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Home Should children be in business/first class on a plane?

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Date: 5/26/2009 9:09:46 PM
Author: princesss
Date: 5/26/2009 7:46:27 PM

Author: Tacori E-ring

I don''t get it...so parents who fly first/business class should separate and put their kids in coach? I am too cheap to fly anything but coach but if I had more money my kids would stay with me. If people had a problem with it...tough!


Exactly. The only thing worse than having a kid kick the back of your seat and scream is not having a parent around to make them stop.

Of course, plenty of parents these days unfortunately don''t make their kids stop bad behavior! In general, if the kid is known t be well-behaved, no problem. Otherwise, I agree with the nice restaurant analogy. They don''t belong there.
 
Date: 5/26/2009 9:14:33 PM
Author: icekid
Date: 5/26/2009 9:09:46 PM

Author: princesss

Date: 5/26/2009 7:46:27 PM


Author: Tacori E-ring


I don''t get it...so parents who fly first/business class should separate and put their kids in coach? I am too cheap to fly anything but coach but if I had more money my kids would stay with me. If people had a problem with it...tough!



Exactly. The only thing worse than having a kid kick the back of your seat and scream is not having a parent around to make them stop.


Of course, plenty of parents these days unfortunately don''t make their kids stop bad behavior! In general, if the kid is known t be well-behaved, no problem. Otherwise, I agree with the nice restaurant analogy. They don''t belong there.


So you are okay with the kids being in coach WITHOUT supervision or are you saying parents (while traveling with their kids) should not be in first/business class?
 
Date: 5/26/2009 9:17:40 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
Date: 5/26/2009 9:14:33 PM

Author: icekid

Date: 5/26/2009 9:09:46 PM


Author: princesss


Date: 5/26/2009 7:46:27 PM



Author: Tacori E-ring



I don''t get it...so parents who fly first/business class should separate and put their kids in coach? I am too cheap to fly anything but coach but if I had more money my kids would stay with me. If people had a problem with it...tough!




Exactly. The only thing worse than having a kid kick the back of your seat and scream is not having a parent around to make them stop.



Of course, plenty of parents these days unfortunately don''t make their kids stop bad behavior! In general, if the kid is known t be well-behaved, no problem. Otherwise, I agree with the nice restaurant analogy. They don''t belong there.



So you are okay with the kids being in coach WITHOUT supervision or are you saying parents (while traveling with their kids) should not be in first/business class?

No, the parents should sit with their children
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icekid, just wondering. I wasn''t picking on you. No one really mentioned it so I was confused. They can slum it with me!
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Date: 5/26/2009 9:47:50 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
icekid, just wondering. I wasn't picking on you. No one really mentioned it so I was confused. They can slum it with me!
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I wonder if there are any nutty parents out there who pay for the kids to sit in first class while they sit in coach??
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These days, nothing would surprise me!

eta- oh my... I love the new photo of Tessa in your avatar! Is that a blast of water in the face?
 
Date: 5/26/2009 9:53:50 PM
Author: icekid
Date: 5/26/2009 9:47:50 PM

Author: Tacori E-ring

icekid, just wondering. I wasn''t picking on you. No one really mentioned it so I was confused. They can slum it with me!
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I wonder if there are any nutty parents out there who pay for the kids to sit in first class while they sit in coach??
3.gif
These days, nothing would surprise me!


eta- oh my... I love the new photo of Tessa in your avatar! Is that a blast of water in the face?

Sounds like it which is wrong in many ways. Yes! She has the hose spraying herself in the face. Funny thing is she did it for like 15 or 20 minutes.
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It did startle her at first but obviously she decided she liked it. I had to finally take it away from her.
 
Date: 5/26/2009 10:04:22 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
Sounds like it which is wrong in many ways. Yes! She has the hose spraying herself in the face. Funny thing is she did it for like 15 or 20 minutes.
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It did startle her at first but obviously she decided she liked it. I had to finally take it away from her.
OMG! I love your daughter! I hope I will have a tough-cookie like that one day!
 
Date: 5/26/2009 3:36:37 PM
Author: NovemberBride
Why not? I don''t see why should first class or business class be any different from the rest of the plane. The mere mortals who can only afford coach can be subjected to children but not those who can afford to pay more? Ridiculous. That said, I do think parents have a responsibility to control their children on planes to the best of their ability, no matter what section they are seated in. I know babies cry and children can be rowdy, but there is no excuse for children running in the aisles or climbing over seats. When I was child we traveled extensively and my parents occupied us throughout the plane trip with books, toys, snacks, etc. and disciplined us when we acted up. I plan to do the same with my children.
A to the men, my dear! There isn''t a rule that says because I have a little bit more money I shouldn''t be subjected to kids. Honestly, I have never flown coach, so I don''t have the experience of noisy kids, is it that big of a deal? Also, i couldn''t imagine being seated in first and my kids back in coach. I don''t know where the crazies are and that would make me uncomfortable.
 
if you can afford first class for the kiddos, I don''t care either way as long as the parents have control over their kiddos and not way disruptive to other passengers, and that also goes for coach.
 
