Toddlers from Hell

[Ed Wetschler]

In the seats directly behind me on this morning's flight from JFK  to St. Maarten, there was a couple with two boys (I'd guess two and three years old) who howled and screamed and yelled the entire trip. I've sat in front of qvetchy kids before, but never this loud, insistent, and out of control. The plane was full, so I couldn't change seats. Which brings me to two questions:  

1. What (if anything) would you have done?

2. At what point is it the airline's responsibility to tell parents to control their children? 

[Anil]

Been there before. Actually worse ! 

1. In a full plane, not much. Apart from a) turning back, looking directly at a two/three years old and smile, frown and put your finger on your lips as a sign to quiet down. I would also come back write a note to the airline and ask for 10K miles for the extreme distress. 

2. The inflight personnel is quite helpless except suggesting they control the children. 

Having said that; I think the statistically the worst seats in any aircraft, bar none !! Are the last row seats in the First or Business class. Invariably the other side of the divide is the hooks to facilitate bassinets.  

A couple of weeks ago on a redeye from MEX to JFK, there was an infant you cried from time plane took off for an hour and a half; full throttle (A promising mezzo-soprano in the making) and one hour before landing. As a paying passenger (not an award ticket, which also is indirect payment) in business you expect a level of comfort and quiet. 

Would that be 7AM JetBlue ?

[Ed Wetschler]

Anil, you are always the voice of reason, experience, and sanity. Everything you said here makes sense. In case you're curious, some other Tripatini members have been talking about this in the Media group:  http://www.tripatini.com/group/mediaonly/forum/topics/flight-woes-t...

Good flying to you (I know, that's impossible).