Cranky baby and mom booted from Southwest Airlines flight!

[Charles Grubb]

A cranky two year old and his harried mom were booted off a Southwest Airlines flight.

The saga began on a Southwest plane in Amarillo bound for San Jose.

Seems the toddler was babbling something about, "Go plane, go!"

The talkative toddler also was heard to say, "I want daddy!":chatter

The flight attendants, who purport to be onboard for YOUR protection (and apparently TODDLER PATROL), were fed up with the potentially terrorist toddler and his enabling mom; and had them BOTH summarily ejected from the plane. :crying

The plane returned to the gate in Amarillo.

Pamela Root, and her talkative, terrorist, toddler Adam were escorted off the flight.:embarassed:

Root was rebooked on a later flight.

Root said Adam "had his moments" on the later flight, but fell asleep shortly after takeoff.o:-)

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ZgQEKkRfpJuD6M:http://www.parents-in-a-pickle.com/image-files/toddler-crying.jpg http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:2ebAud2RNV7wkM:http://cm.iparenting.com/fc/editor_files/images/1042/Articles/toddler-at-airport-photo-250-j-4836576-504x756.jpg http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:mrJb58IM2J_axM:http://www.herdaily.com/blogimg/parenting/toddler%2520at%2520airport.jpg http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:yap3Yeu3roD6_M:http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/infant-sleeping-on-airplane-seat.jpg

http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/67731732.html

[BillK]

I am sorry - as a regular passenger I have been on flights where they SHOULD have booted people and they did not.

I was recently on a flight that had three dogs on it and they all started barking - loud shrill yapping barking. Totally unacceptable in my opinion.

I am glad that someone took her off. She deserves no compensation. It is HER job to make herself and her cargo acceptable passengers.

Bill

[VooDooBaby]

WOW.

[BillK]

WOW.

This is not the only time - there was another one recently where the child was screaming and simply would not stop. This is not just a "fussy baby" we are talking flat out screaming and the child is kicking the passenger next to them, or the passenger is taking the dog out of the cage during the flight and holding them on their lap because the dog will NOT shut up in the cage kind of thing.

Bill

[cityboy]

I say, Amen!, to this one. I highly doubt the little brat was murmuring and cooing sweetly about his daddy and such. It was probably like the kid whose shrieking could be heard wall-to-wall inside the Lampasas Wal-mart, non-stop for at least 30 minutes. Enough is enough. If you can't train your kid that this type of behavior is unacceptable, then get the hell out ...

[CenTexDave]

I agree with the airline. The other passengers pay good money to have a safe, and quiet, flight.
I won't say that they should have deplaned them both at 25,000 feet, but.........:)

[Scarlett]

I don't think I have ever payed for a quiet flight...if I have, then I have been robbed.
I pay for safe though..I hope.

I think dogs are one thing...they can legally fly in cargo, so that should be a non-issue.

Kids, well, another story. Suck it up people...you were kids once too. Some of you probably before planes were invented...so your mama's never had this problem... :-$

[Msradar]

If the kid was screaming, not staying in the seating climbing all over and was flying as a lap-baby...then I can see booting him.

Not all adults like children. You are crammed in like sardines in a can. Imagine having a drooling, screaming kid kicking and trying to walk all over you...with wet slimy hands have they have been in his mouth. Not cool.

On the other hand I do remember flying when my children were small. I had an older lady, dress in a business suite that when she got to her seat she was seated next to my then 6 yo. She was on aisle and my child was next to the window. She was NOT happy. She asked the women across the aisle to swap seats..and told her very loudly that she did not want to sit next to someone else's screaming brat!

Against my instincts...I stayed quiet...I wanted to bash her head in! Well, the rest of the people boarded the plane...and guess what...she was in the center aisle surrounded by a bunch of young adults on a pleasure trip. They were load obnoxious, drank the whole flight, made her get up constantly since you have only rent beer! It was horrible.

