Complaint Review: United Airlines - Nationwide

As a military wife living in Japan, I understand that sometimes it is necessary to fly with babies and children. My husband and I don't have kids yet and are planning to wait until we get back to the States because I don't want to have to fly with my child when they are so young. But that is our own personal choice and some people don't have the option to wait. So they get stationed overseas, hence they need to fly with small children. There are some other examples of small children needing to fly, but I say if at all possible, avoid having to go through all the trouble of flying with small kids. I get a headache just thinking about what parents have to go through with the stroller and carseat and diaperbags, having to put up with negative people and sometimes rude staff members both in the airport and in the plane, and not to mention making sure your child is comfortable and happy during this whole crazy ordeal. I do fly a lot because of being military and I am so happy to be childless at the present time and not having to deal with all that. But I am not a monster so I am not disrespectful to these parents and if there is a crying baby or annoying kid on my plane, I just put in my earpods and turn up the volume on my personal DVD player I take along for long trips, and just tune it out and thank God it's not me. But I do think these parents should be able to board first, not to give them special treatment, but to get them seated and out of the way so I can get to my seat faster and so my trip will be pleasant. Also, and I'm sure I'm going to sound heartless here, I do think that there should be an age limit for kids in Business/First Class because that is a section with certain privileges and small kids don't understand that so of course they are going to be loud and be kids because that is what they are. I personally don't understand why someone would want to even pay such an outrageous price for their kid to sit in first class but that's beside the point. So the point of my response: Yes flying with annoying children is, well annoying but some people have no choice. We all wish people could control their kids better and that our world could keep turning without disruption from outside sources but that is not a feasible option. So what if people with special needs get to board the plane five minutes before you? Is it really that bad? So you can either let it piss you off and ruin your day/week/month (however long you hold grudges)...or you can just let it go and be happy that it's not you with the annoying baby/child. Hope I didn't sound too harsh and have a great day!

I am disabled & use a walking stick to get around & from what I know it's slandered for airlines to ask people who have a disability onto the plane first, As for having a age limit on children who fly that's going a bit to far but I can understand that there are people out there who find it annoying when a child is out of control but in this situation the child was 4 months old. As for the women who fakes a disability at the airport you are a disgrace & as a person with a disability I find it offensive that you are abusing the system don't be so lazy use your legs for walking you can still walk so there is no need for you to use a wheelchair give it to someone who really needs it.

Old people. Now, if they truly are in need of assistance so be it. My mother in law is 70, can walk fine (if she wants to she's just too lazy to walk) and when she gets to the airport she demands a wheelchair. She informs me this gets her through the security line faster and also she gets to board first. She also says this makes it so that she can be at the airport an hour prior to boarding rather than the two hours they suggest. Well, when she gets to her final destination all of a sudden she can walk. She hauls off the plane at the same speed of the younger people. It's all a scam. I really wish if someone said they needed a wheelchair to get to and board a flight early they would make them stay on the plane and be the last person off to allow others to go first (since they thought they needed the extra time to get onboard they should make them wait to be last for the same reason) Nothing is more infuriating to me. I also wish the airlines would demand some sort of doctor's note to say they need this special treatment. Too many old people are doing this you know. Everyone in my mother in law's community (retirement) know of this "Trick" to get through security and board faster.

Old people. Now, if they truly are in need of assistance so be it. My mother in law is 70, can walk fine (if she wants to she's just too lazy to walk) and when she gets to the airport she demands a wheelchair. She informs me this gets her through the security line faster and also she gets to board first. She also says this makes it so that she can be at the airport an hour prior to boarding rather than the two hours they suggest. Well, when she gets to her final destination all of a sudden she can walk. She hauls off the plane at the same speed of the younger people. It's all a scam. I really wish if someone said they needed a wheelchair to get to and board a flight early they would make them stay on the plane and be the last person off to allow others to go first (since they thought they needed the extra time to get onboard they should make them wait to be last for the same reason) Nothing is more infuriating to me. I also wish the airlines would demand some sort of doctor's note to say they need this special treatment. Too many old people are doing this you know. Everyone in my mother in law's community (retirement) know of this "Trick" to get through security and board faster.

Old people. Now, if they truly are in need of assistance so be it. My mother in law is 70, can walk fine (if she wants to she's just too lazy to walk) and when she gets to the airport she demands a wheelchair. She informs me this gets her through the security line faster and also she gets to board first. She also says this makes it so that she can be at the airport an hour prior to boarding rather than the two hours they suggest. Well, when she gets to her final destination all of a sudden she can walk. She hauls off the plane at the same speed of the younger people. It's all a scam. I really wish if someone said they needed a wheelchair to get to and board a flight early they would make them stay on the plane and be the last person off to allow others to go first (since they thought they needed the extra time to get onboard they should make them wait to be last for the same reason) Nothing is more infuriating to me. I also wish the airlines would demand some sort of doctor's note to say they need this special treatment. Too many old people are doing this you know. Everyone in my mother in law's community (retirement) know of this "Trick" to get through security and board faster.

I enjoy having children on my flights. As a flight attendant and father of two, I do understand the stress of the parents. I usually, as do most of my colleagues, spend extra time with the little ones and actually enjoy giving the parents a "break" by spoiling little Johnny or Suzie in the galley. The unfortunate situation we most often encounter are the parents and not the children. We are responsible for safety on each and every flight, not just for adults, but children as well. Johnny must stay seated during turbulence with their seat belt on. Then the parent of 2 year old Johnny state, ..."but he does not want to stay seated." I had to actually ask a parent, "....who is the parent here?" We know what is safe for the child but he does not until he is properly taught. Do we just allow them to run wild and then hit a patch of moderate turbulence and have a small child propel from their seat up to the ceiling, break their neck, and end up dead? I will not allow that to happen on my watch, no matter how ignorant the parent may be. P.S. We do permit passengers to pre-board if the situation permits. As far as children in 1st or business? Thats for another discussion another time! Cheers!!!

I have been reading some of the recent responses, and I still can't believe the attitudes of some people. And I'm sure most of those saying parents with small children should not be allowed to board first, do not have children themselves. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. It does not matter when you board, first or last. Your seat will still be there, and the plane will still depart at the same time. By allowing those with special needs (elderly/disabled/small children) to board first, it just makes the boarding process go that much smoother. Have you ever run late for a flight, and you were one of the last persons to board? Wasn't it amazing how quickly you were able to get on the plane, walk to your seat, throw your carry-on in the overhead bin and sit down? And for those who purchase First Class tickets. I can see wanting to board first on a plane that has separate boarding doors for First and Coach. But for planes with only 1 door for boarding, do you really want to sit there while all those "low-life coach scum" come traipsing through your precious section? If it were me, I would be sitting comfortably in the lobby while all those people boarded and got out of my way. In fact, even if I was flying coach, I would do the same. I really hate standing in the aisle of a plane, waiting for the herd to move. I would much rather go in after most have seated themselves and gotten out of the way. Right now though, it is usually myself, my wife and our 4-year old daughter traveling together. Up until now, it has been nice being allowed to board first to get in, get seated and out of the way. When she was under 2, we also had the added hassle of a car seat and stroller to deal with. Being able to go on before the crowd helped a great deal. But, now she is old enough where we can queue up like everyone else. No strollers or car seats to contend with anymore. And besides, since seating is assigned, you are not getting closer to the front of the plane by boarding first. The only exception to this, that I can think of, is Southwest Airlines, as they do not assign seats. We'll be flying America West next month from Phoenix to Orlando. We'll be more than happy to sit in the lobby until the plane is almost full so that the rest of you can push and shove your way into your assigned seats. This "me first" mentality has gotten way out of hand.

