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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be upset with easyjet cabin manager

90 replies

evitas · 24/08/2011 11:21

We flew back yesterday. The flight departured at 8pm and my DS (18 months) was very tired. Of course he did exactly what we didn't want him to do, he screamed a lot (and yes he's very laud)!!! We were in row 5 or 6, and I decided to go to the front of the cabin (next to the toilet) to see if I could calm him down, and see if he would fall asleep. I could see the odd looks from the other passengers... but what else could I do?
Suddenly the cabin manager came and told us we could not be there because it was unfair for the other passengers. That it was disrespectful for the other passenger to listen to our baby screaming and that they had paid a ticket to have a quiet flight!! I was so upset! I told him that if he knew of any other way to calm my baby then we could have a go, because we were doing our best. He told me that if I was the mum I should know how to calm my baby :(
I got so upset that I burst into tears. All the other cabin members were very nice and kept apologising, they even gave me their seat in the rear of the plane. When finally (20 minutes later) Ds was asleep the cabin manager came and apologised and said that it had been a language barrier (English is not my native language) that I had not understood what he was telling me. That just made me feel even worse. I know it's annoying when children cry on board, but surly the cabin crew is used to this... I just thought that he was rude and not supportive at all.
Do you think I should send easyjet an email, complaining about him? Or AIBU?

OP posts:
ninedragons · 24/08/2011 12:22

The only way anyone can pay to have a quiet flight is to charter a Gulfstream.

You could complain, but at best they'd send you a voucher to fly ShitJet again in the future.

OhdearNigel · 24/08/2011 12:22

He told you you could not be there ??? What did he expect you to do, get off the plane ?

HarrietJones · 24/08/2011 12:24

I think you should complain about that specific comment and If he tried to blame language on you as he should be used to different language barriers in his role. I would also praise the rest of the crew.

Original poster
evitas · 24/08/2011 12:25

bibbity I understand where you coming from. But it's his job, to feel passenger conformable and welcomed on board, isn't it? I'm sure my DS was not the first child to cry on board.

OP posts:
Original poster
evitas · 24/08/2011 12:27

Harriet you are right. I'll definitely praise the rest of the crew. They even offered me tea and coffee :)

OP posts:
bemybebe · 24/08/2011 12:27

I would not waste any time complaining about a trivial matter like that, sorry.

bibbitybobbityhat · 24/08/2011 12:28

But he apologised! He was having a bad moment. Come on.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 24/08/2011 12:33

evitas... I can see that this is really bugging you a lot. I suspect that the bit that hurt the most was when he said about 'you should know how to calm your own baby'... that would bother me too. For your own sake, put a different spin on it and give him a face of desperation, that he's hoping and praying that you know what to do because he hasn't a clue.

Original poster
evitas · 24/08/2011 12:35

yes he did, but he blamed my English! What he was saying was that after all it was my fault that I did not understand what he was trying to say!

Anyway, thanks everyone for your comments. It gave me a lot to think about. Maybe I'm being too emotional about this. but part of me still thinks I should let easyjet know about this episode Hmm

OP posts:
sausagesandmarmelade · 24/08/2011 12:35

Well, you seem to be perfectly capable of expressing yourself here, so I doubt that there was any language barrier.

The cabin crew member was possibly tired...and certainly didn't handle the situation well at all (his choice of words was out of order).

It's good that he offered an apology of sorts....but perhaps you should mention this incident to customer services so that they can train staff better to handle such events.

sausagesandmarmelade · 24/08/2011 12:36

People don't complain enough....

If people don't complain, then services don't improve.

I have already drafted a complaint re an exceptionally rude and un-professional bus driver that I encountered this morning!

Lambzig · 24/08/2011 12:37

I had my 18 month DD screaming the place down on a flight to Cyprus recently (she had flown lots before as GPs live abroad and always been fine). My DH decided to read his book and pretend he wasnt with us.

BA cabin crew could not have been nicer - I was nearly in tears and they took me to the back of the plane, got things for my DD, offerred me a double vodka and let me stay there on their seats until landing (it was less hot and noisy and this seemed to help). They also gave me a great tip which was to mix a little apple juice into her water (she normally drinks just plain water) which seemed to calm her down completely. I couldnt have asked for more from them.

