Your say: Mother and talkative toddler booted off flight
Continental Airlines is investigating an incident, where a young mother and her toddler were kicked off a flight because he kept talking. The woman says a flight attendant on-board was out of line when suggested she shut the baby up and drug him so he would stay quiet.
This story has generated a lot of talk. What do you think about the incident?
This story has generated a lot of talk. What do you think about the incident?
posted by bwhitney at
1:36 PM
137 Comments:
Bye, bye flight attendant!
I believe that it happened just as the mother described. Airlines now have the rudest and meanest people working for them. I personally have experienced it with my toddler in tow. I hope that lady sues the airline and gets a ton of money. And I hope Continental is made an example of so other airlines stop the insanity. a
It is time to treat parent of loud and unruly children like we treat smokers. Put them in a special section away from the adults. Child free adults don't want to be bothered by loud obnoxious booger eating kids any more than non-smokers want to choker on smokers smog. How many times has a dinner or movie out been spoiled by self absorbed parents who believe the world revolves around them and their noisy offspring??
I will not fly Continental until I see the public apology to Mrs. Penland and son.
Depends upon what measures the mom was taking to quiet the child and how long it had been going on.If she was just ignoring him or not attempting to keep what his noise might have been doing to the other passengers, the approprite measures were taken.
After just enduring a 12 hour international flight on what appeared to be a "pre-school" plane I say thanks to the flight attendant on behalf of the rest of us who don't find obnoxious behavior "cute".
I feel that she paid her money for the tickets. The flight attendent was way out of line. Kids will be kids. I have a three year old that talks non-stop, and in no shape or form would I drug him to stay quiet. That is a bunch of crap and the flight attendent should be fired.
Based on what is said in this story, I think this flight attendant needs to lighten up. It doesn't sound like the child was screaming, crying or otherwise exhibiting what I would consider disruptive behaviour. You cannot expect a young child to not talk during the course of a flight. The staff need to understand that at that age, their conversational skills are going to be limited. Unlike previous stories where disruptive children would not allow themselves to be buckled in by way of throwing tantrums, this child and his Mother did nothing wrong. Unless he was exceptionally loud and yelling "Bye-bye plane", I think the attendant needed to let this one go.
First I have to believe there is more to this story and I'd like to hear what the airlines says in response. Second, what kind of mother travels without an extra diaper or anything for the child to drink? I don't even have kids and I'd be smart enough to do that! What, they threw her off without letting her get her carry on bag? Let's see how this pans out.
I would have to believe the mother's story. Clearly other passengers have backed her up. It sounds like the flight attendant over stepped her bounds with her authority to return a plane to a gate. Continental is a good airline and I expect them to handle this appropriately by disciplining the flight attendant and offering a free flight anywhere to the mother. I would love to see how this attendant would handle my autistic son!
Based on what other passenger's said he was not really being distruptive. The flight attendant should be relieved of her duties if she is suggesting that she should give him Benadryl to make him sleep. I do think parents need to control their kids better. Who is the adult? Parents need to take control back!!!
They should have gave them parachuttes and pushed them off. Babies should be put to sleep with medication on planes. It's so annoying. I don't have kids for a reason.
I think the flight attendant was having a bad day and took it out on a customer who did nothing wrong.
If what was reported was correct, the flight attendant lied to the pilot making a potentially serious allegation that could have resulted in a far worse situation than just being removed from the plane. The customer could have been arrested. The flight attendant CLEARLY abused her authority and cannot be trusted to use good judgment and should be fired and Continental should make some kind of reasonable restitution to the customer for the delay in her travel plans.
When I fly, I used to always flew Continental. But, recently I had a few flight delays which Continental handled very poorly and then add this and another incident involving small children that I strongly disagree with -- needless to say, I choose to show my displeasure by no longer flying continental.
K
The one thing missing from this story is how long the child was saying the words. If I read right this incident happend in the time between when the plane left the gate and when the flight attendant finished the safety speech which is maybe two minutes. If thats really all there was, this flight attendant was in the wrong. And if she made false accusations about threats being made, she needs to be fired, you can't cry wolf on things like that anymore.
Unbelievable. If that was me flying with my child, I would have looked into that stewardess' eyes and said "If you want to remove us, I'll give you a good reason to remove us". And for the people who are saying she did a good thing because they don't like children, maybe you should take private transportation where you can control your surroundings. As I read this story, it's not like they were 3 hours in and the kid was going non-stop. The plane hadn't even taken off yet!
