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 4 of 20)
46. to emtee and bittles and all the rest of you completely irrational,abusive morons!
you're all missing the point!!
a flight attendant is NOT PERMITTED to speak to paying passengers in a rude,condescending manner to begin with..let alone suggest a 19mo old child be DRUGGED!!?? are you ALL nuts that you cant see that was the most damaging thing to happen in all this?
and then..you have another idiot PILOT who actually turns around on the basis of what his flight attendant has to say? before checking it out for himself? the attendant considers a TODDLER to be threatening?? oh my God..what a damaged society we have become.
after an 11hr delay PRIOR to boarding even I would have been irritatble..been there/done that..but his tiny child SOMEHOW was a happy and excited child.
wow!! what would she have done w/a REAL cranky kid?
and here's the other thing..it was on TAKEOFF you dumbos! you CANT HAVE ANYTHING UNTIL THE SEATBELT LITE GOES OFF!! FOR ALL OF YOU MORONS THAT INCLUDES BABY BOTTLES AND TOYS!
AS FOR DISCIPLINE? give me a break..a 19mo old has NO control over emotions..let alone being simply TOLD TO SIT STILL? BE QUIET? and for you emit or whatever you name is..if you're own mom would use FINGERNAILS in your arms to control you then NO WONDER you grew up to be the verbally abusive jerk that you are.
and..did you even bother to acknowledge what the other passengers/witnesses had to say??? the child was NOT disturbing THEM! only the attendant. and by the way, unless there was a first time non-flyer on the plane, everybody knows the droning speech and most of the time you cant hear them anyhow in an intelligent and loud enough voice to even hear in the middle of the plane.
bottom line..attendant will surely be fired..that's a given. pilot will be reprimanded at the very least although he's an idiot,too.
one thing obvious..there sure as heck was no federal marshall on this plane.
pdoodles
dee at 2:07AM on Jul 13th 2007
47. God have mercy on you people who make absurd comments about babies and kids on airplanes. What the fuck is wrong with people today. All the people who think babies and kids should not be allowed on planes should buy their own private jets. This situation infuriates me . That mom has every right to be on the plane , I can't count the amount of times I have traveled with adults who behave worse . I HATE SELFISH PEOPLE.
sandra at 7:19PM on Jul 12th 2007
48. Flight attendants come in all shapes and sizes - and attitudes. So do parents and children. I won't comment on what happened to this particular mother and her 19 month old child - I wasn't there and I haven't heard any non-biased eyewitness reports (yet).
I will make this comment, however: I have noticed that airlines are not very accomodating to families with small children. On a recent visit to the US (my daughter and grandchildren live abroad), the equipment (plane) was changed and new seats had to be assigned. Although their tickets were purchased together and the reservation clearly stated that one adult would be travelling with a four year old and a two year old, my daughter was assigned single seats in three different rows. When she was handed her boarding passes, she immediately pointed this out to the desk agent who told her their were no other seats available and that she would have to ask the gate agent to take care of her problem. At the gate she was informed that they couldn't help her either, but suggested that she ask people in adjoining seats if they would switch with her. She boarded the plane and requested the assistance of a flight attendant in getting her problem taken care of. She was informed that they couldn't ask passengers to move and she would have to do it herself - oh, and that she needed to get out of the aisle immediately because she was keeping others from boarding. To make a long story short, she finally worked out the problem herself - and that's really the point of my story. You have to work it out yourself - the flight attendants sometimes can't (rules and regulations) and sometimes won't help you. Once upon a time, airlines bent over backwards to deliver great service. Now everyone flies everywhere, most planes are full (at least on the routes I fly) and the only special treatment you receive comes with an amazingly expensive first or business class ticket.
KL at 8:07PM on Jul 12th 2007
49. I KNEW THERE WAS A REASON I ALWAYS TRY TO BOOK WITH CONTINENTAL FIRST! While we're at it, I cannot tell you how many times a wild kid in the supermarket ran into me or I had to twist my body to avoid getting hit (and sometimes in the process twist my ankle or lower back while doing that) or my personal favorite: the kids who bump into your back over and over while you stand in line at movies, icecream stands, museums-you name the venue-I guarantee this will happen to you sooner or later and the parents rarely (in my experience) ever stop their kids from bothering people. I realize that some parents are very much aware of their children and their impact on the world around them but sadly most aren't. being either oblivious to it or just indifferent. Oh and just try and complain or even grimace-watch out! You'll be stoned to death by the mob.
Juliet at 7:38PM on Jul 12th 2007
50. This is the most rediculous thing i have ever heard an airline do ,I fly at least once a month ,most all flights have children on them. Some times they make a little noise, no diecent human being will ever want them to be put off the plane because of it.
Untill now i usually Fly continental,have done so since 1965, but unless this flight attendent is terminated, this lady and her child is appoliigized to and compensated for their inconvenience i will never fly continental again.
I have read all the comments before me ,Some of you people are heartless ,cruel and the most dispicuable bunch of ignorant human beings i have ever heard of, you are probably the same selfish bunch that wanted the blacks seated in back of the bus , Shame on you all , you all know who i am speaking of.
