FAA Regulations Still Apply When You Can't Control Your Kid
Parents who brought a 3-year-old they can't control on a plane -- delaying hundreds of people when the brat wouldn't sit still and let them put his seat belt on -- are crying foul that the pilot turned around and dumped them back at the gate. From Kim Shephard writes at MyNorthwest.com:
Yanchak admits his son was being a little fussy as the flight was preparing for departure."He was crying, being cranky," said Yanchak. "I started putting him in his seat. I put his seatbelt on. But he was being cranky, trying to be close to me, so he wasn't fully fastened yet."
Yanchak said when his son didn't want to keep his seatbelt on, he enlisted the help of his wife. She had been seated with the couple's other son and her mother in first class.
After the boy's mother came back with a pacifier and some water, they were eventually able to get the boy to sit still. But by then, the pilot had already ordered the plane back to the gate.
...According to the airline, it was a judgment call. The crew was concerned because the boy did not want to sit upright and keep his seatbelt on. The airline said the pilot would rather deal with the issue on the ground than mid-flight.
Alaska offered to rebook the family on a later flight, but Yanchak says they have no desire to take any flight with the airline again.
This is a bad thing? (I guess only if you're flying on the next airline they move to.)
via Consumerist
Good. Maybe when hours of /their/ wasted time are on the line, parents like this will stand up to their kids.
Insufficient Poison at May 31, 2012 7:49 AM
It's laughable to me when an Average Joe threatens not to fly a particular airline again. If they're $200 cheaper than their competitors when you're booking--or the only direct flight to your destination--you'll use them again.
If anyone reading this is a frequent traveler who can afford the luxury of boycotting an airline, then good for you. I don't think that's realistic for many of us.
Insufficient Poison at May 31, 2012 7:58 AM
I think the pilot was 100% correct to turn the plane around. That happened to BF and I on a flight to New Orleans, except it wasn't a bratty 3-year-old who wouldn't buckle his seat belt, it was a bratty 20-something-year-old who wouldn't get off his cell phone. The pilot turned the plane around and had the idiot removed. Tough luck for him that he had to get another flight. Next time, turn off the damn cell phone! It's very simple.
Bad behavior is bad behavior and needs to be addressed and taken care of properly and promptly, and if the parents can't do it, then the pilot and crew should have every right to tell them to remove their problem child. Their child should NOT be the cause of delay for everyone else on the plane.
Flynne at May 31, 2012 8:33 AM
But, but, but in our case it's different! Waaah!
Old RPM Daddy at May 31, 2012 9:03 AM
The MSNBC story said the child was screaming and flailing about to the point the seat belt was across his neck and the flight crew was worried about his safety.
Oh, and the family would like an apology.
Kevin at May 31, 2012 9:16 AM
The other passengers deserve the apology.
MarkD at May 31, 2012 9:21 AM
Amy Alkon
https://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/05/faa-regulations.html#comment-3211911">comment from KevinOh, and the family would like an apology.
Here: I'm sorry you spawned.
Amy Alkon
at May 31, 2012 9:30 AM
How disconnected must these people be?
If my kid's behavior got us kicked off a plane, I'd be mortified, and I wouldn't tell anyone about it... much less go to the media.
Here's another one I saw yesterday: The kid got a "catastrophe award" for most excuses for missed homework... and the mom is mad at THE TEACHER for "embarrassing" her child.
http://now.msn.com/living/0530-catastrophe-award.aspx
ahw at May 31, 2012 10:31 AM
Sounds to me like moomy never cut the cord and jr didnt like the fact that the new baby had mommy to itself in the nicer part of the plane.
lujlp at May 31, 2012 11:12 AM
From the msn article:
a psychologist has weighed in "being humiliated ... is counterproductive to learning."
Isn't also, not doing the homework assignments consistently?
It's not about spawning children, it's about taking responsibility. Here, the parents didn't want to parent their children, then were upset that everyone didn't understand. If my son is acting crazy, I wouldn't want to board the plane, because it's miserable for me as well. I don't want to spend the flight making excuses.
Most of the time I get compliments for my son's good behavior. We've only had one complaint from a jerk. My son kicked his seat one-time, and I kept my hand on his knees so he couldn't do it again. Every single shake of the plane or person who hit the seat at the end, he shot back a nasty look at my son as if he did it. Amazingly, after switching seats, the person in front of him didn't notice him not kicking the seat.
We travel across the country at least once a year to visit grandparents because my son stays with them for a month. One complaint out of 16 round trips or so? Not bad. Planning and supplies is all you need.
NikkiG at May 31, 2012 12:35 PM
Ha. "being a little fussy" is crap parent speak for "My kid was throwing an out of control fit and how DARE you not think my child is the most important thing in the world!"
I would have stood up and applauded as they were ushered out of the plane.
Daghain at May 31, 2012 9:32 PM
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