As the proud father of one, I’ve undergone a radical transformation when it comes to baby on airplanes.
I used to be part of the crowd that loved to “hate” on babies making noise, but now am one of the staunchest defenders of a baby’s right to fly…even in premium cabins. Ah, what fatherhood will do.
I think we can all concede this, at least: when (almost all) babies cry, they cannot help it. Whether due to changes in air pressure or being in a new place or being unable to move, it is no wonder babies cry once in awhile when flying.
But there’s a parallel issue that I would NOT place in the same category. That’s an older child making noise.
On our way to Hawaii earlier this week, a child and his mother were sitting behind us. The kid must have been five or six years old and was playing video games on either an oversized cell phone or video game device.
He had the sound turned way up and was not using headphones.
It was EXTREMELY ANNOYING.
I gave his mother too much credit, perhaps, but held my tongue while the aircraft was on the ground, hoping she would do the courteous thing and turn the sound off. This despite hearing his electronic beeps and dings drown out the safety video.
We took off and the noise continued. Finally, I turned around and asked the lady (very politely) if she would please tell the child to use headphones or turn the sound off.
She seemed embarrassed (and I can actually empathize with that) and also a tad annoyed. She told her son to turn off the sound and he did.
Problem abated, right?
Five minutes later the sound was back on. After letting it go for a few moments, I turned around again. This time, the woman was “sleeping” and did not respond to my “excuse me” statements.
Really?
Meanwhile, the little brat continued to play loudly.
I hit the FA call button. Suddenly, the sound stopped before a FA arrived.
Hmm….
CONCLUSION
Children are welcome in all cabins of airplanes as far as I am concerned. I also do not fault babies for crying. But when older children make noise…indefensible. Simply indefensible. How would you have handled the situation?
You handled it correctly. First, address the parent. Second, enlist the aid of the crew.
This, however, is becoming an issue involving more than just children. It’s impolite to have the sound up on a video or game in a public space. Yet it seems to be happening more and more. No one should talk on a speaker phone either. I think it’s polite to limit talking on the phone in public spaces when others can hear you period. This is especially true for those folks who think they have to shout to be heard. And no one should be on a phone in an elevator. Rude. Rude. Rude.
This same thing happened to me on a flight in Asia recently in J. I got up and took the video game device out of the kid’s hand and smashed it on the floor into pieces. The rest of the cabin broke out in applause.
lol
That’s a constant fantasy of mine.
It’s a fantasy of Meow’s also.
are you going to change your opinion again when your child is older?
Why would you assume his child will be ill-mannered when he/she gets older? Obviously if parents train their kids to be quiet, considerate of others, know the consequences of not obeying, etc. this would not happen…….or how about this scenario…..tell them they can only use it with the headphones…….or…….TAKE.THE.DAMN.THING.AWAY.FROM.THEM. Much parenting today is letting their children be in control and then they somehow manage to tune out all the whinging, whining, noise, crying, meltdowns, etc. Goes full circle – this is why brats are brats and grow up to be adult “brats”.
i wouldn’t assume anything. but changing ones mind on children on planes simply because one is a father now is just a bit hypocritical. it’s not far-fetched that Matthew might once again change his opinion on what is annoying once his kid is older.
Don’t get me wrong, I hate the sound of crying babies. It IS annoying. Yet I don’t assign the same fault–the baby is not making a conscious choice to cry versus here, the parent makes a conscious choice to let her son play video games with the sound on.
Matthew is not being hypocritical at all. He’s adapting to new information, which is what intelligent people do.
You seem to have handled things correctly. I still think that children do not belong in premium cabins, though.
I had the same issue at a restaurant last year where the parents kept the child quiet by having him watch videos on an ipad without headphones. Our table was 10 feet away but I could hear it clearly.
Sadly, I didn’t speak up but next time will complain to the restaurant manager and ask it be handled.
How dare you? My child deserves play his game at full blast. You paid for a seat on the plane, not a right to a quiet flight. Charter your own private plane if you want that nonsense.
