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Original poster

Verbally abused on a long haul flight with DCs

43 replies

mckenzie · 07/04/2008 09:07

On friday I flew from Heathrow to Singapore with DS (6) and DD (3). At the end of the flight three people congratulated me on how well behaved the children were (DS slept for about 8 hours and DD slept for about 10 hours. How lucky was I?)

Last night we flew out of Singapore and arrived in Melbourne this morning and in the very early hours I had finally got the pair of then asleep (we had seats where the arm rest could not move up so they were unable to lie across the seats as they had done on the first flight and neither of them it seemed could get comfortable). Off I went to the toilet only to be verbally abused by a gentlemen sitting about three or 4 rows behind.
I'm quite a tough cookie but this man reduced me to tears.
He threatened to go and wake the children, called me a terrible mother, said my daughter was the most badly behaved child he had ever come across and basically I should be totally ashamed of myself. And it was all said with such spite and venom I'm surprised i managed to make it to the toilet before the tears came.

I'm not sure why I am posting this really but I feel a bit better for having told the tale and this time I haven't cried again while telling it (unlike when i told my sister when she met us at the airport!)

I was so proud of my children after the first flight and feeling quite chuffed with myself for the way it had all gone. I was feeling awful enough about the situation on this second flight (DS was no trouble at all, just watched movies and played his DS but DD was so tired she was crying a bit, whinging and playing up sometimes) but the man managed to make me feel like crap

OP posts:

pooka · 07/04/2008 09:09

He was a tosser. Pure and simple.
Sounds like your children coped brilliantly with what is an incredibly long journey. Good for you, and them.

SSSandy2 · 07/04/2008 09:10

Why did he threaten to go and WAKE the dc?!

Dropdeadfred · 07/04/2008 09:13

yes, if the dc were that much trouble awake why did he threaten to wake them? i would hav reported this threat to the airline

fryalot · 07/04/2008 09:14

what a stupid, nasty twonk!

He obviously either never had children or left his wife to look after them. Anyone with any sense would know that it is SUCH a long flight, any child is likely to be tired and whingey and it sounds like yours were really well behaved considering the circumstances.

He should think himself lucky that you didn't lamp him one.

cmotdibbler · 07/04/2008 09:17

just ignore it - tempers get very short on the ultra long haul flights, esp as many people do go straight through. He didn't know that your kids had been great on the previous flight, and might have had to listen to a crying child all the way on that leg.

It doesn't excuse his behaviour, but its not a pleasant trip for anyone.

Original poster

mckenzie · 07/04/2008 09:18

thanks guys. I appreciate the support. I think he wanted to wake them up so that they would sufer like he had done.
I was proud of myself for not losing it with him and letting him see how much he had got to me.

OP posts:

meemar · 07/04/2008 09:20

sorry he made you feel bad. I probably would have cried at the injustice too.

At least you know that you did nothing wrong and he was just a mean-spirited tw*t.

The thing is, now you will be thinking of all the lovely things you could have retorted with in hindsight! Maybe we can come up with a list of them to make you feel better

kiskideesameanoldmother · 07/04/2008 09:21

go fuck yourself and walking off would have been the only appropriate response to him, before he finished his tirade.

fryalot · 07/04/2008 09:21

ooh, meemar, I've got one:

"fuck off"

meemar · 07/04/2008 09:22

That would have been my first choice too squonk

fryalot · 07/04/2008 09:23

(and a judicious dropping of a dirty nappy on my way past)

BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 07/04/2008 09:23

Sir

I sincerely hope you don't have children as I would hate to see genes like yours being passed on.

Rosa · 07/04/2008 09:23

Well I hope next time he flies he sits next to somebody who lets of body smells ( both ends)the entire flight and snores loudly.
WELL DONE for doing such a long flight with your 2 DC and anybody who has travelled with children knows just what you have been through...

SSSandy2 · 07/04/2008 09:25

It's true it is an horrendous flight. I hate it and I have it looming ahead of me too. Not thrilled at the prospect of travelling with one dc. I expect he was very tired and had wanted to get some kip himself. Sounds like he was really very nasty about it though. That would have upset me too. Hope he won't be on the return flight!

thelittlestbadger · 07/04/2008 09:29

What about "perhaps you should have paid for business class if you really expect to be able to sleep". Sounds harsh but you probably can't expect to sleep in economy and I always (BC anyway) found middle aged men the noisiest. Last time I flew longhaul I sat immediately in front of a bloke who chanted loudly to greet the dawn. Would much prefer a grizzly baby!

nametaken · 07/04/2008 11:00

If anyone confronts you on a plane like that again say in a loud voice

"have you been drinking"

usually they have and you can turn the situation around and make like they are being a nuisance because they are drunk.

ajandjjmum · 07/04/2008 11:04

Complain very loudly to the flight attendants that you're being verbally abused.

What a b***d!

I remember finally getting ds off to sleep on a flight, only for the flight attendant to push a trolley into his foot as it was slightly over-hanging the arm. It was an accident, but boy, we all suffered!!

evenhope · 07/04/2008 11:08

What a nasty piece of work

We flew to NZ with our 11 mo recently and I was worried sick about people like this. We were so lucky- we didn't get one nasty comment despite her screaming throughout takeoff on one leg

I'll bet he picked on you because you were on your own, and wouldn't have been quite so outspoken had there been a man sat with you.

As someone else said you can't expect children to be quiet on a longhaul flight, and some adults are a PITA too.

Lauriefairycake · 07/04/2008 11:11

I would have said: "She's 3, what's your excuse"??

arsehole for you, poor you.

KerryMum · 07/04/2008 11:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OrmIrian · 07/04/2008 11:12

T*sser!

Ok longhaul flights are hideous. For everyone. He obviously tried to take his frustrations out on you and your DCs. What a charmless and uncompassionate man.

Pennies · 07/04/2008 11:13

"Thank you for your comments. You are welcome to wake them provided you then look after them".

Tosser.

francagoestohollywood · 07/04/2008 11:14

what a bastard!
I was once told off by a woman on a flight.... from Milan to London, because dd (then 7 months ) had been crying!!! I know how you are feeling right now. I was fuming.

stleger · 07/04/2008 11:24

If your dd was the worst behaved flying 3 year old he had ever met, he was very lucky he didn't have to share a flight with mine. Eight years on I still blush at what she inflicted on the other passengers. Perhaps he was a smoker and needed a fag?

Jacanne · 07/04/2008 11:29

Lol, my cousin (who we later found out reacted to food colourings) was so bad on a short flight to Spain that the whole plane applauded when we landed.

He sounds like a complete cock.

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