First class, business or coach, it doesn't really make any difference. Misbehaved children can be very irritating after a short period of time. Boarding - First class passengers pay for priviliges. It should be a privilige for them to board the plane first to allow them to get settled and comfortable. They pay for this privilige and should not have to queue in line to get to their seats. Some persons with disabilities and the elderly have difficulty boarding. They should be allowed to board following first class. This allows their assistants and the flight attendants an opportunity to aid them in being seated and stowing carry on items. Children, however, should queue in line with everyone else. There is no reason they should be afforded a special privilige. Parents of young children should not expect this privilige and it certainly is not a "right". As an individual or couple you elected to have children. The responsibility for seating these children is solely yours. The rest of us did not sign on to wait so you can be afforded special treatment. Parents should be responsible for their childrens' behavior. In the case of a crying infant or toddler you are being told by the child attention is needed, whether a diaper change, feeding etc. it is time to fill the need. Allowing an infant or toddler to cry over an extended period of time is annoying to others and only serves to reinforce the theory that you as a parent are not caring properly for your child. The outraged posters in this thread are generally not annoyed by a crying child that is attended to promptly. It is the children that cry for extended periods of time. Run rampant in the aisles, hang over the backs of the seats staring and are generally misbehaved while their parents sit with a dumbfounded look on their faces about what to do, or similarly ignore the situation. It is not "cute" for a 4 year old to hang on the back of a seat asking dozens of questions of someone who is trying to relax and enjoy their flight. I have seen many children, from infant to teen, that were properly attended by their parents. They do not annoy others when flying or otherwise, are polite, respectful and at times a pleasure to watch. The problem here is not the children, it is the parents. If you have taught your children proper behavior and respect for the rights and privacy of others they will not misbehave in this manner.

You tell me, how was I first supposed to travel here to Germany to be with my husband???? (My children were 1 and 5 at that time.) Also once we got here, were we just supposed to cut off all contact with their grandparents unless they flew over here? (Because God forbid I fly with them being under 10) So how exactly was I supposed to maintain my children seeing their grandparents, huh? Swim? Oh I know, since my children are under 10 and their grandparents don't have to money to fly here, I was just supposed to NOT have them see each other. It really wouldn't matter, they were only 1 and 5 when we left. (as I feel most of the replies I get will say this.)

Truly I don't see why people who travel with children feel that they are ENTITLED or mandate that they need to board before everyone. I've been many families with children that board when it's their time to board and they do just fine! GET OVER IT! GET WITH THE PROGRAM and board like everyone else! I do agree with the person about the age limit of 10 or at least children that are well behaved. The problem with today's society is that people can't control their children, and just allow them to do whatever they please.

I agree to some extent on the children rule. I prefer to fly first class for several reasons, more leg room and generally better service. The comment on "Outrageous price for a seat" in my opinion is ridiculous, it's the price you can afford or not afford. No one should have special boarding privileges just because they have a child and if I'm in first class I certainly don't want my flight ruined by a screaming child

When you travel on any commerial airline, you are taking a form of public transportation. As such, you are going to have to deal with the general public both good and bad. As far as First Class goes, a VERY small percentage of seats in First are occupied by passengers who PAID a First Class fare (especially domestic). In fact, the vast majority of domestic flights don't have a single passenger on board who PAID First class. It is my personal opinion that if you pay $195 round trip and upgrade to First, you deserve to sit in First Class but you don't deserve any special treatment above and beyond the seat itself and maybe a meal and a hot towel. At $195 round trip you are not entitled to your own private aircraft and you are not entitled to a childless flight experience. If that does not meet your expectations, then you should charter a private aircraft. Regardless of the feelings of some passengers, airlines always welcome children on board because the child's experience on that airline will hopefully be a good one. Their fond childhood memories of flying on United Airlines to visit Grandma will hopefully influence their choice of airline as an adult and lead them to become loyal United customers. If I had my way, NOBODY would be in First unless they paid the true First Class fare ($900 and up each way) and even then I would not restrict access for children. Money talks, especially at a company that lost $21 Billion last year. If your family of four pays that First Class fare, I really don't care if you and your kids scream the whole way to China. As far as rude flight attendants go, that is totally unacceptable. United has an extremely high standard of professionalism for flight attendants to follow and rudeness to customers is not allowed. However, again you are dealing with the public so if an airline employee is rude to you then by all means contact their Customer Relations department.

Kids cry, it is as simple as that. But if the parents believe there is the possibility their child will be disruptive, they should not board an airplane, period! Stay at home or drive to the destination! The same parents who bring their crying kids on an airplane are the same inconsiderate louts who allow their children to run around and make nuisances of themselves in other public places, such as restaurants. The old adage, "children should be seen, and not heard" is NOT outdated; it applies just as much today. And to the original writer of this post who threatens not to travel on United Airlines again, I say good riddance!

Kids cry, it is as simple as that. But if the parents believe there is the possibility their child will be disruptive, they should not board an airplane, period! Stay at home or drive to the destination! The same parents who bring their crying kids on an airplane are the same inconsiderate louts who allow their children to run around and make nuisances of themselves in other public places, such as restaurants. The old adage, "children should be seen, and not heard" is NOT outdated; it applies just as much today. And to the original writer of this post who threatens not to travel on United Airlines again, I say good riddance!

I have taveled with our 3 kids since they were very young. We routinely travel across country for trips to Orlando. We now have the benefit of boarding with 1st, but before that I really found that the pre board of those with kids was a great benefit. No, its not about the early boarding for the overhead space. Its about getting the kids in their seat and settled. Doing this when you are in the end or middle of a boarding line will only get you a long wait for those behind you as you try to get the kids settled. I dont fly UA but at least other airlines are smart about it.

Wow. I didnt know that there was so much hatred for children these days. Just.. wow. Alright, #1, UA was totally wrong for being rude to you, not following on their promises, and should be smacked. At least, refunding you the cost of the trip in questions. To some certain other jerks on this report, ok, i have this kid in my lap who starts crying. The attendants and other passengers being nasty sure won't help anything. What do you expect the person should do in this situation? That brings me to #2.. airlines really need to have some area set aside for those with fussy / hungry / in need of diaper change or otherwise loud children. This negates most all of these problems. Idea for the UA folks upstairs *hint hint* #3, those of you who seem to not comprehend how the minds of children that small work: GET REAL! I dont like having a bawling baby next to me, and neither does anyone else in this world (including the parents!). Being a parent is hard. Been there, doing that. Do us all a favor and show just an inkling of consideration for someone else for a change. If i ran into any of your attitudes on a flight, you would be told where to shove such attitude, and i would gladly entertain the thought of throwing on some headphones and letting the kid cry just to spite you! Patience, folks. My main issue was the horrid attitude shown by most of the people in this thread. Amazing. Getting back on topic.. I've had certain other problems with united (namely their lack of professionalism, among more), which makes me try to avoid them when flying if at all possible. I'm glad to see you've done the same and informed everyone you know of their lousy service.

I don't mind kids in First. However one of the things a person expects in First is calm and quite. If you're child can't do that then why should I have to deal with it? You paid for a ticket to an area of the plane were that is expected. Would you go to a 5 star hotel and expect to be allowed to stay in your room while the room next to you hears your kids scream? No, they'd kick you onto the street quicker then reading this sentence took. An airline can't do that in the air, but should be allowed to force the kid back into coach. Everyone with kids keeps complaing how business customers feel they are better then the others. One poster even says coach is what keeps the airlines afloat, you don't have a clue. Read any article, ask any airline employee or anyone who works in aviation. The people flying business are the ones that allow people in coach to fly without paying high fares. If every seat in 1st is paid for and no one flys coach the airline has broke even in most cases. If every seat is paid for in coach, but no one paid for 1st or a last min. coach fare (read over $1000 for most of those) then the flight will lose money. Think about this. If they stop flying, you won't be unless you're willing to fork over three-fours times the amount you do right now.

