Tuesday, July 24, 2007
When families go to play
 I have been busy traveling lately to Yup, it is the European holiday season and with more wealth and bumper air miles, families are going on vacation. Often in business class. Now in my day - we were lucky if we got a week in It is tough. The urge to shout "get out of the way" can be overwhelming especially in overcrowded airports where security lines are getting longer because holidaymakers have brought literally everything - including the bucket and spade - with them. If you are travelling in business class, do your very best to avoid the last row of the cabin. Why? Because behind you is the bulkhead of economy and that is where they put the families with babies using skycots attached to the wall. Beg, grovel and prostrate yourself to avoid that last row seat. You will be thankful later. The business class lounge in the summer becomes a war zone. With so many alliance gold members able to bring in their children, what should be an oasis of calm has often become unpleasant. I know you want to shout and scream "Oi, shut up!" but the cool answer is: don't. You may just have to find a quieter part of the lounge or leave it altogether. This is summer travel, and it is nasty. So, when you get to the gate, ask if there are any no-shows and may you please move seats to a less crowded part of the aircraft. If you are a parent traveling with a family, spare a thought for the business traveler. Sure, you have paid for your ticket. And yes, maybe your child isn't the monster other people seem to think he is, but those business travelers are getting off the plane and having to go to work. You are heading for the beach. You will be putting your towel on a deckchair while I am sweltering in my suit! Everyone needs to remember that we will be on both sides of this problem during the summer. The holidaymaker and the traveler. I have just re-read this article. I know why I am being so reasonable... I upgraded myself to first class. I can only hear the children back in economy. I can’t see the anguished look on the faces of tired execs. Families? They should travel in the hold! Have a pleasant summer! 20 Comments
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Oh yes Richard, and my grandfather said the same thing about you when you were little. "That little bugger kept kicking my seat!"
Remember that all of us were kids too, and when we were lucky we flew on the airplane. Be understanding for the parents' sake, or fly first class. Wait, you did that already.
Wow, you must not have kids...
As a father of four I travel for business and I travel with my family at times. We were all kids, and they have as much right to own a seat as anyone else. Yes, parents should keep things under control, but when kids are involved, life is full of twists and turns. I don't let my kids kick the seat back, scream or otherwise create problems. If you're tempted to yell, "Get out of the way", then perhaps you're a little too into your own self importance. Otherwise... I enjoy your blog ;)
Don't be such a whinger.
You seem to have forgotten that many of your readers are business travellers AND parents. Consider yourself lucky to have the privilege of regularly flying business and first class. For the most part, your article sounds like it was written by one of those spoilt little brats that you so detest. Next time I see you on an airplane, upon arrival, I expect you to be going straight into a meeting and not onto a golf course or into an executive suite. Bon voyage! PS. I just noticed your additional editorial at the bottom of the blog... "They should travel in the hold!" Richard, I used to consider you as mildly amusing. You have pushed the "ego traveller" a bit too far this time. This is one of the most arrogant articles I have ever seen. Comrade, I think you need to step back and look at the big picture. You are a journalist!
Hi Richard, there is nothing like putting your finger on the real issue. Sarcasm becomes you and appeals to my Scandinavian heritage, I think a lot of our fellow road warriers sees it exactly the same way . Not sure the airline staff will agree with you on their revised job description, UN diplomatic qualifications would be nice but I think they go for survival during the Summer months.
Well yeah, I agree with Richard. Travelling in summer is grueling. Do you realize as soon as one baby starts crying it starts off a chain reaction. It great that we always get a choir of screaming toddlers during this season. Enjoy your witty blogs Richard. I think I saw you the other day on the tubes.
Wow, who do you think you are? I find your article so arrogant and very insulting.
Flying with kids is not easy and can be very challenging because kids are unpredictable. Most parents try their best to keep the situation under control and respect other passengers. But wait - who am I kidding? you probably have no idea of what I'm talking about: you live in a bubble. Well, maybe it's time to fly back to reality and respect ALL passengers (and leave your ego behind!).
I'm on your side, Richard. It never ceases to amaze me that modern parents do not understand that children are NOT adults. They should not have the right to inflict themselves on other people. Airliners are not designed to carry children - they are designed to carry people who understand that being locked into close proximity with strangers for several hours is a stressful experience requiring adult understanding of the rules that enable survival.
If they must travel, have a "family class" behind a solid bulkhead at the back of the plane, with lots of soft toys, bubble gum and videos to distract them.
Still whinging, I see. Perhaps it was time that CNN downgraded you to steerage (aka economy) travel, or better yet, made you fly on discount carriers all the time.
Yes, we've all suffered from the occasional unruly or distressed child on a flight (I've endured far more unruly drunken adults or loud adolescents). But just think, we leave them when we get off the plane, their parents are stuck with them for years and years. That may also be what some of the flight attendants think of self-important frequent flyers. Hmmm... :-) Get some perspective, mate.
Well said! I travelled with my parents and was not allowed to act like some of the screaming banshees I see in airports. And as for seat-kicking, it was the big no-no. My parents did not beat me, in fact I received only 2 spankings in my lifetime, and I was not an out-of-control nit!