Haha those parents who are like “My child deserves to play at full blast” are the product of brat kids becoming adults having brat kids. It’s actually not allowed to play anything without headphones on the plane, not matter the age. I wholeheartedly agree with the author, that babies crying is a pet of life older children with no discipline/respect/consideration for others are another thing. This is the fault of parents. There’s also toddlers who are screen addicted, like their parents literally manage them with a screen 24/7, they don’t know how to play games or anything to entertain themselves.
@mo you show utter arrogance, looks like american kids are few generations behind in their education on manners. No wonder america is way behind other countries. If the parents can afford to have kids and take a flight, they should instead take the private charter plane and play all the stupid loud music they want.
Unless the kid was doing other unruly things, I think “brat” is a bit harsh. I don’t have kids but am not surprised a 5yr old might not get how no head phones would be annoying to others. They SHOULD know, but I tend to give kids that age some slack.
Having said that, I think the mom is 100% to blame and boarder line rude. I think in this case she tried to trade the comfort of those around her to keep her child quiet and content. Seems to me she chose the device noise over the potential meltdown tantrum. When i boils down to it, she did what’s easier for HER which is rude.
I’m happy you called her out on it. There’s no reason a kid can’t mute a device or throw some headphones on. If that child can’t make that work then he/she probably isn’t ready to fly. But as we all know people care more about themselves than others.
I would have called the FA and paid the $2 for a headset for her to give to the kid. If that didn’t solve the problem, I like the take and smash suggestion.
I once asked the parents of a kid playing an iPad game to please turn the sound off or put in headphones, and they spent the rest of the flight talking loudly to each other about how they “couldn’t believe” I had made such a request and encouraging their child to kick my seat.
FWIW, we were all in Premium Economy and they spent the rest of the flight talking about how rich they are. This was like five years ago and I’m still shocked/angry.
These parents sound terribly damaged. Sad really…
Been there and done that. Almost always the parent or kid are nice about it. What is worse to me are ADULTS watching movies or playing games who get upset with me for politely asking them to use headphones. On a recent flight, at the end of the safety instructions the FA also added “And if you are using any electronics that make sounds you must mute them or use headphones.” I know it was an adlib, but I wish it was standard practice.
I think this is a good example of why children SHOULD fly in premium cabins whenever possible. Premium cabins usually have great entertainment systems and INCLUDE headphones, especially long haul international flights. As well they provide food which will help keep children quiet.
I think the way you approached the situation was good. Talk to the child and parent politely. Most likely they do not know that you are being bothered. If they continue to disrupt you, ask politely for assistance from a flight attendant as they are trained in conflict resolution.
Interesting take: put ill behaved children in premium cabins so they can be coddled properly. That would set a great example.
Matthew, you handled this correctly. Unfortunately this is part of a broader trend I am now seeing in airports and public spaces all over the place, which is people (adults and children) choosing not to use headphones on their devices at all.
Frankly I find it mind blowing that people can have so little respect for those around them that they think nothing of turning up the volume and watching tv or playing games on their devices, especially on airplanes or in lounges. There is zero excuse for adults to be doing this, or for parents to allow children to do this…
It’s a bit sad that we will clearly soon need signs and frequent announcements to remind people that they need to use the headphones that come with their devices, but some people clearly cannot behave properly in public settings without the most blindingly obvious, childish reminders.
Anyone who has ever flown with a sinus problem or a tooth about to need root canal will appreciate what some babies and toddlers routinely experience, but it goes without saying they’re unable to articulate. The pain is intense. Fairly recently on a 12 hour flight I felt the signs of a tooth infection. I had been ‘rumbling’ a bit ominously for a few days prior but I thought it would be ok for a couple of weeks. Wrong, big time. Intense pain and redoubled by the cost of root canal at destination.
Yesterday on a longish flight I saw a dad with 3 kids, maybe 7,5 2. The toddler shrieked and screamed for the entire 9 hours. She wasn’t a little monster but just a poor little thing with ear/sinus/tooth issues. There’s nothing that can be done once door closes and the problem emerges. Too late.
My Grandmothers solution to this , on the ground,was a huge bottle of tincture of opium, liberally administered to cranky children ( and a swig for herself). But it’s probably banned now.
As is nearly always the case, behavior like this isn’t limited to kids: a middle-aged man across the aisle from me on a recent flight spent about an hour of it listening to music by holding his phone up to his ear and using the speaker function…