We do take our son on biz/first class, because of a credit card that we have. With our card, if you buy one 1st class ticket, you get the companion ticket free, so we''ve flown that way to get the free ticket. If the other people in 1st class don''t like it, they can fly on a private plane. First class on a commercial airline is still public, so whomever purchased the seat should be able to sit there. And, incidentally, our son has never cried on a flight - he''s always been an angel while travelling - he loves planes.
 
Date: 5/26/2009 7:40:06 PM
Author: princesss
Date: 5/26/2009 7:36:13 PM

Author: AmberGretchen

I have to say I''d probably be annoyed, but I''d get over it if the kids were well-behaved. My main concern, as someone who will be flying A LOT for business, mostly in business class, is that I''ll be expected to get work done on planes more often than not, and being harassed by loud or ill-behaved children would make me REALLY crabby, and could seriously impact my ability to get my work done.



I really must look into those noise-canceling headphones...


Everybody I know that has them swears by them.

Yeah, I''ve heard nothing but good things. Guess that means I have to add them to my ever-growing list of things I need to buy for my new job
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Date: 5/26/2009 6:25:59 PM
Author: Kay
If I could get an upgrade, I would fly with my 7-month-old daughter in first or business class. She behaves beautifully in restaurants. She loves seeing new places and new people, and when we take her to restaurants, the majority of the time the noise lulls her to sleep in her car seat, or she just sits quietly and sucks on her bippy and plays with a small toy. She likes to smile and ''flirt'' with new people, so she gets plenty of attention from the wait staff, and the chef came out to meet her at one restaturant. She will cry if she is hungry, but I am always prepared to pop a bottle in her mouth quickly when we are out, and she settles right down as soon as she gets it.


A does have a fussy period between 9 and 10 pm each night as she fights going to sleep, so I would try to avoid flights during that time period. She also cries when we try to put her down by herself in her crib, but will happily sleep on my or DH''s lap. As long as we are holding her or playing with her, she only cries when she is hungry or needs to be changed, which we would deal with quickly. The only thing that concerns me about flying with her is whether the air pressure will hurt her ears and make her cry.


If her behaviour changes as she gets older, I will re-think my position. I think the chances of her behaving well would be better in first class than coach because there would be more room for her to sprawl out in our laps.

Kay, your princess sounds like a true angel. I am dying to meet her!
How would you like to invite her to join us for a PS Get together over English Tea sometimes in June?
 
I thought the guy was American, but then again, our French seat mate on the flight over thought we were French (which I took as a compliment) even though I was wearing fluorescent aqua Crocs. But I''m pretty sure about the chivalrous gentleman because they said his name over the loudspeaker at the end: "We''d like to thank [name] who assisted us with a medical situation" or something like that (to which everyone clapped enthusiastically), and I don''t think it was a French sounding name.
 
on the first flight i took my child on, we flew coach just to test the waters and see how he would so. he was totally fine, didn''t cry, fuss, or scream. i just had to keep him entertained and had to have lots of snacks ready for him. it was only like a 1 hour flight though.
so our next flight we flew coach to our destination where we bought him a seat so we would all be more comfortable. and he was fine again and this time it was a 5.5 hour flight. so on the way home, DH upgraded us to first class, which was so nice, as we always flew first class pre baby. and he also bought the extra seat net to me for DS. and he was fine again. the looks we got were not so nice, but i do understand. but 15 minutes into the flight, DS already had a fan club and he loved the attention.
so yes they should be allowed to fly business or first class. if the parents were flying first class, the child must go with them, right?
 
Date: 5/27/2009 4:22:45 PM
Author: zhuzhu

Date: 5/26/2009 6:25:59 PM
Author: Kay
If I could get an upgrade, I would fly with my 7-month-old daughter in first or business class. She behaves beautifully in restaurants. She loves seeing new places and new people, and when we take her to restaurants, the majority of the time the noise lulls her to sleep in her car seat, or she just sits quietly and sucks on her bippy and plays with a small toy. She likes to smile and ''flirt'' with new people, so she gets plenty of attention from the wait staff, and the chef came out to meet her at one restaturant. She will cry if she is hungry, but I am always prepared to pop a bottle in her mouth quickly when we are out, and she settles right down as soon as she gets it.


