Georgia mother Kate Penland claims she and her baby were thrown off a Continental jet because of her 19-month-old son's incessantly babbling, "Bye Bye, Plane," pre-takeoff. She says the attendant said Penland had to shut the baby up, and suggested drugging the boy with Benadryl.
We've been on both sides of this one - trying to quiet our own baby on a packed cross-country flight to see the in-laws, circa Thanksgiving 2006, and wishing some stranger's kid would stop kicking our seat, circa . . . roughly our entire life up until that moment.(Although, even when we were childless, we still preferred the yammering kids to the drunk businessmen.)
Fact is, sometimes you have to leave the house even if you have a small child, and sometimes there is nothing even the best parent can do to keep a baby totally quiet. (Benadryl makes some kids hyper, and is not recommended by pediatricians for air travel.)
So it makes sense that Penland will do to the airline what breastfeeding mothers in similar situations have done: sued some sense into them.
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 20)
16. I don't believe the baby was running up and down the aisles. A 19 month old child is just starting to express himself and to punish a mom for having a happy child as opposed to a screaming whining child is unforgiveable! Fire the attendant.
Carol at 4:36PM on Jul 12th 2007
17. I have seen a lot of comments on other boards and supposedly the flight had already been delayed for 11 hours at this point, which might explain the mother's lack of supplies.
This flight attendant was wrong for booting the child if all he was doing was repeating "bye bye plane." Especially since he was only doing it from the time the plane left the gate, until she finished her speech (assuming this was the pre flight safety speech).
Now what she should be fired for if it's true, is telling the pilot that threats were made. That could have gotten the mother arrested and is an abuse of her power as a flight attendant. If you start crying wolf on that, a real threat might be the end result.
Ethan at 4:43PM on Jul 12th 2007
18. I agree with Marvie and GLeez!! Just because people decide to breed and overpopulate the earth with whiny little brats doesn't give them the right to disturb the other passengers or crew. I have been on countless flights where I couldn't relax because of screaming or just loud children. The greatest give anyone ever gave me was noise reducing headphones for travel, but even that's still not enough as you are not permitted to wear them during takeoff and landing. Parents- if your children are not capable of sitting quietly in planes/restaurants/movie theaters/and other public places...then leave them home!!! Us non-breeders pay more money than you do,as our taxes also go towards paying for your child's education and you get additional tax breaks for birthing the little demons in the first place. People flying with children should be placed in a separate closed off cabin in the rear of the plane. And if you don't like it..STAY HOME AND LEAVE THE REST OF US TO A PEACEFUL EXISTENCE!!!!!!
bittles79 at 4:46PM on Jul 12th 2007
19. Just like children should be controlled and kept quiet in restaurants, stores and other public places, likewise this mother should have told her child, "That's enough; be quiet."
My parents never flew until we reached an age where we would be quiet and could occupy ourselves. This mother knew her child's behavior. She shouldn't be flying if he acts like that. One chattering kid, the whole plane has to suffer listening to it! Give me a break.
I've flown on too many flights having to listen to errant children's chatter, crying, whining, kicking, sniviling, etc. It's time to pay attention to the majority that has to listen to this tripe rather than one mother arguing she has the right to have a plane full of passengers have to listen to "her wonderful child." She wonders what she was supposed to do? She should have taken the kid off the plane on her own and disciplined him.
mhawklet at 4:48PM on Jul 12th 2007
20. Look, the mom did have stuff for her baby. Her connection was delayed and she just spent 11 hours at an airport. The most prepared mom in the world does not have enough diapers, formula or food to last an 11 hour delay!!! The flight attendant's behavior was completely inapropriate. Not only should the mom receive sincere apologies from the airline, the flight attendant should be fired for suggesting that the mom drug her child. If nothing comes of this, I will never travel Continental again. As for putting parents in the back of the plane - this country once put a class of people on the back of the bus. The thought is revolting and as racist in this case as it is in the former. Parents are deserving of as much rights as any other traveler and should deserve our thanks, not condemnation, for raising the next generation of Americans.
lcj007 at 4:49PM on Jul 12th 2007
21. You have got to be kidding me? OK, all of you lovely anti-kid folks... I am anti-stupidity. Does that mean that I should make THOSE people stay in the back of the plane, tape their mouths shut with duct tap and drug them? Because if this is the case, I feel that there are a few people commenting that may have sore lips when the tape comes off. :-D
sophia at 10:29AM on Jul 13th 2007
22. The mother and child should not have been thrown off the plane period. Children are children. They all at one time or another act out and sometimes no matter if you have the pacifier, bottle, or a bunch of toys you cannot pacify them. They are babies. As for restricting them to the back of the plane, full out discrimination. Major lawsuits. And for the negative comments about "whiny loud spoiled brats" keep in mind you were once a child and I am sure you did the same thing to your parents at one time or another. But then you are also probably the ones that if you do see a mother or father pop a hand or swat a butt are yelling child abuse. I just hope the people making these type of comments decide not to breed. I would hate to see the way they may treat their children. Probably would "lock them in the luggage compartment with the dogs and cats which can be a nuisance too"(RFPHELAN's comment). I just can't help wonder where compassion and understanding for other people went to in this world.
angieet27 at 4:56PM on Jul 12th 2007
23. Back of the plane? NOOOO... I'm the unfortunate person that always gets the last seat of the jet - right in front of the smelly bathroom in the seat that doesn't lean back. Now you're surrounding me with 5 cranky kids. What did I ever do to you?
