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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Children in airport etiquette

167 replies

Sideeye47 · 02/07/2019 15:50

What’s your take?

Currently waiting on a flight and children are banging on the back of the metal seats DP and I are sat on. No visible guardian about. Shrieking and running around before circling back to hitting our seats.

I understand children are children and children travelling can make them restless but I don’t think children over 5/6 should be running around an airport screaming and irritating other already tired and bored passengers.

OP posts:
Jemima232 · 02/07/2019 16:28

This is why I never fly anywhere.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 02/07/2019 16:29

chilledteacher not just airports, please put one in every supermarket, restaurant, post office, primark...etc

Waveysnail · 02/07/2019 16:29

Try 3 kids with adhd and an airport wait. Armed with ipads, colouring books etc and still they are bloody wild. A huge soft play would be awesome

WorraLiberty · 02/07/2019 16:31

Slow clap for AmeriAnn Hmm

OP, how many times have you asked the kids to stop banging the seats?

TheOrigRightsofwomen · 02/07/2019 16:33

Just ask them not to do it. You are not noticing the children that are not behaving badly.

sandragreen · 02/07/2019 16:33

Slip them half a valium each...Wink

Rosehip10 · 02/07/2019 16:35

Are they middle class kids?

barefootluxury · 02/07/2019 16:35

Er op, have you tried to excitable children:

'I can see you are super excited about your holiday, please can you stop banging the chair'

Once the chair banging has stopped, you could thank them for being kind and listening to you.

If they continue, stand up and move elsewhere. You do have the power of movement, and do not need to sit there fuming.

SquirellTamer · 02/07/2019 16:36

You never know, they may be sat in front of you on the flight, then you can kick the back of their seats for the duration!

CupoTeap · 02/07/2019 16:39
Grin
TheCatThatDanced · 02/07/2019 16:39

ah - no parents around. Feed them sugar.

BarkandCheese · 02/07/2019 16:41

I see your trunkis, and raise you this monstrosity. I was “lucky” enough to encounter two very overexcited children with disinterested parents with one of these scoot cases each last time I flew.

Children in airport etiquette
noenergy · 02/07/2019 16:42

I thought most areas had kids play areas. We also go to airport lounges thanks to priority pass.

SilverySurfer · 02/07/2019 16:43

Put on your stern face and say 'stop that immediately' in a loud voice - usually works.

AuditAngel · 02/07/2019 16:44

Why do people say “ask them to stop”? Tell them to stop, or tell them to go and do it to their parents!

M3lon · 02/07/2019 16:46

bark no no no no no no nooooooooooooooooooo

I suppose its a good thing I've sworn off flying for the foreseeable future as I would simply not be able to cope with THAT shit.

Ylvamoon · 02/07/2019 16:47

.... They have a huge play room at Zurich airport, with helpful staff (with cleaner in one hand!!) and even a few cots in a separate dark room .... Just thinking....

okeydokeygirl · 02/07/2019 16:49

Just politely ask them to stop banging your seat. If you talk to kids respectfully then many will respond respectfully. Yes I know some won't but if you don't tell them that it is bothering you they are really not going to know. All too often people seethe at kids behaviour but don't say anything
Not all kids are monsters.

FrancisCrawford · 02/07/2019 16:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Inniu · 02/07/2019 16:50

Could be worse. My flight was delayed on Sunday and I realized 95% of the passengers were aged 18-22 years and going to a festival. They spent the waiting time emptying water out of bottles and filling them with vodka.
Then they started playing music. Not just one group of them but several different groups each with their own music,
I was hoping some would be refused boarding but no such luck.
They spent the flight blocking the shakes as they all queues up for the toilet. Some of them couldn’t wait their turn and were sick into bags.

So I would prefer excited little k5

Inniu · 02/07/2019 16:50
  • kids
MrsSpenserGregson · 02/07/2019 16:50

Faro airport has a soft play area

mimibunz · 02/07/2019 16:51

If AmeriAnn is American she’s probably just not familiar with UK grammar. Americans just don’t say or write “sat” instead of sitting. No reason for people to be so defensive.

MissingInActionYouSay · 02/07/2019 16:53

I had the pleasure of watching a family with 3 boys argue with airport security as they wanted to take the kids toy guns in their carry on. They genuinely couldn't see why they were unreasonable in allowing their 3 brats to take realistic guns on a plane!!

WandaOff · 02/07/2019 16:53

chilledteacher They've had soft play at airports at least 20 years.
When DS was 2 (20 years ago) he was going through a "biting" phase. He was playing in the soft play when I heard screams of pain and outrage.My heart sank thinking he had bitten some innocent child when he emerged from the ball pool as the victim. I was delighted that he was bitee not biter Grin.