A does have a fussy period between 9 and 10 pm each night as she fights going to sleep, so I would try to avoid flights during that time period. She also cries when we try to put her down by herself in her crib, but will happily sleep on my or DH''s lap. As long as we are holding her or playing with her, she only cries when she is hungry or needs to be changed, which we would deal with quickly. The only thing that concerns me about flying with her is whether the air pressure will hurt her ears and make her cry.


If her behaviour changes as she gets older, I will re-think my position. I think the chances of her behaving well would be better in first class than coach because there would be more room for her to sprawl out in our laps.

Kay, your princess sounds like a true angel. I am dying to meet her!
How would you like to invite her to join us for a PS Get together over English Tea sometimes in June?
I would love to have you meet her, and just to see you again too! I am booked the first and last weekends of June. How about June 13 or 14? June 20 might be okay, unless my parents decide to come visit that weekend for Father''s Day.
 
Date: 5/26/2009 7:56:04 PM
Author: isaku5

Date: 5/26/2009 3:57:47 PM
Author: strmrdr
NO!!
ITA!!!! When/If I travel business or first class, the last thing on earth I need are either screaming babies or kids'' feet kicking the back of the seat. I have travelled in too many economy seats expecting that, but still saying to the ''lovely'' child, ''please stop kicking my seat'' while its parents thought it was A-OK!

And that''s the stuff that makes a child-focused society so WRONG! Get real, parents! You came first; your partner came second and the children are third! I say this as the mother of two and the grandma of two; listen to me as I''ve lived long enough to know what works. I would die rather than see harm come to any of them, but set limits when the grandgirls are with us.

Just my .02
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I agree that children need limits. My parents never let me get away with making a scene in a restaurant or store, and I don''t intend to let my child do so either. There are times you just can''t stop a baby from crying, and I imagine it might be difficult to keep a toddler from babbling a bit, but toddlers and older children can certainly be taught not to scream, run around or throw things. I can''t imagine allowing your child to kick someone''s seat repeatedly, anymore than allowing them to hit someone. Children must be taught to have consideration for others. Parents do their children no favors by not teaching them how to get along in polite society.
 
Date: 5/26/2009 10:04:22 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring

Date: 5/26/2009 9:53:50 PM
Author: icekid

Date: 5/26/2009 9:47:50 PM

Author: Tacori E-ring

icekid, just wondering. I wasn''t picking on you. No one really mentioned it so I was confused. They can slum it with me!
3.gif


I wonder if there are any nutty parents out there who pay for the kids to sit in first class while they sit in coach??
3.gif
These days, nothing would surprise me!


eta- oh my... I love the new photo of Tessa in your avatar! Is that a blast of water in the face?

Sounds like it which is wrong in many ways. Yes! She has the hose spraying herself in the face. Funny thing is she did it for like 15 or 20 minutes.
20.gif
It did startle her at first but obviously she decided she liked it. I had to finally take it away from her.
What an amazing picture!!! She is so cute!

I think if a child is well behaved and is with well behaved parents, then why not?
 
Date: 5/27/2009 4:12:06 PM
Author: AmberGretchen

Date: 5/26/2009 7:40:06 PM
Author: princesss

Date: 5/26/2009 7:36:13 PM

Author: AmberGretchen

I have to say I''d probably be annoyed, but I''d get over it if the kids were well-behaved. My main concern, as someone who will be flying A LOT for business, mostly in business class, is that I''ll be expected to get work done on planes more often than not, and being harassed by loud or ill-behaved children would make me REALLY crabby, and could seriously impact my ability to get my work done.



I really must look into those noise-canceling headphones...


Everybody I know that has them swears by them.

Yeah, I''ve heard nothing but good things. Guess that means I have to add them to my ever-growing list of things I need to buy for my new job
3.gif
i love them too, i got mine on amazon and they are the philips ones. they don''t work to get rid of ALL noise or anything like that but it does minimize the more irritating ones.
 
I''ve sat by some super chatty, obnoxious adult that was MUCH more annoying than my son was on my one and only first-class flight. If I could afford first class i would fly that way with my kids and i would expect them to behave well like i would expect in any other situation.

...