Bye, bye plane? Big deal. The last flight I was on an 18/20 month old screamed at the top of her lungs, "my mommie" for 1 hour straight (the length of the flight). Yes, we all wanted to strangle the girl but most of us realized that some kids are obnoxious. Although I wanted to suggest Valerian Root for the parents next flight I decided against it. btw, the flight attendants didn't say a word - it wasn't their place to.
I have taken six flights with this aircarrier in my life and my experience with Continental has been completely negative. I believe this has happened. I understand that there are annoying things on airplanes and children can get out of line and unruly. But from the way this sounds, the kid was just being cute and not bothering anyone except the attendant ( like I said before, I have never had a good experience with continental air attendants). The key to this story is that the passangers were all taking the mother's side. That baby was not out of line. Continental should be sued for all its worth to stop this nonsense.
It's a "she said", "she said" situation.
I'm sure there is a lot more to all of this.
There are usually two sides to every story, but it sounds like the child was being a child--not a brat. I didn't think that you were allowed to take liquids on a plane anymore, but maybe I'm wrong. Seems that the flight attendant could have offered something! Maybe Mom didn't plan too well, but to turn the plane around?? Come on!
wow - people really get set-off by children.
a cliche that needs repeating, "we were all children once."
it's a sad statement on our society when people condemn parents for loud children (and all children are loud from time to time - no need to drug them or shame them), or when people want to be in "child free" areas.
our society too often excludes children (and the elderly) from participation. it's very unhealthy for everyone involved (even if to do otherwise would inconvenience the self-described "voluntarily childless" and such).
yo,
tom in minneapolis
To the wiseguy and other people who agree with the flight attendant: We are sick of listening to you and your stupid stories while we are flying. We are tired of having to listen to you business phone calls where you speak at full volume and that you absolutely must make the very moment a plane lands as though the world will end if you don't. We are sick of you jumping out of your seats the very second a plane lands and knocking over everyone in sight so that you who is of such importance may deplane. If you don't want to be around other passengers fly first class, fly a plane yourself, rent your own or shut up. You feel that you have such superior manners when it is people like yourself who make our flights a misery. Last time I checked money is green and all spends the same. I have no children but if I had to pay full price for one you bet your butt they would be entitled to the same rights as other adult passengers.
Wiseguy, you sound like an idiot. How are you going to compare children to smokers. Your child free? So that means you have no children you can mess up with that cold hearted attitude. Don't forget you once was a booger eating kid, running all over the place driving your parents mad. People like this person and the airline attendant show where this country is going. I hope the mother sues and gets money!
That is crazy. I have a 20 month old and I am planning on traveling in the next 3 weeks via Continental for a vacation I sure hope that I don't have the same problem this mother did. Granted toddlers/kids like to talk they are just little people, give the poor mother a break!!
So what if the baby talks. Was he running up and down the aisles? That flight attendant needs a new job!
The Mother and child were not doing anything wrong, the child was just starting to talk and found it interesting but didnt bother anyone and the Flight attendant should know better to leave them alone and the mother said he was about to fall asleep soon...My guts that the flight attendant was having a bad day and taking it out on the mother....She ought to be fired for falseify the authority on the plane.
If people choose to fly with their babies and toddlers, they MUST accept responsibility for their childrens' behavior. It's not okay for parents to let kids scream, shout, cry, kick seats, scramble over other passengers, etc, especially using the excuse that nothing more can be expected of children that age. This mom showed her contempt for her fellow passengers when she said she wasn't going to medicate her son just so everyone could have a pleasant flight. Sorry lady, if you can't control your son, he doesn't belong on a plane. Take a car until he's old enough to behave himself.
Comment to Anonymous who posted at 2:13:
I've read a few more news articles on this story, and as it turns out, this flight had been delayed 11 hours.
So before you start judging this parent with comments like "what kind of a mother travels without a diaper or anything for the kid to drink?" you might want to consider the the fact that she likely had extra diapers and drinks to start out with, but would have undoubtedly gone through them all during the course of an 11 hour delay. Also keep in mind that you are only allowed a small carry-on, which limit the amount of supplies she could bring with he in the first place.
Also, once you have passed security and are at your departure gate, you have very little to choose from in terms of what you can purchase. I doubt that there's a drug store or grocery store at the departure gate, where she could have bought more diapers for her child.
Sure, you maybe didn't know about the delay when posted your comment, but it sure seems that there are a lot of people who are so quick to judge and criticize before knowing all the facts.
