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 their parents have a first class ticket they can all go in. It's not always as easy as you might hope to keep excited, possibly tired, children as quiet as you want to.

I've also never seen unruly children in a First Class lounge. Or at least in an airline lounge, which I suspect is a bit different to the lounges you get in some smaller airports. I often see deals on Wowcher and the like and can imagine they might attract a few lax parents who fancy a few drinks before their flight...

YABU. They've paid same as you!

Airtravel brings out the worst in people. It's no different to a coach or a train travel in that it is a method for transporting everyone and his uncle from point A to point B, but for some reason people don't get the same feelings of entitlement with trains and coaches. People, especially children are usually excited because it is the start of their holiday or they are going home. They might behave in ways that are not normal. Unless you have a private jet, you go on an aeroplane expecting other people and all that entails. Your anxiety is with going in the air, not that there are children doing that with you. There are lots of ways you can find to help you do this, talk to your GP or find a specialist in this area. If you need quiet then you need to find a place for this, a public lounge seems to be the last place you would find this. Also going into a public lounge and expecting everyone to make it the way you personally want it is expecting the rest of the world to bend to your personal needs and tred eggshells around you, unfortunatly it makes you sound entitled and self absorbed.

Just take a shit load of diazepam, the kids will miraculously disappear.

Also Loungekey lounges aren't 'First Class' lounges. They are just lounges that anyone can get into if they have bought the right ticket, paid for lounge access or got a Loungekey card which you get as a perk with certain credit cards, loyalty cards, presumably some businesses etc etc.

So there a loads and loads of people who have access to these lounges, not just First Class ticket holders.

Why don't you go and sit in the airport chapel instead?

The argument that kids need to learn how to behave in lounges, restaurants etc is nonsense imo.

They don't need to learn how to behave. Sitting on a chair without tearing round the room becomes standard, effort free behaviour in most people's development. All they need to do is grow and mature.

I'm a seventies kid, we never ate out. Neither did my friends. But we don't throw food or screech in restaurants now because we are adults. No training required.

Tough shit. I pay my money to take my children in business class (purely because I like sitting there and they can't go in a different cabin to me 😆)

If I've paid the money I'll use the service.

They always behave perfectly. They don't get drunk and shout or leer or pace up and down with pre flight anxiety nerves or speak to the staff like shit - they're model customers.

Most airports have a Multi faith prayer room.
Usually nice and quiet and you don't need to pay. Great for getting peace and calm

Children spill drinks so do adults! Adults can also make noise!

Yabu!

If it is poor parenting that is your issue then you are not being unreasonable and should complain to the managers of the first class lounge.

If it is the very presence of children at all then you are being most unreasonable. Their parents will have paid for their family to use the area too, so tough. They are entitled to be there. If you don't like it then don't go there.

I too am a nervous flyer. I don't have the option of either having first class tickets or using a first class lounge.

I have sympathy regarding your flying anxiety, and about badly behaved children. I have none for your general take on the use of the first class lounge though. You seem to be saying that it should be a child free area so that you are away from the riff raff.

Of course children are allowed. Being loud and screaming shouldn't be tolerated from any age though

Mine always go in the lounges with us. They fly so much they are BA gold card holders themselves! They have never screamed or ran about though. They choose a drink and some food if hungry, and sit down and look at books or draw.

If an adult was making lots of noise I would say something also

We use the lounge whenever possible.

That's me, dh, and 3 (yep, count 'em) dc. They are 11, 9 and 3. They are not silent, but they are also not allowed free reign to race around.

They probably don't behave exactly as many would desire, but then they all have ASD.

Lounge access is important for them to have that bit of space/respite from the chaos of an airport. And good loo access, and oh, so many other things which means they can get prepared for their upcoming flight.

YABU to say children shouldn't be there at all.
YANBU if same children are running amok making a nuisance of themselves. Had this yesterday when out to lunch..... parents on their phones while their kids ran around screaming and shouting, treating place like a soft play area.

Why not get help for your anxiety and then it won't matter who you travel with

If you can't witness a child eating or spilling a drink without anxiety levels rising you need to go to the GP and get referred for CBT or something. Yeah, kids running around can be mildly irritating but unless you've got real issues it's not that hars to just look the other way. Get help, or get a grip!

You never see kids over 2 in First or Business class - they're in economy with the nanny.

The screaming babies go in First because their parents have an air miles upgrade and the baby can go free.

When I've paid extra for my ticket to ensure a good night's sleep, I'd gladly murder these parents.

Very few women are going to agree with you on Mumsnet, though, OP. The clue's in the forum name. Lots of people with precious little darlings (who become rather less precious as soon as you have to pay for them).

Have you tried the airport chapel? It's free and definitely no kids running round there.

My dc have always been in business/first whenever I have.

And they are far from the only children there.

YABU about children as pp said but YANBU about unruly little shits.

Yab a bit U. If the children are flying in first, I presume they are allowed use the facilities. If it is a perk for people to bring their dc in to the facilities, then they are allowed to be there.

The prayer room is a great shout (not literally).

I find alcohol helps too

w8
I only travel business or upper class with mine. (Outside domestic short hop) I am a sole parent with three children all aged over two.
I see a lot of kids post 2 in business class