I'm the mother of a young toddler (21 months) and a 5 month old daughter. I'm soon to travel to london, since that's where I'm originally from and will have to endure an 8 hour flight...however since reading the predominantly comments posted here, I'm almost wary to fly. Thank God I fly with British Airways and I've always known them to let mothers and children to board first with the first class boarders. Unfortunately, we like in a prejudiced world where one thinks whoever makes more money is more superior to the next, I believe that anyone who can AFFORD whatever they pay for, is entitled to it, but also bear in mind that children will be children and they're concept of understanding is not as fully developed as ours. So fellow humans, please be compassionate, one day you will have children too...I have to travel to London because my parents are there.

I am absolutely amazed at how whiny adults have become, particularly when they're talking about whining children. Maybe they should consider what caused some of these "disrespectful" parents to be on those planes in the first place. I'm the wife of an active duty soldier. We live about 1,000 miles from our closest relatives because the military moved us here. My husband and I welcomed our first child into our family just three weeks before my husband was sent to Afghanistan for one year. When the baby was just six weeks old (and I had barely slept all that time!) it became obvious to me that I needed some help. So I packed up my stuff to fly home to stay with family. (Everyone in my family works so no one could come stay with me.) Driving 1,000 miles alone with a newborn was NOT an option. We can't afford a first class ticket, so I bought a coach seat and, yes, my son was a lap child on that flight. At six weeks old, he wouldn't have sat in his own seat for long anyway and, again, money is tight. I researched flying with babies, and learned that the only type of stroller (umbrella) the airline would allow me to carry one was too big for my newborn son to sit in. So I wore my baby in a front baby carrier through the airport. (Which was a nightmare in itself. Airport security aren't allowed to help mothers in and out of the carriers and there's no where to sit while you take the carrier off and put it through the X-ray machine. After our first flight was delayed I had to run wearing the carrier---outside in the snowy weather with no coat and only a blanket for the baby---and pulling a carry-on suitcase, in order to catch our connecting flight. (I had to bring a carry-on because I had to check my son's car seat and needed the extra baggage in order to get enough clothes to last us for two seasons. Forget carrying diapers --as someone mentioned---I bought those at my destination! I knew my son would probably cry during take-off so I planned ahead and had bottles ready, a feat in itself considering that there's no where to warm a bottle when you're running to catch a flight! My son did cry a little on each flight ---nothing too bad, though. I, however, wanted to bawl! The people sitting next to us were very nice, and very understanding. Everyone went out of their ways to tell me that they had kids of their own and sympathized with my situation. Still, I haven't flown since my flight back to my own house. Even with the kind seat-mates, the experience just wore me out. Thank God I wasn't sitting next to some of the people who posted here! I can't imagine how it would have felt if, with a husband at war and no other options, some airline customer had treated me as rudely as some of the people here seem to be. Climb out of your selfish holes and consider WHY that parent may be flying!

I have never in all my years of flying (most weeks for the past seven years) ever heard an airline deny early boarding for passangers traveling with children. I wonder if we were not paying attention, or were running late and missed the early boarding call. It's usually always done with an announcement about pre boarding with anyone that needs assistance, or anyone traveling with children. Also remember, Abortion is still legal in the US!

Michael, I sincerely hope that you were not serious in what you just posted, but are merely trying to "stir the pot" to cause trouble. If the opinion you expressed was truly how you feel, then I hope you do not have children. If you do, God help them. If you don't, please don't have any in the future as you would certainly be an unfit parent with that kind of attitude.

Next time you fly with your children do yourself and the other passengers a favor and drug your kids so they will sleep through the flight. It's like when irresponsible parents bring their kids to the movies and all the little s**t does is scream through the whole thing. It is really inconsiderate to the others who paid good money to fly or watch a movie to have a screaming brat around. To avoid future problems, find a a baby sitter to stay home. Michael - West Jordan, Utah

David, First, the question: Do you currently have kids? I ask that as it seemed the road trips you referred to may be from when you were a kid, not the parent. I just want that clarified please. Yes, I am upset about something. I am upset about the lack of customer service to the original poster of this report. I am upset when people post ridiculous comments such as "flying is unsafe for small children". I am upset that when a child cries, people think there is a discipline problem. I am really upset when someone goes so far as to suggest medicating a child to keep them quiet! The absolute nerve of some people! Now that I'm finished with my little rant, I will say that we will not always fly for our vacations. In the next few years we will be moving back to Florida. We will take road trips to various places as our daughter gets older. However, most of our trips back to Arizona will be by plane. We don't shoot our load of vacation all in one shot. We take a little here and there to spread the time out over the year. I am happy that you and your family did road trips, and that you were able to learn about our great nation. However, none of this has anything to do with the fact that United gave this customer and her family terrible service because they were traveling with a small child.

hmmm....obviously, you are upset about something. Sorry to hear. It is also obvious you took parts of my statements out of context, expected. Regardless... One comment I would like to make in regard to road trips to Florida...yep - from the northern suburbs of Illinois, to Florida, four kids and two adults, to visit relatives as well. It was fun. Much more enjoyable than an airplane. This was our vacation and we had a great time, and learned a lot about the United States. Every summer was a road trip, seeing the country and learning, and enjoying. Not fighting to get on an airplane, then complaining about the treatment afterward.

