Does the idea of having a toddler kicked off a plane scare you from air travel?

Question

I've traveled several times a year with my children (now three of them) and have been fortunate not to have had a true toddler meltdown at anypoint.

I prepare the best I can and my boys are pretty good travelers but the thought of being tossed is scaring me for my spring travel plans.

I hope those of you who said that she was a severely out of control child are right. I cant see kicking a family off a plane for a normal toddler meltdown. those are usually temporary and preceede a big nap.

It is just a worrisome precident. We were all toddlers once and kids need to fly too.

I wonder if any of the other passengers have given a description of the tantrum. All I really heard is that the child was having a tantrum and wouldnt sit in he seat. It seems and adult could hold her in her seat? I hope it was out of control and extreme for this to happen

Answer 1

Every situation is different. I've sat near plenty of full-grown adults who ruined the flight. The parents of this toddler, who did sound pretty out of control, were offered free plane tickets from the ordeal. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me.
Also, every parent knows how embarrassing it is to have an out of control toddler. But most people understand and sympathize a reasonable adult with a crying child. One that's completely out of control _ well, that's another story. Only a few jerks out there would have us believe THAT's the reason flying is awful.

Answer 2

According the article the toddler had to be strapped in her own seat...and didn't want to. THey kick drunks off teh plane and anyone else that they think is out of control and could cause harm or anything else during the flight. Sounds like your children are ok...just make sure that you tell tehm that they need to behave...make sure that they have things to keep them occupied.

Answer 3

But, if you make a true effort to calm your kids down, they really can't throw you off. From what you said, your kids have an idea of how you expect them to act and you do your best to get them under control as fast as you can.

From what I understand, the parents of that demonic three year old made little to no effort to settle her down, and they were given IMO ample time to do it.

I work for pediatricians, and you can usually tell the ones who have rules and expectations of behavior - if they meltdown, it's brought under control quickly. Those who are allowed to run amok and who rule the household, aren't easy to bring under control.

I was once on a flight from NY to LA, where a five year old kicked the back of my seat for better than half the flight. His mother ignored my first five requests to have him stop, so I told him to go outside and play. She yelled me for having the "audacity to say that to a CHILD"! I told her if he didn't stop kicking my seat like I had been asking her to do for two hours I would break his legs. Amazingly, he stopped after that.

I was on another flight from Chicago to NY a couple of years later, and the family behind me (mom, dad, nanny, and 9 month old twins) were just a family of jerks. The mother was almost barred from boarding the plane because she threw a hissy hit about the seat arrangements. We all boarded the plane, and because of weather, we sat on the tarmac for an hour waiting to take off. Those twins screamed hysterically the whole time, and NO effort was made by ANY of the adults to calm them down. (Dad had on his earphones, mom was on her cell phone, and the nanny was calmly reading a book.) When the flight attendants came around (they were trying to make the best of the situation by passing out water and stuff like that while we waited) they gave this woman two bottles of pedialyte for the babies. She responded with "What the F- is this?" (whatever happened to THANK YOU?) Before the flight attendant could answer, I stood up, turned around and said, "It's baby-f-in Gatorade. Give it to them so they shut up!" (I had hit my limit with this woman and her screamers at this point.) Needless to say, once someone put this woman in her place, things were hunky-dory. Those kids weren't at fault in this situation because they were too little to know better - but those adults should have.

Answer 4

Nope. My daughter knows she is expected to behave in public. If she threw a huge hissy on a plane and I couldn't control it, it'd be my duty as a parent to remove the kid from the situation for the sake of others.

Answer 5

We don't fly at all, but no, it doesn't scare me. If I had nightmare kids like that one, then I wouldn't fly.Take a train or bus. Parents who don't have control of their kids *should* be banned. Why should everyone on the plane be tortured/irritated/bothered because some loser parents can't discipline?

Answer 6

the one that got kicked off was wild and unruly. and the parents were just letting the child scream. the flight was delayed 15 minutes because the parents did not have the sense to spank tat child and make her sit and buckle up. and come on, they are not going to throw you off in mid flight. as long as you keep control of your kids you should be fine.

Answer 7

Whenever I fly, I invariably get a screaming little bastard within two rows of my seat. Flying is an awful experience thanks to inconsiderate parents who bring their little brats onto a vehicle on which there is little place to move.

DRIVE until they are old enough to behave!!

Answer 8

nope as i wouldnt fly with my son at this age he is too young. he is almost 4. and he would most likely be scared so we drive everywhere

Answer 9

No. What scares me is my plane being taken over by terrorists who might use it as a bomb killing me in the process. No more flying for me, thanks anyway.