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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Or was cabin crew? My child scolded herself.

289 replies

maxbradbury · 07/04/2013 19:42

Ok flying home from Easter holiday. We went with a large group of us so all four children sat in the row in front with us sitting behind them on the plane. Cabin crew come through serving hot drinks and I have my nose in a book so do not notice. All of a sudden my six year old starts to scream. She had split hot chocolate all over herself . Turns out a member of crew asked if she would like a hot drink and she asked for a hot chocolate which was given to her without a lid or my consent. A member of crew took us to the loos and dressed to burn. I asked if it is normal procedure to give a young child a hot drink without consent and a lid. She said it wasn't and they would normally get consent and even then water it down with milk and pop on a lid.

Husband wants to make a complaint but I sort of feel I was partly to blame as I was not sat with her. She still has marks on her legs five days on. So am I to blame for not sitting with her or should I make a complaint?

OP posts:
Floggingmolly · 08/04/2013 12:28

Your DH took full responsibility for scalding himself, Passme?
What's your point, exactly? Who else's responsibility could it possibly have been?

Growlithe · 08/04/2013 12:37

Passme yes the OP would notice the plane crashing if it happened. But then the OP would have to get out of her seat, block the aisle whilst standing at the children's row, get the life jackets from under the seats whilst the children were sitting in the seats, and get them all kitted out.

If she was sitting with the child, she would be able to do this quicker and causing less obstruction.

I know it's absolutely worst case scenario, but there are reasons why the airlines want you to sit with your children. It's not just to annoy you.

Passmethecrisps · 08/04/2013 12:38

Eh. I think I was just saying that just because something is your fault it is still worth contacting the company to let them know the accident happened.

Bearbehind · 08/04/2013 12:40

I'd love to read the complaint letter:-

I was sitting less than 3 feet behind my child when, on either side of me a total of 4 members of the cabin crew along with 2 trolleys which filled the aisle, moved along the aircraft passing out drinks to people all around me at just above eye level however I did not notice any of this happening at all as I clearly was not paying enough attention or adequately supervising my child.

My child was given a hot drink which she spilt, however it did not burn her seriously enough to warrant any medical treatment other than the excellent first aid offered by the cabin crew, as the hot drinks on planes are not served as hot as those served on the ground are.

Throughout all of this my husband was asleep and I'm not sure if I was reading a book or in the toilet and none of the other adults sitting in my row or the one in front of the children noticed my daughter being served this drink.

I feel your company and employees have acted irresponsibly as it was their duty to ensure my child was adequately supervised at all times...............

Passmethecrisps · 08/04/2013 12:40

Oh I know grow. I agree with your scenario. I just think that the earlier suggestion that OP was so engrossed in her book that she might not be able to find the life vest in time was slightly OTT.

Wibblypiglikesbananas · 08/04/2013 12:42

passmethecrisps - not ridiculous at all. There have been many studies into the quickest and most effective way to evacuate an aircraft in the event of an emergency. The more quickly you can prepare yourself, quite simply, the better your chances of survival. If your child, who you're supposed to help in the event of such an emergency, isn't close to you, you're going to waste vital time (unless you have Mr Tickle arms and can reach across a few rows, around screaming, panicking hordes and under your child's seat and locate your child's life jacket just as easily as if they were sitting next to you). Disclaimer - unlikely!

Passmethecrisps · 08/04/2013 12:46

How handy would it be to have Mr Tickle arms? Brill!

Anyway, as I don't then I would have to presume you are right. I do think that 6 is too young to be sitting away from parents.

In that case. I probably think OP is being unreasonable.

I'm rubbish at AIBUs - too much of a fence sitter

Growlithe · 08/04/2013 12:47

Not being engrossed in the book no, but not sitting with the child yes, that would hamper her finding the life jacket.

The seating arrangement was against Virgin policy on travelling with children. Virgin should more concerned that the staff didn't pick up on that during the cabin check IMO.

JamieandtheMagicTorch · 08/04/2013 12:55

I think that sometimes the more adults there are apparently supervising a child, the more danger they can be in, because everyone assumes someone else is on the case. I believe this is caledd " diffusion of responsibility" - there were psychological studies on this phemomenon in the 1960's or 70s

JamieandtheMagicTorch · 08/04/2013 12:55

Phenomenon

JamieandtheMagicTorch · 08/04/2013 12:57

I also think it is worth contacting the company to let them know. Making it clear that you know what your responsibilty was and that you regret sitting the children on their won.

JamieandtheMagicTorch · 08/04/2013 12:58

Own

Scholes34 · 08/04/2013 13:12

Isn't MacDonald's the only place you get scalding hot drinks?

As a parent of a 6 year old I'd be concerned about any drink being passed over to them, because of spillages anyway, hot or cold.

When you're in such a big group, you can take your eye of the ball when it comes to keeping an eye on kids. However, bottom line is, OP, you or your DH are ultimately responsible for them.

The cabin crew were alerted to the problem/accident at the time. I'm sure you've all now learnt from the experience and I wouldn't think it necessary to lodge an official complaint. It's a case of six and two threes over who's to blame.

JenaiMorris · 08/04/2013 14:02

I will have to agree to disagree with the entire world wrt the wisdom of allowing children to sit away from their parents, but surely even if the OP had been sat quaffing Champagne in business class whist her child sat completely alone in standard it wouldn't detract from the fact that the cabin crew shouldn't have served such a hot drink to a child Confused

Original poster
maxbradbury · 08/04/2013 16:05

For the last time I never said it was a boiling hot drink! !
Again I supervised with the meal, seat belts, the entertainment and other drinks!
It was just this regretful hot drink I missed!
Some people are clearly hysterical.
I do not want to sue or gain any compensation from this. I just wondered is it worth giving feedback regarding hot drinks to children.
I am now leaving the thread.
Thank you for all your comments

OP posts:
Passmethecrisps · 08/04/2013 16:50

Brew OP?

Original poster
maxbradbury · 08/04/2013 16:54

I'd rather have Wine . I'm sure I wouldn't miss that Wink

OP posts:
Growlithe · 08/04/2013 16:59

OP, just as a quick question, looking at the timings you've given, you weren't on the 7.00 pm flight on Tuesday from Orlando to Manchester were you?

clam · 08/04/2013 17:01

Why? Were there some badly-behaved kids on there, unsupervised? Wink

Coconutty · 08/04/2013 17:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Wishiwasanheiress · 08/04/2013 17:04

The plane would have an accident book just like an office. Just because u didn't see it don't assume it doesn't exist.

You should have been watching, whether or not they were right or not to serve a drink. You didn't. I'm not trying to be cruel, this is just an accident.
That's it. Tend to ur girl but leave this alone now.

Hope she's better now

Growlithe · 08/04/2013 17:05

No, clam all very well behaved, especially mine. Wink

squeakytoy · 08/04/2013 17:06

accidents happen... and surely 6yo's do not need that much supervision when they are in a confined space just in front of the parent and behind the grandparents..

lockets · 08/04/2013 17:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Dominodonkey · 08/04/2013 17:09

jamie the study you are referring to is about strangers and linked to the Kitty Genovese case.

OP - YOU should have been supervising your child. It would not be unreasonable though to suggest drinks should be served cooler and with lids due to safety issues.