This will be long, so everyone please bear with me (or not, it's your choice). It's obvious that neither John (Chicago) nor David (Racine) have children. First for John. We are not asking for special treatment, nor are we teaching our kids that they are "special" because we get to board first. We get to pre-board so that we can get out of YOUR way when you are trying to get to your seat. Here's a newsflash for you John (and for everyone else who is upset because people with kids get to pre-board). The plane takes off at the same time no matter when you get on it. And with the exception of Southwest, you will still be sitting in the same seat whether you get on first or last. So why not let those who need a few minutes extra board first so they can get out of your way? Hell, when I travel alone, I prefer to board LAST. That way I get to sit in the comfy lounge chair longer instead of having to fight everyone to get to my cramped seat. I would do the same if I was flying 1st class (unless the aircraft type allowed separate boarding for 1st where coach does not have to travel through 1st to get to their seats). And now for David. I have to quote your post in parts, then respond to each. "There are many reasons why a child should not be in an airplane. Due to the pressure changes, speeds of aircraft, etc... it is not safe for a child." Speeds of aircraft? Are you serious? Please elaborate how that is not safe for a child. We first flew our daughter when she was just 2 months old. See my previous response on 8/28/04 for the precautions we took before the flight. "We drove somewhere each summer for our vacation. By driving, we were also able to stop and experience different areas of the country and learn many things we would have missed had we flown." While it would be nice to be able to drive to our vacation destinations, Florida is a 3-day trip each way, and would cost us much more in fuel and lodging than it does to fly. And before you say "go somewhere closer", we go to Florida as that is where all my family is. "As a business traveler, traveling nearly every week, I will say there is nothing more annoying than a child screaming while on the plane. This isn't the child's fault, it is the parent's for subjecting this child to such a horrid experience." I do agree that a screaming child is annoying. I don't agree with your last statement there. Infants scream for many different reasons (hunger, dirty diaper, pain, etc.). How is this the fault of the parents? "A young child is fearful of certain things. The child knows they have no control over certain situations, and something as incredible as flying is amazingly scary for a child. PLEASE parents....be considerate of your child and DO NOT place them on an airplane." My 3 1/2 year old daughter is afraid of the dark, and of monsters under her bed. She is NOT afraid of flying. In fact, she LOVES it (she insists on sitting by the window). She just took her 5th round-trip flight last month, all between Arizona and Florida. Thank goodness this time she had her own seat to sit in. Also please explain to me how a small child can comprehend something as complex as situational control. Please post your credentials that allow you to practice child psychology. "I have to agree with the posts about children in First Class." If I buy, or upgrade to, 1st class tickets for my family, then we have as much right to be there as you do. "Since deregulation of the airline industry, things have gone downhill. Now it seems ANYONE can fly. It used to just be the business traveler at one point." What? Are you trying to tell us that non-business air travel was not allowed at some point? In the past, there were more business travelers on flights than not, but that's back when it was expensive to fly. These days, almost everyone can afford plane tickets. "I have found that fellow business travelers are very respectful of each other and the airline employees. Respect breeds respect." Are you trying to say the all non-business travelers are disrespectful? I certainly hope not. Every time my family flies, we are respectful to both the airline staff, and our fellow travelers. Some people even go out of their way to make us happy, or to play "peek-a-boo" between the seats with our daughter. "I have experienced times that while seated in First, people walking through the cabin, muttering their musings, generally not pleasant, about their dislike of the fact that people are in First and they are not. Well, to that I say, pay for it and get it!" Another reason to board LAST if coach passengers have to go through 1st class to get to their seats. If you still insist on boarding first, then get your headsets right away and put them on! "Of course, there is also the infrequent traveler who is seated in First, either because they got a "killer deal" on some cheap website, or because someone else is paying their ticket. This person sits, takes their shoes off, puts their feet on the walls, or the seat in front of them, so that everyone can smell their rank. OR - many other atrocities that I am not about to repeat." I agree wholeheartedly. This type of behavior is reprehensible. But this comment has no place on this report as it does not deal with children. "People...it all boils down to RESPECT. Whatever happened to it? .... You get that 125.00 fare and expect to be treated like someone who just spent nearly 2,000.00 for a First Class seat. Or...even after paying that 125.00 fare, feel you have the right to annoy that person sitting in First Class." I'm sorry, but if I buy a coach ticket, I DO NOT demand 1st class service. I did not pay for that. What I do demand is to be treated like the paying customer that I am. Just because I have a child does not mean I should be treated any differently than those without. And that is what this whole report was about in the first place. "Just remember, most of those people in First Class, (and in the first few rows of coach class), are business travelers, who have been working hard, away from home for great lengths of time, and are just looking for some peace and quiet before arriving home to their families, or to their next client." And? Well guess what? I worked hard to earn the money to buy my tickets. What's the difference? Coach passengers are the ones that are keeping the airlines aloat. OK folks, that's it. Sorry for the long-winded response. I just felt it needed to be made.

I will say that at times it may *appear* necessary to fly a child on a plane, I have to disagree. There are many reasons why a child should not be in an airplane. Due to the pressure changes, speeds of aircraft, etc... it is not safe for a child. Many doctors have reported on this situation. While I was growing up, with three other siblings, my parents refused to fly us because it was unsafe on many levels. We drove somewhere each summer for our vacation. By driving, we were also able to stop and experience different areas of the country and learn many things we would have missed had we flown. As a business traveler, traveling nearly every week, I will say there is nothing more annoying than a child screaming while on the plane. This isn't the child's fault, it is the parent's for subjecting this child to such a horrid experience. A young child is fearful of certain things. The child knows they have no control over certain situations, and something as incredible as flying is amazingly scary for a child. PLEASE parents....be considerate of your child and DO NOT place them on an airplane. I have to agree with the posts about children in First Class. Yes, I do sit in First Class very often, depending on the flight length, and whether or not I will pay the fees, which sometimes I will for the comfort. Additionally, because I am a frequent traveler with one specific airline, most of the time I am in First Class. Do I think this makes me any better than anyone in coach? NO! However, I do expect to be comfortable and be in a relaxing atmosphere while seated in First. While I spend week after week away from home, working with customers up to 10 hours per day, then working late at night with other customers, by the time I get on a plane to head home, I deserve to be treated with respect and comfort. Since deregulation of the airline industry, things have gone downhill. Now it seems ANYONE can fly. It used to just be the business traveler at one point. I have found that fellow business travelers are very respectful of each other and the airline employees. Respect breeds respect. I have experienced times that while seated in First, people walking through the cabin, muttering their musings, generally not pleasant, about their dislike of the fact that people are in First and they are not. Well, to that I say, pay for it and get it! Of course, there is also the infrequent traveler who is seated in First, either because they got a "killer deal" on some cheap website, or because someone else is paying their ticket. This person sits, takes their shoes off, puts their feet on the walls, or the seat in front of them, so that everyone can smell their rank. OR - many other atrocities that I am not about to repeat. Granted, coach class is not void of these types of people either. People...it all boils down to RESPECT. Whatever happened to it? Nobody respects anyone anymore. This world has become such a "me first" society. Everyone expects everything for nothing. You get that 125.00 fare and expect to be treated like someone who just spent nearly 2,000.00 for a First Class seat. Or...even after paying that 125.00 fare, feel you have the right to annoy that person sitting in First Class. Just remember, most of those people in First Class, (and in the first few rows of coach class), are business travelers, who have been working hard, away from home for great lengths of time, and are just looking for some peace and quiet before arriving home to their families, or to their next client. Yes, we choose this line of business. We don't choose the disruptions caused by disrepectful, or inconsiderate persons.

Why should an airline provide special treatment just because you have kids? What businesses do? Hey, I know it's not easy. But you chose to have them. Why not begin teaching them at an early age how to blend in and work with society. Not teaching them that they are "special". They are special in YOUR eyes. That should be enough.

If all the complainers read how old this child was (4 months) how could they berate the parent for not discipling the baby? At 4 months old, they do not need to be disciplined on an airplane, they are infants, who are crying for a reason such as discomfort; needing changed; hungry. People with kids deserve as much respect as those without kids. We pay the same fees as you do, and some times these children are better behaved and more respectful than the adults that are on the plane.

"If I pay for tickets in first class for my family, which we often do, we have just as much right to sit there as you do." If you pay for tickets to a Broadway show, does that give your children the right to not behave properly? How about a fine restaurant? A museum? An art gallery? If the children are well behaved, then there is obviously no problem. Otherwise, I can guarantee that YOU will be confronted by (1) the flight attendants; (2) other passengers; (3) all of the above. Because the problem is not with the children, it's with the adult accompanying them. And should that confrontation not sink in, YOU will be met by law enforcement when the plane lands. The only good news is that the remaining passengers in FC will get vouchers from the airline for our inconvenience. Been there, done that.

If I pay for tickets in first class for my family, which we often do, we have just as much right to sit there as you do. Get over yourself. Because you are a "business traveller," you aren't any higher on the food chain than my family and I are...sorry to burst your bubble....actually, no I'm not. I am SO sick of snotty business travellers!!! Anyways, Thank you for the heads up about United Airlines. I will avoid them at all costs! ...and we travel A LOT! I will continue to fly our current favorite carrier which treats EVERY member of our family with respect, especially our one year old.