There are always those people on airplanes - the body odor, the person that takes both armrests, the person that has a million questions about your life beginning from birth. I think on both sides we need to be more tolerant and also more considerate.
Either way, taking a plane still beats driving yourself across country or worse... taking a Greyhound.
emeyere at 5:10PM on Jul 12th 2007
24. The flight attendant is justified in putting this woman off the plane. The "Mom" did absolutely NOTHING to take care of the distraction her child was causing. These safety instructions are done in a micro-window of time and they are mandatory to inform the passengers about what to do in emergencies. There's only one shot at getting this information to all of the passengers prior to commencing the flight. The flight attendant has a PRIMARY responsibility (yes, even before serving your drinks!)is to ensure passenger safety. This flight attendant took her job seriously, even if "Mommy" did not. The problem was not the child's "talking", it was the fact that the Mom did absolutely NOTHING as it developed into a never ending, very loud disruption of the emergency flight instructions. People are growing REAL frustrated with the lack of responsibility and accountability of these kinds of "parents". This woman should be apologizing to all of the other passengers who missed hearing those instructions, as well as making them suffer through her negligence, but then, if she were the type to be considerate of her child and of others, maybe this "incident" would not have occured in the first place. Sue the airlines? Don't be ridiculous!
Jean at 5:43PM on Jul 12th 2007
25. I am impressed with Continental! Whiny brats and their irresponsible unconcerned parents should ABSOLUTELY be removed from planes, every single time. I hate the sense of entitlement in this country. If you can't teach your kids to behave, guess what - You Don't Deserve To Fly!!!! Why should I have to listen to your whiny brat for 8 hours?
impressed at 5:13PM on Jul 12th 2007
26. Then when the babies are removed, you'll go after the people who have disabilities, then the elderly, then those who breathe heavy or laugh too loudly...and when all those "annoying" people are gone and you have your peace, you can go after the cell phones, PDA devices, even air conditioning systems! How about all of you who are selfish enough to claim that you are being "disturbed" by others STAY HOME then you'll never be bothered by what you seem to claim is the horror of travel. Get over yourselves and open your eyes to see that there is more out there to get upset about than a happy, healthy toddler talking! Pathetic.
Meg at 5:53PM on Jul 12th 2007
27. Mothers should let their young ones know when to stop, and there is more than just asking a child to stay Quite, yes children are cute no doubt, but parents should not lose ignore or play dumb when their children are acting silly, when children are misbehaving, it doesn't matter, be it at home or in public, I have raised some very good kids myself and right from their childhood my kids has always known when to stop by looking at my face when I am objecting to a not so nice a prank that they're trying to pull on each other, and knows when to stop by looking at my face expression. Discipline is what we should start early in insinuating in our children, I am saddened by the fact that most parents cannot control their own children.
Anita at 5:24PM on Jul 12th 2007
28. How is it the airlines are going to know who to put in the back? They don't ask your age when you book. Children over the age of 2 are required to have a seat which costs the same as the adult seats in the reservation.
We all need to chill out and NOT SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF. And in the grand scheme of things this is small stuff. Bittles needs to take all of that anger and direct it toward something positive.
Lorna at 5:33PM on Jul 12th 2007
29. I am the mother 2 year old twin boys and we fly!!! While I can appreciate the position of the other passengers, there is but so much we mothers can do to keep our children quiet. My boys are pretty good but 1 will always have something to say loudly or feel the need to stand when they are not supposed to. As a flight attendant it is there JOB to deal with ALL types of passengers. If dealing with noisey passenegers (young or old) is problem find a new job!!
Tonya at 5:38PM on Jul 12th 2007
30. I have had to watch/listen to children on flights many times. I flew with my own when they were young. I managed to bring things with them to keep them occupied. I always tried to think of the other passengers as well...I paid as much as they did (probably more in many cases) and it's my responsibility to make sure MY child was behaving, just as theirs for their child. It's not like someone can get up and leave the room at 25,000ft! We all need to be a little more thoughtful when out in public. It's not always about ME....and MY child. I'm sure the airline will send an apology and free ticket. She doesn't deserve more.......
karen at 5:42PM on Jul 12th 2007