I don't like children in 1st class airport lounges!

[Sunnsoo]

Just that really....

A lot of airport lounges let people bring a kid in for free if the parent has a pass/1st class ticket.

I have a Loungekey because I have anxiety and need to relax/clear my head before flying.

However, I have noticed a sharp increase in the amount of kids in these lounges recently... Running around, picking at the buffet, spilling fizzy drinks... I find it stressful to watch!

AIBU to think that if you take your kid into a quiet/luxury area, then you make them be quiet and behave?!?

YABU. If you've got LoungeKey you're not even flying first or business (generally), it's just a perk of a particular credit card. Most airports have designated quiet areas - why not try those instead?

YANBU in my opinion. I hate kids running around wherever they are, especially in restaurants or where people are trying to relax. There's no excuse these days, as there's plenty of toys/books/iPads etc to amuse kids when out and about. My DD knows to behave and if she plays up, we take her out and have a word with her. We did this from a very young age and she's a privilege to take out and regularly get comments on her good behaviour. It's just common curtesy to others. I understand that some kids do find it hard to sit still when they have autisium etc., but a lot of the time, it's not that, it's parents not giving a shit about others.

i don't like people who think access to an airport lounge is an exalted privilege and shouldn't be sullied with other people.

tough tits OP.

OP, I hear ya.

However, in your place, I think I'd just stop paying for 1st class/lounge key. Paying extra is no longer providing you with an environment that helps settle your anxiety so ... why bother?

You can sit with the screamers and runners in the main lounge for a lot less expense.

fucks sake. italics fail.

We are lucky to have access to lounges when we fly. And would always take the kids into the lounge. BUT for me it's a quiet well behaved place. And when my children stop behaving in the appropriate way (they are noisy, young toddlers, limit to their sitting still and eat snacks time) then I take them elsewhere. I do expect to be able to take them most places but you need to be aware of your surroundings.

Well of course children should behave adequately well in public (in line with reasonable expectations for their circumstances and age).

On the rare occasions I've been in posh lounges, there has been a separate quite section. Anyone being noisy in that bit should be ejected (a word to the staff should suffice).

And if you find it's stressful to watch children using a buffet and sometimes spilling things, then in future you can choose to sit at some distance and angled away from it. The acreage of posh lounges makes that early possible and no hardship.

YABU. Lounges are not quiet zones and children are only expected to behave on the same level than generally at an airport. If you need peace and quiet, maybe your airport has other facilities that might be more suitable?

I don't like rude people in 1st class lounges, but it seems to be par for the course for a lot of the folks that use them.

If they are misbehaving children the YNBU, but I don't think children should be banned from places like that as a rule. That simply punishes the children who do behave, and the parents who make sure they do. I am also a firm believer that children need to go places and experience things to learn how to behave in them. Arbitrary banning of children from places just means you end up with groups of 18 year olds who don't know how to behave because they've never been anywhere to learn.

I do think people mix up 'first class' (or even business class) with 'child free' when they are not the same thing at all. First class is free food and a more comfortable seat. That's it.

Don't most large airports have at least one lounge that's child free? They might cost a bit more, but if you are that keen to avoid children in public you'll just have to pay it. Or try the smoking area, unlikely to be kids in there...

I don't really believe this.

I use lounges often and have never encountered unruly children. Whilst they aren't always quiet zones, they do tend to have a required conduct of behaviour and I can't imagine it being tolerated.

Id use the money you pay for the lounge on some simple blood and saliva tests to track your cortisol, serotonin etc levels as well as the sex hormones throughout the month. You'd be much better off facing up to the systemic root cause of your anxiety and trying to fix that via diet, supplementation and/or medicinal methods.

I guess it's easier to just sit in a lounge, play ignorant, and complain about everybody's children though.

Your choice. A quiet room will dull your anxiety symptoms but it isn't a practical cure. Life is not a lounge room.

This is bullshit.

Basically anyone who generally makes noise shouldn't be allowed into an airport lounge? So you'd rather the airport discriminate against children and people with certain disabilities (yes they'd have to leave this exclusive 'quiet' place too to accommodate your requests), this is why this is bullshit.

Get some earphones, play some calming music, you can't and shouldn't be able to control what my choices are when I'm out and about in a PUBLIC.

I hate people being in the first class lounge when they are not actually a first class passenger. They lower the tone.

If you've paid for it they can use it. I would rather they were in then you to be honest.

I've never encountered screaming / running children in first class lounges. In any case, even if I did - their parents have paid for their tickets and they are also entitled to be in there so there's not much you can do about it if this is what you're experiencing. How do you know the kids aren't anxious about flying as well hence the playing up?

I also have anxiety about flying but found a quick trip to the doctors and a prescription for diazepam soon sorted that out.

In other words, suck it up buttercup.

When me and dh went to America last year we took new born ds with us and we booked and paid for 1st class so why should we not use the 1st class lounge? We paid as much for our tickets as everyone else.

My brother has also always travelled first class with my nephew now 12 why shouldn't they use the lounge?

Like Losing I have never seen this.

The most disruptive you get is groups of businessmen guffawing if they've had one too many. And even they would be told to keep it down if they were pushing it.

I don't bring my kids in when we travel together though, because I think a bit of hustle and bustle and noise and activity is best, before expecting calm on the flight.

A lounge isn't the same as 'quiet' though and most of them admit over 2s.

On the rare occasion I've been in a lounge someone's precious flower has been creating havoc - it's better behaved out in the main concourse.

A quick flick through Loungekey shows that only a few lounges have quiet areas - if someone was messing about in there, then you would absolutely right to complain.

Unfortunately for you, no-one else is using them as quiet places to deal with flight anxiety and noise levels reflect that.

I can't afford this problem but I do sympathise. I bet the marketing for these lounges includes a sense of calm, peace and a 'chill out' experience.

But shit if the reality is like a soft play.

I fly a lot and use lounges. I've seen children in them. I've never experienced what is complained about in the OP though. The lounges are usually a perk of frequent travel or expensive tickets. They are not quiet areas for people with anxiety.

Kids shouldn't be running around screeching in the proles area either. Where they are is irrelevant.

YABU to complain about the presence of children (their families have paid for them to have the same privilege as you.

YANBU to complain about poor parenting.

I'm flying Business Class with my DC this summer. We'll be using the lounges. They will be impeccably behaved in both the lounge and on the flight.

I hate seeing adults groan at the sight of children. We stayed with the DC at an extremely nice hotel recently as we had a significant birthday. The other restaurant patrons all looked horrified at the sight of two primary aged children when we entered the dinning room.

Happily the children were beautifully behaved and had better table manners than the simpering 20 something at the next table.

I sometimes feel like making them badges that say "don't panic, we're well behaved"

There's no such thing as a first class lounge at Newcastle. There are lounges that a first class ticket (or business class) will qualify you for access along with people who qualify with frequent flyer status and those who pay their way in via a creditcard scheme or otherwise.
If you have anxiety a better solution might be to head straight for the gate area which is generally less enclosed and fairly calm until boarding starts. Sitting at an empty gate until your flight is called is very do-able.

It's unrealistic to expect children to sit bolt right. With their fingers on their lips.
Children play and laugh and giggle. None more so than an excited child ready to go on an aeroplane. We were all kids ourselves once.