Hello-- I work for an airline that does not have ANY negative reports on this site! (yay) And this is how WE do it... We don't have a separate first class, so the point about children in first class is moot. HOWEVER, I used to work for an airline which DID have first class and if I, even as a non-revenue passenger, had to listen to screaming children in first class I would be livid! So whoever wrote about an age limit in first class, amen to that. Sorry, parents, but that SHOULD be a peaceful enclave. The other person didn't put it in a very nice way, but I do agree. As for my current airline, we board special needs passengers first (wheelchairs, unaccompanied minors, those who require extra assistance, and those with SMALL children). The reason for boarding people with small children (and others mentioned above) first is not to have them take up all the overhead space, it is to have them be "settled" and not be in the aisle in the way of other passengers. Also, they frequently have strollers or carseats to check, and we have to tag these items at the gate and have the parents put them at the end of the jetbridge to be collected by our ground crew. This is time consuming, and if you were waiting behind someone who was tagging two strollers and a carseat and then further had to wait for them while they stowed their carryons and buckled in their children, you would be irritated. SOOOOOO... we board them first and get them "out of your way". Doesn't that make more sense? We do NOT let parents carry on strollers. We do NOT let parents carry on carseats unless their child has a paid seat. In this case, the child USES the carseat, it is not taking up carryon room or overhead space. If ANYONE, including parents, has too many carryons (if this actually gets past the ticket counter), we make them check them there at the gate and not board with them. After we board the special needs customers (which usually only takes about five minutes, BTW, can ya wait that long?), we board from the REAR of the aircraft. Many airlines do not do this (??), causing constant jam-ups because people are stopping in front rows to stow their stuff and sit down, and people in rows behind them cannot get by. Boarding from the rear of the aircraft means that the people who board first go directly to their seats at the rear, stow their stuff there, and sit down. People behind them are presumably sitting in rows in front of them and will not have to wait very long if at all. We wait until the jetbridge clears until we board the next few rows of passengers. This ensures that passengers can wait comfortably in a large lobby area rather than on a crowded, frequently very cold or very hot, jetbridge or stuck in the aisle of the plane. Much more comfortable waiting in the spacious lobby than being claustrophobic, right? So what is your hurry if the plane will not take off until you are ALL seated anyway? You have an assigned seat, the people who are boarding are seated BEHIND you and cannot use your overhead space and will not be in your way when you board. CHILL, and be glad you are waiting in a non-claustrophobic zone. One quick note about seating, though... If you are flying one of those lovely airlines that does not assign seats (!!!), I guess a pile up and mad rush and impatient elbowing and shoving at the gate is inevitable. Sorry, but your airline is your choice, so if you don't like that, pick an airline that assigns seats. Nuff said. Oh, and by the way, please try to keep it non-claustrophobic for everyone else by staying out of the way until your row is called. Crowding the gate area and blocking the way for passengers seated in rows behind you means you have to wait longer. If we are boarding from the back and you are in Row 2, just sit down and be comfortable. We WILL call you, we promise. Also, sighing heavily, rolling your eyes, and glaring at airline personnel will not help you board any more quickly. Just CHILLLLLLLLLL. We are trying to get the plane out on time FOR YOU. We have frequently ranked highest in on time departures AND arrivals, meaning not just the "push" time from the gate, but getting you to your destination on time or even EARLY!! Sure, we want to get the plane out on time to save ourselves paperwork and bad rankings, but it is PRIMARILY (at my airline, anyway) to provide good customer service and get you boarded and to your destination in the most expedient, efficient, and comfortable manner possible. Oh, and parents are not the only ones taking up aisle space trying to get situated. Actually, I find that there are MANY MANY more adults that have this problem-- so ADULTS, listen up: put your stuff away and sit down, please. You do not even have the excuse of a child on your hip to slow you down, you are slow of your own accord. Let other passengers by you if you insist on carrying on too many items or cannot stow them easily (or better yet, CHECK them next time). If it is too heavy for you to put in the overhead, CHECK IT. If it is too unwieldy for you to even maneuver down the aisle, CHECK IT. Don't argue with counter or gate personnel about how you "ALWAYS" carry it on, if they say it's too big or that the plane is really full, save everybody (especially yourself) some time and hassle of dragging it around and trying to find overhead space and CHECK IT!!! Those of you complaining about people with children, check yourselves and your carryon items and the "speed" with which you stow them before complaining too much... A helpful hint: a "carryon size" rolling bag is usually no longer considered suitable for carryon if the outside pockets are stuffed and the belongings inside are straining the seams of the expansion zipper. If your bag is "expanded" or the pockets are too full, it makes it TOO BIG for carryon. Be aware. Thank you. And a rebuttal regarding oxygen masks for lap children: In both airlines I have worked for, there IS ONE extra oxygen mask on each side of each row for lap children. This means if the configuration is three seats across from three seats, there are actually four and four oxygen masks. This is why you CANNOT seat two infants in the same side of the same row. This is, unfortunately, inconvenient for parents with infant twins who must sit aisles across from each other (or the row behind), but can be avoided by paying for a seat for one of the children. There is ALWAYS an extra oxygen mask for ONE lap child (except exit row, which was mentioned by the other entry, because children cannot sit there). If there is EVER more than one infant in your side of your row, PLEASE say something to the flight crew (if they haven't already noticed, which they should!) I believe the extra oxygen mask is an FAA requirement and should be on ALL full size planes... If you are the parent of a child who is running amok... (why do I bother saying this to people who ALLOW their children to run amok, knowing they won't listen?)... tell them to quiet down, get them to read a book, play a game, watch the TV (if they are on the right airline!), or whatever. Don't just sit there and ignore it. The other passengers and the flight attendants don't have the authority to tell your kid to quiet down (though I have been tempted, trust me), but you do. SO DO IT. I have compassion for parents of children whose ears are hurting or who are crying for some reason WHEN the parents are actually trying to do something about it. As a matter of fact, I usually try to give those parents who ARE trying to control their children (and who, unlike those who totally ignore the situation, are actually embarrassed and feel badly that their children are being disruptive), a little encouraging smile so they know that at least I understand they are trying. If the parents are trying, cut them some slack. Kids will have bad days once in a while. Most of all, I have noticed from this run of postings, everybody is SO impatient!!! Why would you rather be stuck in the aisle of a plane behind people (including parents) putting their things away rather than chilling in the lobby and waiting your turn, being able to proceed directly to your seat, stow your items with little or no impediment to those behind you, and be able to sit down in your seat without waiting? HELLOOOO?? At my airline, we treat everyone with respect, courtesy, and an upbeat attitude. We have some of the lowest prices and the best people. We have TV in every seat and FREE headphones so that you can block out that screaming child, chatty neighbor, frat traveling for spring break, whatever, anyway... And I would say that about 99.9% of our customers treat us the same way we treat them. So I won't plug my company here, because I don't want rude impatient people who would put children in pet carriers to start flying on us until they learn to BEHAVE themselves (sound familiar?). ADULTS need to learn how to behave too. And parents, one more time, with feeling: PLEASE don't just sit there and ignore your child when he/she is fussing. You are the only one who can do anything about it, and everyone around you is certainly getting justifiably angry if you refuse to control your child. That's it. I know it's long, but hey, alot needed to be said to deflect many ignorant and incorrect statements about airlines and boarding of passengers. Be kind to your airline personnel (we work hard!) and patient and even (gasp!) helpful if necessary to your fellow passengers. Listen to boarding announcements, pay attention to rules and regulations, and try to keep YOURSELF in check! Board in the proper order, keep your OWN carryons under control, try to stow your bags as efficiently as possible and take your seat as quickly as possible so that others can do the same. You know that you want others to "hurry up", so you need to be aware also. Oh, and when the flight attendants come around with a plastic bag during and at the end of a flight, they are not asking for a monetary contribution, they are wanting any TRASH you have accumulated on your flight, so PLEASE take the wrappers and bottles out of the seat pocket, pick up the twenty half-smushed animal crackers your child (or you?) threw/dropped on the floor, dig the papers you don't want out of between the seats, etc. Someone has to clean that plane-- have some consideration. PLEASE!!! Thanks for listening, and when you can behave yourself, come and join us on a nice airline with nice, courteous, helpful employees who actually care about where you sit, if you are comfortable, or if you get there on time... (some of you nice people have already figured it out since I saw at least one GOOD mention of us on this site!). Welcome to those of you who are ready to be treated right! :-)

