Children on Planes

[G.K.]

Off to Crete in a few weeks, me and the wife on our own, the kids having flown the nest and all that. We usually go self catering so we can imbibe the local ambience to the max (Plus I'm a miser). We'll probably be flying Thomson on a 737 and it'll take about 4.5 hours from Gatwick. The only problem is Thomson specialise in family holidays and the plane will have more than it's fair share of little 'uns on board

Now, I like kids I've had three of my own, I've got three and a bit grandkids, they're lovely....but babies on a plane, I would rather it was snakes. Humans are allegedly hard wired to feel stressed at the sound of children crying and one will invariably cry and scream, once one starts they all kick off.........It's misery for the parents because they feel bad about disturbing other folk, it's clearly misery for the kids because they get over tired and they're going some where it's too hot, it must be awful for the crew and it's certainly agony for us.

Have any airlines addressed this problem? if so how? What's your personal solution.

[Fozzer]

Likewise, I have zillions of Children, Grandchildren, and Great-Grandchildren, who all reside well beyond audible range.....

The thought of being locked inside a passenger jet surrounded by lots of rioting "little ones", (and big ones), is a fate equalling death by fire!

I often "U-Tube" passenger jet aircraft flights from within the aircraft, and the endless chatter which goes on is brain destroying!

Not a journey that I would enjoy!

Paul....I love peace and quiet... ...!

The old saying: "Little Children should be seen, and not heard!"

..."neither", is even better!.... ...!

[expat]

I have two boys and we started fly about with them when they were babes I arms. The one thing on my and my wife's mind was to try and cause as little discomfort to the people around us as possible. Firstly as babies, they cry mainly due to the air pressure difference because they cannot clear their ears. Simple solution, a bottle of something for them to drink during climb and descent. My two both like sweet apple juice. It was only given at this time so it is not like they lived off it. And when they were older it was the boredom and that breeds bad behaviour. Bad behaviour is then split into two again. A bored child and parents who cannot/will not control their little out of control shits. Children need to be entertained on long flights. Today it is not so bad, the inflight entertainment is quite good. But even that has it's limits. This is why I travel with a laptop that has my boys favourite programs. If we are flying transatlantic then I generally buy as a surprise a new game for their DS's or such. It only takes a little planning and thought and you have no problems. Unfortunately it appears that once the drinks trolley has come around a lot of parents then absolve themselves of any responsibility for their little angels......

And what has the airline industry done.....Nothing, as long as the cabin is not wreaked they don't care. However ask any cabin crew the worst children and they will answer UM's........unaccompanied minors.........or as they are known......Unaccompanied Monsters......!

Matt