Should AirTran have thrown that family off the plane because their child was out of control?

Question

I'm sure everyone has heard this story by now - girl having tempertantrum on plane, flight attendants ask family to leave the plane because they can't get her under control, people everywhere are outraged. What do YOU think? Is the airline being unreasonable, or do they have a responsibility to the other passengers onboard? Haven't you seen how some parents don't even attempt to control their children under such close contact with others?

Answer 1

Most definitely!!! I have been a nanny for over twenty years, and I promise you that this is not the first time the child has pitched a fit like that one. At her age, hitting her parents has been a tolerated behavior on their part, she didn't just start it.

I am afraid that if parents don't start being parents, and stop trying to be their child's best friend, we will have an even more chaotic world to deal with. As far as I am concerned, the Airline acted most appropriately,and the family's rights were not violated. In fact, we have to really pity the poor little girl whose parents are so permissive and are giving her a sense of entitlement at such an early age. She is the one who will most certainly have the toughest life to "fly with".

Answer 2

Now that it's against the law to even slap your kids it's next to impossible to have any control over them. Years ago you would have just picked the kid up off the floor following up with a slap on the butt and the tantrum was over. If the parents would have done that the authorities would have been called in and they would have been arrested for child abuse. Instead they were asked to leave the plane. What else could they do? In another ten years the little girl will be calling the police on her parents because they gave her a dirty look. The question is how much should we let the government tell us how we should raise our children. Don't forget to wear your seat belt. You don't want to be caught without it if the plane crashes.

Answer 3

I love it!

Yes, children cry and such, but the kid was on the floor screaming and hitting her parents. I've never flown Air Tran before, but I will now........

And think about it.....Is it fair to the other 112 passengers on that plane? If the plane is unable to take off because the child won't sit down in her seat, the other passengers are at risk of missing their connecting flights. How is that acceptable? Are the rights of a three year really old more important than everyone else on that plane?

Answer 4

Tough question! Goes to the rights of the individual vs the rights of the larger number. On a transatlantic flight about a year ago, passengers (including me) were subjected non-stop to the glass shattering screams of a toddler whose mother was entirely ineffective in subduing it. Should 350 full fare paying passengers have their hopes of sleep during an overnight flight dashed by a non-fare paying spoiled brat? No easy answer here since the brat didn't start up until we were well underway but I for one would pay a premium on airfare to be guaranteed a child-free flight, particularly on a long haul. I cannot count the number of times a flight has been rendered interminable because of out of control children in the hands of wholly incompetent adults!

Answer 5

I'm on a self-imposed news black out - so I have not seen the story . While National Security is a major issue on flights , I have to wonder if the girl was old enough to be a threat . If this was an infant-they were out of line . You're right ..some parents don't attempt to control their kids ; and then there are those who slap a baby for acting like a baby .

Answer 6

I would have applauded if i were sitting on that plane waiting to take off. If an adult or a child can not act properly on a plane they shouldn't be allowed on board. Just because a person pays to fly does not give them the right to be abusive or subject all others to their irrational behavior.

Answer 7

from what i understand the flight was already running late and the parents wanted them to delay the flight even longer while they tried to console their child, i'm sure most here would agree
that they are tired of putting up with others brats and their tantrums and putting them off the plane was the best all around

Answer 8

They didn't go far enough! They should have thrown them off the plane at 30,000 feet in the air!! Parachutes at the choice of the offended passengers only(Thumbs up,thumbs down?!)!! Fight political correctness!! Beat your kids when they deserve it!!

Answer 9

I agree that that family should have been thrown off the plane. People have to control their kids.

Answer 10

yes.