I believe a couple of things have come into play here. 1) Flight attendants have become rude, but not all of them. 2) Parents have become more relaxed in their discipline - I can remember many times my husband and I taking our children to a restaraunt or on a plane and eyes would roll. After a flight or a dinner out, we would receive compliments on how well behaved our children are. 3) We have turned into a "me" society. My questions is: Did anyone offer to help the young mother? I doubt it...because I am sure it was easier to complain and just kick her off the plane. That being said...I also hope the mother did her part by telling the child to be quiet and respect that others were traveling and may not want to hear a child screaming. I also experienced an incident on a plane where our meals had just been served and this woman in the seat across the aisle decided to "change her babies diaper". The flight attendant asked her nicely to please bring the child to the back of the plane because the food had just been served and out of respect for the other passengers. This mother through a fit on the airplane told the flight attendant that she was going to report her for her rudeness and "unprofessional" behavior. My husband and I gave the Flight attendant our names and address just in case this mother complained. A month later we received a letter from the Flight attendant asking us to please submit a letter to the airlines because she was under an "internal investigation". So...before we all judge the airline or the mother...I believe both sides should share the stories and the truth will be somewhere in between.
Those who sympathize with the mother and her over indulged baby assume the high moral ground. ‘Kids will be kids’ and all those excuses are intended to absolve bad parenting and expect acceptance from everybody. That’s nonsense on stilts and the stewardess was brave to challenge the (incorrect) convention wisdom. BRAVO
Fly with Hawaiian Airlines or Air New Zealand...they've got the nicest people working for them.
That flight attendant was so wrong. How do you tell a parent on the first try to shut her child up? It sounds like her son was just talking..not yelling.
And for those children bug on a flight...go first class or get yourself BOSE headphones. Children are people too!
I do believe when children are real loud and restless that parents should take an iniative to try and quiet the child down, walk with them, whatever it takes so as not to bother other passengers, however, kids will be kids. They are not machines and for those of you that obviously don't have kids, you need to try to have a little compassion. Saying you find kids behavior obnoxious might be true, but without them our world would end. Toddlers are not smokers or any other classification you want to put them in. They are kids, bottom line. From the outside it seems easy to discipline children, but no one has any place to say anything derogatory unless they have walked in those shoes. Parenting is a job. Is your job always easy? Even if the mother was making no attempt at quieting the child, I think the flight attendant was out of line by choosing the words as she did and getting the family kicked off. If the story is how the mother and other passengers portray it, I would hope she gets fired and I believe Continental not only owes this lady at the least a free ticket, but also owes the public an apology. This is ridiculous. And for those of you that hate riding with kids, maybe they'll come out with flights that won't allow children and come with a hefty price tag. I would hope you never get to experience the joy of having children, because obviously you couldn't appreciate the little things.
I do believe when children are real loud and restless that parents should take an iniative to try and quiet the child down, walk with them, whatever it takes so as not to bother other passengers, however, kids will be kids. They are not machines and for those of you that obviously don't have kids, you need to try to have a little compassion. Saying you find kids behavior obnoxious might be true, but without them our world would end. Toddlers are not smokers or any other classification you want to put them in. They are kids, bottom line. From the outside it seems easy to discipline children, but know one has any place to say anything derogatory unless they have walked in those shoes. Parenting is a job. Is your job always easy? Even if the mother was making no attempt at quieting the child, I think the flight attendant was out of line by choosing the words as she did and getting the family kicked off. If the story is how the mother and other passengers portrait it, I would hope she gets fired and I believe Continental not only owes this lady at the least a free ticket, but also owes the public an apology. This is ridiculous. And for those of you that hate riding with kids, maybe they'll come out with flights that won't allow children with a hefty price tag. I would hope you never get to experience the joy of having children, because obviously you couldn't appreciate the little things.
I guess airlines have so much business they don't need to sell tickets to people with children. Hmmm
What high moral ground are you talking about??? What did this kid do wrong?
Last time I flew, I didn't see any "Children Shall be Seen and Not Heard Signs".
Quit being so selfish.
That flight attendant should be removed permanantly!! That was rude and uncalled for. It seems to me that the little boy was talking. I would prefer to hear a little one talking and not screaming and crying.
Anyone who is sticking up for this Flight Attendant, obviously doesn't have children or doesn't believe in Free Speech. We are still in the USA, which means free speech no matter how old or how young you are. The Flight Attendant needs fired and charged with attempted child abuse for even suggesting that the mother sedate the child and the mother needs to at least be reimbursed for anything extra she had to endure during those horrible couple days.
I Think it is terrible!! For those of you that think it was a good thing that she was kicked off, shame on you. She paid the price of the ticket the toddler can talk if he wants. Just like if soemone is sitting next to you and wants to know your life story and your busines, Then the same standards should apply to talkative adults.
I have to say first that Johanna's comment, "Bye, bye flight attendant!" was Hi-lar-i-ous!
