THERE AND IGNORE THEM IS WORSE! Try listening to that noise on an 8-hour flight right in front of you!

The last thing I want on a flight I anticipate enjoying is to be seated near or around crying and disruptive kids!

By houdini

June 27, 2007 1:14 PM | Link to this

Most Excellent Idea. That’s not to say that if a flight is full and those are the only seats left that non-family fliers wouldn’t have to sit in them. But, it would follow the trend of family bathrooms in malls and public places, family movie theatres, etc. It would not only provide comfort to families with young children, but also for those people who wouldn’t want to hear the “screamers” Mind you, a lot of kids are very well behaved on planes, but some just aren’t and that’s the reality of it. Near the back would be good-kids seem to have to use the facilities often.

By non screaming baby section please

June 27, 2007 1:30 PM | Link to this

I cannot stand screaming babies-when I go to a restaurant, I ask fo rthe non screaming baby section. I cannot stand these rugrats that are being “trained” to behave in public by their learning parents. Try that in church-not a restaurant where people want to relax in quiet. Take them to a concert where they can scream their head off. But not to a restaurant. They ought to have cd players and cd’s for these kids to keep them entertained and quiet.

By nofatties

June 27, 2007 1:38 PM | Link to this

worst flight-sitting next to a hairy armpitted 400lb black woman. Boy did she stink! Woman apparently did not believei n shaving-her armpit hair was so bushy it resembled a private part. Oh and the smell-smelled like she came out of the jungle. Must have been fat odor. arms as fat and flabby and big like a cedar tree. And her face resembled a wart hog. UGLY! They need to hose down these fat people and dip them in perfume or something cause that fat smell is awful.

By Heather

June 27, 2007 1:46 PM | Link to this

I recently travelled for the first time on a plane with my 2 year old and trust me it is just as stressful for the parents as it is for the other passengers. I don’t condone just sitting there and letting your kids scream by any means but sometimes there just isn’t anything you can do. The only way I could keep my toddler from crying was to pace up and down the aisles. If you don’t want to sit next to families I suggest buying a business or 1st class ticket. Theres alot more likely chance you won’t be sitting next to any kids.

By Frequent Flier

June 27, 2007 1:55 PM | Link to this

As a frequent business and leisure traveler, I would pay extra money for a seat if there were a family section on the plane, preferably with a soundproof door separating the two sections and with the family section in the back of the plane. My rationale behind it is that some of us business travelers have to make connecting flights in a very short amount of time. This is why I try to get a seat in the front of the plane. First class and business class is no guarantee that the section will be child-free. Also, I often have to work on the flight en route to business meetings with clients and conferences. I actually have looked into flights that are geared solely toward business travelers, but since I work for the Federal government, I have to go with the contract airlines, which are the big carriers. Until that day, I will suggest the following:

Something to think about.

By JJ

June 27, 2007 1:57 PM | Link to this

I would love to see an “I am more important that anyone else in the world” section.

I would love to see an “I hate children” section.

I would love to see an “I hate fat people section”

I would love to see an “I hate hairy smelly people” section.

I would love to see “I hate everyone and everything, and I am a miserable person” section.

There would only be one seat in that section, and all of you negative posters could take turns using it.

By Darwin

June 27, 2007 2:07 PM | Link to this

keep it simple, just put the kids in with the pets!

By Kerry

June 27, 2007 2:10 PM | Link to this

Last year my parents took our family to Italy (including my daughter, who was 9 months old at the time). Our flight was at night so that she would hopefully sleep. And she did. She had her own seat with a carseat and she slept the entire way there. Our plane did have changing tables in the restroom too. I changed her once in the middle of the flight and she went right back to sleep. I wouldn’t agree with a family section unless it was for very small children (3 and under). If I had kids that were over that age and well behaved it wouldn’t really be fair to stick us with all the crying children. I do think that misbehaving children are much more annoying than crying babies. Parents need to learn to control their children and be mindful of how annoying it can be to other people.

By Jess

June 27, 2007 2:26 PM | Link to this

I can’t believe how obnoxious some of you people are. When you own your own private jet…then you can have the right to decide who flies on your plane. You purchased ONE SEAT and have no right to ban anyone else. By the way I have sat next to more annoying adults than kids on an airplane.

