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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would this annoy you?

193 replies

LokiBear · 09/07/2018 19:12

My family and are flying long haul on Saturday. PIL have paid for the whole family to go on a 'once in a lifetime' holiday. I have a 6yo (who will be fine) and an 18mo who will be sat on knee for the flight (12 hours). MIL has paid to upgrade us to premium economy. If you were a passenger eho had paid extra money for your flight, how pissed off would you be at being sat near a potentially wriggly and fractious 18 mo? Ive just been sent this video of a kid kicking off on a plane and the other passengers getting angry. SIL sent it saying 'this will be you with dd2!' Dh is talking about making 'apology gift bags' for the other passengers. Im panicking a bit. I have an Ipad loaded with Teletubbies and toys at the ready, plus snacks.

OP posts:
Desmondo2016 · 09/07/2018 22:42

I'm dreading a 4 hour one with my toddler, so you have my sympathies! Will be worth it when you get there tho!!

Sharkwithknees · 09/07/2018 22:42

RTFT. The OP is taking headphones Hmm

TroubledLichen · 09/07/2018 22:42

I’ve flown business class with DD, god knows what your SIL would think!!

But she wears headphones to watch her Peppa (we practice at home) and any squeaking and she’s carried into the galley. No way is it acceptable to disturb other passengers, it’s basic curotesy and it’s irrelevant how much fellow travellers have paid for their tickets. Ridiculous to suggest that kids running riot is ok in economy but not in higher travel classes. And we live abroad so have to travel to see family as not all can come to us (ill health etc).

TroubledLichen · 09/07/2018 22:42

But OP sounds like you’ve thought of everything and I’m sure it will be fine Grin

CornishMaid1 · 09/07/2018 22:42

As a child free traveller I would inwardly groan if I was sat next to someone for that long with a toddler on their lap but I wouldn't say anything.

Take plenty to keep them entertained. I may tut but would understand if your child played up but you were trying to calm them etc. I expect children to cry on take off and landing with the pressure change etc and it's easy for them to get over tired. The key is trying to look after the children and being considerate to the other passengers.

It is the parents that let their children run amok (or worse kick your seat) and don't do anything that annoy me.

AnastasiaVonBeaverhausen · 09/07/2018 22:43

Calpol making kids sleepy is a fallacy. Plus giving unneeded medication to a child is generally frowned upon. I don't think drugging them for the flight because you didn't buy noise cancelling earphones is really an option.

Walkingdeadfangirl · 09/07/2018 22:44

RTFT. The OP is taking headphones

Have sat near an 18 mo listening to inane cartoons on a long haul flight. You can hear everything.

beluga425 · 09/07/2018 22:45

Have you considered using calpol to make sure they are asleep the whole flight

Yes, everyone, drug your children!
ShockShockShock

TroubledLichen · 09/07/2018 22:45

If you want to drug the kids you need allergy medicine and not painkillers. I’ve never done it personally as it makes me feel uncomfortable but I know people that have and swear by it...

Walkingdeadfangirl · 09/07/2018 22:46

Should say:
Have sat near an 18 mo young child listening to inane cartoons with ear phones on a long haul flight. You can hear everything.

WonderfulWonders · 09/07/2018 22:47

The only time I've been irritated because of a child on a flight was long haul night flight in business recently.

My three DC were sleeping and a woman with an infant had put noise cancelling headphones on and was ignoring her baby crying.

The baby cried and cried and became more and more distressed until I got up and said something to the cabin crew. I was genuinely concerned for the baby. Cabin crew woke mum, who mumbled fetch me my nanny and rolled over to sleep. Nanny duly dispatched from economy to attempt to comfort poor mite.

Hannah4banana · 09/07/2018 22:48

my hat goes off to you but.... We flew back from Mexico 2 weeks ago and in a night flight we were subjected to the worst screaming ive ever heard and kicking of the chair. The kid didnt have a seat, can you take a car seat for them? Then peppa pig up at full volume on a nightflight x

NotAsGreenAsCabbageLooking · 09/07/2018 22:51

Tbh, even if she is screeching and annoying people... the people in economy don’t deserve to be sat next to it any more or any less than the people in premium.