Secondly, I cannot believe that this woman got on and then off of the plane without a baby bag that should have contained juice, milk, snacks, wipes, diapers, etc.
I can't handle loud cellphone users, loud talkers in general or loud teenagers and children in any confined situation such as a bus, train, waiting room, plane, or restaurant. There is a commuter train in my city that has "quiet cars." If you're in that car, you shut up and don't take any calls. Granted, it's a little more difficult on a plane, but maybe they should consider the idea.
Come on, people. If you hate kids, then don't fly on airplanes. In fact, you may want to rethink going out to public places, period. Simple as that. If kids are going to be sectioned off on flights, then heck, let's make a special seating area for people with halitosis, B.O., and obesity while we're at it!
As the parent of a somewhat talkative child I know how to silence my child without drugs. Ms. Penland should be getting free air travel to the destinations of her choice (regardless if the airline files there or not) for the remainder of their lives. This child wasn't out of control. My child isn't the center of the universe and neither are you. Get over yourself, put your iPod earbuds back in and go back to your book or newspaper. Are you really that inconvenienced by a little boy talking? Are you really that thin skinned? The engines on the airplane make more noise in the cabin than that boy could are you going to ask the airline to turn them down too? You narcissistic clowns should really consider if you're really qualified to wear the label of adult.
parents always think their "little bundles of joy" are (or should be) the delight of everyone and the center of attention.
Clearly, you've never sat in front of one on a flight.
I think airlines need to do what movie theaters have done .. have "no children" flights before/after a certian time so the rest of us can fly in peace.
(oh .. and children's benadryl does work wonders)
I'll bet that there's more to the story than the mother is telling.
C'mon folks; read the actual article. All the info you need is there.
1) NO OTHER passengers had complained. ONLY the F/A was bothered by the child.
2) There is NO INDICATION that the child was yelling; just repeating the phrase "Bye Bye, plane"
3) As someone said earlier, after ELEVEN HOURS in the terminal, it would be EASY to run out of supplies.
4) We carry eight diapers in our bag at all times; it would be VERY possible to go through all of them in eleven hours. Not likely, but possible.
5) Milk and juice cannot be brought through security, so these MUST be purchased INSIDE security, often for outlandish prices. And NO ONE sells whole milk, which is what you always feed a child between one and two. I've had to buy milk in RDU, PHX, LAX, SJO, & LAS. IN not one of them did I find whole milk.
6) To anonymous @ 2:18 who said, "Babies should be put to sleep with medication on planes. Shut up, neanderthal. We'll let you out of your cage when you learn to behave.
7) To anonymous @ 2:48 who said, "This mom showed her contempt for her fellow passengers when she said she wasn't going to medicate her son just so everyone could have a pleasant flight. Please don't comment again until you become literate. The article says NOTHING about her annoying the other passengers; indeed, they took HER side. Until you learn to read, you ride in the luggage hold.
8) My wife and I flew with our 13 month old two weeks ago, 6 legs of flights total. Our son was good for the most part, but he got restless sometimes. I was extremely grateful that we ended up sitting next to other pax who were parents themselves, or at least had the human decency to try to empathize.
9) We flew Southwest, and the F/As were stellar: treated our son like a little king.
10) For all the rest of you arrogant, self-centered boneheads who think the world revolves solely around you, either buy tix for F class, or GO GREYHOUND.
the other passengers should be interviewed, if the stories coincide, then the flight attendant should be fired
Kick both biotchy broads off and let the kid stay.
First of All I hope this flight attendant gets fired. She should be lucky that the lady didn't tell her where to stick it.
Secondly, it seems like parents are dang if you do and dang if you don't because the snobby people that doesn't have children because they can't stand children and complain when the children are too loud but yet the second that you go to correct the child(Talking about scoulding and not spanking),these same people are claiming child abuse. And all's that it comes down to is that these people just wants something to complain about because if they don't complain about something then they aren't happy. These same snobby people needs to take a step back into time and remember that they were once children too and they prob acted the same exact way because ALL children do. And if they claim that they don't, it's all because they just don't remember it. No matter where you go, there will be children.
And to those people that's all for druging a child. What kind of people are you. Do you abuse drugs? because Benadryl is for allergies and for colds and should not be used for no reason. How ignorant is that to think that it's ok to drug up children when it's not a medical condition just to please the snobby people. Get Real!
Where is the other side of the story? Seeing as it costs the airlines money to return a plane to the gate, to make that decision, there has to be more than what we are only hearing from the mother. Have your opinion, but be realistic that you are only getting oneside of the story.
