Gifts for plane passengers

[Zillcat]

We fly in just over a week to Australia with our 9 month old twins (21 hour journey in total)
Talking to my brother today, he asked if we had organised a gift to other plane passengers... basically a note 'from' the twins apologising for any disruption from them as it is their first flight.

I hadn't considered it before, would you think it tacky or appreciate a small gesture from us?

I have packed as much as I can into the hand luggage to entertain them and there will be four of us travelling so enough to take turns walking the aisles too.

Any suggestions are gratefully appreciated!

No. PLease don't everyone make this a "thing"

If your babies play up on the flight, acknowledging the fact is all that is required. There are many many things which might irritate passengers on such a long journey, your DC being just one of them

In fact, the row behind is more likely to be annoyed by your or DH reclining your seats than the babies being there

In fact, the row behind is more likely to be annoyed by your or DH reclining your seats than the babies being there

Read a list of most hated things about flying once, pretty sure crying babies and/or noisy children were on it somewhere but not at the top. Reclining seat was high up though.

Not necessary in my book. But I can see the point its a sweet gesture, however, Every single flight I have been on has had a baby/toddler in very close vicinity of my seat, I am not the biggest fine of children especially those I am not related to but I never get in a huff/wound up/annoyed/(whatever suitable word) when they cry on a plane especially during take off and landing im just incredibly selfish and start thinking fuxk i hate flying first and then sorry for the little one and their poor little ears!

At the end of a day if passengers doesbt won't to be on a flight where there is a very very high chance of a baby/toddler flying then book private plane and ensure there is none otherwise they should just deal with it

Really wouldn't bother. No one loves a crying baby on a flight, but it can't always been avoided. We travelled a lot with DS (mid haul flights) before he turned 1 and found that as long as people could see that we were doing our best to keep him quiet/entertained, no one got stroppy if he was unsettled or upset.

Pretty sure a celeb did this not so long ago. Maybe it was the Clooneys? Anyway, I wouldn't bother either. I've always found fellow passengers to be extremely understanding when DCs were babies.

Two of you are going to be getting in a flight holding a baby each and hand luggage for each of you

Nikita the OP says two adults two kids. As does my post, I’m not sure what your point is?

As for being miserable I wouldn’t eat food given to me by strangers for a range of reasons, not sure why it’s “miserable”. I’d be very polite, and as a mum of twins myself, very sympathetic if I encountered her.

I am MUCH more tolerant of babies and toddlers because they are young and not being disruptive on purpose.

I am more disturbed by the older child whose legs are not long enough to bend over the seat so just press into your back, or the sniffer, or the snorer, or the person who slumps onto me, or the person who invades my space. I don't want sweets or presents from them, just for the parents of the child with the unfortunate leg length to do something about it, or the sniffer to get a tissue....you get the picture.

When I have flown with young children I've talked to my near neighbours if I felt appropriate e.g. have a chat if it looks like they want to. I have also talked to my child explaining that e.g. putting the tray up and down is annoying for the person in front, and hoped that the person in front has heard so that they see I am conscious of them.

Thanks again for more replies.

There are indeed four adults travelling. Little bit unclear in my OP as it says there will be four of us travelling, in which I meant that four in addition to the babies.

Our airline will provide earplugs anyway so it was only going to be a few sweets and a note for those in the two rows behind us. We have seats with bassinets at the galley so nobody in front.

I assure everyone I have no intention of doing it now that the general consensus is that it is not done as often as my brother seemed to suggest.

Relax on the plane. On my most recent flight I heard at least one crying baby onboard the aircraft. Ignore him. While it’s definitely not required you could always give fellow travelers a little note to make up for the crying. Where are you flying to? Honestly I’m thinking your brother is a born leg puller.

Is the Calpol to drug them up rather pain relief? Sorry, never had kids young enough to need Calpol.

airline will provide earplugs anyway so it was only going to be a few sweets and a note for those in the two rows behind us. We have seats with bassinets at the galley so nobody in front.

But the entire aircraft will hear them crying if they cry lol! As they will hear everybody else’s.

says he will do it when he flies with any future dc he has.

Ah, the list of things I will do when I have children

When that happy day comes, pick your moment to remind him of his best intentions 😆

@zzzzz
My brother is a wonderful uncle and dotes on his nephews. I'm not sure how you have developed an obvious dislike for him from my previous posts, he isn't horrible or dreadful. We aren't staying with him, he lives in America (as per previous post) and obviously has seen this as a 'thing' and suggested we do it as he plans to do it if he ever flies with children of his own. The thread shows me that it isn't expected, common and is tacky like I thought.

They will be due a bottle at the time we take off so should hopefully be comfortable through take off. I have toys, the iPad, snacks and family to assist throughout the flights.

I think an apologetic smile if they kick off is sufficient.

I definitely wouldn't want to eat sweets handed out to me by a stranger on a plane and my 2 dc would probably kick off if sweets were being offered to everyone else and I had to remind them that we don't eat sweets from strangers.

Don't worry about it. You'll be busy enough as it is without worrying about other passengers, the occasional apologetic smile will be enough it it's really bad.
Most travellers have noise cancelling headphones nowadays, they'll just plug in and get in with it.

I'm not a big fan of this trend for reasons others have listed. But logistically, isn't it difficult to organise sweets for strangers? Definitely no nuts, some can't have gluten, some can't have dairy, not all sweets are kosher, and of course different people like different things. Surely it ends up with loads of people discreetly throwing stuff away as they don't want to bring it with them or don't want to eat something from a stranger.

Don't do it! Have seen it on FB before and thought it was ridiculous. There are bound to be other kids on the flight and the other parents will think you are a twat.

Why does he think it’s so awful to have a baby on a plane

Maybe he's recently got to know someone for who it would be a significant issue?

Children are not something to apologise for

If one of your children inadvertently caused another person acute pain or distress would you apologise?

I've heard of the whole earplug/not thing being done but it's not something I would do. A flat statement that children shouldn't be apologised for though, that comes across poorly - as though the impact of your child on others is always acceptable (I've seen enough of your posts zzzzz to be fairly sure you don't mean it that way, but it still doesn't come across well).

zzzzz - I thought you might be, but the way it came across just hit a sore spot. I'm one of the people for whom crying babies are a serious issue due to the severe pain the noise causes - I always have earplugs and defenders but sometime run into trouble wearing them during takeoff and landing (ironically, normally when they're most needed!).

I sat next to a family,Mum, dad and two children about two and four. I had a drink spilt over me. A plane leaves us with very limited room. The spill was accidental. These things happen.. A five hour flight with them was fine. Four year old and I played a lovely game of pee po e with her hat. Realky, if you cannot put up with children for a flight buy your own aeroplane. No need for gifts, as far as I can see

I alone think it’s a sweet idea