V-Flyer

Before I start, a warning. This TR contains references to children travelling in Upper, so if you think you might not like my comments, please don't read.

Back to the story.

Seeing as the Party Bus TR has been written I'll skip along to my return flight.

After a very enjoyable week in San Francisco and Las Vegas it was time to pack up and head home to rain and Gordon Brown. My connecting flight from LAS to SFO was with VX and thanks to another $50 upgrade to First Class, comfort was the order of the day. Unfortunatly the arriving flight was delayed and we were about an hour late leaving LAS. We arrived at SFO with VS019 right behind us and although there was still bags of time I was loosing CH time... After a brisk walk down to baggage reclaim I was soon going back up to the VS check-in area. On arriving there was quite a queue at the Upper desk so having OLCI's I hopped to the Bag Drop and within 3 minutes was off to the CH.

Being a Friday there was no Claire but I had chatted to her on Monday as Dan (Gliderpilot) was going to be my guest, but as he was arriving in SFO much earlier than me I wanted to get it put into the diary. On arrival I found Dan enjoying a beer and I soon had a Vesper in hand - delicious it was too. Food was the grilled Tilapia followed by cheesecake and a cuppa. Before boarding I had a quick shower to refesh me, then headed down to Gate 8A. Boarding was just starting and the 2-bridge system was in full operation. Very quickly in my seat and enjoying a chilled orange juice when I spied a child in A20. Benefit of the doubt came into effect but was sadly shattered very quickly afterwards.

The mother had got it into her head that it was perfectly acceptable for a 3-year old to sit on her lap, unrestrained, for take-off. He was big for his age and she was pregnant (5-6 months) but still insisted that he was to sit on her lap. The CSS did her very best to persuade the mother that it wasn't safe for either of them or anyone else in case of an emergency such as a take-off being aborted etc. and eventually relented. The crew went to work and tried to get him to sit down and not take the belt off with him resisting their efforts (mother not helping in slightest). Of course this resulted in a case of the Screaming Ab-dabs which the whole plane and the Bay Area must have heard. Just as we were on final line up for take-off, you've guessed it, off came the belt and stood in the aisle. The words 'Abort' and 'Off-loaded' started to pop into my head. Due to the position we were in, all that could be done was for him to sit on her lap. Thankfully the take-off was uneventful.

*Rant mode on*
I have no issue with children being in the Upper as I have seen them spend 11 hours without a peep, but this case got my back up. The mother clearly had no regard for anyone's safety let alone her own or that of her son and accused the CSS of 'being awkward'. Personally I wouldn't want to be hit by a 3-year old being catapulted around a cabin as it'll hurt, a lot!! It seemed the mother knew he would not stay in his seat but choose to follow a path that would not be allowed. All credit to the CSS as I'd have lost my rag. Sadly I suspect a complaint will follow so I'm glad I took an interest.

*Rant mode off*

After all the excitement I needed a T10 & Tonic with was lovely even sans lime along with some olives to snack on. For dinner I had:

Seasonal leaf salad with grilled shrimp, parmesan, herb crostini and caeser tivoli dressing

Flat iron beef fillet with creamed potatoes, sauteed spinach, roasted beets, fried onion rings and beef jus

Dark chocolate and banana cheesecake

The salad was excellent although a few more shrip would have been nice. The beef was very tender but a tad too pink in the miffle for me but that's a personal thing. The cheesecake was disgusting and every fork full made me feel ill right to the last crumb. [;)]

I did ask if Dan could join me from PE at the bar but because the dinner service in PE was taking longer than normal, the bar filled up and it wasn't to be. I gather that Y was full along with PE and J only has 3 free seats.

Soon the beef, cheesecake and gin had my eyes getting heavy and off to bed I went. Because there was some empty suites and I was the first to retire I snagged an extra pillow. No sleepsuit for me, just my light cotton 'T' and shorts and I was warm in that too. Earplugs in and eyeshade on meant I soon nodded off but was regularly awaken by screaming child. I belive the CC had to step in a couple of times. I drifted off somewhere over Saskatchewan and awoke somewhere south east of Iceland feeling much better if with a mouth like Ghandi's flip-flops. Seeing I was awake the CSS offered me tea and breakfast (I could get used to that...) and she also retrieved my duty-frees that I'd pre-ordered using the new website. Breakfast for me consisted of:

Bacon roll with brown sauce
tea
orange juice.