By BBT

June 27, 2007 2:30 PM | Link to this

Family section would be great. I have 3 kids. I made my last trip with two of the kids. I felt like I had leprosy or something. People are so intolerant of kids. They think they’re at a spa or something on the airplane. Am I a bad person because my two year old can’t sit in a seat for 4 hours straight? Or should people with kids always just stay home and watch Mary Poppins? Should I just drug my kids so they’ll fall asleep the whole time? And then I was supposed to run across the airport in a transfer flight dragging 2 kids and four suitcases with my husband. Just let me fly in a socially acceptable way with kids so I can see my family in California. I’d be happy to pay extra.

By Proud Parent of an Infant that Flies

June 27, 2007 2:34 PM | Link to this

It amazes me this sense of entitlement that people have. You think just because you have work to do that everything should be quiet, and the baby that is next to you in pain is insignificant. Everyone pays to fly so if you don’t like the children, DRIVE. It seems that people just want the kids locked up in closets until they are 18, but that is unrealistic. Parents must show their kids how to behave and shouldn’t have to be ashamed if the child starts making noise. I am sure that all of you adults were noisy kids at one point as well. Kids will be kids you can train them, teach them, and everything but a crying baby on a flight is something that you people will just have to get used to!

By Darwin

June 27, 2007 2:37 PM | Link to this

my parents did twice as much work and took half as much credit as most parents I see today who take twice as much credit for being a parent, and do half as much work as parents have done in the past. mainly properly and considerately discplining little Johnny when he’s in public, that’s the area that needs attention, and one of the main reason this discussion even came up. and not empowering little Johnny to think he is as an important as an adult and can talk back to an adult when he’s just expressing himself, and then furthering the problem by defending the kid when they are clearly in the wrong, as I have seen more and more to date. having a kid makes none of us special, makes none of us automatically a good person or a good parent, the work on the little things has to be done. why don’t we start with make push lawnmowers again, do chores around the house to help the family. not every parent is guilty of this, so please no self righteous do gooders tell us how perfect you are in your own mind. the majority is giving children gold card status before they have been on this earth long enough to earn any of it. children are beautiful, loving family members, but all us parents need to teah them a little more things like a simple yes mam and a yes sir every now and then.

By Hey Jess

June 27, 2007 2:42 PM | Link to this

you obviously weren’t on the debate team, remember the old saying, two wrongs don’t make a right? so pointing out someone else’s inadequacies in a means to invalidate others just so you can be right, is a very shallow attempt at reasonable thought.

By Michael

June 27, 2007 2:45 PM | Link to this

If airlines allowed dogs in seats then pet owners would be screaming how other passengers just have to deal with it. I need fights to break out on airlines so people will hire me to sue the passenger, the airline, etc. I am against family only sections — too little conflict.

By catlady

June 27, 2007 2:45 PM | Link to this

I think a family section would be a blessing to families and the non-family flier as well. Kids could play together, families could visit, the rest of us could try to chill out. I have said this for years.

I’d also like something done about those who smell as if they have bathed in cologne—sets my severe allergies off. Also those who have been smoking legal or illegal substances, and those who reek of alcohol. But that is another story. Smells I can sometimes get away from, but those piercing shrieks—they go everywhere!

I agree that I buy only one seat, but the space around it is also mine and I don’t want screaming, perfume, or other annoying things intruding in my “air space” , especially as I am a captive audience. If you can keep your baby’s screams confined to the 6 cubit foot space you paid for, well, fine. ‘Cause that is YOUR space.

Not too many people mind a slightly fussy baby, which is not the same as a baby who cries the whole flight. It is when the parents are unable or unwilling to control the small child, or have not thought ahead to prepare for the trip with a baby or small child that folks get really pizzed. Fly with the child’s schedule in mind, or use the anti-nausea drug that induces sleep, please.

I’d pay more for a ticket on a “family friendly” (ie family section) airline. As it is now, we are over a barrel, but let one airline try it and see how much positive feedback they get! It would be like how restaurants and hotels discovered the power of “non-smoking”.

By Darwin

June 27, 2007 2:49 PM | Link to this

if we could decrease the amount of parents that think it’s ok to block out any sound made by their own child at theaters, community pools, airports, restaurants, etc., we wouldn’t be having this discussion. if more parents wouldn’t automatically side with their children when they are obviously being an unnecessary public nuisance, than we wouldn’t be having this discussion. that type of parent, which is increasing in number daily, is this reason why this is a real problem. and it is the responsibilty of all parents to be better parents, if you think you’re a good parent, then it’s time to try harder, and everytime you think you’re doing good job, you should try to do better, within reason of course. but the more we have the type of parents I see so much of that give themselves parent of the year honors without a vote, the more these types of discussions will occur.

