A tale of two children (in J)

[JohnK]

The person across the aisle may be getting a freebie on his company, but just as likely he'll be me, a person who has paid several thousand dollars out of his long-earned retirement money to go on the trip of a lifetime in the hope of a quiet and comfortable flight.

That's not an unreasonable expectation in any class of travel on any flight.

Give me a screaming baby any day over leaking headphone noise, loud conversations or women uncontrollably giggling loudly non-stop after 1 glass of sparkling.

We all need to respect each others privacy but that doesn't happen much these days.

 

[mrsterryn]

It’s all about expectations

I used to think I had a right to

- if I paid for F to travel in that cabin

- have my luggage arrive on the same plane as me

- arrive at my destination within a few hours of the scheduled arrival time

- a quiet lounge without people conferencing on their computers or talking loudly on mobiles

Over the years I have been beaten out of those expectations

Probably need to add

The right to a quiet cabin in F and J (no snoring, loud adults, noisy children)

I

Interestingly AFF kinda knocked those illusions out of me
Husband and I (have to include him now *grump *) only started os travel in 2006
Next was 2010....Kinda a huge uptick in travel since then a lot in business or first
However I researched a lot when we were in economy and still ,even with the issues, longingly wondered if we would ever get business
I think loud phone conversations in the lounge bug me the most. Yes most are male and have to say stunned at what they say sometimes
As someone said a couple of posts up....the poor parents , most of them, are already so frazzled about the thought of the travel .
Going on the OP post...still think it was rude albeit apparently politely presented to assume two kids were going to raise merry hell on the flight

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I mentioned this upthread, but this could simply be a cultural issue. Some nationalities would think nothing of a request to make sure someone else was being quiet... adult or child. It’s not seen as personal, not intended to be offensive.

The anglo-aussie thing probably makes us a bit more sensitive.

 

[Beano]

In days gone by my wife and I were travelling with two very young childeren. We were travelling from LHR to AKL via HKG with a stop over. On checking in we were told that we would have had a J upgrade, but the children might annoy other J passengers. They wre the two sweetest girls whithout a cheap the whole flight in economy! I was insulted. Was that the airline expectation; that children annoy other passengers? It would have been better to say nothing.

That was Cathay.

 

[ermen]

I mentioned this upthread, but this could simply be a cultural issue. Some nationalities would think nothing of a request to make sure someone else was being quiet... adult or child. It’s not seen as personal, not intended to be offensive.

The anglo-aussie thing probably makes us a bit more sensitive.

if you are curious, I *think* the guy was Singaporean. Not to stereotype- but I did not think that Singaporeans are known to be the most direct / forthright people group?

 

[blackcat20]

Lucky we're flying F next year with the baby, we can avoid all the grumps stuck in J

 

[Matt_01]

But that’s just an assumption that they aren’t flying j isn’t it.

Not really an assumption. In the case of QF SIN lounge there are often way more people in the lounge than J seats on the aircraft departing. Outside of the international F lounges or Domestic J lounges all paid up QP members+1 guest, SG members+1 guest, eligible *OW+1 guest, Jet Star Bundle and anyone with a visitor pass can get in.

Then there are those who have booked and paid for a seat in J and meet none of the above criteria, just a simple J class traveler.

Bring on the SIN QF F lounge, it can not happen quick enough.

 

[Pushka]

Lucky we're flying F next year with the baby, we can avoid all the grumps stuck in J

I think the present discussion on parents not taking responsibility totally excludes you. Let’s hope Drxx_ only flies J though!

 

[Flying mermaid]

Interestingly AFF kinda knocked those illusions out of me
Husband and I (have to include him now *grump *) only started os travel in 2006
Next was 2010....Kinda a huge uptick in travel since then a lot in business or first
However I researched a lot when we were in economy and still ,even with the issues, longingly wondered if we would ever get business
I think loud phone conversations in the lounge bug me the most. Yes most are male and have to say stunned at what they say sometimes
As someone said a couple of posts up....the poor parents , most of them, are already so frazzled about the thought of the travel .
Going on the OP post...still think it was rude albeit apparently politely presented to assume two kids were going to raise merry hell on the flight

Both Mr FM and I are travel junkies. In fact I didn’t like him much when I first met him (we worked together), but I fell in love over a cup of coffee and him telling me about his travels in North Africa . That was in 1979 and we have been travelling together ever since both with and without the ankle biters.

My expectations have been knocked out of me over the years with personal experiences

 

[Pushka]

In days gone by my wife and I were travelling with two very young childeren. We were travelling from LHR to AKL via HKG with a stop over. On checking in we were told that we would have had a J upgrade, but the children might annoy other J passengers. They wre the two sweetest girls whithout a cheap the whole flight in economy! I was insulted. Was that the airline expectation; that children annoy other passengers? It would have been better to say nothing.

That was Cathay.

Agree. Why even bother to say that. How annoying.

 

[Quickstatus]

Why is there an expectation that J cabins come with peace and quiet?

 

[Pushka]

Why is there an expectation that J cabins come with peace and quiet?

By virtue of fewer numbers I’d expect them to be much quieter.

 

[drron]

If indeed Dr xx_ was Singaporean then it is quite possible this thread has been much to do about very little.
There are certainly some Singaporeans that can be very direct.Many of course are delightful people.
But surely we must respect those of a different culture and upbringing.

 

[Pushka]

If indeed Dr xx_ was Singaporean then it is quite possible this thread has been much to do about very little.
There are certainly some Singaporeans that can be very direct.Many of course are delightful people.
But surely we must respect those of a different culture and upbringing.

Yes. We must. And that works both ways though doesn’t it?

 

[Forg]

Yes. We must. And that works both ways though doesn’t it?

Indeed! And Dr xx_ is probably on either the Singaporean Frequent Flyers Forum, or alternately The Guild Of Calamitous Intent Travellers' Forum, praising the quiet children & their appropriately-polite parent.

 

[VPS]

My popcorn is empty - must restock

 

[Pushka]

Indeed! And Dr xx_ is probably on either the Singaporean Frequent Flyers Forum, or alternately The Guild Of Calamitous Intent Travellers' Forum, praising the quiet children & their appropriately-polite parent.

Or complaining about rude Australian kids and their parents.

 

[Quickstatus]

Lucky we're flying F next year with the baby, we can avoid all the grumps stuck in J

Just pre-warn @TonyHancock

 

[Zac_AU]

I don't care if children are in the cabin as long as they are well behaved. Most are, but some are not and if they are not behaving they should be removed from the cabin (or plane if they're really disruptive like that demon that made the news a few months back).

Very young children and babies should be banned from J and F - if airlines offered certain flights where they guaranteed no screaming kids in J I'd support them in a flash.

Even in economy, I reckon Airlines should have a seperate mini cabin to put all the parents with screaming babies in. Just something seperated. Win for the other passengers, and win for the parents who don't have to worry about upsetting other people.

 

[Quickstatus]

Welcome @Zac_AU !!

Maybe a special family friendly flights and adults only flights. Which flights do you think will be charging a premium price?
Separate mini cabin wont stop a piercing cry.

I think most of the inflight bad behaviour are from adults behaving badly.

Again what airline is advertising peace and quiet in their J/F cabins?