Noise canceling headphones are AMAZING. My DH has a set and when i tried them on during a flight it was instant relief from that awful white noise. A *must* for a frequent flyer IMO.
 
hlmr, thank you. I have a nice camera. Haha. My DD has been on LOTS of flights. I believe she has been on around 16 flights in her 18 months of life. She is not always well behaved. We try. We have snacks, toys, portable dvd player...sometimes you just cannot please them. Once she is older I do expect her to behave accordingly. But it is hard to reason with a little person who just does not understand. That being said her outbursts have been minimal and there was only one true nightmare flight where she cried for the WHOLE 2 hour flight (she was 4 months old). It was horrible but people were VERY kind to us. I believe in uncomfortable/awkward circumstances everyone''s true personality comes out
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Date: 5/27/2009 8:25:01 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
hlmr, thank you. I have a nice camera. Haha. My DD has been on LOTS of flights. I believe she has been on around 16 flights in her 18 months of life. She is not always well behaved. We try. We have snacks, toys, portable dvd player...sometimes you just cannot please them. Once she is older I do expect her to behave accordingly. But it is hard to reason with a little person who just does not understand. That being said her outbursts have been minimal and there was only one true nightmare flight where she cried for the WHOLE 2 hour flight (she was 4 months old). It was horrible but people were VERY kind to us. I believe in uncomfortable/awkward circumstances everyone''s true personality comes out
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I am glad to hear people were kind to you. I have been on flights where that has not been the case, and it just adds more stress to an already stressful situation.

No, you can''t reason with babies, but once they are old enough, which is different for every child, it is reasonable to expect they could sit in first class. And to my knowledge, if they are younger than two, they sit with the adult, in his/her lap on most airlines.

I''ve never had my son sit there, but since it is first class, and not an adults only section, I guess there is no reason he couldn''t have been there if we were sitting there.
 
Date: 5/27/2009 8:43:48 PM
Author: hlmr
Date: 5/27/2009 8:25:01 PM

Author: Tacori E-ring

hlmr, thank you. I have a nice camera. Haha. My DD has been on LOTS of flights. I believe she has been on around 16 flights in her 18 months of life. She is not always well behaved. We try. We have snacks, toys, portable dvd player...sometimes you just cannot please them. Once she is older I do expect her to behave accordingly. But it is hard to reason with a little person who just does not understand. That being said her outbursts have been minimal and there was only one true nightmare flight where she cried for the WHOLE 2 hour flight (she was 4 months old). It was horrible but people were VERY kind to us. I believe in uncomfortable/awkward circumstances everyone''s true personality comes out
2.gif

I am glad to hear people were kind to you. I have been on flights where that has not been the case, and it just adds more stress to an already stressful situation.


No, you can''t reason with babies, but once they are old enough, which is different for every child, it is reasonable to expect they could sit in first class. And to my knowledge, if they are younger than two, they sit with the adult, in his/her lap on most airlines.


I''ve never had my son sit there, but since it is first class, and not an adults only section, I guess there is no reason he couldn''t have been there if we were sitting there.

Also (at least in our case) the other people could SEE we were trying to soothe/entertain her. So I am sure they were more understanding. Plus at one time most of these people had been in my situation and know how helpless it feels. Chances are even a perfect child will act up now and again. Babies/toddlers/children need to travel. My parents live far away. Granted that is a separate issue than flying in first/business class but if I could afford it (and that is how I wanted to spend my money) I would fly with her there. If people didn''t like it tough.
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Children under 2 usually sits on a parent''s lap but you can buy the child their own seat. She has always flown on our laps.
 
Date: 5/26/2009 7:18:52 PM
Author: phoenixgirl
Date: 5/26/2009 3:36:37 PM

Author: NovemberBride

Why not? I don''t see why should first class or business class be any different from the rest of the plane. The mere mortals who can only afford coach can be subjected to children but not those who can afford to pay more? Ridiculous. That said, I do think parents have a responsibility to control their children on planes to the best of their ability, no matter what section they are seated in. I know babies cry and children can be rowdy, but there is no excuse for children running in the aisles or climbing over seats. When I was child we traveled extensively and my parents occupied us throughout the plane trip with books, toys, snacks, etc. and disciplined us when we acted up. I plan to do the same with my children.


I agree. Parents should make their children behave any time they are in tight quarters with strangers . . . planes, restaurants, theaters, etc. So assuming the kids are well behaved, the parents who can afford to fly first class with their kids should do so. I remember that when I got all As in 4th grade, my dad rewarded me with a first class flight when I traveled with him. It made first class seem so special, and I was older, so I''m sure I didn''t annoy anybody.

I agree with both of you!!
 