The nice lady, spoke to my daughter the usual type of questions...asked my permission. My daughter told we were on our way to see family from Hawaii. When the plane took off she was coloring quietly. Before we were in the air an hour she was sound asleep and we had to wake her to eat.

She was shocked...she said you have the most wonderful children. It has been a pleasure...then she thanked the women across the aisle for swapping seats.

I had a good laugh..and told her...lady you screwed yourself. You would have had a quiet flight if you had kept your seat. Not all kids are brats!

But I can tell she must fly a lot and had many BAD experiences with kids on flights.

I say if you fly with a child you should be required to pay for a seat. So they have space to sit...none of this lap business. We have always paid for a seat. I do not want to hold a kid a wiggling kids for hours end.

[BillK]

I don't think I have ever payed for a quiet flight...if I have, then I have been robbed.
I pay for safe though..I hope.

I think dogs are one thing...they can legally fly in cargo, so that should be a non-issue.

Kids, well, another story. Suck it up people...you were kids once too. Some of you probably before planes were invented...so your mama's never had this problem... :-$

Sorry Scarlett - I have had flights with kids kicking the back of the seat - screaming and throwing temper tantrums the entire flight (at least two hours) - this is not acceptable in a public place - just like smokingis not acceptable when you cannot get away from it and want to.


No sucking it up - I don't do that anymore - I ask the flight attendant for re-seating or ask them to control the child. You and your child are given respect and some leeway in my book but after15 minutes of constant kicking and screaming some of which ends up in MY lap - you and your offspring of satan need to learn that this is not how people in public behave.

Bill

[THEMEANOGRE]

A horror story for y'all on Halloween. June '83, I am returning from Okinawa aboard the Flying Tigers "freedom bird". A way too young mother of three trying to ride herd over her brood. The infant won't stop screaming in her arms. The two toddlers aged 2 and 4 respectively, won't remain seated. They keep running up and down the length of the cabin, pestering everyone, talking to people in loud shrieks. Sailor father is delayed a day in the Phillipines. Despite repeated requests, Mom won't give the infant to the flight attendants to cure its problem, ears unpopped from changes in cabin pressure. Incidently, the cure is to place an empty cup over the ear. The toddlers after being FORCIBLY returned to their seats are buckled in by a flight attendant. The boy being elder and thus harder to handle gets buckled in first. While the attendant is tending his sister, he unbuckles himself. As the attendant turns to walk away, little boy jumps off his seat and "clips" said attendant from behind beloiw the knee. This causes her to topple backwards hitting her head. The plane makes an unscheduled return to Kadena AB. There it is met by AF Security Police to take woman and children into custody and remove them from the plane. As the family is deplaning, there is a standing ovation from passengers and cabin crew.

[Msradar]

Wow!!!

I know I have been on flights with first time mothers. One had the screaming my ears are exploding baby...very young baby..less that six weeks old. I asked her if she knew how to Help the baby pop her ears. I gave her instructions and that did not work. She tried a bottle and that did not work...she started the bottle too late. Poor little thing was nearly purple from screaming.

I asked her..May I tried? She was in tears and apologizing to everyone around us. I cupped babies ears..and the deed was done...popped the bottle in her mouth and she was happily sucking away. When we got close to landing I got Mom to use a pacifier.

I never saw a more grateful young mom.

[THEMEANOGRE]

I'm glad your story had a better ending.

[Scarlett]

Guess I am just blessed.
I flew by myself to Germany with three small kids. They were 1, 3 and 5. Two of them were still in diapers. The guy in the seat by us was quite friendly with the kids, and he helped me keep them entertained all the way. Nobody seemed scared of us when we boarded, and 2 other guys helped me get all 8 suitcases from the luggage area after we landed.

If a kid were kicking my seat, I would exchange words with the parent.
But a kid that cries on a plane...well...kids cry on planes.

[THEMEANOGRE]

I did say the woman was much too young to have three children. As I recall, she seemed to be 20-2.