I once was stuck on a plane in front of three children. Two were about 8, and both of them were kicking the chairs. The last one was five, and she kept saying "Mommy! Mommy!" over and over. I turned around and asked her if she could please stop her kids from kicking the chairs. I was getting annoyed, and the passenger next to me who I didn't know was trying to sleep, and kept throwing me "oh my God" glances. The mom said "yeah sure" then she went back to reading her book. I asked her again and she said "Look, they're kids, I can't do anything about this. If you don't like it, move."
So, fed up, I took out my cell phone and pretended to dial a number. I started to curse into the cell phone, loud enough for them to hear me. I talked for quite a bit, using as much foul language as possible. Of course the mom didn't want her kids to be exposed to that, so she called the airline attendant over and asked to have me moved. But the airline attendant said that I was doing nothing wrong, and she offered to move the mother and her children..and she did. The passenger next to me grinned and gave me a high five, and the rest of our trip was relaxing. Best strategy I ever came up with, and I intend to use it every time I come in contact with a bratty little kid on an airplane.
Oh my. Some of you obviously did not read the facts. The baby was not screaming, he was just saying "bye-bye plane". I would have found that cute, not annoying.
I dont have children as of yet, but I plan to. And if I was treated that way i would be offended. Believe me i have been on a plane with children. And sure it can get irritating, but you just have to remember you were that age at one point in life.
Patience, some people need to develop that. If you don't want to be by kids or listen to them get some sunglasses and ear plugs.
The baby Benadryl comment is where she crossed the line. I understand the flight attendant wanting to quiet down the kid, but even joking about drugging a kid is language that does not belong on a plane, especially from a flight attendant. I would have responded that the flight attendant needs Xanax had I been that mom.
I hope she is fired. It's one thing to exercise free speech, and another thing to fail your passengers so grossly.
I agree 100% with Wiseguy.
There's a middle ground here. There are times when ejecting a family with uncontrollable children is called for,like the toddler who wouldn't sit still in her seat during takeoff.
All the attendant had to say was, "Ma'am, I need to ask you to keep your child quiet out of consideration for the other passengers and also because it's a security issue. If I can help you with anything, please let me know."
Suggesting HOW to discipline a passenger's child or bringing up drugs (and what made her think the mom HAD "baby Benadryl" with her?) is uncalled for.
The flight attendant needs to take a vacation. "Bye Bye Plane" from a two year old -- with no pasengers complaining? That is nothing. The only time I support an airline questioning whether or not a child should fly is when that child is obviously ill. I once observed a very young couple about to board a plane for a cross country flight with a baby who alternated between screaming and then going limp. Some of us informed the airline and they asked if the baby was sick. The Mom replied,"Yes, he has an ear infection but we saw the doctor this morning and picked up a prescription on the way to the airport." The airline then asked if the doctor had okayed the baby to fly. The Mother said, "We didn't tell him that we were flying today." The airline refused to board the family - and they were absolutely right. A baby with an ear infection on plane about to fly at over 25,000 feet??!!! These parents were upset because they were flying to Disneyland.
The pressure these airline employees are under must be tremendous, instead of dogging them out, complaining about their rudeness, why passengers can't just accept the facts, our country CANNOT be sure anyone is who they claim to be! This parent should have taken appropriate measures to keep the child quiet, people tend to be over-indulgent with their kids, i don't have the time nor effort or energy to type out all the incidences we've been thru in stores, movie theatres, so many public places with rude little children who's parents stand there and gaze lovingly upon their offspring while the kids spew hate and disrespect to whoever is standing in front or even in back of them, i myself am the parent of 2 children, and my own have tugged on my arm and whisper to me" Why are those kids being so mean/bad, etc etc etc"...Now if other kids notice, whats that tell you??
There's 2 sides to every story. So far, this story only mostly one side--the mother's. In this day and age after 9/11, everyone is responsible for modifying their behavior in how they act, what they say and how they respond. The child might have been just babbling but the mother knew the age we live in and the manner of behavior of the response that could potentially get one thrown off of an airline.
If it was going to happen, it was better that it happened before the plane took off.
As someone who doesn't have children, I try to be tolerable of babbling, crying and even screaming. But at some point, enough is enough even if it is just babbling "Bye, Bye Plane". If I had been on the plane, my money for my ticket should have given me the right to have a quietm stress free flight just as much as the mother's money for the ticket gave her the right to journey with the child on board. This doesn't mean there is a need for "baby Benedryl".
Like I said, though, most of this story is the mother's side...the other side of the story really hasn't been quantified.