Date: 5/27/2009 9:01:16 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring


Date: 5/27/2009 8:43:48 PM
Author: hlmr


Date: 5/27/2009 8:25:01 PM

Author: Tacori E-ring

hlmr, thank you. I have a nice camera. Haha. My DD has been on LOTS of flights. I believe she has been on around 16 flights in her 18 months of life. She is not always well behaved. We try. We have snacks, toys, portable dvd player...sometimes you just cannot please them. Once she is older I do expect her to behave accordingly. But it is hard to reason with a little person who just does not understand. That being said her outbursts have been minimal and there was only one true nightmare flight where she cried for the WHOLE 2 hour flight (she was 4 months old). It was horrible but people were VERY kind to us. I believe in uncomfortable/awkward circumstances everyone's true personality comes out
2.gif

I am glad to hear people were kind to you. I have been on flights where that has not been the case, and it just adds more stress to an already stressful situation.


No, you can't reason with babies, but once they are old enough, which is different for every child, it is reasonable to expect they could sit in first class. And to my knowledge, if they are younger than two, they sit with the adult, in his/her lap on most airlines.


I've never had my son sit there, but since it is first class, and not an adults only section, I guess there is no reason he couldn't have been there if we were sitting there.

Also (at least in our case) the other people could SEE we were trying to soothe/entertain her. So I am sure they were more understanding. Plus at one time most of these people had been in my situation and know how helpless it feels. Chances are even a perfect child will act up now and again. Babies/toddlers/children need to travel. My parents live far away. Granted that is a separate issue than flying in first/business class but if I could afford it (and that is how I wanted to spend my money) I would fly with her there. If people didn't like it tough.
25.gif
Children under 2 usually sits on a parent's lap but you can buy the child their own seat. She has always flown on our laps.
Yes, and sometimes people will even help to entertain a little one too, which is great. I was on a flight a couple of months ago where two young children were travelling alone with their mother and misbehaving. She was having a hard time getting them both to sit quiety at the same time, and some nearby passengers started yelling at her to get her kids under control. To make a long story short, the situation escalated to the point that the mother had a severe anxiety attack and required medical attention. All the passengers ended up sitting on the plane for an extra half hour after landing, so that the paramedics could come aboard to assess, and treat her, until they could safely move her. The poor kids were traumatized into quiet sobbing after their mother got sick.
 
Date: 5/27/2009 9:13:41 PM
Author: hlmr
Date: 5/27/2009 9:01:16 PM

Author: Tacori E-ring



Date: 5/27/2009 8:43:48 PM

Author: hlmr



Date: 5/27/2009 8:25:01 PM


Author: Tacori E-ring


hlmr, thank you. I have a nice camera. Haha. My DD has been on LOTS of flights. I believe she has been on around 16 flights in her 18 months of life. She is not always well behaved. We try. We have snacks, toys, portable dvd player...sometimes you just cannot please them. Once she is older I do expect her to behave accordingly. But it is hard to reason with a little person who just does not understand. That being said her outbursts have been minimal and there was only one true nightmare flight where she cried for the WHOLE 2 hour flight (she was 4 months old). It was horrible but people were VERY kind to us. I believe in uncomfortable/awkward circumstances everyone''s true personality comes out
2.gif


I am glad to hear people were kind to you. I have been on flights where that has not been the case, and it just adds more stress to an already stressful situation.



No, you can''t reason with babies, but once they are old enough, which is different for every child, it is reasonable to expect they could sit in first class. And to my knowledge, if they are younger than two, they sit with the adult, in his/her lap on most airlines.



I''ve never had my son sit there, but since it is first class, and not an adults only section, I guess there is no reason he couldn''t have been there if we were sitting there.


Also (at least in our case) the other people could SEE we were trying to soothe/entertain her. So I am sure they were more understanding. Plus at one time most of these people had been in my situation and know how helpless it feels. Chances are even a perfect child will act up now and again. Babies/toddlers/children need to travel. My parents live far away. Granted that is a separate issue than flying in first/business class but if I could afford it (and that is how I wanted to spend my money) I would fly with her there. If people didn''t like it tough.
25.gif
Children under 2 usually sits on a parent''s lap but you can buy the child their own seat. She has always flown on our laps.

Yes, and sometimes people will even help to entertain a little one too, which is great. I was on a flight a couple of months ago where two young children were travelling alone with their mother and misbehaving. She was having a hard time getting them both to sit quiety at the same time, and some nearby passengers started yelling at her to get her kids under control. To make a long story short, the situation escalated to the point that the mother had a severe anxiety attack and required medical attention. All the passengers ended up sitting on the plane for an extra half hour after landing, so that the paramedics could come aboard to assess, and treat her, until they could safely move her. The poor kids were traumatized into quiet sobbing after their mother got sick.

That is HORRIBLE! What a cruel people.
 
Definitely very cruel, and they were of grandparenting age.
 
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