Beware the boot: How parents, kids can fly right

I personally refuse to fly now that I have young children. And I hope that I won't be forced to any point. It was miserable without little ones! At least in the car, if your kid is having a meltdown, you aren't disrupting an entire plane, having to apologize over and over, and risk being booted anyway. That has been my choice. But I do believe the airlines are seriously lacking in service, especially to those with special needs. This would include families with young children, elderly, and handicapped. (Sorry if I missed any group in there.) I have family that fits into all those categories. Is it totally the airlines fault? I'm not sure. I've watched stewards abuse other passengers, with no call to. I've been verbally abused by them myself, when I truly did nothing wrong and was polite myself. So I think a big part of the problem is lack of composure, patience, and compassion. The very things that Southwest claims those parents were lacking, they themselves often lack. It has to come from sides. When I was young, I remember several flights that were disrupted by unruly passengers, and as long as they didn't get physical, they were aloud to remain. I'm not saying this needs to be the case, I'm just saying that compassion and patience from the crew has seriously declined. I think it's gone too far, to the point of no compassion.

I think that Southwest acted appropriately. They cannot have their online staff in a position where there attention is focused only on one family. I have children and I've traveled with them. I can see the fear in the eyes of the other passengers when we get on the airplane. I also know that it is my responsibility to minimize the disruptions that my children may inflict on my fellow passengers. Whether people like it or not, we all live in the world - with our kids. I had a horrifying experience with my daughter on one flight. I was 6 months pregnant and traveling alone with my three year old. We were traveling for a funeral and had planned the trip at the last minute so could not get seats right next to each other. We did, however, have aisle seats across from one another and she had a movie player. She was quiet, but she was also only three. She would occasionally shift in her seat and from time to time, she bumped the large woman sitting in the middle seat next to her. The woman sitting next to her actually yelled at my daughter and absolutely glared at me. To me, this was a situation where a passenger had an unrealistic expectation that she should not be disturbed at all on a flight. So, in the Southwest case, I completely side with the airline. It was the exeption to the normal situation. Most parents do whatever they can to keep their kids comfortable and entertained on an airplane.

While waiting for a recent Southwest flight I got to see a "charming" little boy climb on the seat backs of other folks waiting for their plane, scream every time a plane landed "Hey look it's our plane!" and pull the airport fire alarm - twice. The whole time this was going on his mother was sitting with her cell phone glued to her ear and doing *nothing* to attempt to control him. It was only when security brought him over the second time he pulled the fire alarm that she looked up from her conversation to say, "He just gets away from me!" The only thing in the way of discipline the boy got from her was, "What did you do??" Guess she missed the fire alarm blaring somehow...
The whole time I kept thinking, "Oh please don't let him be on my plane..." Sure enough, he was. But when he boarded one of the flight attendants said something to him - I almost wonder if they had radioed ahead to the crew to warn them. And I'll never know what she said...if it was a kind word about not being nervous about flying or a subtle threat, but he was quiet the entire flight.
I wish I knew what transpired in that conversation, because whatever it is would probably be a handy trick to know.

BRAVO to Southwest Airlines!! After spending a small fortune to fly FIRST CLASS (won't mention the airline, but they are big in the Dallas area) there was a family flying standby that was put in FIRST CLASS instead of coach, the baby screamed the entire flight, the 2 toddlers ran, jumped, screamed, yelled and threw things - Mama must have been on prozac and daddy was too busy drinking to notice or attempt to control the "children" The entire FIRST CLASS cabin was miserable and was ignored by the flight attendents in favor of "the children"

Southwest is sounding better all the time! Keep it up. I like the idea of suing the family for the cost of the other passengers tickets!!

I have two kids, 2.5 and just about 5 years old. When we travel, my wife and I try to be as prepared as we can, bringing multipe toys, coloring books, everything that our kids enjoy the most, but all of you have to understand that kids like to move around, they like space. On our recent trip from NY to LAmy 2.5 year old got a little cranky 150 miles outside of LA, so what maybe 20 minutes. She cried for all of 3 minutes, literally, after being quiet and making no sound for 4.5 hours. This was a flight arriving to LA at 11PM, so it was 2AM NY time. Two passengers started to say GD kid, before I promptly shut them up by asking if they were born as an adult and of they never were a kid. No, I may have overreacted, but are tyou telling me that those two imbecils that complained about the inflight entertainment not working prior to take off, complaining about why isn't there enough pillows and blankets, etc, right to complain about a 2.5 year olds 3 minute tantrum after 4.5 hours? Who shoudl I sue???

Leave you b*astard kids at home, hire a nanny to travel with them on land, hell- stay at home.........I don't care BUT, don't, for even one moment, think that you have the right to subject those of us who want to travel in as much peace as possible to listening to your offspring's tantrums.