Light I know but Revivals was scheduled and I'd had the Cheddar cheese omelette with sauteed potatoes, sausage, pork loin and baked beans before and nearly hurled....

A little later. the CC returned with another duty-free bag with my name on and asked if I had ordered more. I hadn't but seeing as it had my name on it, I accepted it. A little bemused I dug into the bag and found a letter to me. It turned out that I was the first to use the on-line service and as a thank you I received the following extras:

Half bottle of Champagne.
Pack of VS playing cards.
2 x calender pens.
A pre-production model of the 25th anniversary model of G-VIRG Maiden Flight.
A very nice personal letter from Richard Curtis, Marketing Manager VAA Duty-Free.
[y][^]

As we began our descent into LHR I managed to get a photo of my house (sad I know) and we had round 2 of the noisy brat. By this time the crew were taking the line of 'at your own risk..' Landing was smooth and an hour early. A short delay at the gate while the air-bridge driver turned up and we were off. Got to immigration and there was only 2 in front of me and a longer queue at IRIS. Priority baggage was a little strange as first off was the crew cases (I assumed they were normally last) and as SFO had run out of Upper labels they had resorted to using PE lables with UPPER written on.

No customs issues and Revivals was open for business. A long, hot shower was taken and I'm pleased to report the ventilation appears to be working well at last. Brunch was the full breakfast as Eggs Benidict seems to have been removed from the menu before heading off to collect my car and face the M4.

Overall, an excellent flight despite the problem. The whole team were much in evidence throughout the flight and 2 Hero nomination forms submitted to the FSM.

Looking forward to my next trip.

Apart from the brat (and worse behaving parent) looks like it was a good trip and well done on the extra goodies too

[y][y][y]

I hope the FSM remembers you in case the brat pack complains and you can be witness to how awkward she was and the CC were doing their best.

Had the same discussion with the CSS and the Hero form will help too.

quote:Originally posted by Darren Wheeler

Being a Friday there was no Claire but I had chatted to her on Monday as Dan (Gliderpilot) was going to be my guest, but as he was arriving in SFO much earlier than me I wanted to get it put into the diary.

I am pleased I had that chat with Claire then - as she had sort of forgotten the names form her call with Richard. [:w]

Glad you had a good flight home Darren - except the mother of said child who should be reported [V]

Hope to meet you again soon. Regards,

Hackneyguy

Glad you had a good flight Darren, apart from the Mother and Child. I thought that a child over 2 HAD to have its own seat?

Nice one on the online ordering goodies! [y]

Thanks,
Sarah

Very fine report, Darren. So sorry your trip was somewhat muddled by the child. We should just face facts, I suppose: there really are no rules that airlines will enforce when it comes to children, no matter how widely their unrestrained conduct affects other passengers.

Sorry as well that I didn't make it to SFO or LAS to join the fun there. But the pikkies of you were some consolation!

Chuck-

Some of the journey was good [y].

Some not so good [n]. How about a simple suggestion, it was the adult and not the child to blame. Secondly, apart from t/o and landing, a pair of Bose headphones works very well as an anti-child deterrent!

Darren FletcherWheeler, I really enjoyed your TR. The extra goodies from VS Marketing were a golden touch, and it's nice to know they still do take the time to go that extra step in some cases. As for taking a picture of one's own house, there's no shame in that at all! I never fail to get a grin when I see my own palatial estate, spread below, as we line up for final approach above Seattle.

With regard to the the mother and child, one can only hope that her next 'little miracle' (as if childbirth was a miracle at all -- happens every day, everywhere, 24/7) will be better behaved, although with the sense of entitlement she displayed one's hopes should not ascend far at all. It's a shame. But I will say, the last time I flew and a squalling brat was kicking my seat during takeoff, as soon as the seat belt light went out I stood up, turned to address the child and parent (another mum) and said: 'I do hope this is not an indication of his behavior for the rest of my flight, because if it is I won't be able to account for my actions.' And then I gave her a Robert DeNiro in Taxi Driver look. No problems for the rest of the flight. Others may argue this is bad form, and that one should just 'suck it up' when these things happen, but unless issues are addressed, issues remain. I suppose I may have had a terrible result from my request to the woman, but it actually worked. I think I scared her into behaving as she needed to -- stewarding her young charge and teaching him proper behaviour.