First, let me say that I don't have children, but I have flown many times since I was 8 years old. I'm 24 now and I can see this argument from both sides. First, I have experienced having to wait behind people with young children while boarding a plane. It was difficult for the parent with the young child (especially a toddler in one case)to put their belongings in a overhead bin and secure the child while trying to stay out of the ailse for other oncoming passengers. People became angry and upset when the parent could not move quick enough. I've also heard flight attendants make unpleasant comments to several parents who were trying get themselves and thier children situated. This type of behavior does not make for a pleasant flight experience. I think that it would be helpful is airlines would let parents with young (young being keyword here)children along with first class and special needs people board the plane first. Those few extra mintues would make boarding for other passengers go a bit smoother. Now, when I say this, I mean people with infants and toddlers, not children who are only 4 or 5. I think parents could get those children situated relatively quickly without too much fuss. And I also do not think that strollers, huge diaper bags, and other big items should be placed in over head bins. As for the screaming children on flights...that's a hard one. I don't have children so I'm not going to assume how to discipline them. I know a baby cannot help crying no matter what...but a young child should not be allowed to be loud or run around on a flight either. I believe that if a child is being loud or unruly on a flight, then the parent should do something, because just as they have paid for thier tickets, so have other passengers. Last thing: as for first class. I have mixed feelings on that one. Once again I see from both sides. Business travelers often look foward to the extra comforts of first class...that is why it is there. One of those comforts is peace and quiet. But on the other hand, if a parent has paid for thier child to be in first class, then they have paid for those extra comforts too. It goes both ways. As I just stated, I don't have children, and I certainly don't claim to know everything. I just wanted to persuade people to think a bit clearly and compassionately.

You may fly first class Tim, that's cool. But if airlines would board kids first, that would be best..why? because if you board first class first..then everyone tramples through your sensitive are. I have also been treated like garbage from the flight attendants of first class as well. But anyway, would you want to be in your seat first and have all the people boarding from the front of the plane first. Coach is like a cattle truck, but I manage quite ok for the most part. I think we all need to understand that at 30000 ft, there isn't anywhere for us to really go. So if we all maybe just have some patience with each other, life might be alot better.

You may fly first class Tim, that's cool. But if airlines would board kids first, that would be best..why? because if you board first class first..then everyone tramples through your sensitive are. I have also been treated like garbage from the flight attendants of first class as well. But anyway, would you want to be in your seat first and have all the people boarding from the front of the plane first. Coach is like a cattle truck, but I manage quite ok for the most part. I think we all need to understand that at 30000 ft, there isn't anywhere for us to really go. So if we all maybe just have some patience with each other, life might be alot better.

I can understand the frustration of not having a stroller as promised at the gate, but I believe that you are wrong to have blocked the aisle and frustrated the passengers behind you. Move into your seats, put the baby on your lap. When the aisle is clear, strap the baby seat and baby in. The airplane will not take off until all passengers are seated and the airplane will be on the ground for awhile before it reaches the runway for takeoff. Crying babies are a part of life. As long as the baby only cries during takeoff and landing then don't worry about rude flight attendants. We all have bad days. Just do your best.

I can understand the frustration of not having a stroller as promised at the gate, but I believe that you are wrong to have blocked the aisle and frustrated the passengers behind you. Move into your seats, put the baby on your lap. When the aisle is clear, strap the baby seat and baby in. The airplane will not take off until all passengers are seated and the airplane will be on the ground for awhile before it reaches the runway for takeoff. Crying babies are a part of life. As long as the baby only cries during takeoff and landing then don't worry about rude flight attendants. We all have bad days. Just do your best.

I can understand the frustration of not having a stroller as promised at the gate, but I believe that you are wrong to have blocked the aisle and frustrated the passengers behind you. Move into your seats, put the baby on your lap. When the aisle is clear, strap the baby seat and baby in. The airplane will not take off until all passengers are seated and the airplane will be on the ground for awhile before it reaches the runway for takeoff. Crying babies are a part of life. As long as the baby only cries during takeoff and landing then don't worry about rude flight attendants. We all have bad days. Just do your best.

Chris--I think you need to reread my rebuttal. First of all, I don't fly on business, so the premium for First class comes out of my own pocket. And did I ever refer to people in coach as "field slaves"? Ludicrous! Secondly, I never stated that children should not be able to fly. I stated that children should not be able to fly in FIRST class until they are 10. I fly First because I want the comfort and peace and quiet that the premium should be paying for. Nothing is more irritating than having a screaming kid that a parent cannot control around me while I am trying to read or just enjoy my flight! Finally, I think that the real problem that I have is not necessarily the kids but the parents that seemed to have lost control of their children.

Timothy you have to be the most self-centered, ego inflated person I have met in a long time. First off just because you fly first class( more or less at your companies expense) doesn't mean we in coach are field slaves. It's people like you who make this world stink with the stench of your self image of yourself. Kids have just as much right to fly to see family. I hope someday you have kids to realize what a dolt you are being... But airlines do suck with service.

Mark, Where did you get your info about lap children not having oxygen masks? I work for an airline, and on the whole right side of the plane there are 3 oxygen masks for each of the 2 seats to accomodate lap children, except of course for the exit row, because children aren't allowed to sit there by law. The only way lap children wouldn't be allowed on board, was if there were an extreme about babies for that flight and the whole right side got filled up with babies. Even when we had older prop planes, there still were about 3-4 rows were there were extra O2 masks for the babies. I'm sure other airlines and other planes are outfitted similarly.

Regarding the situation with children on flights, I too have had to deal with my share of screaming, crying and kicking of the back of the seat. However, I think this conversation has gotten a bit out of control. I agree with the parents in the fact that airline employees can be extremely rude not only to the kids but also to those who just ask for something. I also strongly agree with those who have to endure other peoples children. My only suggestion is this; parents, please control your children's behavior. Don't let them run up and down the isles, throw things and annoy the hell out of everyone else. Remember that your children are yours and you are the only one who thinks they are angels. Passengers; if you don't want to be bothered with kids on a flight buy a first class ticket or switch seats. Yes, its a bit of an inconvience, but I'd rather enjoy my flight than to be p***sed off during the entire time. Or, politely say something to the parents of the child. Sometimes, the pure embarrassment of having to be confronted is enough to tell their child to sit down and behave. Too often I see these passive-agressive people who will complain among themselves but never complain to the persons they have the problem with.

