Loose women - discussion on child free flights

just wait for the new A330's and re fitted 744's when all of those 9-12's will be watching TV or playing games constantly hitting the screen behind your head

If the chair "poking" is fast enough, VS could brand the headrest as a vibrating massage chair!? lol

(this does sound a little rude for some reason! lol(

Kids are part of life. Air travel is public transport, deal with it.

UC usually has very few kids and in my experience the parents are very sensitive to the privacy of other UC pax. One time in UC, a Mum and Dad got on with 2 v young (potentially hyperactive) kids. Once settled in, the Dad made a little speech, saying everyone shouldn't worry about the kids making noise, no one pays for UC to get stuck with noisy kids and that if they were too noisy just say something and he'd put then back in economy for a bit (I think this was a joke, but it lightened things up).

I meet many people who complain about this but when it comes to asking to parents/children to quieten down they just won't do it. If it annoys you so much then talk to the parents. Its not selfish to want some peace and quiet on a long flight. You just have to be reasonable with the parents. I just spent 5 hours PHX-EWR yesterday sitting in front a bro and sister (approx 7 and 10) who began playing video games together at the start of the flight (sound on and competitive noises!). I thought, ok, thats annoying but fine, but if it lasts more than a couple of hours then I'll talk to the parents. I did so after two hours, explaining they been playing for 2 hours, I'm on an 8 hour trip that day and maybe they could turn the sound off or quieten down a bit. The parents understood and the kids didn't feel like I was telling them off cos I talked to them as well. I find if you're civil to the parents and speak kindly to the kids no one takes offence. Just don't 1) Make the parents think they're being bad parents and 2) Make the kids feel embarrassed or ashamed.

[HighFlyer]

If it annoys you so much then talk to the parents.

I agree, however we live in a world these days where parents do not take direction from strangers. When I was a child if a random stranger told my Mum that I was being a tearaway I'd probably get a smack without her ever questioning the word of a fellow adult. These days, sadly, the parents are more likely to tell you to f*** off or similar for criticising their offspring.

If it annoys you so much then talk to the parents.

I agree, however we live in a world these days where parents do not take direction from strangers. When I was a child if a random stranger told my Mum that I was being a tearaway I'd probably get a smack without her ever questioning the word of a fellow adult. These days, sadly, the parents are more likely to tell you to f*** off or similar for criticising their offspring.

Very true! You could put it as politely as you like, but the response will still bet the same, much like HighFlyer has said!

Well, yes, I take your point. I didn't mention the one time that did happen. 'Don't you tell my kids what to do!' came the response...... Charming.

But it didn't completely put me off asking in the future. If they're going to be arsey with me just for asking for some peace and quiet then they've got problems anyway. Rather that than grumble to myself about it the whole flight.

Anyway, its actually v rare that kids get that annoying on flights although I've never taken the MCO route.....

In my experience it is parents who are the problem; too many of them do not seem able to/want to/ keep tabs on their kiddies.

This is also my view. Especially when it comes to children kicking the back of your chair for 10 hours and no one saying ANYTHING at all.

MCO is a holiday route - children on the flight? Shock horror! Fly to MIA instead if it really matters to you.

I can honestly say, I've had more issues with obnoctuous adults on planes than children - yes, I've had my issues with children and have never been shy in talking to them or their parents. I've had the full range of responses to this, but at least I've tried.

At least, most of the time, it's inocent with kids, they don't know any better (largely because of parental inadequacy). The adults should, and don't, and have been guilty for plenty of seat kicking, pushing, grabbing headrest to lever their overly large frames out of their seats etc.

Anyway, I don't think the original idea is practical, too many operational issues likely to result.

I agree with most of what has been said here. I have worked with children of various ages for the past 26 years and to be honest have had little trouble from any child. They know where the line is drawn and behave as I direct them to. However, you should see how they behave when the parents come to pick them up. It's all about the signals you give out to children. They take their examples from what they see around them mostly at home. Parents can definitely take the bulk of the responsibility for badly behaved children who won't listen. But how do we educate these parents in good parenting skills, and respect for others, a lot of them just don't want to know