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Naughty kids, bad parenting, exhausted cabin crew

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Naughty kids, bad parenting, exhausted cabin crew

Old 13th Sep 2008, 18:03
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Naughty kids, bad parenting, exhausted cabin crew

I am just amazed to see how naugthy children became?!! I flown on a very reputable airline a couple of weeks ago, and once again.. a lot of the children around me were totally out of control.. and annoyed all the other people around them. It was just the parents that pretend not to see it, and the ones that did see, thought their sweet children were "cute"
I mean I can understand that a child of 6 years cant sit absolutely still with his/her hands crossed for 8 hours, but the following is just unacceptable:
Children spitting at the cabin crew member!!!
Naugthy S***h in front of us keep on standing on his seat, and staring at us
leopard crawl under their seats
another naugthy little s***h screaming at his parents the whole time that he doesnt want to fasten his seatbelt
This was the best: a really spoilt brat (girl) try to trip one of the cabin crew members while serving the drinks!!!

I mean is it just my bad luck, or did I just get the most naughty kids on that whole airport in the same plane than me??? The cabin crew really tried to ask the parents to keep their children in line, but obviously the parents didnt want to hear about it...

Last edited by Kittycat; 13th Sep 2008 at 19:33.
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Old 13th Sep 2008, 19:05
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I blame the parents!!! LOL! DUH!

Unfortunately I think the parents fuel it by getting the kids all hyperactive about the thought of a plane ride and then while going through all the stress of the airport chuck loads of sweets and other sugary cr@p at them as a bribe to not go awol in the terminal. Then when they get on the aircraft they are like a loaded gun waiting to go off!!! Sadly a lot of parents then assume the opinion that they have paid for all the seats so the kids are now the cabin crews problem and not theirs. Heaven forbid a suffering crew member risk asking the parents to control their children, the gloves will really come off!
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Old 13th Sep 2008, 19:05
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Im glad the summer hols are over... i dont think i ever used to behave like some of the little brats we get on board. Apart from the select few little Angels ( and that is very few) I once had a woman ask me to tell her child to sit down and put her seatbelt on because ' I've tried to tell her and she wont listen ' WTF??? My mum used to give me a look and id sit still and obey?!!
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Old 13th Sep 2008, 19:38
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Kittycat, I totally hear you. Where were you flying? I see some shocking behaviour which I think is 95% the fault of the parents. I know it's hard work travelling with kids... but why do parents never bring anything for the kids to do? No colouring-in books... No story telling... Even if you're a completely lazy parent, at least bring a portable dvd player or hand held games console to keep the little terrors occupied! I've often thought I should put a couple of kids story books in my crew-bag for emergencies...
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Old 13th Sep 2008, 20:27
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In the past, I've had reports to me that soiled nappies were put in the seat pockets. I did make a PA one one flight that if any human waste was put in the seat pockets, the passenger occupying that seat would receive the cleaning bill. That did result in two letters of complaint, a round of applause from the cabin crew and SOME of the other pax as well. Quite frankly, I have no time for people who act like pigs, but I have all the time in the world for considerate customers that I would want to fly again.
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Old 13th Sep 2008, 22:18
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What sort of pathetic person would actually get it together enough to write in to complain about that?

On a LOS once, I had a mother put a loaded diaper in the overhead locker. It came apart and ran all over someone elses jacket. What bugs me is that airline is deemed responisble for things like this, grrr.
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Old 13th Sep 2008, 22:35
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I love, love, love september. It means a serious decline in the amount of brats in the cabin
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Old 14th Sep 2008, 00:36
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VS....That is VIIILLLLLEEEEEEEEE...... Great story though! Iv almost had a similar accident in my boxers! LOL!
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Old 14th Sep 2008, 16:30
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All kids should be given a high dose of Dramamine pre flight. Knocks the little blighters out (well, worked on ours

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Old 14th Sep 2008, 17:06
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I kindly point out that we are an airline, NOT a babysitting service...

I'll do my best to help a parent out, but when it's clear Mum or Dad is in oblivious land and making absolutely no effort whatsoever... then it's time for a little chat. I have all the time in the world for parents who are clearly trying to control their kids (some kids are just brats, after all)

Do I have stories about oblivious parents though.... enough to fill a book!

One time, little Johnny kept running around in the aisle. I warned mum that Johnny ran the risk of being hurt as carts were in the aisle, tea & coffee pots about, etc etc and could she please keep him in his seat during the meal service.

