Am I being selfish?

But at the same time I wouldn’t take my son in economy as that wouldn’t be fair to him

Why wouldn't it be fair to him?

I really wish child free flights existed, I'd pay extra!

Agreed.

YABU taking a young kid into first class! People pay thousands to sit there, they're not going to want to be disturbed by shouting and banging.

I think first class should be adult only

Much as you have as much right to be there as anyone else, after flying business with my 10 year old I thought she'd have probably not only been happy, but actually preferred economy as she could have cuddled up to me (don't know if all airlines are the same, but business seemed to be set up to separate people as much as possible, and she could see me and just about hold hands through the middle bit but that was it) and children are surprisingly good at sleeping curled up in weird positions.

This is what makes me dread flying- crying children. Unfortunately it's part of it. I would be really annoyed if it'd paid first class and had to endure the noise!

I have just read your update that you were in first class, tbf I think if I forked out for first class I would be annoyed about too. I wouldn't behave as these men had but I don't think they were wrong to be irritated. Really airplane companies shouldn't allow babies into business/first class.

I was on a plane in the 'quiet area' in business and a baby cried solidly all the way through the overnight flight. And I had to work the following day.

Tough shit. No one complained, and the father got nothing but sympathy (mother was cabin crew, so father had to deal with both the crying baby and another child by himself).

Those guys were wankers.

my son shouting during dinner and banging forks.

I understand why they’re annoyed but my child wasn’t crying much, just upset in his sleep.

Which was it OP?

It can be irritating when babies/young children are being noisy or causing a nuisance on a flight, but just one of those things you have to accept. These men were being very unreasonable and if I were you I would have complained to a flight attendant.

Children are people with as much right to be in public spaces as anyone else.

The men were dicks and you shouldn't waste any more headspace on them.

So you did everything in your power to keep him quiet? Absolutely everything?

Wouldn’t be fair for your son to fly in economy?
nah you’ve lost me 😂

What airline was it?

That's right stick the crying unruly children in with the plebs. Better still why not shove them in the hold so no one will be inconvenienced. Heard it all now.

They called your child “it”? Horrible creatures.
Honestly, the idea of grown men (who know better) shouting or making a fuss in an enclosed space like an aeroplane, is infinitely more annoying and is much more selfish than an infant making any sort of noise.
Babies and children are a part of this world and our community, so they can expect to come across them in all aspects of daily life. It’s not selfish of you to simply participate in normal human activities with your children. They are the selfish ones to expect the world to revolve around their desire to experience child-free travel.

As long as you’re considerate of those around you, and do your best to respect their need for comfort on a long journey, there’s not much more that can be expected of you.

Also, complain about the staff if they were horrible. What did they do?

redskyAtNigh
If they shouted at you (was it really "shouting"?)

It's a change from the universal MN "screaming".
Ime, very few people will raise their voices to the point of shouting in public.
And if these men were actually shouting (more than just an initial "For God's sake!" or something) it's even more strange that all the staff were "horrible" to the OP and weren't trying to calm down two persistently shouting men.

Eta Maybe it's a dialect/family thing. People in DH's family call "being told off" being "shouted at" even if no voices were raised.

I would never have dreamed of taking my young baby on a plane or train
Nor would I want to be afflicted with someone else's screaming kid
Was a on a train a few weeks ago with a child running about screaming crying
Changed carriages

How quickly did you remove the fork @Sophie26940?

That seems an obvious question.

Most people are getting on long haul flights for 'selfish' reasons. Theirs are no better than yours. Do your best to keep your kid quiet and don't give it any more of your brain space.

I would imagine it was after hours of biting their tongue

If they shouted at you (was it really "shouting"?) because your son was shouting and banging his fork during dinner, what were you doing to quieten him down? It seems unlikely that they would have got annoyed at one shout and one fork bang (if your child is banging their fork on the table, then you take it away).

I have zero issue on planes with children who are genuinely upset or having a hard time and I can see the parents are trying their best.

I have a huge issue with children who are just blatantly not being parented correctly and are allowed to get away with murder.