By FFlyer

June 27, 2007 3:18 PM | Link to this

I say no to family sections on planes! Spread out the noise and chaos rather then lumping them all together creating an overwhelming concoction of uproar. Kids that are calm will be stimulated by those that are not only causing more crying or unhappy children. (and parents LOL)

The stress of traveling with children is overwhelming to both parent and child most of the time and I have learned to be very patient and understanding. I just flew from Tokyo to Seattle where a little boy about 2 ½ cried for his mother the whole 9 hour flight. It was disturbing to me but it also broke my heart to see this little boy so in need of his mommy. Compassion goes along way.

By linny

June 27, 2007 3:40 PM | Link to this

perhaps there could be a compartment at the rear of the plane that families could GO TO with fussy children that would have maybe a bed, a changing table, a few soft toys, and such… i realize not much room could be made available, but if a mom or dad knew that if 9-month old johnny who is crying and crying and crying could be taken to this small compartment and comforted in a more relaxed position, maybe johnny would go to sleep; or 2-year-old suzie who is hyper about flying could be distracted long enough with a toy and a parent on the floor with her that she’d relax and be quiet…etc etc etc

just a thought, rather than a mandatory “family section” … a section that families could USE (make a small fee addition for children under 5 or whatever to pay the freight… you want to fly your child, you pay the surcharge for the possible use of the convenience yada yada, i’m sure some marketing guru could come up with a selling point or three!)

By Sheldon Stansfield

June 27, 2007 3:41 PM | Link to this

Child free flights would be another wonderful idea! Segregating families is a good thought, and for that matter adding a preference column in booking a flight for quiet or noise. I like to sleep on planes, I always seem to get a bratty child or bored salesman telling everyone his life’s story. Shut up already!

By John from Jackson, GA

June 27, 2007 3:46 PM | Link to this

We need a separate section for idiots that constantly kick the back of seats too.

By julie

June 27, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this

Frequent flyer-Please clear up something for me. Regarding changing the baby before the flight, which most responsible parents would anyway, how would you handle the baby who soils the diaper during the flight? Should he just be left in a dirty or wet diaper? Also, have you ever been in an airplane restroom? If so you would know there is very little room and changing a baby would be next to impossible. I agree the airplane manufacturers need to add some ‘changing space’ but in the meantime what would you have parents do? Most of your suggestions were reasonable but ‘just change the baby before the flight’? You don’t have kids, do you?

By Eschloss

June 27, 2007 4:11 PM | Link to this

YES, YES, YES! This Medallion flyer says it is time for an “adults only” section of the plane or, even better yet, an “adults only” flight or, God hear my prayers, an “adults only” airline. I would gladly pay a premium price to know that I won’t be bothered by a bunch of ill-behaved brats (and self-indulgent parents who ignore the yelling and screaming, the seat kicking, and the drink spilling, of their little darlings). For those of you who say that there is such a section —First Class — you are dead wrong. I was recently in First Class on a 4 hour flight with a family of four (mom, dad, grandma and grandpa) who “passed” their screaming 6 month old back and forth for the entire flight. Also, airlines should start requiring that EVERY passenger purchase a seat, regardless of size or age. I guarantee that if that family had had to purchase a $1200 seat for their baby, they’d be in the coach cabin (or driving to their destination, better yet).

By agreed

June 27, 2007 4:12 PM | Link to this

Separate section for people who always need to go to the bathroom but refuse to sit in the aisle seats.

Separate section for a-holes that kick the seat.

Separate section for people who lean their seat all the way back into your lap.

Separate section for people who haven’t bathed in days.

Don’t they make morbidly obese people buy two tickets now? I can’t imagine it is physically possible for some people to even fit in one seat, but even if they could, I don’t think it would be comfortable for the people near them.

By Eschloss

June 27, 2007 4:15 PM | Link to this

YES, YES, YES! This Medallion flyer says it is time for an “adults only” section of the plane or, even better yet, an “adults only” flight or, God hear my prayers, an “adults only” airline. I would gladly pay a premium price to know that I won’t be bothered by a bunch of ill-behaved brats (and self-indulgent parents who ignore the yelling and screaming, the seat kicking, and the drink spilling, of their little darlings). For those of you who say that there is such a section —First Class — you are dead wrong. I was recently in First Class on a 4 hour flight with a family of four (mom, dad, grandma and grandpa) who “passed” their screaming 6 month old back and forth for the entire flight. Also, airlines should start requiring that EVERY passenger purchase a seat, regardless of size or age. I guarantee that if that family had had to purchase a $1200 seat for their baby, they’d be in the coach cabin (or driving to their destination, better yet).