I work in the airline industry and have spent a lot of time flying. Most FA's are really decent people and understand the stress parents endure traveling with children, especially after enduring a long delay like this lady and her son suffered through before boarding the incident flight. This FA sounds like one of the few nasty ones that are out there and from my experience, if her company investigates and finds wrong-doing on her part, they'll definetly discipline her. Heck, if the FA did behave as badly as has been reported, she's probably a repeat offender who is one of those problem employees that most companies dream of getting rid of but don't have a strong enough case to avoid a wrongful termination suit.
Maybe the company just got lucky.
There are two sides to every story. And we have not heard from other passengers collaborating her story.
My guess is she was wrong and was too lazy to discipline her child. You see it allot these days. I have three children and they know how how to behave in church, the store, in a restaurant and on a plane.
I completely agree with Wiseguy. I m really tired of self-centered parents excusing their self-centered children's bad behavior as 'cute' or 'just being a kid', or saying that people who are offended by their obnoxiousness 'hate kids'. That is complete bs. Teach your child some manners, respect for other people, and how to act in public and these types of situations wouldn't arise. Or better yet, rent a car for your travel needs until your child is old enough to behave properly when flying. The same goes for eating out at restaurants, going to the movies, or any other activity where a certain behavior is expected and appreciated.
Unbelievable! I think the flight attendant should get fired. and to suggest that the mother give her child meds to sleep and shut him up when the child isn't even sick. I wonder what she does with her own children if she has any. I want to see a public apology before I EVER fly Continental again. What is wrong with Flight attendants thease days if you cant stand a child talking then get a different job!
WoW!!! Drug your kids, throw them off the plain. I must have missed your names on the parent of the year awards listing. And people ask what is wrong with this world, just read some of these posts.
There are two sides to every story...mostly there's only been one side of the story reported--the mother's side. The only thing really reported from the stance of the flight attendant is "baby Benedryl".
In this day post 9/11, most adults know that behavior on an aircraft is pretty much cut & dry and you modify your behavior on the aircraft appropriately. The baby may have been babbling "Bye, Bye Plane" but the mother should have know when to interact with the child to divert the attention to something else and certainly, the mother should have known that reacting in such a manner would have airline consequences. Airlines and the FAA are so strict and tight on rules, that one has to make strides to keep themselves in check and their actions & reactions. It's lucky for those on the aircraft that the incident didn't happen after taken off where the plane would have had to be diverted for an unexpected landing. That would have caused a seriously delay and tardiness for all on board.
I'm sorry she was without diapers, food, milk, juice but Mom was an adult and should have been aware of the times we live in to appropriately conduct her behavior & response.
This may not be the case in this instance, but in today's society the parenting skills for some parents are sorely lacking. They go about their lives and let kids pacify themselves or idle their own time away.
As a person who doesn't have children, I try to overlook the babbling, the crying, the screaming, the moving around that kids do. But at some point in a confined place on a long journey, it gets to a point where enough is enough. My money that purchased the ticket is just as much of quality for a pleasant, peaceful flight as the mother's money that purchased her ticket that gave her the right to have the baby/toddler on board during the trip.
I wasn't there, I haven't heard the attendant's side...therefore I wouldn't chose to boycott Continental Airlines.
DID THE FLIGHT ATTENDENT HAVE A ROUGH NIGHT? The plane was still taxiing. I have flown 30 years ago with my children that were that age. Children are anxious, parents get nervous. It sounds to me like he was looking out the window like any other passenger (children & adults) and was telling them bye. What a shame to tell her to drug her child!
I cannot believe that she would say something like that to the mother. If the child was screaming and crying and others were complaining, I could see them handling it a better way. But the child was just being a kid.. I think they owe the mother more than an apology. I agree..bye bye flight attendant!
I have to wonder how many people on any given plane would be willing to turn the other way if a parent had to spank a kid acting up to get it's attention. I bet the same people that gripe about kids are the same ones that would call child services.
I'm sure there is more to the story. Of course the mother is going to say the child did nothing wrong, isn't that what all parents say when their little angel is bad? Parents need to get control of their children. If a child can't sit still and behave for the duration of the flight then maybe you should drive to your destination.
I think most of the people who say "control your kids" must not have them. While I agree that many parents are lax these days, this is a TODDLER. A 19-month old toddler. I don't have experience with a 19-month old, but I do a 16 month-old. He doesn't speak words yet and he just doesn't understand "SHHH".
After an 11-hour delay...my last trip the airline lost my bag. I am lucky that there were several nice folks on the plane that helped out, both getting on and off the plane but also keeping him entertained. Not necessary, but nice. Hey, I paid $444 each for my ticket and for his. Deal with it.
Also, I think it would be ok to have a "child section" of a plane...oh wait, it's called First Class.
