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AIBU?

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Original poster

Should 1st class babies and children stay in 1st class?

141 replies

user30 · 17/08/2024 13:37

Long haul flight, economy on lower deck, business/1st class on upper deck.
From the moment the fasten seat belt signs went off there were between 1 and 7 women (I would guess nannies but I do not know) juggling babies and toddlers in economy as well as badly behaved children aged 3-7 running around and making a huge mess in the bathrooms. I was on the front row and was repeatedly tapped and asked to tuck my legs under my seat to give them more space.

Cabin Crew seemed irritated (at one point 2 children threw handfuls of rice down the stairs onto a Cabin Crews head!) but only said something when a boy started throwing (unused) sanitary towels at economy passengers.

AIBU to think that everyone including children should stay in their own section of the plane? It was a nightmare and I am very tired so may be a bit cranky 😂

OP posts:
Spacecrispsnack · 17/08/2024 16:49

YANBU - but from the view of being a safety purist I personally don’t agree with any walking around on a plane other than to the loo. If you hit turbulence it’s very easy to get a serious injury or worse.

suburburban · 17/08/2024 16:43

That is horrible

UnfriendMe · 17/08/2024 16:42

IMustDoMoreExercise · 17/08/2024 15:48

Because most parents here do not have nannies who are too scared to discipline the kids for fear of being sacked.

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Or having acid thrown at them. When I lived in Dubai I saw multiple stories of nannies and maids having acid thrown at them. Horrible place full of horrible people.

suburburban · 17/08/2024 16:42

What happens if the kids hurt themselves

Does everyone think serves them right

theduchessofspork · 17/08/2024 16:41

Namechangeno · 17/08/2024 16:27

I would have gone up to 1st class and spoken to the parents myself!

That might not have been wise..

But certainly they wouldn’t give a shit

theduchessofspork · 17/08/2024 16:40

useitorlose · 17/08/2024 14:01

I knew without reading to the end it would be Emirates, Etihad or Qatar!!

There are some families here with really effective parenting in public places but they are greatly outnumbered by nannies who fear they will lose their jobs if they remonstrate with their charges.

Yep. Worth writing a public review of course.. but doubt it will change anything, the crew aren’t empowered to do anything.

Original poster
user30 · 17/08/2024 16:39

@Emz1212 I work mostly with neurodivergent children. Sleep training/hygiene, improving diet and behaviour around food, sibling bonding work etc. its very rewarding.

OP posts:
UnfriendMe · 17/08/2024 16:38

MargaretElsie · 17/08/2024 16:17

Oh god, I am flying Business with Etihad in a few months, one leg of which is a A380. Argh! I think my tolerance for that sort of nonsense will be very low indeed. I have only flown Qatar, and in Economy - is this really such a common occurrence on ME airlines?

Oh yes, I've flown Emirates, Etihad and Qatar airlines a lot and this is absolutely the norm.

Original poster
user30 · 17/08/2024 16:37

@notanotheronenow 😂😂😂 I work with the parents, my job isn't bollocking kids for doing what they're being allowed to do.

OP posts:
notimagain · 17/08/2024 16:36

Namechangeno · 17/08/2024 16:27

I would have gone up to 1st class and spoken to the parents myself!

Good luck with that…

UnfriendMe · 17/08/2024 16:35

Screamingabdabz · 17/08/2024 15:53

What kind of ‘culture’ thinks this is acceptable behaviour?

This is very common in the Middle East and India, the kids are horrible and usually entitled with parents who won't do anything.

UnfriendMe · 17/08/2024 16:34

Seen something similar on Emirates though we were flying business and all the shitty kids went down to play in economy so for us it was good. That being said, I know where you're coming from, we used to live in Dubai and I always said if you are on the fence about having kids go to a Dubai mall, instant birth control. Some of the shittiest kids I've ever seen live there and their parents are beyond useless.

Saschka · 17/08/2024 16:30

Namechangeno · 17/08/2024 16:27

I would have gone up to 1st class and spoken to the parents myself!

