AIBU to think KLM's breastfeeding 'policy' is absurd?

[Celebelly]

'Breastfeeding is permitted at KLM flights. However, to ensure that all our passengers of all backgrounds feel comfortable on board, we may request a mother to cover herself while breastfeeding, should other passengers be offended by this.'

This was posted on their official Twitter today.

'Permitted'. Thank god it's 'permitted' to feed your child.

AIBU to think this is ridiculous?

So you engage in discriminatory behaviour to keep Mr Twat happy?

That’s giving into bully culture, which is disgusting. I can also see lawsuits ahead.

There are ways of restraining people in the air.

So you can restrain him, but you wont because... it's too tricky and you cant be arsed?

When I had my dc, militant breastfeeders were a real thing. They had to be because women were expected not to feed in public and it was perfectly acceptable to send us to the toilets to feed our babies or let baby go hungry until you were somewhere more private.

Things were just starting to change in the wider world and people were beginning to realise that breast feeding is best.

We celebrated when legal protection came into force and thought the battle was won and things would be different for our daughters.

Things are different but the battle is definitely not won!

@Borisdaspide

Quite clearly not. I have never said it should be like that.
You are in a confined, locked environment with said relative and some idiot on the next seat is tutting and making noises, fine you ignore it. He doesn't like that and loudly begins to complain to everyone. He's asked to keep the noise down oops wrong move. He's louder and worse throwing about nasty and hurtful words. Again asked to be quiet. Well that's it he's out of his seat and standing over you telling g you exactly what you should do and where you should go hitting the seat for emphasis not a nice situation. Now we can move Mr idiot to the back and hope that helps we can move you and your relatives to nicer seats or away from the situation and all is calm again every one safe and still on course.
Or we let Mr twat scream and shout end up having to restrain him and change course ruining everyone's day not just Mr twats when we land and he has a nice landing party waiting to lead him away.
I have never once said people should be moved, hidden or any other such crap but in a worse case scenario what do you want a handful of people to do when no one can leave or enter.
In an ideal world Mr twat would not exist sadly he does, in a restaurant or out in public take a hike call the police immediate situation over in hopefully minutes Miles In The air what else is there to do in a worst case scenario. We had an In air incident not long ago they are not fun! In all cases I am talking worst case not some twit snearing and asking loudly to move repeatedly whilst being rude. They can carry on they are getting violent just annoying.

Maybe they're looking around because breastfeeding is a bit boring and it's something to do?

This. In the first year you must rack up over a thousand hours of feeding. There comes a point, fairly quickly, when feeding your baby isn't an event - it's a background activity.

@Borisdaspide
No not can't be arsed trying everything in our power first. Either way Mr twat is going away in hand cuffs as he rightly should just depend weather it's from our intended destination or a new emergency one

@User6949617

You introduced the point re gay couples, which was in my view irrelevant.

I would expect the airline to do its job which is not to move an innocent party (and in my relatives case, you are talking about someone who has fought for disabled peoples equality her entire life) to placate some wanker.

@MonkeyTrap only because I was asked about them

It is about safety not placating

That's all I have been saying. You keep everyone safe to the best of your ability.

I am not talking someone mumbling u Der there breath I am talking 0-100 crazy belligerent.

A worst case scenario.

The airline are doing there job, everyone is safe
No harm to staff or passengers everyone at destination Mr twat on a no flynlist and in cuffs.

I am not talking every day run of the mill bitch. I'm just saying the policy literally exists as a sorry but sometimes that had probably never been used but for today.

I’ll admit I don’t know the citations for this. But it seems likely given my experience so far.

This is why women look around when they’re feeding... I presume those that don’t like it stare intently at their work for the duration of their day and never glance at their surroundings?

@Somersetlady if I'm wearing a top I can pull down, from time to time I cover some of my sexually exciting disgusting illegal awful erection inducing breast with a muslin. I do t cover my son. Thanks for your concern.

@HenSolo you are my kind of person. Titloppers unite.

Oh yeah and I've got 36HH boobs whilst feeding. They are the same size as my sons head. AINT MUCH HIDING THOSE BADBOYS

Isn’t it peculiar that a body part that is used to feed a baby is seen as sexual. It’s other people’s dirty minds that’s the problem

It’s truly awful! I never cover up-i just be as discreet as i can be!

It's basically lunch. People just need to get over themselves.

OMG I only read like the first 4 comments on this thread, got to the link to the twitter conversation, clicked it, but instantly had to tweet my rage induced reply!!

Babies need nutrition more than everyone else!! Grrrrr

Breastfeeding is great for babies travelling on planes , especially for landing as it really helps their little ears to clear . I’m been crew for a UK airline for more than 20 years . I traveled a lot when my son was tiny and I breastfed him , it really is so convenient. I would be outraged if another passenger complained about breastfeeding mothers on a flight I was operating .

I found breast feeding tips overly expensive in shops near me back when I was BFing my two. I had one but if it was dirty I just sort of shoved my top down and uncoupled the nursing bra. Nursing bras also covered either at least one side of my boob or everything but the nipple in some cases. I never covered up to feed. I probably wouldn’t have thought twice about pulling my whole boob out if I’d have needed to. I honestly don’t understand how we can live in a world where topless women with censored nipples are allowed on newpapers and social media etc but a breastfeeding mother is seen as indecent. To me boobs are not sexual. Not at all. I get no enjoyment from anyone touching my boobs, because to me they are the things that fed my babies. That is what they were made for that is what they did. Surely people are capable of just turning their heads or shifting their gaze slightly. You don't sit directly opposite people on flights so it’s not like it is happening right in front of your face.

May be to accommodate all ethnic/religious groups who may be offended by any seeing bare part of a female anatomy. How else could the notice be worded?.

I dont find other peoples arses sexual but if they paraded it round i wouldn't be that chuffed to have it waved in my face. In fact i am a bit icky about someones bare forearm next to me on a plane on the shared armrest especially if mine is also bare. I also cant stand leg spreaders (male or female) who let their thigh rest on mine. Just to clarify it’s certainly not because it turns me on!

Are we seriously discussing what should happen if some bloke has a thirty minute plus screaming and shouting fit on a plane because a mother breastfed her baby in a way that wasn't discreet enough for him?

I never experienced any negative comments from strangers whilst I was breastfeeding, although I know people who have. Has a scenario like the one described above actually happened to anyone, on or off a plane? With screaming?

I breast fed and am happy to keep my boobs out of sight, doesn't mean the baby has to be covered. I remember once walking around Tesco feeding and pushing a trolley. No one noticed. Another time I was sitting in a cafe and a staff member asked me to stop or go to the toilets/leave. I replied if they wanted me to leave they could call the police, I continued to feed without any further interruptions. I was with a group of friends and small children. I had four and NO ONE was ever going to stop me and woe betide anyone who tried.