Good day to you, Darren FletcherWheeler, and many happy future flights (sans brats).

GJ

Darren

Well done for showing solidarity with the Crew through doing those Heroes Nominations[y][y]

Your experience of the little one echoes my own where it is the parent who should be shamed for abdicating their parental responsibility. We seem to now live in a society where bad behaviour of one's offspring is inflicted upon others with no sense of remorse[V]

A nice touch by Retail Therapy and it has done the job of 'tell your friends and 10 more orders will follow' as I will certainly be placing an order on line for my next trip[;)]

Thanks for your company in SFO

buns

I saw a similar situation on my flight back from SFO on the 7th. UC child running around, the CC acting as Nannys, the parents sitting in their seats eating breakfast.

I have to say, I have never seen this happenn in Y or PE, but it does appear that children have more latitiude to express themselves (or get away with more stuff in UC)

Good TR none the less.

Mark

Perhaps every flight should have an on-board Tizer to show them how it's done?

quote:Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
Perhaps every flight should have an on-board Tizer to show them how it's done?



I would have thought the sugar content and colouring in Tizer would be a recipe for disaster (also do they still make it ?)!

I prefer Iron Bru myself [y]

quote:Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes



Others may argue this is bad form, and that one should just 'suck it up' when these things happen, but unless issues are addressed, issues remain. I suppose I may have had a terrible result from my request to the woman, but it actually worked. I think I scared her into behaving as she needed to -- stewarding her young charge and teaching him proper behaviour.

GJ


Good for you GJ i would like travel with you from now on as im sure you say exactly what everyone wold be thinking but too scared to actually say (like me).

cheers

alex

Thank you, Alex. Much obliged.

GJ

Darren

Thanks for the read. I would like to say I'm astounded by the mother's behaviour but I can't; I once witnessed one set of parents trying to tell a crew that it their offsrping's nap time and he needed to lie down in the aisle during landing. I hope that if a letter of complaint is sent by the mother that VS management send her away with a flea in her ear.

GJ - I'm with you. And now that mother knows just how to get that child to behave - 'Remember that scary man on the aircraft ? Well, if you don't eat your breakfast...'.

quote:Originally posted by hackneyguy
quote:Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
Perhaps every flight should have an on-board Tizer to show them how it's done?



I would have thought the sugar content and colouring in Tizer would be a recipe for disaster (also do they still make it ?)!

I prefer Iron Bru myself [y]


They do. It's made by AG Barr who also make IRN BRU. More of a Vimto man myself.

I think Darren was referring to mdvipond's legendary veteran UC travelling offspring. [:w]

Paul

Thanks for the good read Darren. Such a shame that some parents can't control their children and still think it is a good idea to have more!

I don't think I would of been able to hold my tongue and would of said something to the mother.

Dominic

Great TR. It's not fiar to judge the crew as theyhave many other issues to deal with, but the term bad behaviour rewarded springs to mind as Mum and brat will no doubt repeat the process on another flight.

Darren, thanks for the TR![y]

As a father of a 4 year old, I'm shocked of the attitude of the mother but at the same time not surprised. On this forum, how many times do we hear about parents who think their parental responsibilities cease once they board the plane and is up to CC to look after their offspring.

It really embarrasses the other sensible and considerate flyers (including me with my son's first flight last month) who go out of their way to make sure their children are entertained, well behaved and, well, not a nuisance to the other flyers.

quote:Originally posted by HighFlyer
Glad you had a good flight Darren, apart from the Mother and Child. I thought that a child over 2 HAD to have its own seat?

Thanks,
Sarah


I thought that they had to have their own seat so therefore the child had to be made to use it.

Unfortunately maybe the only way to get through to this mother is that if she insists that her child sits on lap unrestrained then the Captain insists she leaves the plane and to inform the whole flight the reason why the plane is returning back to the terminal.