Sure enough, little Johnny got out of his seat,(for the 9th or 10th time) and not only tried to trip me over (on purpose, because the little bugger laughed!!!) with a coffee pot, but then proceeded to wipe sticky lolly hands on another crew's shirt. When the rubbish cart came out, Johnny jumped out from a row of seats behind the crew member and got knocked over. (Surprise surprise)

Guess which mother ranted and raved and threatened to sue?? I told her to go right ahead and write a complaint to the ailrine if she liked, and informed her that by the time they got it they'd have a full account of her & her Johnny's behaviour on the desk, informing them that she had been warned of the possible consequences.

(BTW, Johnny was old enough to know better, about 7 or 8 years old!!!!!)
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Old 14th Sep 2008, 17:19
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Happned 2 weeks ago. P*ssed me off something chronic. 2 "boys" 14 maybe 15 calling me babes! Obviously learned this disgusting direspectful way of talking to women from their dads. First time they said it, after i recovered from the shock, i said what my real name was. I then looked at the dad hoping for a little support but all he did was laugh.

Happned all throughout the flight, even when i was just walking past them.
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Old 15th Sep 2008, 16:12
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Sorry, dangerous territory here but what is it with parents who think that we should be as enamoured with their little darlings as they are? I recently came back from a typical holiday destination and it was full to the brim of families. Despite repeated attempts to get them to stop the children standing on the seats, the kids carried on bouncing around as they felt like it. When I pointed out to one besotted mother that it really wasn't nice for the poor couple behind them to have her daughter hanging over the back of the seat staring at them for 2hrs 45, she couldn't understand why they weren't as charmed by her precious daughter as she was!

Maybe it's the summer holiday syndrome but I am sick of hearing the same old things. Anyone recognise any of these?

"I can't wake him up, he'll cry....."
And he's going to cry a whole lot more when he hits the ceiling!

"She can't help it, she's only little....."
But you are not! That is your job, to help her help it!

"Don't you have any toys for the children....?"
Do we look like bl**dy Toys R US!

"Oh, but they're bored. It's a long flight....."
So go to Butlins until they are old enough to behave or you get the guts to control them! They will be just as happy with Butlins. It's you that wants to go abroad!

"She's hot/she's cold...."
Take her cardi off/bring a cardi!

"I know she's kicking the seat but surely they know she's just a child...."
Madam, the fact they've just asked me where the fire axe is kept suggests that they don't really care that she's just a child. I suggest you sit in front of her for a while.

"Ahh bless! How funny is he...."
Errr...He's not!

"But my 3 yr old, 4 yr old and 5 yr old want to sit together. We are just behind them so we can keep an eye on them....."
Right and what are you going to do in a decompression when they can't reach the oxygen, or if they unfasten their seatbelts just before we touch down etc.?

And finally, to finish this little rant, a good story to prove not all parents are the same. Following the safety demo on the same flight, one lady asked if it was possible for her little boy to have a closer look at the oxygen mask. I was happy to let him see it and as I continued securing the cabin, I heard her explaining to him exactly where it would be and what to do if Mummy couldn't help him put it on! That is one Mother I now have the upmost respect for!

Jsl
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Old 24th Sep 2008, 17:50
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Snoop "Human waste"

And what is it with changing babies on the seat? I've had that few times and every time I "advised" them to use the toilet with the table they were very insulted. I've never had a baby and I start wondering - does your own baby's sh*t smell like roses, or what!?
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Old 24th Sep 2008, 21:26
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It's called 'British parenting skills'.................
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Old 25th Sep 2008, 04:39
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On a recent flight between Dubai and Brunei, there were three young children aged between 12,10 and 5 sitting in the middle row of 3 seats. This seat was actually spare but once the aircraft took off they ran from their allocated seats to claim these ones. During the time they were sitting here, everybody was trying to sleep they punched each other - at one point the 12 year old brother king hit his 10 year old sister in the head, threw ice around the cabin, constantly wrestled each other, pressed the call bell non stop, and then after i entered the toilet after the elder brother, i found a plastic cup flushed down the toilet.. I fell asleep only to be woken not long after when a piece of ice hit me in the head. By now (this flight originated at Heathrow and was heading to Brisbane) I was infuriated. I got up out of my seat and yelled (maybe screamed) at these children to sit down shut up and stop being inconsiderate. After i finished my yelling i was warmly applauded by about 8 passengers sitting nearby. The little s**ts didn't make another noise. All my years working as a flight attendant I was never able to say what i thought, however as a passenger.. I was able to say EXACTLY what i pleased.
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Old 25th Sep 2008, 06:15
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Lol Gallie Girl... haven't we all wanted t do that! How satisfying!

