To wonder if child free cabins on planes will ever happen?

[MrsJaxTeller]

Am I the only person who would happily pay for a child free cabin on a plane? We have 4 children and have flown with them both long and short haul when they were younger. I would never have allowed my children to kick seats or be a nuisance to other passengers on flights. I'm actually dreading our holiday in a few days after last years experience when a child had an iPad and watched bloody Paw Patrol for nearly 4 and a half hours. He screamed at the top of his voice "Chase is on the Case" every bloody episode then gave everyone a blow by blow description of what was happening in every episode. Yes, I understand children need to be entertained on long flights BUT the family in question eventually were spoken to by the cabin crew as a lot of passengers in our cabin were complaining about his behaviour. He was jumping on seats and hanging on to back of my seat while he jumped up and down. I tried to put my headphones in but that didn't help when he was rocking my seat by holding onto the headrest and jumping on his. As I said, am I the only person who would happily pay for a child free cabin?

MrsKoala not to be a goady fucker at all, but do you not think that it's very dangerous to let kids run up and down the aisles? I was on a long-haul flight last year that hit a very bad pocket of turbulence unexpectedly (can't think of the specific name for this, a wind-shear?) and if there had been a kid wandering in the aisles when it happened, I dread to think of the injury he/she could have suffered. Genuinely not trying to be goady.

Surely you can understand that the parents were trying their best to stop that child from misbehaving using distraction

Yes they used distraction alright, they distracted a full cabin of passengers. They did very little even when he was standing on his seat holding on to my seat in front and using it as a trampoline. His mother had headphones on, glass of wine in hand and eyes shut until the cabin crew intervened.

Come on everyone, it's hardly complicated is it - strap the little 'darlings' to the wings and top up your wine glass.

Ah op, now you change the goal posts. Of course that behaviour was unacceptable.

Ifailed - lary (sic) northerns - ODFOD and here's a for good measure.

paddy no goalposts were changed it's in my OP!

honking how do people react on flights when your dc is like this?

I know there is nothing you can do but if I'd paid ££££'s to have my seat jolted or things banged next to me I'd be so annoyed. I'm not sure what the solution is but it doesn't seem fair on the other party.

Potentially the airline (as part of a disability inclusion thing) should ensure the seats in front and to the side are empty. I know it's not really their responsibility to do this but really it's not acceptable for people to have to put up with that.

Although I imagine it's hard to judge the line, how many times do they have to do it, if they are 3 and they kicks are hardly felt that's very different to a teenager with some force.

I understand it's obviously an awful situation for you though so appreciate you prob deal with it the best you can

I'm always amazed at how many parents can't go without a holiday for a few years.

Why should we go without a holiday? My DS has been good on the flights we take (at least 4 overseas return flights per year) since he was born. He hasn't annoyed anyone, and has stayed in his seat for the flight. Now he sits with the ipad and watches shows with earphones. The worst I get is the occasional 'are we there yet?'.

Not all children are the problem. Thousands of children fly all over the world every day without anyone noticing or commenting on their behaviour. Parents who allow their children to misbehave are the problem, not the children.

I went to Dominican Republic last month, the flight was around 13 hours with a stop off. One the way there from Spain there was a woman with a little boy who would not stop crying. I was in DR was 10 days on my flight back the same women with the little boy was on my flight and yes he was crying again through the whole flight.
I wanted to die.

Rollergirl7- I've never taken him on a plane because as yet I've never had to. Holidays that involve flying are out for us. He is always noisy and banging/ kicking so I know how he would behave and I can easily imagine how people would react to him.

YANBU

I'd absolutely pay more for a childfree cabin

We had our first holiday in 5.5 years this January. We fly for work or to see family. It is never for pleasure.

Honking - that's a shame for him though, it's just shit that's there's no good option for you.

I don't remember ever being irritated by other people's children on a flight. It sounds as if I've just been lucky. The two very loud drunk men in first class on a recent transatlantic British Airways flight, however, were incredibly annoying... and the crew kept pouring more rounds for them ....

Potentially the airline (as part of a disability inclusion thing) should ensure the seats in front and to the side are empty.