[siamcat]

There is a difference between a fussy kid that a parent is trying to calm down and a hellion where the parents don't care.
I don't kow which this kid was but I guess airlines are trying to control the hellions, which would be a good thing.

[Scarlett]

I did say the woman was much too young to have three children. As I recall, she seemed to be 20-2.

I am sure there is a father somewhere who is much to young to be one of those too...but somehow he got away without being judged.

I have a student that is 17. She is pregnant. She also has a 4 year old and a 2 year old at home.

Ok, I am way off topic, my bad....

[THEMEANOGRE]

The poor woman in my tale had one hellion (the son), a gamma (the daughter) and a tiny bundle that was in terrible pain that she was unequipped to understand much less to ease. She was simply OBE'd. Her husband had been delayed by someone's fouling of the paperwork.

[VooDooBaby]

Y'all only see these kids once in your life. You judge, and get irritated, and think the parents are horrible parents, or the kids are horrible and shouldn't be allowed in public. I hope that while you are sitting there judging, and getting mad, that you realize there are disorders out there such as Aspergers. Sometimes kids that have it aren't diagnosed until 3 or 4.

Do you remember what it is like to be 2? Can you imagine being 2 and on an airplane? Shoved in a little seat? Having to stare at the seat ahead of you for hours? I hate it. I can only imagine a 2 year old hating it ten times more.

I'm guessing its been a while since some of you have had kiddos or grand kiddos. Because, no matter how well behaved a TODDLER is on a regular basis, there are going to be some episodes.

Just keep in mind that Aspergers, Autism, and other syndromes are hard to spot, and YOU might just be the one looking like a complete jerk at some point, not the parent or child. (trust me, I was a baby hater at one point, and got irritated at a kid, and boy was I embarassed when his mom let me know what was up with him)

And for the record, no one even knew my baby was on the plane except for the people who went to sit next to me but gave me a dirty look and went elsewhere. By the end of the plane ride, guess who was getting complaints? The drunk ADULTS. So quit knocking babies, and look around. My child was not the only child on the plane. There were 2 other toddlers. No complaints. Just complaints about the adults.

[Night Owl]

SW Airlines was wrong. Buying a ticket gives a traveler the right to sit in a seat. It does not give them the right to judge the actions of a 2 year old. If the passenger doesn't like the noise they should ask to get off and take another flight.

[BillK]

SW Airlines was wrong. Buying a ticket gives a traveler the right to sit in a seat. It does not give them the right to judge the actions of a 2 year old. If the passenger doesn't like the noise they should ask to get off and take another flight.

So - if I bring my great dane on the flight and he shares some of your seat YOU should change your plans? or my dog lifts his leg on your pant cuff YOU should change your plans?

If I get on and am coughing and throw up in YOUR lap - YOU shou7ld change YOUR plans?

If I or my child is kicking the back of YOUR seat and throwing food over the top that lands in YOUR lap YOU should make changes in YOUR plans?

If the child throws a cup of coke on to YOU then YOU shold ask to get off the plane - KNOWING that you will be arrested and taken away for making them go back to the gate?

hmmmm. . ..Just making sure that I understand your stance OWL.
Bill

[VooDooBaby]

Bill, not to sound rude, but the story at the beginning of this thread was about a babbling 2 year old. "I want daddy", "Go plane Go!" and the like are not the same as a child throwing a soda, or food. IF a child is doing this, just take away the soda and food, problem solved. Come to think of it... I'd rather listen to a curious little kid babble about go plane go, than the mom going "hush" repeatedly, and then the kid getting upset.

And about dogs, from what I understand, the dog has to fit in a carrier that then fits under your seat. No big dogs allowed.

[BillK]

Bill, not to sound rude, but the story at the beginning of this thread was about a babbling 2 year old. "I want daddy", "Go plane Go!" and the like are not the same as a child throwing a soda, or food. IF a child is doing this, just take away the soda and food, problem solved. Come to think of it... I'd rather listen to a curious little kid babble about go plane go, than the mom going "hush" repeatedly, and then the kid getting upset.