I *EXPECT* my daughter to behave at all times, not just on a plane. She has a moment now and then, but as a parent, it is my responsibility to keep her in line - and if I don't, then I should suffer the consequences along with her.

We flew recently from the deep South to NYC. I received several comments from those sitting around us about how good she behaved (she's 8). I think people expect too little of their children and therefore are not disappointed.

I also think that Southwest acted appropriately. For 13 years, I was an Electrical Engineer working for a major airline flying all over to work on technical issues with computer systems. I have seen behavior form children and parents that would frighten a combat hardened Marine. Toward the end of my career with the airlne (I left 10 years ago) I started seeing an overall change in the behavior of passengers and their children. People were becoming more rude and the children more unruley. I am now a regular traveler for business and see that it gets worse every time I travel. As John said above, I didn't act up ANYWHERE in public else I would suffer the wrath of Father which was only slightly less dangerous than the Wrath of God! I am 56 and I am certain I would not have lived this long had I done something to embarras my parents in public. I think that people need to take responsibility for their and their children's actions.

I also think that Southwest acted appropriately. For 13 years, I was an Electrical Engineer working for a major airline flying all over to work on technical issues with computer systems. I have seen behavior form children and parents that would frighten a combat hardened Marine. Toward the end of my career with the airlne (I left 10 years ago) I started seeing an overall change in the behavior of passengers and their children. People were becoming more rude and the children more unruley. I am now a regular traveler for business and see that it gets worse every time I travel. As John said above, I didn't act up ANYWHERE in public else I would suffer the wrath of Father which was only slightly less dangerous than the Wrath of God! I am 56 and I am certain I would not have lived this long had I done something to embarras my parents in public. I think that people need to take responsibility for their and their children's actions.

Sometime it does not matter what a parents does to keep kids in check, they have minds of there own, (like most of the Adults that completing about them) nothing seems to works, you have days like that.

People just forget what it's like to be a kid. Or they choice to forget!!!!

Southwest was absolutely right. I see no reason for any small child or pregnant woman to be flying on a plane. No vacation/visit/funeral/wedding/reunion is worth risking your pregnancy or torturing your young child and the entire taxi/airport/plane/hotel. When I see these things, I feel sorry of the kids who are stuck with such boobs for parents.

As a well seasoned business traveler (~1.75M program miles on just Delta, let alone the other carriers I use), who raised a family using tons of airline mileage and other programs for family travel/vacation, my kids would never have acted up, as such, and never did!

Why? Because my wife & I adopted the philosophy, even before starting our family, that it was 'our' responsibility to raise 'our' children to be good, productive, responsible, respectful citizens. We were to be their mentors, guides, teachers, examples, and protectors, etc… their Parents!!

I side with SW airlines on this. IMHO, they did the appropriate thing in booting the unruly, disruptive family that apparently lacked any semblance of responsible adult supervision. It's obvious that the mother and father were not 'parents' in any sense of the word, let alone mature and responsible adults themselves.

I wish more airlines, parks, malls and other shopping/entertainment/vacation venues would do the more of the same. Boot'em and Ban'em. Then share the list!

Sheesh!

Metal, well said. i wish more of society had your views

We just retired from 24 years of Air Force service, both of us active duty. Our children are seasoned travelers, and as a child of Air Force parents myself, I was taught at a very early age how to behave while traveling. I do think that parents with newborns and infants need to think twice before traveling in our cramped, bad customer service ridden airlines, in general people are already unhappy with the long lines, prices, services and crowded seats, not ready to sit there listening to an infant wail during the flight. We made sure we had all the things recommended in case our infants cried in discomfort, but even then, sometimes they were not happy, not much more we could do, that to me is different than the toddlers, pre-schoolers and older children running around hollering and misbehaving. Having children does not give you the special privilege of automatically receiving unconditional understanding and compassion, toddlers can be disciplined if their parents try, babies on the other hand just do not comprehend yet, so are taking a chance. We flew from Incirlik, Turkey AB with our 6 year old and 3 year old, in third class seating (uncle Sam is cheap), and 90% of our carry on were things for the kids just in case of boredom or discomfort, but overall our kids (not perfectly behaved always), knew better than to disobey. Parents need to understand that their own comfort comes last, they might have to spend the whole flight inconvinienced by their own children. Parents today, rely too much on the "don't they remember when they were children," reasoning, yet when I do I don't remember disobeying and disrespecting my parents as some of children do even in public. Wake up parents! If you won't hold your children and yourselves accountable, some one else will!!!

The parents had a wonderful opportunity to educate their children about the etiquette of air travel. Planes are not mass transit. The Slaughter family had no right to inflict discomfort on the other passengers, and Southwest was correct to protect the interests of the innocent. The parents failed miserably; the adults exhibited coarse, arrogant, self-serving, and rude behavior. Rather than the pregnant sister being 'outraged,' I suggest all courteous flyers be outraged.
Thank you, Southwest, for looking out for other paying passengers ... particularly those who may fly often and be repeat Southwest customers.
I long for the days of higher airfares when air travel was a special occasion, not just another Greyhound road trip ...