Where's your July 31, 2007 blog listing, Richard? On vacation again? When are you going back to BBC World's "World Business Report" with that other bloke you did it with? Miss that a lot.
Brilliant blog. Yes it is a "little" biased but still correct. On a recent trip back from NY I had the same discussion with my wife that if people can't keep their children quiet then they should stay at home until they can. We expect other adult travelers to remain courteous and respectful and have either heard or been part of cases where they have been ejected from planes - why shouldn't the same be true for children. As Anonymous has said yes they have the right to a seat but with that right comes the same expectation (read rules) that we must all abide by when traveling in confined spaces. Maybe someone should establish a "no child" cabin as we have with certain restaurants etc.
Richard,
What an amazing chap I THOUGHT you were. Must you be reminded that you were once a child? Please, if you feel you are that entitled than please charter your own jet not only for your sake but for ours as well. Please leave us peasants to fly with our crying ill-behaved children. Just keep in mind that these children are not only your future viewers but they will eventually grow up and determine how your old age home will be run. May they show you the same respect you have given them.
I am a business traveler who spends about half my time flying. Usually, I try not to let the kids get to me, and in many instances I can appreciate their joi de vivre (the whoops at take-off and landing actually mimic my feelings).
But I had the bad luck to sit in front of a family of three on the way back from Denmark. Their son kicked my seat repeatedly for a long stretch. Finally, I turned around and said, "Please don't do that." The parents shot daggers at me. The child started up again a while later and I turned around again. The mother, now sprawled across two seats to nap, with son propped on her, said: "It's a long flight. We can't stop him the whole time." Wow, what underwhelming courtesy and parenting. Sometimes, the parents ARE at fault. Would it be too much for airlines to offer a short list of unacceptable behaviors to customers? And not just for the children, either.
I do appreciate the other comments and understand that children have just at much right to travel on a plane as anyone. However, I have to agree with Richard. I travel long haul a lot for business and whether seated in economy or business I always cringe at the site of children boarding the plane and wait in fear that a family will pile into the seats around me for an 8 to 13 hour flight.
For those who travel often especially for work, waking up refreshed and able to work is often compromised by children who by no fault of their own may not adjust well to flying and/or jetlag. I have never understood the seating patterns of airlines where children are concerned. Children seem to be placed throughout all cabins - taking into account the limitations with crib placement when needed. Frequent travelers who are usually able to choose their seats in front of the economy section as a privilege then quite often business travelers who then find themselves surrounded by children. Would it not be possible for the airlines to block off a section either in the back or front of the plane for children? In this case those who wanted to avoid that section could do so and the children would be able to sit together, play, share toys, food, and enjoy the flight in their own regard. Also, would an age restriction of perhaps 7 or 8 years old for a child to travel in business or first also be an option? Until then we'll all have to travel as one big happy family.
Well,Richard is right and wrong.One can appreciate his frustration at unruly kids on flights,but then,a little understanding is all we need.Having said that,i believe the parents have the greater task of ensuring their kids are well-behaved on flights.I once had the experience of the 'seat-kicking' child on a flight from the UK,and though i tried to be tolerant,it wasn't easy. I had to count to ten,and turn around with a smile pasted to my face to ask the mum to kindly stop the child.In as much as kids will be kids,parents also MUST be parents.If the child isn't flying alone,i'd expect him to be on his best behaviour through-out[or almost] the flight.
Well,Richard is right and wrong.One can appreciate his frustration at unruly kids on flights,but then,a little understanding is all we need.Having said that,i believe the parents have the greater task of ensuring their kids are well-behaved on flights.I once had the experience of the 'seat-kicking' child on a flight from the UK,and though i tried to be tolerant,it wasn't easy. I had to count to ten,and turn around with a smile pasted to my face to ask the mum to kindly stop the child.In as much as kids will be kids,parents also MUST be parents.If the child isn't flying alone,i'd expect him to be on his best behaviour through-out[or almost] the flight.
Hi there,
The reason for this is due to the severe lack of flights related to airlines being fearful of adding flights due to financial considerations. Peter Teiman Norway.
Quit the whining, Quest. Many adults behave as poorly, if not worse, than most kids. This applies both to the Elite lounge and the business class section of the airplane.
Let's have the airline enforce strict rules on behavior both on board the plane and in lounges and you'll soon see the difference. But they'll never do it, sadly the paying passenger is always right.
Hi Richard,
when did you become so anti-family? You seem like such a nice guy on television...clearly you don't have any kids yourself otherwise you wouldn't say things like this. If you think it's hard to be the guy in front of children, let me assure you as a father of twins, it's 10x harder to be the parent traveling with them. Andrew
What about the people who have kids who are good on the planes? Why do they have to suffer in the back and have there kids be around the ones who misbehave and watch and maybe copy them. My son is 23months and he is a great flyer. Sits in his seat or my lap, sleeps, and watches his movies. We fly everwhere with him in first class or bussiness and you would never know he was on the flight he is that good. And lots of people tell us at the end of the flight. So I really feel they can't put a secation just for kids because the would be like going back to the days when blacks had to go the the back of the bus... It is unfair to our rights to do this.
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