Kids in the air

[Gurndigarn]

For those of you who mentioned parents not controlling their kids:

http://apnews.excite.com/article/200...D8MR4NTO1.html

15 minutes isn't enough to calm her down? Upset because someone objected? Just which parenting book did you misread?

[SCSlave]

They absolutely had every right to kick them off. It wasn't fair to the other passengers. If I were a passenger, I'd be ticked off if they didn't kick them off.

And the dad says he'll 'never fly AirTran again'. .... pretty sure they don't want them or their tantrum-throwing kid back.


((as an aside, I can totally see this happening with my neice (just turned 4)...she's cute..but she's evil sometimes. ))

[Myra]

This happened to a friend of mine. She was baffled because her daughter had been so excited about the trip, and something about the plane just freaked her out. So they decided to postpone the trip until she was a bit older. (She was 4.) My friend understood it was a matter of safety - a 4-year-old is too big for mom's lap, so therefore needs to sit in her own seat.

If they cannot control their cihld after 15 minutes of screaming, either that kid is not meant to fly or they are not meant to be parents. I cannot believe the airline refunded their tickets, let them fly for free, then GAVE them comp tickets for later. It's not the airline's fault this kid had a meltdown. Like they said, there were 112 OTHER PASSENGERS who had somewhere to be. Selfish people, these parents are.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I've been following this, and these people are, without a doubt, giant assholes.

I mean, really. They expect to have an entire planeload of people to delay indefinitely because they are too py to pick up a three year old, put her little ass down into a seat, and strap her in?

Hell, I do that with a 1 and a half year old every single day of my life. My kid likes to fight being put in her car seat. I outweigh her by about 110 pounds. It's not a problem.

I saw these wankers on the news this morning. Neither were crippled. Both were larger than the three year old in question. I saw no arm casts or slings. Pick her up, strap her in. Plane takes off. What the hell is so hard about that????

They were on there trying to say they were thrown off because their kid was crying, which, according to other stuff I've read, is crapola.

And the airline giving out freebees! For frig's sake! Great, does that mean I should act like an ass next time I fly, and I'll get free stuff??? GAAAAAAH.....

[NightAngel]

I completely agree with the airline's decision. They were given 15 minutes to calm and strap the child in.

I would say that maybe something scared the child on the flight TO Orlando like turbulence or something. Turbulence is mortifying to me- LOVE flying- hate turbulence.
But the kid got on a plane the next day and flew home so it was probably just unchecked bratty-ness.

[ISellCars]

I was listening to Ron & Fez about this today on my lunch break...

Absolutely amazing what these wacko parents will do to try and get money for nothing. Me personally, if I had kids, and this was my situation, I'd be sooo embarassed.

But seriously, are you telling me that you are unable to pick up your 3-year old, put her in the seat, and put the seat belt on? I know kids can be out of control sometimes, but jeez... I think 15 minutes is well long enough to calm your kid down and sit them in their seat and strap 'em up.

And then for the airline to stick their tail between their legs and act as if they were at fault!! I can't stand when companies give ungrateful and irresponsible people rewards for being incompetent. The air staff had every right to throw those people off. Don't make the rest of the passengers late because one couple can't control their 3 year old.

Another example of parents who cannot show their kids that they are the dominate ones in the family. This reminds me of the "Tsk" episode of South Park.

Someone call the Dog Whisperer!

[Barefootgirl]

the coolest thing would be if ALL the other passengers on the plane got together and complained to AirTran about their handling of the situation...

[AirHostess]

Urgh...the airline did the right thing, children over 2 must have their own seat or a forward facing car seat. They even got their money back so why are they moaning?

[Crow The Robot]

Soooo... Thwy didn't follow the rules and they get their money back and freebies??? WTF, I guess it doesn't pay to be a rule-following law-abiding passenger anymore. I mean except for the fact that you get to stay on the plane.

[Banrion]

They did not accept the freebies. And the airline was pleased to annouce the overwhelming support they have gotten from the public.

http://news.bostonherald.com/localRe...ticleid=179022

Airline spokesman Tad Hutcheson said the company’s getting swamped with e-mails and phone calls, and 92 percent support the decision to get the tantrum-raising toddler off the plane. He says about eight percent are opposed.

[Rapscallion]

If you want to argue about changing the world, head over to www.fratching.com - it's mostly unmoderated over there, and you can argue to your heart's content. If you want to push it into contentious debates on here, well ... you can't Mr Linkclosey is waiting.

Rapscallion

[iradney]

I'm glad the airline is getting support. After all, it's not like they waited till the kid had JUST started screaming, they gave the parents 15 minutes to strap her in. Hell, in 15 minutes, I'd have my makeup done already! Plus, they refunded them AND gave them a freebie. What a nasty nasty airline </sarcasm>

[rvdammit]

There's a reason why parents with young children are boarded first.