I really can't believe some of the comments that I have heard on this. Well, just some information for you folks with children. Did you know, that if the plane is full and you have not purchased a ticket for your child there is NO oxygen mask for them if there is an emergency? There are only masks for each seat, not for "lap children". Did you know, that airlines are rated on their "on time" performance, that means when they push out from the gate, not when they take off, just push out. SO, if they allow children and people with special needs to board early, everyone else can board quickly and the plane can push out on time, it makes better ratings for them. Just some food for thought

These rebuttals have gotten away from the original issue at hand! We are not arguing about medicating children, we are just a bunch of impatient, selfish adults who can't stand it when "our world" is disrupted for a few hours by a few children who are to young to understand what flying in an airplane entails, or why they have to be couped up and sitting for too long! Fortunately for us as adults, we can "medicate" ourselves in various ways, both legal and illegal, while children don't have an option. Next time you are on a flight and there is a child who is crying, maybe the real reason they are crying is that they just realized that they have to live the rest of their lives in a world where people have no respect for them, and are too concerned with their own well being, that they have no patience left to offer. Just fly jet blue, have a cocktail, put on your headsets, take a deep breath, and get over yourself!

These rebuttals have gotten away from the original issue at hand! We are not arguing about medicating children, we are just a bunch of impatient, selfish adults who can't stand it when "our world" is disrupted for a few hours by a few children who are to young to understand what flying in an airplane entails, or why they have to be couped up and sitting for too long! Fortunately for us as adults, we can "medicate" ourselves in various ways, both legal and illegal, while children don't have an option. Next time you are on a flight and there is a child who is crying, maybe the real reason they are crying is that they just realized that they have to live the rest of their lives in a world where people have no respect for them, and are too concerned with their own well being, that they have no patience left to offer. Just fly jet blue, have a cocktail, put on your headsets, take a deep breath, and get over yourself!

These rebuttals have gotten away from the original issue at hand! We are not arguing about medicating children, we are just a bunch of impatient, selfish adults who can't stand it when "our world" is disrupted for a few hours by a few children who are to young to understand what flying in an airplane entails, or why they have to be couped up and sitting for too long! Fortunately for us as adults, we can "medicate" ourselves in various ways, both legal and illegal, while children don't have an option. Next time you are on a flight and there is a child who is crying, maybe the real reason they are crying is that they just realized that they have to live the rest of their lives in a world where people have no respect for them, and are too concerned with their own well being, that they have no patience left to offer. Just fly jet blue, have a cocktail, put on your headsets, take a deep breath, and get over yourself!

Doreen, I agree with children needing to learn to behave. I do know that my son was so out of control that I was the only one that could calm him down. I was wearing a pager just so the school could contact me to come and get him. When things are going good and all, then it is great. When a family splits up and the child is trying to process this within a short period of time it is hard to reason with a child. It is hard to deal with a 3 year old when his life falls apart. Today he is a very happy, well adjusted 13 year old and he is a joy to have around and for others to be around. No one will believe it when I tell them about his behavior as a youth. Yes, his teachers wanted to medicate him. I admit, I didn't know enough and I agreed, listening to their expert opinion and the professional opinion of a doctor. That lasted about one school year. I took him off the meds and have worked with him ever since on his organizational issues to help him. In particular, I do blame the schools and the teachers. I had a g/f in Ca who was working with an emergency credential and going to school at night to get her license. They were taught to ALWAYS have something available for the children to do if they finished early or there were a few mintues between when they finished their assignments and the bell. I thought that this was incredible because it took away the chance for children to learn how to sit there quietly. Or, to have the children quietly read. I believe that there are a lot of teachers just starting out that have no real experience with children. Because children don't act to their expectations they look for something wrong with the child instead of their own classroom management. I would say that most parents are good parents and trying to do what is best for their child. Some aren't very good and let them run wild. A child on medication because of a true need shouldn't be lumped in with those that don't need it. Obviously there are people in this world that also have a distorted view of what children are capable of doing. Either they forgot what it was like as a child, or have false nostalgia. I love history and as I go back into the thousands of years of recorded history I can find examples where every generation thinks the the current group of young people will be the end of civilization. I do agree that children are medicated when they shouldn't be. And, since I mentioned, those meds are often stimulants, when they are given to a child without ADD then they don't work and this just adds to the misunderstanding about this issue. Instead of lumping these children in with those that do benefit from it, we as a society, need to fully understand the issues and not let politicans, talk radio hosts and pundits use them for their own uninformed purposes. Thanks,

If you had read my rebuttal, you would see that never one time did I suggest beating any child. As an obviously concerned parent, you should realize that there are more effective ways to discipline a child. Don't get me wrong, I still believe in an old fashion spanking if it's necessary, however; I don't have to spank my children. I believe if you are strict on manners when they are young, you don't have to worry about it when they are older. My girls know right from wrong, and how to behave themselves in public. I do believe that there are children who have genuine cases of ADD, but come on now. Are you not as amazed as I am at the number of children whose parents conveniently drug their children up with ridilin and the such, just as a way to avoid the fact that the child really lacks dicipline? I know of one set of parents who not only got all three of their children on it, but then turned around and put their grandson on it by the time he was two! It appears to me that some parents simply cover the problem up as if it didn't exist. All I'm saying is that it is absolute torture to sit on an airplane for any amount of time and be subjected to a screaming brat! I don't want to hear my kids, or anyone elses out of control in a confined space. Good luck with the teaching license and I wish you well!

Did I not wake up in America today? Was I kidnapped while I was sleeping and flown to Cuba? This is to all who have posted negative rebuttals to this thread. When did this country become so full of whining crybabies? As a parent who has flown with small children, it was a blessing when the airline allowed us to board right after first class. This allowed us to get in and get settled so that we would be out of everyone's way and boarding would go smoother. Why has United abandoned this policy? The utter lack of concern for their customers exhibited in the original post will surely be their downfall. To Dorren, I find it hard to believe that a mother of 3 would make a comment about medicating children just to keep them calm. To claim a child has ADD just because they fuss, you should know better. Shame on you. To Tom, ship kids in dog kennels? Are you serious? Just what kind of a sick whack-job are you anyway? To Tim, if I pay for a first class ticket for my family, including my 3-year old, then I expect to have the same class of service as everyone else. To Cathrine, when my daughter was 2 months old, we flew from Naples to Phoenix so that my wife's family could see her as they were not able to be at the birth like my family was. It could not have been a better flight. As for the dangers of her flying, we consulted our doctor, and he said that there was no reason why she couldn't go. Sucking on a pacifier or bottle did the trick just fine of relieving pressure on the ears. This must be why I don't fly UA or AA. I'll stick with America West, thank you very much. We have always received excellent service from them, and never have we had a hard time with the attendants because of our child.

Doreen, Cute ADD blurb. Do you by chance listen to that pill head Rush? It sounds like something he would say. Okay, in a way this is now going off topic, but it is relevant to children and their behavior. I do agree that often times ADD is used as an excuse to cover up bad parenting or even TEACHING... however, this can not be used as an excuse to belittle and disregard those children that do have ADD and benefit from medication. If they have ADD then they become productive, happy and can enjoy being a child. I guess those with diabetese are all just "swooners" or those with epelepsy are all just prone to having "fits"? Now, the way to tell if a child has ADD is to try the medication. If there is an improvement then the child most likely has ADD. If there isn't an improvement then the child does not have ADD. They shouldn't be continuing on the medication and they shouldn't be labeled as such. Ridilin is a stimulant, and as opposed to the way we think that it should work... the stimulant actually "slows" down the child with ADD. Most times children are reffered to doctors by teachers. If a small child is active, distracted, doesn't follow along at the pace of the rest of the class or whatever, instead of taking the little extra time to work with that child, they do want to drug him out so he fits in. I am about to graduate with my teaching license. I am 45 and went to school in AL where I was beat often (mostly because I was a rabble and not a rebel)... as were most of the students. Also, as a parent of a child that they wanted to label ADD I have been through the process. My 13 y.o. son and my 15 y.o daughter are both very lovely and intelligent teenagers that make my eyes water with pride. Parents are usually pressured. It comes down to if they don't do something then the school is not going to work with them... They will only give a child extra effort if the child can be labeled and catagorized. Children are normally active and sitting in a chair is not normal. In the old days we beat those kids... until the gave up and dropped out. Nowdays, we try to find the ones that need help with medication because there is a physical need. For those that aren't ADD we give them medication they don't need. Since they can't be beat, we lump them in with ADD, give them medication they don't need and people like you get to abuse them. Thank you for contributing to the very complex and serious national discussion of ADD. These are children and it is up to adults to deal with these complexities... that requires thought and compassion... not beating them. Thanks,

