Airlines charging for two seats

[passiflora]

As for poorly behaved toddlers, it is ultimately a question of parenting skills. As a parent, you have the responsibility to discipline your children so that they know how to behave in a public situation. To allow them to disrupt everyone with their tantrums and irritating behaviour is really a statement on your control over your kids. Children are young, yes, and thus, they should not be held fully accountable for their actions. On the other hand, the parents are intelligent and sentient adults and should bear full responsibility. Sadly, this happens not just on airlines, but I can imagine how tortuous it would be to have to sit through all that noise in an enclosed space. I fully agree with the way the airline handled the matter; these people should learn.

I don't think I've ever seen a tantrum on a flight, but I've never been on one without a crying infant. It's amazing how many people travel with babies! Sometimes my ears hurt when I'm flying and I take steps to equalize the pressure, like swallowing and chewing gum, so I can only imagine what it would be like for a tiny person who has no way to deal with that discomfort and has no way to communicate precisely what's wrong. I agree that parents should have a little more control when it come to toddlers -- but because it's a safety risk (as those articles explained), not because it's annoying.

 

 

 

As for the obesity issue, if someone is truly large enough that someone cannot sit comfortably in the seat next to them, I don't think the airlines have a choice. However, I'm not sure how it would be regulated during ticket sales -- do people just have to know and ask for two? Maybe they could have a few bigger seats on board that cost a little more since they take up more space (but not as expensive as first class). I've seen some discussion on the size of airline seats, but it seems to me like it would be easier to squeeze more seats in or safe space if you give people less legroom, rather than trying to squish in an extra seat across?

[Poetrie]

Safety risk is definitely a given, but I feel that being a general annoyance is a legitimate reason in itself to have action taken. I have been on planes where kids as old as 10 years old sitting behind you insist on kicking your chair throughout the flight while their parents watch impassively. On different occasions, they also start shrieking when attempting to get something or for reasons that are beyond discomfort from flying. I fully understand crying from physical discomfort but there are blatant displays of misbehaviour that are really all down to a lack of discipline. Having to sit through something like that for a 18 hours flight is enough for me to fantasize about morphing into a Purple People Eater.

[moni_rawr]

Towards the obese having to buy 2 seats to accomodate their size:

I've encountered an obese person sitting next to me once; thankfully I'm the size of a 12-year old boy, so it was not that uncomfortable when I ended up sharing part of my seat with them.

I did find it a bit weird and uncalled for though as one should not have to throw out their personal bubble just because they're on a plane, but I wasn't going to complain about it and embarrass the person.

We have to factor in how old the planes are along with when the design was made. Obesity was not such a hard-pressed subject back then, so they made the planes the most economical way (or so they thought) in order to fit a fair amount of passengers on the plane.

They have finally came out with a new design for the...Boeing 747 for international flights. The seats are a bit more spacious along with the plane being semi-loaded with more goodies. I just don't agree with having to change planes just to accomodate certain people. Plane rides are not necessarily supposed to be comfy...they're meant to get you to point B in a quick manner.

 

Handicap seats at the theater:

Unless they specifically ask if you would like to buy a handicap seat, you should be able to buy any seat due to the fact that it is the theater's fault for not having the seats handicap accessible.

 

 

Children on a plane:

I used to be a nanny, so I completely understand the child not wanting to sit down, tantrums, etc...but at the same time, the parent should have prepared for anything and everything to happen whilst on the plane. If their child is notorious for tantrums, maybe talk to their pediatrician to see if there's any medication the child can take to calm him/her. One family I nannied for would knock out their twin toddlers because they knew they were horrid when they were together in tight spots. And while I may not agree with medicating a child just to make the other passengers have an easier ride, if it's a last resort...use it. Nobody goes on a plane expecting rambunctious children, so the parents should keep them in mind.

 

As for the infants riding on an adult's lap...those parents were trying to find a loophole, failed, and complained because they expected the airlines to be like Burger King and flipped when they couldn't have it their way. They knew going on the plane that all the infants had to be sitting with an adult, and it's common knowledge that an adult is 18+.