And about dogs, from what I understand, the dog has to fit in a carrier that then fits under your seat. No big dogs allowed.

You don't sound rude - the problem is that the thread has "drifted" as they often do to no matter what they paid for their seat and they should be able to do anything they want in it.

While the great dane was a stretch - I have had coffee, coke, wine and throw up on me from the passenger's ill behaved child in the next seat.
I have had detritus thrown on me from behind, I have had my seat kicked even after talking to the parent.

So - I actually am a VERY tolerant flyer - I have been executive platinum several times and currently am platinum - so you know I fly a lot.

HOWEVER - at SOME POINT the passenger has to subscribe to some level of decorum and be a decent passenger or get tossed.

Bill

[secretary]

Benadryl....works every time. :-$;)

/off to duck and cover! :13:

[Night Owl]

So - if I bring my great dane on the flight and he shares some of your seat YOU should change your plans? or my dog lifts his leg on your pant cuff YOU should change your plans?

If I get on and am coughing and throw up in YOUR lap - YOU shou7ld change YOUR plans?

If I or my child is kicking the back of YOUR seat and throwing food over the top that lands in YOUR lap YOU should make changes in YOUR plans?

If the child throws a cup of coke on to YOU then YOU shold ask to get off the plane - KNOWING that you will be arrested and taken away for making them go back to the gate?

hmmmm. . ..Just making sure that I understand your stance OWL.
Bill

Bill
You always take things to the extreme. This child did NONE of the things YOU mentioned. Don't go so overboard. This was a 2 year old talking and nothing more than TALKING.

The world wasn't made to serve YOU and your comfort.

[Msradar]

You know when I was flying I had to fly with a 3 yo with the worlds worst ear and sinus infection. Military orders they do not care if your kid is sick. I was told to give benedryl or dimatapp before the flight and every 4 hrs while in flight.

It was a long overseas flight. From then on I have made sure when we fly we follow that protocol. Cuttings down the ear pain.

[VooDooBaby]

I just can't see drugging my child for a flight.

[BillK]

Bill
You always take things to the extreme. This child did NONE of the things YOU mentioned. Don't go so overboard. This was a 2 year old talking and nothing more than TALKING.

The world wasn't made to serve YOU and your comfort.

I don't always take things to the extreme - I have had (as I said) all of the items that I posted happen to me (except the great dane <grin>).
You said:

Buying a ticket gives a traveler the right to sit in a seat. It does not give them the right to judge the actions of a 2 year old. If the passenger doesn't like the noise they should ask to get off and take another flight.

I disagree - yes - they have a right to that seat but they canot do "anything" that they want in that seat - there are limits. You said that if the passenger does ot like what is happening they can get off - I was asking you about those instances - it SEEMS like that if those happened to you I would bet that YOU would not get off - but that YOU would complain and have the child taken care of - no?

Bill

[Night Owl]

I would and have turned around and spoke with the parent. It usually only takes once. After the first time then I stand up and tell the child to stop. Have had to do that once and only once. The parent did not say a thing.

[THEMEANOGRE]

Be tolerant for as long as you can. Then ask the attendant to speak to the parent(s). When that fails, ask for the sky marshall. Make sure the parent(s) hear you.
As a passenger, you have no right to speak directly to the offending child unless they are in your face. You could be arrested. That would put a real crimp into a business trip. If you speak directly to the parents, they could decide that you are being belligerent, again, possible consequences. If you have time to set things up, you can always fly corporate, instead of airline.

[Night Owl]

What law states that a person cannot talk to a child? Arrested for what? Talking to a child. I do think you don't know of what you speak.

[Charles Grubb]

What law states that a person cannot talk to a child? Arrested for what? Talking to a child. I do think you don't know of what you speak.
NO, there could be some wisdom in what TMO says.
These days, talking to children with out the consent of the parent could get you called a pervert, child molester, kidnapper, or even arrested.

