A US flight crew were forced to call police over the unruly behavior of two children from the same family travelling with their parents. The children, aged three and eight, repeatedly refused to obey orders to put on their seatbelts by the captain and flight attendants during the SkyWest flight from Long Beach to Portland, KTLA reports. Police boarded the flight upon landing and lectured the family on airline safety and regulations. A statement from parent company Alaska Airlines said the measure was necessary as the children were creating a disturbance in the cabin. "During the flight, the children became disruptive and wouldn't stay in their seats and wouldn't fasten their seat belts, which is against federal regulations," Alaska Airlines spokeswoman Marianne Lindsey said. The family was allowed to continue on their Alaska Airlines connecting flight to Seattle.
Most reasonable parents (or at least those from a different generation ) would be able to deal with it, or would probably have done so years previously
...most reasonable Captains should be able to deal with this.
I don't agree. In the air, this sort of thing requires tact and diplomacy which is something most cabin crew have. I'd also back the cabin crew all the way with whatever they decide but I can tell you for free, I'd insist that these people find a different mode of transport for their onward journey. If this happened to me, this would be the last time they ever flew with us. Families like this either have to stay at home or confine themselves to surface transport.
I agree with what you say but I don't think the police are really required, especially if in this case the family continue flying on the airline.....smacks of overkill. In my experience the majority of cases are dealt with well by the crew. If their efforts don't work I will have strong words with the parents and explain their responsibilities whilst onboard. If that doesn't work then I will recommend that my airline could do without their custom. Not exactly sure where the police fit in the process. (especially with kids involved)
I have just traveled with Cathay from London to HK. I was in the lounge enjoying a bite to eat and a read of the paper when in walked a mum and 2 little sh^ts. They sat near the food area at which point the mum pulled out her iPad and Skype called her hubby. The Sh^ts then spent the next 30+ mins running around and shouts nearly knocking over people carrying hot food and drinks. They then moved to the quiet area of the lounge and kept the shouting and bad behaviour up. At that point I had to leave, not due to a flight but because I could feel the red shutters coming down. An hour later while boarding, I had a seat at the front of economy then low and behold the sh^ts were in Business and kept the bad behaviour up, mum sorting the kids out while on finals with the seat belt sign on etc. Mum didn't give a rats what the kids did or how they behaved in the business lounge or on the a/c
A pat on the back used to suffice, a little low and a little hard. Wait.. That's not PC now, is it? Illegal in NZ now in fact. There goes the neighbourhood.
I remember years ago a little brat was misbehaving, running up and down the aisle making aeroplane noises and annoying everyone. CC asked parents to control him, they said they couldn't and anyway they'd paid his fare so he was 'allowed' to be on the 'plane. Passengers asked kid to sit down and parents to control him, nothing happened.
Stewardess took kid into galley. I was sitting very close and heard the slap. Kid was heard screaming briefly, then silence. Stewardess returned kid to parents, : "Shame, he touched the hot water urn and got a fright." Rest of the flight. Silence. Way to go, but of course not allowed in these tragic days.
Have had issues with kids on planes both in the back and in Business over the years and have had to learn to live with it as unfortunatly you can not move, or throw kids and parents out. Have found that if parents have nannies with them kids can be very well behaved and also if plane has good ICE.
I did once get my revenge on a train from London to Leeds when previouse trains had been delayed and my train became very full. I was in 1st class with business papers over table when what can be best described as an Earth mother / Greenham Common protester sat opposite me with 2 kids. Kids drove toys all over papers and were generally objectionable to hole carriage. Mother had only 2nd class ticket but said she would not stand for hole trip and guard no where to be seen. Kids started running up and down carriage trigering auto doors for fun. Door was to my left shoulder. After some miles totally fed up I stood up and placed overnight bag on edge of sensor for door which caused it to open, carefully removed bag door stays open until little urchin running at full tilt down carriage puts foot on sensor when it closed in his face, Claret evrey where big nose bleed !. Mother went beserk with BR Guard (was a long time ago) when he turned up but two other passengers observed what I had done, and when de training smiled and said "classic" . Generally like kids (do not have any maybe that,s why) but unruly ones and their parents are nightmares in enclosed spaces.
Flew club last week to Dubai and back again. The cabin was packed with families (including mine) babes to teenagers. Obviously all very well heeled or on a miles upgrade like moi. Behaviour from all throughout impeccable. Excellent and hardworking CC as well (well done BA, keep it up).
I fly 60,000 miles a year as pax. I've never experienced unruly kids on board.
Once had aisle seat with empty beside me. Young girl (maybe 2 1/2) comes down the aisle and stops. Looks at me, I smile. She then clambers onto empty seat (armrest was up), proceeds to walk over my legs to get a view out the window. My hands went around her waist to steady her. A few minutes later FA comes down the aisle looking. Gives me a smile - I gave her my help expression. Mum arrived shortly thereafter.
Young girl (maybe 2 1/2) comes down the aisle and stops. Looks at me, I smile. She then clambers onto empty seat (armrest was up), proceeds to walk over my legs to get a view out the window. My hands went around her waist to steady her. A few minutes later FA comes down the aisle looking. Gives me a smile - I gave her my help expression. Mum arrived shortly thereafter.
The tragic thing about this kind human gesture is that if it had been in the UK (I'm assuming it wasn't?) you'd probably have been labelled a pervert by some interfering busybody.
Old joke from WC but still good in some cases !. Over heard the following about 15 years ago in a bar in Leeds in the UK just before Xams. One gentleman was listing out presents that were being obtained for his children to his colleague. He had obviously a large family and listed 4 sets of presents when his colleague asked after a child called John who had not been discussed, and received the reply that "they had hung him as example to the others !!". It was a joke.
While I do not understand parents not controlling their kids (which, believe me, can be tough on a long flight, especially with smaller children at 2 or 3 years) - I would immediately sue any person laying hand on my kids, justified or not.
And remember - children are only reflecting their parents parental ability.