Just like that. How many seats can be reserved for one passenger?

I've taken my dc on hols by myself 4 years in a row. I sit with younger two and eldest sits next to me across the aisle. Before we got on the plane I have iPad/ds/colouring pads charged to maximum capacity. I also tell the children in a low voice, if you perform they'll turn the plane round and arrest us for being terrorists. So far it's worked.

I once spent much of a business class flight to San Francisco teaching somebody else's nine year old how to do logic problems. He had been nice enough but a bit noisy and he almost finished the book in deep absorbed silence. His mother was grateful and well she might be!

The one thing I can't tolerate is seat kicking. Anyone, adult or child, will get death stares followed by a request to stop followed by a complaint.

To be honest, providing I don't have to interact with him/her in any way, I would rather have a child next to me thank behind me.

Before I'm accused of being a miserable cow can I say in my defence tha I have a very strong fear of flying and everything seems 1000 times worse on a plane!

I've flown alone with a young child, and while I've tried to make her behave, it's not easy.

I'm she would have been one of the children you are talking about. She is an incredibly active child, who also becomes hyper reacts very badly when she has sugar.

I packed a selection of healthy snacks and food, but unknown to me, dd was fed sugary treats by other parents, who didn't ask me first.

She wasn't being 'naughty' as such, but rather noisy (squealing and giggling etc). I did remind her repeatedly to keep the noise down.

Another passenger flipped out, saying my child had adhd and I was a bad parent.

Flying with children is not easy, especially for medium to long haul flights. I wish there was a little more understanding of this. By all means parents should try to control their children, but not many under fives will sit still and stay quiet for over 4 hours.

Perhaps there should be child free cabins for people who are unable to understand this.

not many under fives will sit still and stay quiet for over 4 hours.

4 hours are very easy, it gets more tricky on 12 hours flights.
Tire them out the day before: very long walk and runs in the fresh air. Don't let them sleep too much the night before the flight. Tire them out BEFORE going in the plane! What do people expect when they seat in McDonald for one hour before a flight, or better when they let their toddler or young child nap before boarding? Most airports are big enough that you can walk around for a couple of hours if need be. Keep books, colouring, puzzles, snacks, naps for the plane!

I have heard people moaning when they walk past a deserted lounge where kids playing and running around. (not a lounge full of people, an empty one!) Do they prefer the kids to run during the flight?

Child only cabin

A colleague sent me this today. It could be the way forward.

That's one of the reason we love flying through Chicago; O'Hare airport has a really good children's play area. We try and make sure there's enough time between flights for the DC's to run around for at least an hour before getting back on a plane.

I don't understand why more airports don't have them. Airports are boring enough for adults, let alone children, and it benefits everyone if children can stretch their legs before the flight.

My previous post was a joke btw. It was an April Fool by Virgin

shark all children are different.

I remember a time when my dd went on a plane very tired. She was hyperactive, instead of willing to nap. She literally ran on the plane squealing with delight after having slept very little then refused to nap during the day (none of that was planned).

It's great you have found something that works with your children, it certainly wouldn't work with mine. She has always been a very active child though.

Chanel - yes i'm sure it has it's risks, but many people parade up and down planes so i don't think it is a risk people take that much into consideration when comparing it to their comfort.

I have only been to 2 flying destinations with ds1 and none with ds2. DS1 was 10 months and 1.4 there and back on the first trip (long haul) and 1.9 on the second (Majorca). Both times there would be no way he would have been able to sit still for that whole time. He walked up and down the aisles for the whole flight and back to Majorca and on and off for a few hours to and from Vancouver. Trying to restrain him would have and still does result in the most almighty meltdown. DS2 is nearly 2 and he would be exactly the same. Which is why last year we went to a cottage an hour away from home and this year we are going on a ferry to France.

I always let him parade up and down the aisle talking to people because the alternative would be much much more disruptive and disturbing for everyone. As it would be with ds2 if we ever took him on a plane.

We did all the things right too, tired him out etc but he is what the paed calls 'self led', which basically means he does whatever the bollocks he likes and no incentives or punishment make a farts difference to him. Which is lovely.