I think it should be mandatory that parents of highly unruly kids on planes should be investigated by Child Protective Services when they get to their destination. In this case, the parents did nothing to help the situation and in fact exacerbated it to an intolerable level. That in and of itself is a direct indication that there are serious problems in the home. How sad.

If you must travel with very young kids, you must address the pain they feel in their ears because of the pressure change in the cabin. Many are too young to understand what is happening. You will want to talk to your doctor first, but a dose of antihistimine will ease the pain, and make them sleepy.

When asked how he liked children, WC Fields replied, "boiled or fricaseed".

There is a difference between babies with ear pain and kids entirely out of control. Obviously these children were entirely out of control. I am also tired of the excuses for bad behavior. I have two children who are now young adults and never was worried about traveling with them or taking them to restaurants. Part of parenting includes learning how to behave properly and respectfully in public. And it isn't necessary to beat the kids to accomplish this. As a child I would have been mortified to embarrass my parents because I loved & respected them and because they simply expected no less. Of course all children have "moments" and most adults who see responsible parents "prepared and parenting 100%" are sympathetic, not hostile. Of course there are adults with no tolerance what-so-ever (bad behavior knows no age limit), however given these circumstances I do not believe this was the case and SW acted appropriately.

It is true that overall, society is less tolerant of kids, but even parents themselves seem overwhelmed by being parents. Back in the old days, people had 7 and 8 kids, and yet most did not cause major disrluptions, shoot up schools, disrepect authority, etc. I think kids today are bratty because parents are too obsessed with their own happiness and fulfillment, and have little energy left for the kids. Yes, some folks cant stand kids and get upset over minor incidents cuz they just dont want to deal with young children. However, most of us parents (my daughter is 12) tolerate normal kid behavior. This behavior sounds out of control, not just according to airline staff, but to other passengers as well. A first plane ride is no excuse to act like a complete brat, and I dont blame these kids. It sounds like another classic example of incompetent parenting, and nobody should be subjected to that. Sure, I remember being young and occassinally bratty, but not to the extent many kids are today. I see parents all the time completely ignoring negative behavior, or taking the other extreme and screaming and shouting. Neither approach works, and parents are not calm and in control. Most are not even confident as parents, and kids pick up on this nervousness and dont respect the paretns, the teachers, or other adults. This was the correct decision for SW, and I applaud folks for putting their foot down. The sister needs to take her "outrage" somewhere else.

To John upthread,
I'm as liberal as you can get and that means my children and I are responsible for our behavior and feel compelled to be kind and polite to everyone. Please don't blame politics for bad parenting. I always explain the rules and reasons for behavior such as "If you hit the seat in front of you, it's like hitting the person in the seat so we don't do that." My children never did anything irritating more than one time. We never had the terrible twos and as adolescents, they are fine, thoughtful people.
Unfortunately, a lot of parents aren't doing their job. I dread flying now because rude people tune out and leave their monsters to torture the rest of us.

Southwest rules. They are the only airline with "guts" and no wonder that they are holding up while the other airlines around them are losing billions.

Are you too fat? Buy a second seat.
Are your kids brats? Get off.
Do you dress like a ho? Put on more clothes.

I go out of my way to complement a parent with a well behaved child in a restaurant or on an airplane. Unfortunately, my comments are few and far between because the majority of parents are idiots and their kids are - brats.

I applaud Southwest for refusing to let those kids on another flight! I've absolutely had it with rude parents letting their rude kids run, yell, throw things, and be absolute horrors in public places. It is the parents' responsibility to keep their children in line when around other people. Just because they're children does not mean they're allowed to be disruptive! If an adult was standing on the seats, yelling, and kicking the seat in front of them, do you think people would just let it happen? Certainly not!

Hopefully parents with unruly kids will take this article to heart and think twice before letting their kids run amok.

Hmmm. I'm probably one of those people who are "intolerant" of children. I've been flying since I was very young and I expect children to be held to the same standards I was: No seat kicking. No screaming. Staying in my seat unless I was going to the restroom. Using an 'inside' voice. Saying please and thank you when appropriate. Not exactly rocket science, is it?

I recently took my godson (age almost 6) on his first flight (to Disney World, so he was very excited). I had toys (that didn't make noise), some coloring and regular books and some small sugar free candies (helps with the ear pressure issue). We had no problems during boarding or during the flight, none. I give a lot of credit to his parents for how they raised him and the combination of good parenting and a little advanced planning made for a pleasant flight for every one.

Just because someone is a child doesn't mean they have carte blanche to misbehave. Its never too early to learn good manners.