As a freelance travel writer and owner of travel pr firm FSR Ventures, I monitor media inquiries carefully, especially those dealing with family travel. So, when MSNBC travel columnist Christopher Elliott recently posed the questions, “should kids be banned from airplanes” and “should kids be allowed to fly in first class”, I felt compelled (understatement) to provide my commentary.Elliott did respond to my response to him, which is more than many journalists do and I do appreciate that he is a parent; however, I do believe he approached this article with biasness based on the pure article topic.
You can see my comments to this journalist by reviewing the article below. I am not saying that my viewpoint is the correct one, but I do strongly believe that we cannot discriminate against our children especially considering that I’ve experienced more rude adults on flights than kids. Let’s not forget that 9-11 happened as a result of “adults”, not kids.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30745204
Based on Elliott’s personal travel experience where his child embarrassed him in first class, that episode could have occurred in coach just as easily. Is he trying to say that those who paid less or opted to not use frequent flyer miles for an upgrade should have to endure a child who is misbehaving or more so, a parent who was not prepared to keep their child occupied and entertained? I am not saying that kids do not act up. In fact, our toddler had one of those incidents, but we took control and remedied the situation.
To suggest that because a child cries on a plane should be banned from flying or should not be allowed to sit in a seat their parents purchased is insane. Can I call for the same ban on rude adults or terrorists?
What do you think? Please post your comments regardless of how you feel.
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5 comments:
I read his post and must say, this is an interesting conundrum. One of my worst flight moments was when MY 2 year old had a complete meltdown on a Maui to San Diego flight. Almost five nonstop hours of crying, screaming, wanting to run up and won the aisles. The fact that my toddler had this meltdown had no bearing on how he was raised or disciplined. He was simply overtired, which happens to the best of us when travelling.
That said, I think there is no way to 'predict' how a toddler, let's say children 3 and under, are really going to behave on a plane, be it first class or coach.
So here's my final comment, and I fully expect people to throw things at me. I think I agree about the no kids under 3 y.o. in first class. The dude writing the article tried to SEDATE his child, for God's sake, and that didn't work. Which means, you never can tell. And I appreciate the fact that first class has certain expectations: pampering, comfort, a more peaceful flight. People either pay way more for it or use their precious upgrade points for it.
Even though I have 3 kids, I've gotta agree--fly with kids in coach until they've reached the age where meltdowns don't happen anymore.
Denise, you raise some good points. Having a now 4 year old who when she was 2 refused to sit in her seat and was determined to sleep on the floor, I feel for parents when their kids have meltdowns! The age restriction is not a bad idea, but banning kids completetly from airplanes or first class is where I felt the reporter was going too far in his quest.
As a nurse, I can see both sides of the debate. I do feel compelled to mention though that meltdowns can happen at any age, not just 3 years and under. I have had to crawl under many a table, chair, etc. to get to a child not just under the age of 3. I have also seen those same kids throw fits in an airplane because of not getting what they want or for being overtired.
You can be miserable on any flight at anytime and it isn't always a child causing that misery :)
This all reminds me of Bill Cosby's Jeffery on the airplane. From Cosby Himself.
I was on a flight where a three year old cried and carried on for the two hours. Thank God it was a short flight. I felt sorry for the other passangers that paid more to sit in first class to have a child screaming the whole flight.
Most parents can occupy their child. I traveled with my three when they were young. NO problem. We took crayons, books and age appropiate things to play with during the flight.
As long as there are children there will always be the chance of a child crying on a flight. Just part of life. It shouldn't matter where they sit. It is their parents choice first class or coach. They should not be allowed to lay on the floor that is so unsafe. Sit where you may but they have to sit.
WOW! Banning kids from planes! You've got to be kidding me! It sounds like some kind of socialist agenda that the Obama administration would endorse. I don't think that whoever proposed this absurd idea completely realizes the true ramifications of this idea. Not only would family travel come to a complete halt in a recession (which would have a huge impact on our economy),but what about the trillion other reasons. I guess children with cancer can only choose treatment options within driving distance and children that need to visit out of state family are just stuck. What a proposterous idea! It is so stupid that I cant believe the idea has even been proposed in the first place.
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