As for parents changing baby on the seat.. i politely inform them it's actually a health hazard for other pax and poo (well you know what i mean) belongs in the toilets, not the cabin as it will annoy everyone around them!
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Old 25th Sep 2008, 09:40
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I wonder how many correspondents on this thread are parents? or even remember what it is to be a child?

I see lots of bad parenting in daily life, kids eating McDonalds & turning hyper for hours, lack of control by parents and so on, but children are not necessarily reasonable creatures.

My 18 month old toddler has at her stage of development, limited emotional responses, so conflict can produce tantrums. Regularly.

There are coping mechanisms for this, such as distraction and ignoring the problem, but in the confines of an aircraft, these can be difficult to apply succesfully and they don't come with guarantees. A little perspective would help, there are two sides to every situation.
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Old 25th Sep 2008, 10:07
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No there's not!


Children should be crated and checked as hold baggage

Thus speaks a childless frequent sufferer.
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Old 25th Sep 2008, 10:44
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I regularly babysat children during my highschool and later years.I don't have any myself but I dont think that's an indicator. I've had the sleepless night, I've changed the stinky nappies, I've dealt with sick kids/temper tantrums/hissy fits... you name it. Yes, on a plane as well!!! No, I don't have kids myself- but you know why? I know it's difficult to deal with them, I travel to work, therefore, I chose not to have them! I shouldn't have to deal with everyone else's kids who don't want to deal with them, and neither should any crew. Some parents sem to expect us to be a babysitting service. THATS what we are complaining about.

I would never dream of changing a baby on a restaurant seat, or any other public place. Why should a plane be any different? I didn't say all parents are stupid, or that all situations are the same. It's nice when parents are trying. I understand, kids scream, cry, have tantrums. So we cut parents slack when they're trying. If mum and dad havent flown before we explain where to change baby, why little ones cannot sleep on the floor/play in the galley/endlessly press the call button. Its the ones who dont listen and/or dont care that we are complaining about. It seems manners and 'parental responsibility' have gone out of the window!

But a lot of the behaviour I see by kids on board is a direct result of parents either being oblivious ("it's the cabin crew's problem") or not giving a toss (My kids are darlings"/ "its not annoying me so why should i care"/ "i dont want to deal with it") so then they ignore it or hype the kids up on sweets, bribe them, or have a go at other pax or the crew when asked to 'deal with' their children's behaviour.

The attitude (a lot these days) seems to be its not the parents' problem Well sorry, newsflash, it IS. They are YOUR kids, not mine. I have a job to do (and it's not babysitting your kids, it's looking after all 300+ passengers on this plane thank you!) Sure, I will hold baby while you go to the bathroom, sure I will get your kid a colouring in kit, Sure, we have a kids' meal for your child. No, I will not sit in your seat while you go off in search of 5 drinks and a seat elsewhere. No, I cannot watch them so you can 'have a sleep'. I have a job to do, and so do you. Be a parent!!!

We're not talking the odd 'kid stuff' here... we KNOW often its not the kids' fault, its mum and dad's parenting skills (or lack of) Its the fact that some parents dont want to have anything to do with their kids on a flight, and let them run rampant. Often with the result of said kids getting stepped on/burnt/yelled at by some other pax.

I know when I was a kid, as another poster said, my mum/dad would give me the Look, and I would shut the hell up and do what i was told. No taking my seatbelt off, no kicking the seat in front, no throwing things. If I did, it was a smack on the arse for me and end of argument. Always worked, rarely needed. You hardly ever see that these days, any surprise we want to do it sometimes????
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Old 25th Sep 2008, 10:54
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I can see your passion from the length of your post! I don't doubt a word you say & I don't expect to get much change from commenting here, however, reading this thread in it's entirety, one would believe everyone lives in number 4 Privet Drive!!

I've no time for poor parenting either, and kids are a parent's responsibility, but we were all kids once & I doubt that each contributor could claim to have been an angel 100% of the time - but I'd like to see them try!!
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