And for the record, whenever I fly with my son I take a handful of earplugs & offer them to the folks nearby. Haven't needed them yet.
This may apply: the only person who thinks your child is "cute" (and well-behaved) is you! The flight attendant had a bad day, and the passengers on the flight had had one as well, so there may have been a lot more to the story than what we heard. After having raised two children, who often flew international flights with us and also having worked in various public service positions, I am well aware that there are parents who thinks their children's continuous talking, touching of everything in sight, and hitting of furniture is OK. Well folks, it is not! Children should be taught to respect others, play by themselves, and consider their actions. Even a toddler is capable of learning this.
I heard that Cont. Air lines is banning women from planes. It's about time. If that would have been the case, none of this would have happened. Women complain, that's life. Flight attendant complains, passenger complains, news complains, you ladies complain. blablahblah.
What's next, a women for president? Hilary would have grounded all air craft for this, mean while GW has agreed that women shouldn't drive or fly or walk.
i think that it was uncalled for by the attendant to make any comments. i have been on flights where the people around me are talking away on their cell phones and you dont see anyone saying anything to them and that at times can be annoying. i hope that continental will give a formal apology to the mother and compensate her for the trouble they caused her.
It's funny how fast a plane can make it back to the gate on the word of a rube for a flight attendant.
As long a the child was not expelling blood curdling screams or kicking the back of the seat, this flight atrtendant was way out of line.
I have grown to liking to sit near the wings the noise of the engines drown out cabbin noise and is somewhat relaxing.
1. My 3 year-old flies first class because his father and I fly first class. If you don't like it, YOU find an alternate way to travel. Children are people and all people--regardless of age--are protected by the Constitution, generally, and the interstante commerce caluse specifically.
2. A talkative toddler is far less bothersome to most travelers than a person with BO, with too much perfume ot cologne, with bad breath or wh osi so overweight as to require two seats, though they pay for only one, or the mentally retarded who drool, mutter and grope inappropriately in flight (yes, I've had this misfortune and simply asked to have my seat changed).
3. If you think it's annoying to hear a kid talk, by all means, complain to the flight attendant. I will tell her--and you--that if you'd prefer, I can let him cry or scream for the remainder of the flight.
4. You are a pathetic excuse for a human being is genuine exuberance of a young person at the marvel of flying. When's the last time you stopped to notice what an incredible thing it is that 200 tons of steel can stay aloft one mile in the sky. Kids appreciate these things, and periodcally we'd all benefit to take a lesson from them.
I CERTAINLY hope that the flight attendant in question is dismissed immediately. Her nasty comments and disposition are hardly an asset to the airline. If she spoke to me on the street that way, there might have been a tussle.Antagonistic behavior toward a passenger should be cause for termination.
If the woman had tried to correct or discipline the child it would have been child abuse. Is it better to drug our children? I can think of flights where some of the adults should have been drugged, in that case.
I once took a trans-atlantic flight with my daughter when she was less then 2 years old. she slept most of the flight - but woke up scared and started screaming. I immediately took her to the loo, so that I could calm her away from the other passengers and so that she wouldnt see all those strangers staring at her. It was a traumatic experience for her but we all got through it. I am sure there are those who would have liked to throw my daughter off the plane. Many of the adults had slept through the flight too.
I believe there is too much focus on control of others. And too many people who are sure they have all the answers to other's situations. And please make sure you arent the first to cast the stone, unless you are perfect. And I am sure there are many who think they are perfect.
Selfish selfish woman. Her babbling, out of control child should have been kicked off the plane. I have no patience for these self-centered breeders. I hope the next plane she gets on has an emergency and no one will know what to do because the couldn't hear the flight attendants instructions.
My question is will I have to supply my own drugs for my children or will Continental be supplying them? I called and asked (800.932.2732) but could not get an answer.
think to yourselves how much different this story would be if the kid was saying "bomb on plane" instead of "bye bye plane".
We also only have one side of the story .. almost certianly slanted .. from the parent (who invariably see all noises from children as joyful)
holy crap I can't believe some of the posts on here!!!! I knew there were rude people that hate children out there but man!!! it is a shame that you can't travel with your child in tow without ignorant rude obnoxious people. At least if the baby was being loud he was just a baby. I worry about the people that are so aggrivated by children....hope they don't have any! We were all kids at one point and I am sorry but kids are going to do things, they don't always listen regardless of the measures taken by the parent....it isn't like you can take the baby out of the area so he doesn't disturb people when you are flying you should expect some kids!! Get over it!!! the flight attendant needs fired!