I would now like to advise this lady to sue this airline . And im asking everyone who agrees with me to quit flying continental untill they correct this gross miscarriage of justice.And this violation of this ladys rites.
mack H at 7:41PM on Jul 12th 2007
51. I have raised two children, both of whom have never been perfect. I was once asked by an elderly lady during a church service to remove my whispering 2 year old to the nursery. I apologized. I also ignored her. Those who think that well behaved children are those who never peep should never be parents. Although in my travels through parenthood, those who complain the most about other children have raised children from hell for the rest of us to deal with.
Kathleen at 7:49PM on Jul 12th 2007
52. I'm not sure everyone has read all of this story. The mother and child had an extremely long delay (11+ hours is what I understand). Let me tell you, in that much time you run out of everything including diapers and snacks for a child. Also, with the new airline safety regulations, parents are limited on the amount of drinks (even baby formula) that can be brought on board. My 11 month old granddaughter visited us last month. Her mother was only allowed 1 bottle of milk and 1 bottle of water for the baby. She had extra single serve cans and they told her it was too much. What if she had an extended delay? Trust me, she would be screaming for milk. It has gone way too far in this country when we no longer look at the children in our society as the blessings that they truly are.
Anna at 8:07PM on Jul 12th 2007
53. All of you good and honest commenters, those of you with a heart ,you know who i am talking about lets all go back and give a big thanks to one of the few good and honest reporters, we have so few of them now days.
To Ada Calhounthank you from the bottom of my heart , And keep up the good work Im glad you are standing up for this poor lady.. Once again thank you.
mack H at 8:13PM on Jul 12th 2007
54. The airline behaved outrageously here, just as Southwest habitually does in its dealings with the public (see the reality show "Airline" on A&E). Anyone who flies Continental or Southwest deserves the treatment they get.
skchartwell at 8:36PM on Jul 12th 2007
55. I flew with my son at that age, kids will be kids, even though I kept him under control. Sounds like another Continental Airlines employee that doesn't really like her job and decided to show her authority. When the passenger said she didn't have anything extra, diapers juice etc, she meant everything else for an extended stay. Continental owes the woman an spology. But they'll make thier usual "for the saftey of all passengers involved" excuse. Inside they are probably saying "we showed that one, we fought a 19 month old and won"
tallone at 8:52PM on Jul 12th 2007
56. Maybe the airlines should install a chute in the floor of the plane where all of these undisciplined brats could disposed of from 30,000 feet. If your child won't shut up, it's your fault.Keep it at home or drive.
steve at 9:05PM on Jul 12th 2007
57. Airlines have the RIGHT to say who can and cannot go on their airplanes. If a parent is unwilling to control their child then the consequences are such. This reminds me of the Dulles incident when a "Mom" claimed that the TSA poured out a childs sippy cup. The video tap reveled the truth- Mom did it- but looked to get some poor TSA worker fired because MOM was a Secret Service Agent and an "Uppidy". In both cases, their child could do no wrong and "MOMS" couldn't care who they step on or over. Sad case of non-parenting
Phan114ns at 9:17PM on Jul 12th 2007
58. WAIT just a minute! Nobody seems to have a comment about the real issue. According to the flight attendant, the mom and child were kicked off the flight because mom THREATENED flight attendant. Her actual threat has not been reported, but none of the reports say she was kicked off simply because she couldn't quiet her child. The exchange began when she was asked to quiet him, and escalated from there. Until her threat is revealed, let's let up a bit on this fight. She was NOT kicked off the flight because of an unruly child.
KB at 9:56PM on Jul 12th 2007
59. Sorry, Steve, dumping kids out of planes at 30,000 feet will never work.
Hel-LO? Decompression! Not only do you suck out the darling little decibel factory, but all the people who've been sitting around trying to get a little peace and quiet are suddenly on the outside too.
And you think ONE person screaming is bad ...
A far more humane solution? Blowguns and tranquilizer darts. A little "FFFFT!" noise, a little sting in the neck, and the Howler Monkey goes right to sleep for the duration of the flight.
Each child tranquilized will receive a small, unobtrusive ear tag, containing a scannable microchip which will alert flight crews whenever said child boards an airplane. From that point, until the child reaches the age of, oh, 16, he or she will receive a sedative upon seating.
It is to be expected that some parents will object to having their children tranquilized. Balky parents will be given five minutes to reconsider, during which time they will have their seat backs kicked constantly and be fitted with headphones playing, "I don't WANNA!" at volume levels approximating those found in a mosh pit at a death metal concert.
An enterprising manufacturer will, of course, market tranquilizer darts for adults as well.
"So then, once my acne started to clear up, I --"
FFFFT!
"You know, a pretty lady like you shouldn't be so unsocia --"
FFFFT!
"That tranquilizer dart? Yeah, I came up with that idea back in '07. Pretty brillia --"
FFFFT!
Marco Polo at 9:33PM on Jul 12th 2007
60. The stewardness needs to be fired. She wanted to drug a baby for convenience and not out of any medical need. She had no idea whether the drug would be harmful or not. And when the mother rightly refused to drug her child, the stewardess then LIED to the captain in order to force the plane back. The stewardess can not be trusted; if the airline doesn't fire her, then they are backing a lying, manipulative employee who wants to recklessly dispense medications to children?
Cindy at 9:45AM on Jul 13th 2007