After I finished reading the initial report, as well as all of the insane rebuttals, I had a few thoughts I would like to share. Speaking as an ex-elementary school teacher, I totally agree with the passengers who laid the blame on the parents. There are sacrifices that every parent has to make when they have small children. For instance, not going out as often, or going out and coming home a bit earlier than before, waking up in the night to comfort a scared or sick child, etc. One thing that I believe can be, and maybe should be avoided is flying with a child under the age of 1. When a child is considered an infant, there are precautions that parents take when it comes to their health and safety. Applying sunblock if it is necessary for them to be exposed to the sun, installing a car seat in the propert position, etc. Is it safe for a child under the age of 1 to fly, when they may not be able to adjust their ear pressure? I myself have suffered from severe pain from not being able to "pop" my ears on a plane and I can only imagine how the original complaintants child must have suffered at 4 1.2 months old when they were helpless to stop the pain. How about waiting to travel when either that child is old enough to help themselves or old enough to understand direction and discipline so as not not give any other passengers unnecessary pain? Have your other family members travel to come see you instead of hauling all the gear (including infant) half way across the country to visit! That way, the only people who will suffer are the parents when there in-laws come to stay a week and end up staying 2!

It's all about service. I have flown with the airline for years and loved it when they used to say "anyone with small children, handicaped or feels like they need extra time to board may board with first class passengers." I would board it, it allows me to get to my seat, sit and read my book or paper and relax. As a parent you need time to set up your child and usually its a good time to feed a snack to a child, to help him/her get comfortable. If they make me wait to board then they can wait for me to be ready and not rushed. I would stop doing what I'm doing and turn to the flight attendants and respond to any and all comments, stopping will make them understand that they have to refrain form saying things. As for anyone who thinks that a parent would carry an abundance of diapers just to stuff them into the overhead bins is well not in touch with reality. It's a service idustry and you need to demand the service you pay for.

I am amazed that the orginal author of the complaint has the nerve to complain that they weren't treated exceptionally for bringing a non-revenue generating nuissance on a crowded flight! Let me set you all straight before you go off the deep end... Yes, I am a mother (of three girls), and I have brought my children on flights. I would never, ever, ever consider taking one of my children on an airplane if I thought for one minute they might fuss! I did not take my girls on a plane until they were old enough to BEHAVE! If the last thing I want to hear on a plane is them screaming, and I love them, I can only imagine the insanity it would cause others. As to the fact the flight attendant made a comment about your screaming brat, I APPLAUDE HER/HIM. On a recent 4 hour flight from Seattle to Chicago I had to endure a child screaming the entire flight. It annoyed me to no end, and imagine this, my daughter could not believe the parents just sat there and let the maniac scream. I would have been furious had the airline allowed this parent/monster on the plane first! Children get ZERO special treatment, and they shouldn't! Parents absolutely need to control their children. Sounds to me like this is yet another child of a parent that claims it has A.D.D. Which to me, these initials stand not for Attention Deficit Disorder, but Absent Discipline Disorder. Next time, just order some Ridilin for your child like all the other millions of parents who refuse to discipline your brats! Now that I know you refuse to fly United, I think that will be my airline of choice.

I cannot believe everything that I am reading! Have none of you any compassion or sympathy for children? DO any of you remember what it was like to be a child or have ever had a child?? I can sympathize with having to listen to a screaming kid in an enclosed area, like a plane, and I think it is a great idea to create a section in the rear, soundproof for parents with young children. I also agree that parents should not get extra "attention" so to speak, such as boarding early, although it would probably save everyone time and frustration. What I can barely comprehend is the posts speaking with...well almost loathing for kids. My God, stop thinking you are better then anyone, including these kids...makes me wish I still had a little one, and that we could sit right behind Your seat and scream right in your ear! You all should be ashamed of yourselves! Maybe you should just form your very own "kid free" zone, including restaurants and planes and places to live nad work..enjoy and good riddance!!!

I defineltly agree about a special section or maybe a sepecial WAH-WAH Flight. We could modify some of the large Kennels they use for Dogs & ship them in those. As a Business person and a AA EXECUTIVE PLATINUM for many years, I do feel like I am priviliged and the airline does too. So quit your whing & maining about your Priceline tickets & Bad deals & everything else. You will be the one screaming at the counter when you get bumped & I get on and have a cocktail...........

The airlines should set aside space in the back of the plane for small children with soundproof acusitcs. They are very annoying with their crying, kicking seats, etc. I will fly United if all those people with their bratty kids move elsewhere.

As a corporate travel planner-I agree with Tim. He said no children under 10 should be allowed in first class-not at all as some of you read into his comment-he said 1st class, and I hearily agree. Why should business travelers who want the extra room, quiet of first be subjected to screaming children. WHY they are screaching isn't the issue. Preboard so you can take over the over head compartments with diapers?? Where are the other passengers supposed to put their stuff? United would MUCH rather keep their business travelers who decide often the day of or day before travel they need to go somewhere and pay BIG bucks for the priviledge rather than a family who got the cheapest of cheap ticket and expects the airline to cowtow to them and their children. Sorry-its just the reality of the business world.

I agree mostly with Tim about special treatment for flyers and kids... No pre-boarding for kids should be done and I praise UA for mostly stopping this practice. This is a bonus for those of us who spend countless hours travelling on planes... It allows us the added *comfort* of getting on and sitting instead of waiting in the departure lounge... As for not allowing kids to fly until they are 10... I like the idea but don't support it... I have had some bad experiences with screaming kids in the row behind me and the like... but many times kids are pretty good - depends on the parents. Also, I believe that in First and Business class parents of children of any age must purchase a separate and full fare ticket to have them ... this reduces some of the annoyances of the kids screaming during take off and landing as most do not pay this added fee and sit in Coach.

To Timothy who says "children should not be allowed to fly unless they are 10 years old", either you never were a kid, or you have no children. I have been flying unaccompanied since I was about 6 years old. In todays world, with divorce, the military and jobs, if children arent allowed to fly, they would never see friends and family in far away places. I have family in Alaska, which is 4800 miles from where I live. If I could not fly with children, they would never get to see their grandparents, because what family can take a month off of work for vacation? It takes almost 2 weeks to drive there. Just because you fly in first class does not mean that you are any better that anyone else. It just means that you are willing to pay outrageous prices to get to the same place.

Why should someone with a child get preferred treatment? As a frequent > flyer of United Airlines, I think there should be more stringent rules > when it comes to children. When I fly I do not want to be trapped for any > amount of time with a screaming kid. The first rule that the airlines > should make is that in order to fly in first, the child needs to be at > least 10 years old. Nothing peeves me more than when I am in first and > have an uncontrollable kid near me. I am in first to have better service > and to enjoy a more relaxing atmosphere. This does not happen when a kid > is there. So many parents today have absolutely no control over their > children and that does not change at 30,000 feet.