I was recently on a flight to St. Louis where I had an obnoxious kid behind me and in front of me. Neither set of parents brought anything for their kids to do - no books, crayons, toys - nothing. The one behind me in particular did nothing but scream, yell, be ridiculously loud, cry, etc. I tried to shush him up - he was about 4 or so and should know better than to make so much noise (I could still hear him over my ipod turned all the way up). This was non-stop for the whole trip. When I tried to shush him when he'd get overly boisterous, he would say "Don't say that at me!!!" I even offered him a dollar if he'd simply be quiet for 5 min. Meanwhile, mom did nothing. Other passengers found him obnoxious, too. But still the mom (very pregnant - she can't handle 1 - how can she handle a 2nd??) would not do anything to quiet her kid. All he needed was a stern "no" from his mom. It's a reflection of our society when parents can't/don't discipline their children. No wonder there's so much crime these days! Our kids aren't taught to respect others in any way shape or form. I think the flight attendent could have used a better tactic, but if that child was anything like this one on my flt to St. Louis (also CO airlines), perhaps it was in fact warranted.
How many of you that take the mom's side would have been annoyed if "bye bye plane" would have been uttered repeadily for two minutes by a mentally challenged teen or adult? Would you also think that's "cute" or would you have silently wished that person would shut up?
Medication given by mouth takes at minimum 30 minutes to work. The flight attendant, with attitude already displayed, would not have been satisfied with that delay. My sympathy is entirely with the mother in this matter.
I may be prejudiced. My two year old daughter was killed on her second birthday by a drunk driver, and I was first responding unit on scene. I would give all I have to hear my child say "Bye bye plane."
If the flight attendent is that annoyed by a child or anyone else for that matter, then she needs to find a new job. If you don't have a tolerence for children or people then you shouldn't be in a position to serve the public. As far as this whole story goes this flight attended needs to be fired. I believe this mother. I have been on numerous flights where the flight attendents have been extremely rude, but making comments about other passenger while passing out snacks and drinks. Not to mention are rude right to the passengers. With the new rules and security measures in place since 911, the flight attends think they can treat people rude because if the passenger reacts back they can just have them thrown off the plane. My question would be, why didn't the pilot get both side of the situation before turning around. The other passengers would have been able to help prove the flight attendent was out of line. I hope she sues just to prove a point.
The mother is the only one talknig to the press, so this story could be very one-sided. The flight attendant may have asked her previously to quiet her child, she may have exaggerated the comments the flight attendant made because she is angry, and although some other customers supported her, there may have been others who complained. The other thing is I have been on flights that spent a great deal of time waiting to take off after pulling away frm the gate, this may have been escalating for a while before the plane turned around. Maybe the airline was right, or maybe they were wrong, but clearly we don't have all the information yet so lets not be too hasty in our judgements until all the facts are revealed.
If none of the passengers were complaining (and in fact seem to be taking the mother's side), then I doubt that the boy was being "loud and unruly," or "obnoxious," and I doubt that the mother wasn't "controlling" her son.
I am also interested in hearing the airline's side of the story, because of course they will try to act like it was no big deal, calling it a "misunderstanding" and expressing their "deepest apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused" and I'm sure throw in a "the situation has been handled" line of crap.
This flight attendant should be fired immediately. I find it unacceptable to suggest to a mother that she DRUG her child to shut him up, and even worse that she made a false accusation to the pilot that the mother threatened her. I also think that EVERYONE on the flight should receive a refund since the flight attendant's lie caused everyone further delay since they had to take time to kick this poor woman and her son off the plane. I hope she sues, I sure would.
Ridiculous!!! I believe that everything happened just like the mother stated. I have a 17 month old son who has a bubbly personality himself, just loves to talk. If he is not doing anything to hurt himself or someone else why would he have to be quiet, he has just as much right to talk as anyone else, whether or not you understand. He shouldn't be punished for being outgoing!! And the fact she even mentioned to drug him up like he has some sort of problem, is infuriating to me. If it was such a problem for her maybe she should of taken some and it would not have bothered her so much. I hope she loses her job for her lack of good judgement.
Just because you have kids doesn't make you a PARENT....think about it...
The flight attendant should be fired..........no doubt about it.
The airline should fire the Flight Attendant and the mother should sue the airline!
All of you anti-children haters should consider putting yourselves to sleep...permanently!
It is hard to believe that so many people are taking such a stance to not fly on another Continental, Continental Express flight without a public apology!
There are ways to get through a flight that is comfortable for everyone. But please believe I do agree with some who also notice that sometimes there are two versions to a story! It may or may not have been just as "the mother" has described! Not just as innocent!!! And the question is did the mom try to accomodate the flight attendant? Did she try to quite her child d