Kids make noise... unless you’ve chartered a private plane you know there’s going to be kids on it... it’s luck of the draw if they’re near you or not 🤷🏻‍♀️

Mookatron · 09/07/2018 22:57

Have never flown long distance with small kids but I've thing I do know is that if you apologise for them before they've done anything people will see that as a licence to complain - and will expect you to fix it.

Little kids are humans too. As long as you're doing your best not to presis people off they can just suck it up. I find that pretending to be as middle class as my husband is ('i am entitled to exist and my children are entitled to exist') held massively with this.

Mookatron · 09/07/2018 22:57

Horrendous autocorrect sorry.

wildgirls · 09/07/2018 22:58

We took 4yr old and 18 mo on a 10 hr flight in premium economy. We got some looks when we boarded!! And I was panicking! But it was ok. The seats are way more spacious and the 2 of them could sit comfortably on 1 together. There were a few hairy moments but we genuinely did our best and the kids were great. Actually, probably way less of an annoyance than lots of adult passengers on a recent flight we were on without kids!!
Try not to worry about it and enjoy!

Honeyroar · 09/07/2018 23:03

I'm cabin crew. We get plenty of babies and toddlers in premium. She might surprise you and be good as gold. If you've got to have her on your knee you're better off in a slightly bigger seat. We always try and get parents an extra sest if it's possible. Yes people may groan inwardly when they see a toddler get on, but if you've plenty of toys and distractions and try your best people will be ok. Take lots of snacks with you in case they don't like what's on offer. They all scream before take off when the seatbelt goes on, most settle afterwards. Don't let it build up in your head, it's just a journey. She will relax better if you do. Get her a child flyers passport to record all the flights she does. It's a great souvenir for when she's older.

If you can hear Peppa Pig as an adult, put your own headphones on and listen to something.

Honeyroar · 09/07/2018 23:09

Ps, you need a spare seat to use a car seat or a certain front row seat for an airline's child seat.

Eliza9917 · 09/07/2018 23:11

*Have you considered using calpol to make sure they are asleep the whole flight

Yes, everyone, drug your children!*

Phenergan is available to buy OTC.

CanaBanana · 09/07/2018 23:13

Wondering how you can fit a child on your lap in an airline seat? I'd be massively annoyed if the child sat sideways with legs hanging into my space that I've paid for.

Charolais · 09/07/2018 23:14

While flying back in the 1970’s from London to the west coast of the U.S. with a 21 month old I got talking to a woman in front of me who had a baby the same age and it turned out she was from the same town as me in England. She told me she had been very worried about flying with her toddler and her doctor, who I knew of, had given her some medicine to make him sleep and she asked me if I wanted some. I told her 'no thanks'.

While her baby was out like a light and mine was pulling things off the food tray and covering me and others in food and drink. Finally I asked her for some of whatever her baby had taken and we went to the galley to see if the stewards had a spoon - they were falling all over themselves looking for a spoon to dope my toddler up - he was that bad. I think the medicine was children’s benadryl. (I can’t remember, It’s been over 40 yrs)

The rest of the journey was blissful and everyone was happy.

Connster · 09/07/2018 23:17

Not wanting to make you feel worse, but I’d be mega annoyed if I’d paid £200+ for Premium Economy to be sat next to a screaming baby.

jakscrakers · 09/07/2018 23:21

I have flown PE many times on long haul flight, more room, meal improvements and there has been babies or toddlers most times, yes sometimes they get cranky but thats what they do, its programmed into their DNA Wink thankfully I have never been on a flight where other peeps moan about it, its just something that happens in life, whether its the ear ache that gets to them, or whatever. Dont go on board all apologetic just look forward to the flight and what will be will be ... good luck and good flight x

Bowerbird5 · 09/07/2018 23:22

You might sit next to someone like me! I travelled back long haul with a girl next to me with a child the same age. We chatted, child climbed over me, sang nursery rhymes and in the end I looked after her while mum had a sleep. Her sister was getting married in two days. We got on great and I met the whole family in Germany and had a coffee with them before catching my next leg. Don't despair.😄

YetAnotherThing · 09/07/2018 23:23

Just returned from a trip and next to really pissed men both ways. It was awful. was amazed they were allowed on. Not rowdy drunks, but stinky/talkative/snoring/ head-lolling arses. Would take a toddler any day.