[THEMEANOGRE]

Thank you, Charles. You caught my intent perfectly. Plus, any possible charges would be FEDERAL, as the incident will have occurred in either US or international airspace.

Night Owl, I may not know enough about anything to make a living at it, but I do know a little bit about nearly everything. Plus, I have a much better (worse) imagination than Mohammed Sheikh Khalid. JSYK, he was the guy who plagarized Tom Clancy to come up with 9/11.

[Night Owl]

Since my question has not been answered, I will ask again. What specific law does an adult break by talking to a child? I refuse to walk around on pins and needles when parents of kids will not be a parent. I guess you are stating that I can sue the parents for the childs behavior? If our laws have gone to this extreme then we have bigger problems in this country than I thought.

[CenTexDave]

In this case that is why, at 25,000 feet, the crew should have asked the woman and child to deplane!!:)

[Scarlett]

Seriously Dave...toss them off?

Night Owl, I am in complete agreement with you for the third time...
And that scares the hell outta me...haha.

[Night Owl]

:thumbsup:thumbsup:thumbsup

Even I have my "days"

[THEMEANOGRE]

There is to my knowledge no specific law on the books, Night Owl. However as was pointed out accusations COULD be made. I'm certain that Scarlett can see this after having been on the wrong end of spurious accusations herself. Also, I believe she stated that she herself has travelled with small children otherwise unaccompanied. I am quite certain that her protective senses were operating at an elevated state during the journey.

[Night Owl]

There is to my knowledge no specific law on the books, Night Owl. However as was pointed out accusations COULD be made. I'm certain that Scarlett can see this after having been on the wrong end of spurious accusations herself. Also, I believe she stated that she herself has travelled with small children otherwise unaccompanied. I am quite certain that her protective senses were operating at an elevated state during the journey.

What accusation? That an adult spoke to a unruly child. What accusation could be made? You are on a plane for heaven's sake. The kid isn't going to be molested, kidnapped, or hurt. The little brat actually might learn something along with the so-called parents of the little brat.:drinking:drinking:drinking:drinking:drinking :banghead:banghead:banghead:banghead:banghead

[THEMEANOGRE]

Actually, NO, I tend to agree with you, but in our society today, the brainless and irresponsible hold sway. If such an accusation were made and an apporopriate authority figure present, a person could be placed under arrest and then have to go through ALL the motions of getting out of trouble, probably far from home.
So, my suggestion is to allow the crew to take care of the matter as they are empowered.

[Night Owl]

My only reply is you handle things your way and I will handle things my way. If the parents get upset then "we" can have a discussion. Accusations go both ways. They file a lawsuit against me then I will counter.

[THEMEANOGRE]

Owl, the concern here is NOT a lawsuit. The concern is federal CRIMINAL charges. You are aware that the only LEA that has investigative jurisdiction over aircraft in flight is the FBI, correct?

[Night Owl]

Yep, and they are not idiots.

[CenTexDave]

Seriously Dave...toss them off?

Night Owl, I am in complete agreement with you for the third time...
And that scares the hell outta me...haha.

You take me way too serious. Sure toss them off, when they're at the gate.

[Scarlett]

There is to my knowledge no specific law on the books, Night Owl. However as was pointed out accusations COULD be made. I'm certain that Scarlett can see this after having been on the wrong end of spurious accusations herself. Also, I believe she stated that she herself has travelled with small children otherwise unaccompanied. I am quite certain that her protective senses were operating at an elevated state during the journey.

Not really...my protective senses were no more or less elevated. I was quite happy when the guy next to us took it upon himself to talk to my kids. After the first 8 hours, I was rather tired of talking to them myself! :thumbsup

Accusations can be made anywhere. I am no longer scared of accusations. I would do exactly what Night Owl is saying he would do in this instance.

[BillK]

I purchased the SONY 99 percent noise reduction headphones - that keeps all the obnoxious sounds away from me on the plane <grin>.

Came in useful today with the screamer that was on the plane to Massachusetts.

Bill