The parents don’t care, or it wouldn’t be happening.

Maddy70 · 17/08/2024 16:30

They should be supervised by their parents. I would have complained to the cabin crew

Emz1212 · 17/08/2024 16:29

Namechangeno · 17/08/2024 16:27

I would have gone up to 1st class and spoken to the parents myself!

They wouldn’t have cared.

Namechangeno · 17/08/2024 16:27

I would have gone up to 1st class and spoken to the parents myself!

jaimelesoleil · 17/08/2024 16:26

useitorlose · 17/08/2024 14:01

I knew without reading to the end it would be Emirates, Etihad or Qatar!!

There are some families here with really effective parenting in public places but they are greatly outnumbered by nannies who fear they will lose their jobs if they remonstrate with their charges.

Yes I lived in the ME for many years and this behaviour is quite normal and the nannies (maids) will not chastise them for fear of loosing their jobs...same for crew.

mitogoshi · 17/08/2024 16:25

We are flying via Singapore thankfully when we go to Australia, and I fly direct generally everywhere else if possible.

Saschka · 17/08/2024 16:24

user30 · 17/08/2024 14:22

@Notsandwiches correct!
@notimagain I always wonder what parents are hoping for when they defend their children's poor behaviour - do they think the child will grow up to be a respectful loving son/daughter? Seems unlikely!

Edited

They would not behave like this in first class, because they have been taught those people are worthy of respect. You are in economy, so you are trash and who cares what you think or what their children have done to you?

I’ve met this type of parents many times and unfortunately if you aren’t a Saudi Prince yourself the parents will treat you like shit on their shoe as well.

I agree “accidentally spilling” a large glass of something sticky on the child’s head is probably the most satisfying solution here, you’ll get nowhere with the kids, the nanny, the parents or the airline.

TheAlchemy · 17/08/2024 16:23

I knew this was going to be Emirates before I got to that part. 1st class passengers are treated like (in this case mini) kings.

Economy passengers generally treated as scum of the earth and as an inconvenience. I fly regularly from the UK to Aus and back but stopped using them a couple of years back after bad experiences.

BTW complaining is pointless they don’t care you are a mere peasant as far as they’re concerned.

AnnieMcFanny · 17/08/2024 16:23

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

notimagain · 17/08/2024 16:22

Whenwillitgetwarm · 17/08/2024 16:02

Well if the airline won’t deal with it then people will look for alternatives. The 1st class passengers will eventually have a whole plane to themselves for all of about a month before the airline goes bust!

I know what you mean but Emirates and other Gulf carriers have pretty much cornered the market in terms of flying people from UK and European regions eastbound to places like the sub-continent and beyond (Aus/NZ)…as far as the UK goes lot of people now won’t touch London with a barge pole so it’s going to take a lot more than unruly kids to make those airlines go broke.

Of course if the cabin crew knew the company management would have their backs if they confronted this behaviour, regardless of the passenger involved, then it might not happen.

Be interesting to know if that would be the case - we’d need to hear from someone at or recently at Emirates to know how they think it would work out…

WoollyRosebud · 17/08/2024 16:22

Toastcrumbsinsofa · 17/08/2024 14:27

This is where a sneaky glass of water ‘accidentally’ spilt on a child’s head while running into me can come in very handy!

Water? hot cup of coffee or tea would be more effective.

I have only flown with Emirates once. The entire economy section came down with food poisoning after eating the food being served there. The queues for the toilets were very long and the toilets themselves much as could be expected with so many ill passengers. I walked into business class and used the toilets there in desperation and yes I was challenged and quite rightly too.

MargaretElsie · 17/08/2024 16:20

I am not unfamiliar with the ME as I lived there growing up, but that was also 35 years ago too so my perceptions and ideas could be out of date.

Whenwillitgetwarm · 17/08/2024 16:20

notanotheronenow · 17/08/2024 16:11

well the fact you ineffectively flapped doesn't say much for your coaching.

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You really think you did something there with your reply didn’t you? Did you sit back arms folded all triumphant after pressing post?