By Mike

June 27, 2007 4:15 PM | Link to this

@ frequent flier

You are very ignorant for thinking children cause more of a distraction than the drunk businessman who is rude and obnoxious on every flight. I fly very often with my 3 yr old and he does bring his suitcase on as carryon and stores it in the overhead bin. I wish you would tell me where to put any of my belongings I know where it would end up and you would need a proctologist to remove it !!

By Mike

June 27, 2007 4:15 PM | Link to this

@ frequent flier

You are very ignorant for thinking children cause more of a distraction than the drunk businessman who is rude and obnoxious on every flight. I fly very often with my 3 yr old and he does bring his suitcase on as carryon and stores it in the overhead bin. I wish you would tell me where to put any of my belongings I know where it would end up and you would need a proctologist to remove it !!

By Mike

June 27, 2007 4:16 PM | Link to this

@ frequent flier

You are very ignorant for thinking children cause more of a distraction than the drunk businessman who is rude and obnoxious on every flight. I fly very often with my 3 yr old (in first class) and he does bring his suitcase on as carryon and stores it in the overhead bin. I wish you would tell me where to put any of my belongings I know where it would end up and you would need a proctologist to remove it !!

By scott

June 27, 2007 4:19 PM | Link to this

Yeah right Medallion flyer; you don’t want to pay for anything, you think it should all be free.

By Frequent Flier

June 27, 2007 4:23 PM | Link to this

Julie, regarding whether or not I’ve been in an airline restroom, having logged over 150,000 frequent flier miles in this past year, I know the space restrictions of the restroom. I know from personal experience that it IS possible to change a diaper in there. As an aunt of two small children under age 6, I have traveled several times with my niece and nephew, and have changed their diapers in an airline restroom, so don’t go there with me on the “you don’t have kids” line. My sister-in-law and her husband and 2 year old child fly frequently to London and she has changed her child’s diaper in an airline restroom too without a problem. There are portable changing pads that you can use and yes it takes practice, but it can be done! Regarding changing a diaper in a seat, it is unsanitary, PERIOD! Again, URINE AND FECES ARE BIOHAZARDOUS MATERIALS!! I have a relative who is immunocompromised who travels with me frequently and if I catch ANYONE changing a diaper in a seat that I or my relative are about to occupy (Yes, this has happened to me during BOARDING!), you had better BET I’m going to call that person on the carpet and it’s going to get ugly fast! Consider yourself warned, chica!

By eschloss

June 27, 2007 4:27 PM | Link to this

Proud parent of an infant who flies says: “You think just because you have work to do that everything should be quiet, and the baby that is next to you in pain is insignificant.

So, she knows her baby is in pain when it flies, yet she puts her own needs and convenience above the baby’s. Most good parents I know don’t deliberately do something that will cause their little one physical pain. What is wrong with driving to grandma and grandpa’s until they get a little older??

By Frequent Flier

June 27, 2007 4:29 PM | Link to this

A-MEN Eschloss!

By John

June 27, 2007 4:38 PM | Link to this

I am sick of this cr@p! You were all dirty diaper wearing snot nosed little punks at one time and some of you still are! Kids are why we are here. There is no other greater purpose in life than to propogate the species and to further civilization. How about supporting a parent instead of whining about kids and parents all of the time! Get over your uptight selves, you are not too good to sit next to my child on an airplane. My children are smart, funny, loving people that have not developed into the mean, arrogant, nasty, snooty, stuck up crybabies that the complainers here are. If they listen to you, I won’t like them very much when they grow up. The problem is that we supposedly need a village to raise children, but nobody wants to be bothered. Next time there is a child screaming next to you on an airplane, why don’t you get up off your sorry A double snake and ask if you can help, perhaps you could walk back to the lavatory with the mother and hold the child so she can go to the bathroom by herself instead of with kids in tow. The cry babies here are the same ones that will go out of their way to help a spotted owl in Oregon, but wouldn’t take two seconds to help a fellow human being in the seat right next to them. Don’t stay up all night drinking and watching Porn on your business trip and you won’t need to sleep all the way home. rant off……

By Eve

June 27, 2007 4:40 PM | Link to this

Restaurants used to have a seperate “family dining area” - it was called the non-smoking secion.