Original poster
evitas · 24/08/2011 12:38

sausage I think you are right. I might not make a formal complaint, but just send an email.

Maybe I can start a thread about suggestions on how cabin crew could help parents on board :)

OP posts:
wigglesrock · 24/08/2011 12:43

You have said in the OP that he told you to move and quieten the baby down, you asked him if he knew of any way to calm the baby down - to let you know - you might have sounded a bit arsey to start with, and then he said - well you're its Mum. Six of one.... He apologised, I have always flown with babies, its stressful for everyone.

moomaa · 24/08/2011 12:43

YANBU to be upset but think he was probably between a rock and a hard place if other people were complaining. I must admit I would be dismayed if you moved from your seat to up near me with a wailing toddler (but I would not complain).

I always wonder why on earth anyone takes a child under about 3 or 4 on a flight at all. The ONLY reason I find rational is to visit relatives abroad who can't make the trip themselves. I think that makes me lack pity.

madeindevon2 · 24/08/2011 12:43

milkmilklemonade..... babies travel in business class too. i mostly travel with my son in business. hes well behaved but have seen many babies also in business, if they cry they cry! what can you do!
i pay for a seat in business for my child so they have as much entitlement to be there as anyone else

HowAboutAHotCupOfShutTheHellUp · 24/08/2011 12:45

Screaming babies in restaurants - pls take them outside. Screaming babies on an aircraft - there is nowhere to go so passengers have to deal with it.

It is unfortunate if you happen to be sat next to / near a screaming baby, but on a budget airline (or in economy on any airline) you just have to suck it up. I was sat behind a crying baby for two hours on a recent economy BA flight. It was annoying, of course it was, but no one batted an eyelid; it's just 'one of those things' one has to deal with when travelling on public transport. I can't u/stand how the passengers that were complaining had the audacity to do so, it was only luck that dictated that they weren't sat slap bang next to the crying baby in the first place.

However, if I encounter a screaming baby when I have paid thousands for the luxury (and anticipated peace) of buz class, that is an entirely different story.

Original poster
evitas · 24/08/2011 12:48

moomaa I couldn't wish more for teletransportation! Grin d

OP posts:
sausagesandmarmelade · 24/08/2011 12:50

People should accept that the little people have just as much right to fly as anyone else...

A crying baby should evoke sympathy and concern.....not contempt!

I'm amazed by the attitudes of some fellow Mum's here!

Nice to hear that BA cabin crew handled the above example so well and so professionally. That's great. No matter how good a mother you are, you can't always stop a baby from having a complete paddy!

SevenAgainstThebes · 24/08/2011 12:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
evitas · 24/08/2011 12:51

wigglesrock I was not being rude to him. In fact any other suggestion was more than welcomed! If he flies a lot, and if that's his profession he might have known another trick

OP posts:
Mumwithadragontattoo · 24/08/2011 13:03

madeindevon2 - I'm glad you said that. I am about to attempt a 9.5 hour flight with a 3 and a 1 year old in business class. I will try to keep them entertained and hope to goodness they don't cry. But if they do I have paid for us to be there and I don't think that anyone else would have cause for complain (assuming I was doing as OP was here and trying to calm them down).

Mumwithadragontattoo · 24/08/2011 13:05

To OP I think YANBU. But since he apologised and the other staff were helpful I would just chalk it down to experience. I actually think you sound like you dealt with a tricky situation well.

Merlotmonster · 24/08/2011 13:10

he was rude, but apologised. What will a further complaint letter achieve? best let it go

Purplegirlie · 24/08/2011 13:13

Clearly he doesn't have children of his own, as illustrated by his comment "you should know how to calm your baby down". Sometimes no matter what you do, a baby won't stop crying, believe me I've been there. Also boo hiss to the passengers complaining about your baby crying, shame on them.

We recently flew out to Spain, the flight was 1 hour 45 minutes and a little girl aged 20 months sitting in front of us cried the whole flight. I didn't see anyone giving the parents dirty looks, we were all sympathetic towards them. The cabin crew were also lovely towards the parents and asked if there was anything they could do to help. I don't know why people have to tut and complain in situations like the OP has described, it's a fact that babies do cry, sometimes for no apparent reason.