We’ve all been there.
A fussy toddler, a crying baby, an annoying kid who insists on kicking the back of your seat.
It’s become almost part of the modern-day travel experience.
But when are these everyday — and, for the most part, tolerable — too much for the cramped, claustrophobic space called the cabin?
Well, two weeks ago a toddler who threw a tantrum before takeoff and refused to sit down and put on her seatbelt on a JetBlue flight in the Turks and Caicos was removed — with her family — from the flight.
This is what the airlines had to stay about its decision:
Flight 850 … had customers that did not comply with crewmember instructions for a prolonged time period. The captain elected to remove the customers involved for the safety of all customers and crewmembers on board.
The parents say they had finally, after a few minutes, gotten their 2-year-old daughter, Natalie, safely strapped into her seat. But they were still told to get off the plane. They had to stay an extra night in the Turks and Caicos and had to book a new flight to Boston — all of which cost them an estimated extra $2,000.
So here’s the question: do you think the airlines did the right thing in removing the family?
NBC’s “Today” asked its online users the same question, and 70 percent of respondents agreed with the airlines.
What about you?
13 Comments
yes, boot them off and rebook them on the next available flight.
I agree. If the parents cannot control their child or choose to ignore the issue, the whole family should be removed from the plane. Having been the recipient of getting kicked in the back by a kid in a seat behind me and the parent doing nothing, I applaud the airline.
I bet I know how the passengers having to endure that commotion would answer that question. And, yes, I don’t blame the captain for making that decision. I feel bad for the parents but they are responsible for their kids. Even though they were able to get their child to finally sit in her seat, there’s no guarantee that she wouldn’t be up and screaming all over again a minute later.
I agree with the airline. the quarters are too cramped to have a temper tantrum going on.
The captain was correct in his actions. I wish it happened more often. A fussy baby is one thing, a toddler that misbehaves is a whole different story.
Agree completely with the airline, based on the facts as presented. Based on the location, an educated guess says it was a vacation. I never took my children on a vacation flight until they were at least five years old and capable of sitting quietly. It’s too much to ask of a two-year-old, and too much to ask of the family’s fellow passengers and the crew to wait “minutes” for the family to be able to get a child belted into a seat. It’s just too small an interior space and too stressful for those not having tantrums.
Never took my children on a flight at all until they were at least five, but knew of the possibility of travel such as to a funeral, and it would have been difficult to leave them behind with relatives for any reason at age 2. Luckily, that never happened.
It’s also a safety issue. If the parents can’t get, or keep, the kid strapped in, then the airline can’t assure the kid’s safety.
Wasn’t there so it is hard to know. I’ve traveled with toddlers before, numerous times, and it takes a bit of preparation to do this. There are pacifiers, mild sedatives for kids (never used these BTW), and believe it or not I’ve had the kids suck on my finger when I couldn’t find the pacifier. Then there is chewing gum so their ears pop. there is the pep talk before you get on board, or games to paly when you get to your seat. But every once in a while you get on board with a kid that is simplyu not having a good day. It just happens. I’ve picked my son up and walked to the bathroom with him and calmed him down and returned to my seat with him. As a parent you can always tell when junior is not having a good day and you have to work harder.
But I too have traveled with the parents who for some reason believe that their child’s behavior is untouchable. If they are trying I have sympathy, if not I really don’t. It is pretty obvious a little attention would go a long way but for whatever reason they choose to keep talking about the party they are going to when they get home when their little satan is terrorizing the entire flight.
If my son was disruptive and I could not help him settle down in spite of all the things I tried I would inform the flight crew I was going to catch a later flight and exit the plane. It is the right thing to do. And I bet they would let you.
Hey Cat … wow … no “Great Debate” here … this is a landslide … I see no reason to even defend the family …
… OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!!! …
… oh, I mean off the plane you go!!! …
I agree w/the pilot & I only wish it happened this way more often. The plane is way to cramped of a space to have a toddler throwing a tantrum.
i think it was wrong. a 2yr old is a baby. babies throw a fit in uncomfortable situations. being on an airplane is as about as uncomfortable as one can be, short of waterboarding. the kid was the only person reacting correctly to the situation. unfortunately, we grow up to suffer indignations in silence, and pay for the privilege thru the nose.
I really think you had to be there in order to have the correct perspective. I have kids and sometimes you just don’t know WHATS going to happen – they can be unpredictable. And there are parents who discipline their kids in public and everyone hates on them for screaming at a child. So because your kid is having a meltdown at the worst time, you’re a bad parent? Maybe they WERE trying to control their kid…we don’t know because we weren’t there. Maybe the flight attendants were having a bad day too. Kicking them off seems a bit harsh to me.
I do agree with the airline and that it is the parents’ reponsibility to understand and prepare for a flight with a toddler in tow–making sure they are well rested and have appropriate activities planned while in flight.
Sometimes the best intentions go awry, but ultimately, the safety and well being of all the passengers must be the airlines’ main concern. I speak from third-hand experience; this is the story of my boyfriend’s then 2-year old grandson. Parents’ flight arrangements based on: cost, scheduling of connecting flights from Honolulu to Illinois, and the belief that taking a red-eye would mean their son would sleep for most of the flight. However, they didn’t take into account that it would be past their son’s bedtime before they left and he would fall asleep before boarding. Son was rudely awakened by boarding process and understandably, was NOT in a good mood. This brought on major tantrum; the kind where nothing you say or do is penetraing child’s consciousness. Airline had no choice but to keep them from taking that flight.
They took a flight out the next day; all connecting and return flights were uneventful.