Now I go to a restaurant where kids run wild, screaming & carrying on, while the parents ignore them!

Flights are different - they’ve probably got an ear ache and the crying adds to stress, not just the parents’ stress, but fellow travellers.

By TO BBT

June 27, 2007 4:46 PM | Link to this

YES, YES, AND YES !!!!!

Keep your crying kids off the plane! You “counting Moms” really need the paddling ! Why are you arguing with a 2 year old…who is in charge !!!

Its obvious neither of you are ready to fly.

By Eschloss

June 27, 2007 4:47 PM | Link to this

Uh, newsflash to John: it’s not my responsibility to babysit your kid! When I was a child, my brother and I knew every inch of the Florida turnpike because that’s how we got to our grandparents’ house. Our parents did not fly us all there, although they could have afforded to do so. Instead, they had a little respect for those around them and waited until we were old enough to fly without disturbing the peace and quiet of others. Yes, I have to agree, it does takes a village to raise your idiot.

By Phoebe

June 27, 2007 5:04 PM | Link to this

Ignoring the debates between good parenting and poor parenting, my opinion is that parents do not choose to fly with sick, miserable children. Driving to destinations is simply not feasible if your destination is too far away, if you can’t take 2 weeks off to drive leisurely from the East Coast to the West Coast, if there is a family emergency, if the child was great 8 hours ago but after a flight cancellation and long delays maybe not so chipper…

The thing is that you don’t know anything about the family’s circumstance. It’s so easy to be judgemental. Frankly, I’ve been more disgusted by airline customer service than most passengers, and the rudest treatment has come from adults, not children.

Airline tickets are so expensive, and the travel experience grows more miserable with computer glitches, weather delays, overbookings, and cumbersome security measures. I don’t know many people who would pay for that privilege if they had other avenues that money, time, and resource afforded them.

As for the “smelly” people - I know from experience that you can leave a destination fresh as a daisy, but after harrowing blizzards, losing one’s luggage, holiday traffic, or Draconia customs procedures, any human being would stink after hours of stress.

This “us versus them” mentality is so narrow-minded.

By Million Miler

June 27, 2007 5:09 PM | Link to this

I don’t care WHO is on the plane, I just wish Delta would get me to wherever on time. Heck, I’d ride next to Osama Bin Laden if it meant not having to wait on the tarmac for 40 minutes waiting for a gate to open.

By judi

June 27, 2007 6:03 PM | Link to this

My daughter is a flight attendant and is APPALLED at children’s behavior these days. She thanks me almost daily for bringing her and her brother up with a sense of decency and good behavior. Until today’s generation can begin to take responsibility for their ill mannered children, YES I think they should be relegated to the BACK OF THE PLANE…..And the flight attendant should not have to keep asking the child to go back to their seat……It seems that once the door is closed, the parents think that nothing can happen, so the children run loose…….Everyone else paid for their ticket and did NOT pay to have to put up with your ill mannered and spoiled child!!!!! Until you can train them, DRIVE…..I don’t care about the distance. You made your probelm, now take care of it.

By Jenna

June 27, 2007 6:32 PM | Link to this

I find pretty amazing, but not surprising, that the vast majority of people who oppose this idea are the ones with children. For the parents that realize that having a family section would take a lot of stress off everyone, bless your hearts. Then again, you guys are probably the parents of those great, well-manner kids who are a breeze to fly with.

I like what one poster suggested, maybe not having a whole section just for families, but having a area where parents can take their kids who are cranky and restless so they can play. Hell, I’m 26 and I wish there was a place on a plane where I could get up and play :)

And for those few who suggested helping the parents of the offending kid, here’s a news flash: most people don’t like it when a complete stranger walks up to their kid and tries to start parenting them. Tends to p** the parents off.

By Peggy

June 27, 2007 6:59 PM | Link to this

I love that ideal! If 73% said yes than I know many with kids agree. That is probably because when parents are on vacation or business trips without their kids, they don’t even want to be bothered with someones elses kids. Families should be lumped together so the flight attendent can tell them all at one time that little Timmy cannot stand up in the seat. That is the one thing that always amazes me about parents on planes. After they make the announcement that everyone has to be seated & and put seat belt on, they will have to walk down the aisle & give that those instructions individually to everyone with small kids because the children are standing tall in the seats.

By John

June 27, 2007 7:17 PM | Link to this

Eschloss: Grow up! when you have kids (if it is possible for you to figure out how to accomplish this,) you’ll understand. Re-read my post, it was directed at you.

