Children in airport etiquette

[Sideeye47]

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.

You could distract yourself by imagining shouting at them "Piss off you snotty little buggers!"

I would just tell them to stop it. I have (according to my family) a very scary telling off face. I’ve had marvellous results it, from children and adults alike.

I would have asked firmly but nicely the first time

Then told them to get lost if they didn’t listen the second

If they sill refused to listen, I probably would have told them FUCK OFF on a very harsh tone

Bet they would listen then

Book an adult only lounge it’s bliss ☺️

If AmeriAnn is American she’s probably just not familiar with UK grammar. Americans just don’t say or write “sat” instead of sitting.

This isn't a UK vs US thing. It's a "don't be a rude twat" thing. although technically, AmeriAnn is correct. It's just rude and unnecessary of her to point it out.

I think a tranquiliser might be more useful than a soft play area for these particular children.

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.

No-one's being defensive.

They're pointing out how bloody rude AmeriAnn was.

Even more so, to try to correct someone's grammar they themselves aren't familiar with it.

I wouldn't tell an American how to type. Or anyone for that matter because it's fucking rude.

This is why I always get a lounge.

That said I don’t have too much of a problem with children running around at the gate. They are going to be stuck in a seat for a long time.

@BeansandRice oooh what other thread are you snarking about? Do tell!

Meh. It’s a rare occasion there are badly behaved kids on any flight i’ve been on. I find most sit nicely for the majority, eating snacks and watching ipads. Always the exception, but then there are loads of rude, manspreading, dirty feeted adults putting their seats on my headrest too so 🤷🏼‍♀️
Them banging your chair isn’t on. Being excited/loud/running around.. can’t see the problem. It’s not exactly a quiet serene place.
The thing that annoys me the most is the adults queuing up the second the gate is called, tapping their feet and sighing, shaking their heads at excited kids whilst queueing for a plane they already have their seats allocated on and are all going to have to get on anyway! Also our trunki is a godsend. When the two year old has tired legs and walk from the plane to get the bags and buggy, he sits on it and I pull him along. Not in anyones way. Cheer up!

send them to duty free to eat the free chocolate, assure them that of course it is free and to eat as much as possible as fast as they can.

Surely the etiquette is the same as any other time they are in a public place, so they can have fun and play as long as they are minding out of everyone's way, not too loud and not too annoying.

@JingsMahBucket I think it was this one

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3626402-Live-performance-parenting-on-a-train-In-the-quiet-coach

It's taken quite a tangent over 300 odd posts and become a total bunfight. I mentioned the un-child-friendly UK somewhere late in the thread and this was echoed by later posts. I stand by my comment!

adults queuing up the second the gate is called

it's not about the seat, it's about space for your hand luggage. Especially when you travel with kids, you need your bag with you!

@AmeriAnn I think you mean 'on which dp and I are sitting'. If you are going to correct grammar please ensure you do so accurately.

Who cares!!?? They are kids, that’s what kids do! They are probably wrecked/ excited etc etc As are the parents probably! I say just get over it 🤷‍♀️

This is why I get a lounge pass (thanks Groupon).

Who cares!!?? They are kids, that’s what kids do!

Really? My DC would never have been allowed or thought it appropriate to bang the back of other people's chairs.

I have no idea why parents don't keep their little darlings quiet.
Wtf are they all of a sudden unable to parent. it's as though parenting doesn't happen and we just have to suck it up.

Wait until you get on the plane! We flew to China last year with 2 (6 and 4 year olds?) brats in front of us who spent the first couple of hours banging seats and playing on their ipads without headphones. We finally got the stewardess to locate their parents who were 3 rows away resting! Their excuse? They couldn't get seats together! The stewardess finally requested that they split up and sit 1 child with 1 parent each.

I have no idea why parents don't keep their little darlings quiet.

WHY would anyone keep a chid quiet in the airport of all places?!?

Will swop you the kids for the large Hen Party (14 of them) that we had to ensure on our recent flight. 😊

None. Let them run wild and try to make them as tired as possible so they are quiet on the flight. I'd just move if I were you. Let them be.

We fly long haul annually (with one or two stops usually). Our children aren’t allow to scream or bang things. We try to keep running to a minimum but may find some out of the way corner of the terminal to have races with them when possible. Obviously tantrums can’t be avoided-only mitigated but that’s as far as acceptable bad behaviour in airports goes. Otherwise all the normal rules of being in public that apply to adults apply to children as well.