airplane harrassment! - Page 2

[FireWithin]

I flew by myself when DS was 3 1/2 mos. I was in a two seat row, one of them empty (I purchased a ticket only for myself). As the last of the people entered the plane, a woman stood next to my seat, looking at DS, stunned. She said she requested to have her ticket moved from a three seat row, to a two seat row, thinking it would be less hectic, etc. My response was "they didn't tell you there was a baby in this seat did they?" She wasn't thrilled, and I was a bit anxious, but my sweet, social baby charmed her and she was fine. The flight was delayed three hours after we boarded and the flight itself was three hours. It was a tough flight for that reason, but DS did well.

We are taking the trip again in three weeks, with our soon to be 2 year old, but DH will be joining us this time so hopefully it will be less stressful.

[sun-shine01]

I fly from Raleigh to Austin about 5 times a year to visit friends/family and I am lucky that I can always fly Southwest - they have open seating (no seat numbers) and you get to board first if you have a child under 5. Sooooo if fuddy duddys don't want to sit next to kids or babies they can sit in the rear of the plane away from all the familes who usually sit in the front. I have never had a problem.

[Irishmommy]

Cerrid, if I was being hassled on a plane because of my kids, I would love someone to defend me!!

[huggerwocky]

Originally Posted by meco

Irritates me too, like they expected him to be bad (I ignore those looks and whatnot apparently. I

Well, I have been on quite some long distance flights and yes, there are parents who DON'T care, let children,kick,yell whatever....and those are the oens you remember.

[BlueStateMama]

I've been on both sides of this. DS has almost always done well on planes (thanks to lots of nursing, snacks, toys, crayons, etc!! we also try to chose flights close to nap times) but I've gotten the eye roll as we sit down (ie the people in front of us exchanging a "Oh God, a baby (toddler)" look.) One time, we were on a very small plane and had to keep circling in a holding pattern. We were supposed to stay seated, and the constant change in altitude was killing DS's ears (he was about 6 or 7 months)...he wouldn't nurse, but I knew if I could at least stand next to the seat and bounce him he'd settle a bit. He was really crying and when the flight attendant walked by I told her that if I could stand with him, just right there next to my seat, I could probably quiet him. She got an OK from the pilot (it wasn't turbulent) and once I could stand and bounce him, DS quieted down. When she walked by she said "Oh, he's a spoiled one, huh?" with an obnoxious smile. Grrrrr...no you dolt, he's an INFANT!!!!

On the other hand, we recently flew down to FL. DS went to sleep beautifully in his car seat and was all settled in for a long nap...until the 20 month old in front of us kept standing in his car seat, peaking over the seat at DS and saying "BABY!! BABY!!" I was sooooo irritated at the mom for not preventing her DS from waking ours up (it took a few tries, but eventually this kid woke DS from a sound sleep)...thanks a lot lady...clueless much?

[monkaha]

It's all our fault. The dirty looks, the comments, everything. Sorry. DD screamed, SCREAMED from Tucson to Mineapolis/St. Paul (~3 hours). We tried everything. Snacks, new toys, markers (new to her) walking when we could in the aisles. It was terrible. We had a very nice couple in front of us that kept trying to help, playing peekaboo, and remarking how they remembered that stage, but I was so embarrassed and apologised for everyone on the way out. Though maybe I shouldn't have-we paid for her seat, just like they paid for theirs.