By John

June 27, 2007 7:20 PM | Link to this

Jenna A warm and sincere offer to help with anything will not be taken the wrong way, it is the sniveling whiners that make it so uncomfortable.

By John

June 27, 2007 7:32 PM | Link to this

judi Just because your daughter is a flight attendant, she is now a child psychologist right? No she is a sky waitress. To everyone who thinks we ought to just slap an isolation chamber on the kids or beat the snot out of them for being a child, wake up. You are the one who will call the Air Marshall to report the spanking because it brought back bad memories of your childhood. For the record, I would never let my child infringe on your personal space. Your personal space does not include what you can hear, buy earplugs. My entire point is that we don’t start off at 26 years old fresh out of college, knowing everything like most of you. We have to learn. It is not your place to relegate me to a special place in the back of the bus, that was settled during the 60’s and it’s called discrimination. Or is it OK to discriminate against the kids, obese, any other group that has some socially disdainful trait that you can’t tolerate. We have to tolerate everything else in this world, so why not tolerate the future. They will be changing your diaper one day! An old saying is that “youth must be served,” and the D*ckweeds that fail to see that are the ones that aren’t cut out for parenting or are so selfish that they just can’t be bothered.

By John

June 27, 2007 7:40 PM | Link to this

Frequent Flier I don’t care if you live in a Boeing 737-400, You don’t get to make the rules and you are not entitled to anything more than any other paying customer. My guess is that you are a control freak (possibly an HR person.) All of the rules come from you, but you get to be a jerk to people on a plane. I would love for you to ask me to move something from the overhead, you might not like the suggestion in my reply. My wife was an aunt before she had our children too. She didn’t have a clue then either. With your logic, I know an airline pilot so I should handle the next landing. You won’t ever know the anger that this type of BS inspires until you have a child of your own to love and nurture, until then you have an associates degree in a world full of PHD’s.

By Kari

June 27, 2007 8:04 PM | Link to this

I am a mother of two who loves this idea! I’m blessed to have children who are often complimented on their behavior in public, but when they were toddlers, and still learning how to behave correctly, well…let’s just say that flying was NOT at the top of my favorite things to do with them.

Now they’re 5 and 9, and we’re actually flying next week. I’d love to have a section of the plane where I don’t have to worry quite so much about loud voices. Granted, I don’t like the idea of being forced into a section with bratty kids…heaven knows they’re the majority these days. But at least I’d feel reassured that my kids weren’t bothering business travelers.

I’ve done a lot of business flying, both before and after children, and I’d have loved to be able to travel in peace without dealing with other people’s kids. And I think that older people, like my parents, have earned the right to have a section of the plane devoid of children.

By judi

June 27, 2007 8:36 PM | Link to this

John, That “sky waitress” will be the one left on a burning plane trying to save your sorry a**…..her job is for safety and protection….not raising someone’s child. You would never be able to handle the physical and mental training they have gone through in order to try and keep you safe. And of course, their training has been changed drastically since 9-11……. But then, you have already shown your ignorance - - - why should I expect you to have a clue?

By Dave

June 27, 2007 8:54 PM | Link to this

Very young children may, or may not, be able to equalize the pressure in their ears on take off and landings and are at risk of some level of ear pain. This is very often the problem when infants scream for most of the flight. If your child has this problem and you continue to take them on flights you should be charged with child abuse. Your doctor can tell yhou how to deal with this issue. If your child can not tolerate a 4 hour flight without romping up and down the plane they should not make the flight. I raised two children with my wife so I do know what is required.

By John

June 28, 2007 5:06 PM | Link to this

No one is advocating children run amok! All I am saying is that the vitriol and animosity towards parents and children displayed by the children here is disturbing. Chewing gum and ear planes work for toddlers too. Judi, I spent 8 years jumping out of airplanes in the 82nd airborne division, If I need your 97 pound daughter to haul my sorry a** of the plane cause I am too stupid or incapable of finding the exit, please leave me and save yourself. The reason I call them Sky Waitress is because that is all that they do!

By Momof3boys

June 29, 2007 3:32 PM | Link to this

As a mother of 3 boys and after flying on an airplane with all 3, I DO agree that there should be a family/child section. Out of respect for people who are not used to children (especially noisy ones), and for the people who would like to nap or read a book, a family/child section would be a good idea. Marian, NorthGeorgiaOnDemand Web Directory

By Jason

July 10, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this

Who really gives a s*it? News that slow today?