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Original poster

Flying with the baby from hell

61 replies

Twiglett · 30/04/2006 16:31

\link{http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,2766-2157701,00.html\for some reason this Jeremy Clarkson article made me LOL}

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Chandra · 02/05/2006 00:46

PMSL! fantastic article! I could have written something like that BC. Specially after the mum who screamed more than her child to make him quiet, and to which I should thank for being awfully jetlagged at my civil wedding ceremony.

Now when I have to do a trasatlantic flight with DS I peacefully rest in the knowledge that Karma definitively exists :)

oliveoil · 02/05/2006 09:41

It is a horrible article and not funny IN THE SLIGHTEST.

The man is an arse.

Marina · 02/05/2006 09:42

I agree with MI. I think his target was the useless dad in the equation.
I can never decide whether I detest JC or secretly rather love him. I was a bit ashamed of finding this article pretty funny, because of the obvious distress of the baby, but I see I am in good company.
And please note it is a woman journalist on record as actually wanting to kill the baby...

foxinsocks · 02/05/2006 09:45

lol - yes I think he was having a go at the dad

we tortured a few hundred people on our trip to Cape Town a few years back when ds decided he would be the devil incarnate and scream for virtually 11 hours solid (and managed to wake up all sleeping babies/children on the flight!). I still cringe at the thought of it. But then we were travelling economy - I probably wouldn't take mobile babies/young toddlers on club or 1st class.

BudaBabe · 02/05/2006 09:45

DH was flying back here from the States and was sitting peacefully in the bus class lounge. In walks large extended family with young children. Obv flying to Budapest too. SO DH decides to use airmile to upgrade himself to first class. Guess what?????

Yep - family all flying first class too. PMSL!

Served him right.

melrose · 02/05/2006 09:53

foxinsocks, if money was no issue I bet you would Smile

Original poster
Twiglett · 02/05/2006 11:17

well I think its funny .. and I also think he's quite right

c'mon the lung description is pure genius Grin

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foxinsocks · 02/05/2006 11:19

yes melrose, it's probably more to do with me thinking it's a waste of money to pay for them to travel club/first than anything else!

my parents used to leave us in economy (once we were old enough) while they travelled in business/first!!

FrannyandZooey · 02/05/2006 11:20

But why do people feel they have to take young babies on long haul flights?

Seriously, why? Is it a stupid question?

poppadum · 02/05/2006 11:53

franny,

I am an expatriate and travel twice a year to India with my children. It's a twelve hour flight and I have been doing it on my own since they were newborns, because mu husband can't usually take time off. My sister and brother in law are also expatriates and live in the U.S, so I end up making long haul flights to visit them too,and they travel long haul with their young children. These days, there are plenty of people who have family who live far away, and have no choice but to take their screaming children on long haul flights.

That said, my toddler screamed all the way on a two hour flight to Barcelona last week. Young babies don't come with a mute button, as someone said on the other thread, and sometimes are inconsolable even on a short flight.

Maybe it's because I am not British, but frankly I can't see the reason for all this venom. We were all babies once, even Jeremy Clarkson. Have a little compassion, for god's sake. I don't believe there are that many mums who ignore thier crying babies.

cod · 02/05/2006 11:54

im wiht calrkson
crying babies in cattle class

compo · 02/05/2006 11:55

that is why I would never emigrate. Or if I had to I would pay for my parents etc to come over untilt eh kids were old enough

FairyMum · 02/05/2006 12:00

I am with you poppadum.I take mine on flights all the time too. Mainly short-haul, but sometimes long-haul also to visit family. Of course I try to comfort them when they are crying, but mainly for their own sake. They might have troubles with their ears poor things. Whenever there is a screaming baby or child on one of my flights, I feel sorry for the child and its parents not myself. JC is a tosser.
When mine were tiny I tended to avoid BA eventhough they are my favourite airline. Just too many Brits on the flight and Brits just aren't that accepting of children unless they are fast asleep.

purplemonkeydishwasher · 02/05/2006 12:02

Lovely!
I'm leaving for Canada in 2 days with our 7 month old DS. I feel soooo sorry for the poor soul who has to sit in the third seat.
Even sorrier if they want to get up after DS has fallen asleep (if we're that lucky) cause there ain't no way no how that I'm moving once he's out. "Have to pee? Here's a diaper. It's a 4+, I'm sure it'll do you."

mythumbelinas · 02/05/2006 12:07

Some people have personal reasons why they need to take babies on flights.
My mum had to take me (just under 1yo) and my sis (1 month) on a long haul flight, by herself, to go see her mum. I think it was more relaxed then as she said she made hammocks and rocked us.
My dad took my older sis when she was 2yo on a long haul flight, and he said he got lots of help from the air stewardesses who all wanted to carry his baby and he got to sleep! hmm ..

fuzzywuzzy · 02/05/2006 12:24

I've taken both my girls on long haul flights, for various reasons, ranging form going to meet the family, to the fact that I wanted to go on holiday to somewhere sunny with the girls. And I don't have the option (or the desire) to leave them behind.

Lucky for me, both girls have behaved pretty well...sort of ish.
I remember when I took dd1 on a long haul flight first time round, she was 9 months, and behaved impeccably. However there was a poor baby, who was clearly not enjoying the flight and cried for the entire 9 hours, it was incessant but I felt more sorry for the distraught parents and child as the parents clearly had no idea how much their child would be affected by the change in air pressure.
Next time I go on a long haul flight I think I'll fly Kuwait airlines they have a sky nanny (whatever that is).

FrannyandZooey · 02/05/2006 12:38

Yes, thanks for the explanations. I can see that there are some situations where it is necessary. However I think there are a lot of babies being taken on planes unnecessarily. It is the babies I am concerned about, in fact, not Mr. Clarkson in Club Class :)

milward · 02/05/2006 12:42

hat's the prob with kids & planes? Air travel is for anyone who can pay - if people want flights with no kids then be prepared to book your own private plane - then you can have what you want & travel by yourselves.

bluejelly · 02/05/2006 12:52

I think the mum was crap, tbh. i think not to make any effort to calm your crying baby for eight hours is a) cruel and b) anti-social
Of course babies cry but if they are tended by resposible parents they cry a lot less.

lazycow · 02/05/2006 12:55

Well FrannyandZoey the next time dh has to go to the US for work for 6 months I will tell him I will stay home with my 10 week old baby with no nearby help will I? afterall now I have a small baby I shouldn't be allowed out let alone on a flight.

FrannyandZooey · 02/05/2006 13:10

Ok, lazycow, if you think that's best

(sarcasm tends to go over my head, usually :))

hellywobs · 02/05/2006 15:33

my parents used to leave us in economy (once we were old enough) while they travelled in business/first!!

That's outrageous. Amazes me that the airlines allow it.

Greensleeves · 02/05/2006 15:36

PMSL Franny Grin

handlemecarefully · 02/05/2006 16:49

Ah - I see the usual suspects are being antagonistic again...

Milward you summarise it perfectly

Original poster
Twiglett · 02/05/2006 17:18

who you calling a usual suspect .. I certainly hope its not me Grin

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