Most unhelpful airline attendants ever!

[Twik]

But what about the poor mothers fellow passenger? She stood up and wouldn't sit with them, offering no help and treating them like a leper, I bet that took quite a bit of time and wasn't the mother's fault. Why has nobody addressed her causing the situation to be worse? She sounds like the worst of them all.

For what it's worth, I would be very unhappy about sitting beside a vomiting person, whether it was a child or an adult. Had I been that woman, I wouldn't have been rude about it but I would have requested to move to another seat as being near someone who is vomiting/had vomited would make me ill myself. I don't agree with her actions, but I can certainly understand why she would not want to sit beside someone covered in vomit.

This made me laugh a bit. My father always had a VERY queasy stomach; whenever a child or pet started vomiting, he'd vanish so quickly you'd have thought he'd teleported. It used to annoy my mother, who'd be stuck cleaning things up by herself, but he'd explain that he was only trying to save her from dealing with two messes rather than one.

Possibly the woman was like him; if the sound/sight/smell provoked her own gag reflex, she was probably wise to get away as quickly as possible, before making the situation worse.

[behindbj]

 The average adult doesn't need to carry diapers, wipes, toys/books to entertain, a change of clothes and snack foods/bottles.  So a person flying with a child will have a larger than average carryon bag sometimes.  This being said, there are very few reasons people with children can't check everything but the diaper bag.  Dh and I have always checked everything but the bag.  We also carry a larger diaper bag, but stow it under the seat.  It's just easier that way and then we never really need to leave our seats.  The point is most people try to make things as convenient as possible, sometimes it just isn't that possible.

I agree that people with children need more stuff.  In fact, I applaud it when parents bring enough stuff on the plane to tend to their child's needs and entertainment.  I think the point in this thread is that the woman wasn't just carrying large diaper bags or backsacks with stuff for her kid to do - she was carrying on all of her luggage.  That was not necessary (especially if you have the backsacks and such). 

I do not have kids, but I fly an awful, awful lot and see organized folks and disorganized folks.  Generally (and this is only from observation), I've seen parents will several kids (think 5) enter the plane with two backpacks with stuff (including baby things) and manage.  The issue with the woman in the original post is that she brought luggage on a flight late, there was no time to check it at the gate because the plane was ready to go, and things had to be moved around to accommodate it.  It wasn't just a matter of hustling to her seat, sliding the diaper bag (or whatever) under the seat in front of her and having her strap her and her child in to go and then dealing with the sickness later. 

Again - I wasn't there.  I'm not one of those people who feels that children or sick people shouldn't fly.  I know life has a way of happening when I've made other plans and sometimes we have to put up with someone else's bad day.  BUT - doesn't mean I'm entirely happy about it or feel put out or grumpy or whatever.  It's how we react to our own reactions that shows what kind of people we are.  Quite frankly, I am entitled to how I feel whether other people like it or not.  While I try to appear to be having a good day even when I'm not, sometimes I am the nastiest, most unreasonable person in the world.  INSIDE.  On the outside, life goes on, no big deal, that's quite alright, etc. 

I think that it's very unfair to judge people on this board based on their opinions here (ANYWHERE on here).  Actions speak louder than words and if the folks expressing their opinions here would not do so out loud or make a situation worse and remain polite and collected, then that's the way to do things.  So some folks don't think kids or sick people should be on planes - well, unless they were going up to sick people and kids on planes and yelling and screaming at them, it's not for anyone to judge. 

I do not care for kids in general.  Doesn't mean I hate them and wish them all in a room until they're 18.  It also means that I get the "oh NO!" moment on planes when I see a bunch of them.  Doesn't mean I say or do anything rude - it just means I have an internal reaction.  Which I am perfectly entitled to.  It's the same reaction some people have when they see a fat person walklng down the aisle of the plane - oh NO!  We had a thread like this on one of the previous boards (it got out of hand, which is what prompted my begging in this thread).  I thought it absolutely hilarious that folks who were chastising others who said they didn't care for kids on planes expressed outrage that fat people were allowed to sit near them. 

So - I would not have been happy to see this woman rushing on the plane late, having to make the entire world stop so her excess luggage that she couldn't handle be stowed (moving the bags of people who managed to get their butts on the plane on time), with a vomiting kid.  No - not happy at all.

But.  I would have sucked it up and dealt with it (and offered a hand if able) because, well - her day was going worse than mine.  If she was intentionally that much of an inconsiderate person (and I doubt it), then that's punishment enough for her because people that entitled tend to lead tiny little lives.  Otherwise, she was having a sucky day.

That's my several cents worth.  Now if you will excuse me, I am going to take the rest of my change and go get a cup of coffee.

behindbj 

[kingsrings]

But what about the poor mothers fellow passenger? She stood up and wouldn't sit with them, offering no help and treating them like a leper, I bet that took quite a bit of time and wasn't the mother's fault. Why has nobody addressed her causing the situation to be worse? She sounds like the worst of them all.

For what it's worth, I would be very unhappy about sitting beside a vomiting person, whether it was a child or an adult. Had I been that woman, I wouldn't have been rude about it but I would have requested to move to another seat as being near someone who is vomiting/had vomited would make me ill myself. I don't agree with her actions, but I can certainly understand why she would not want to sit beside someone covered in vomit.

Me too. I am very easily grossed out, and I certainly wouldn't want to sit anywhere near vomit. The smell and sight of it would be so disgusting. Some day when I have my own children, I'll get used to it pretty quickly and won't be so grossed out, I'm sure.

[Twik]

I do wonder why the plane was starting to take off before all the passengers got settled - it's much more usual to sit there twiddling your thumbs for a few minutes before they get going. I think that the real fault of the flight crew (which includes the pilot as well as the FAs) was beginning to move with a passenger still in the aisle. I might expect this if the woman was a delayed passenger for whom they'd held the plane, but that doesn't appear to be the case according to the OP.

If, on the other hand, the woman had basically gotten settled and then she and others got up when the baby got sick, well, airplanes are like babies - when they're going to go, they're going to go, and there's not a lot you can do to stop them once they're started.

[platys]

Me too. I am very easily grossed out, and I certainly wouldn't want to sit anywhere near vomit. The smell and sight of it would be so disgusting. Some day when I have my own children, I'll get used to it pretty quickly and won't be so grossed out, I'm sure.

Don't be so sure - I had to clean up my own vomit as a child because the very sight or smell of vomit would make my mom throw up.  I've got the same hair trigger.  There are theories that its actually a defense thing - mainly, if you were eating, and someone started to hurl, the food might be bad, so everyone else immediately throwing it up would save people from food poisoning.

[ettacat]

I dont think anyone thinks she was "entitled" to extra asisstance.  I think the OP was just lamenting the lack of helpfulness (a quick paper towel/a sympathetic look if nothing else).  I dont know about everyone else, but I am quite grateful when my BF (or someone else) lifts or moves heavy or awkward things for me, or offers to carry part of a large load.  I dont think I am entitled to this help, but I do appreciate it. 

I am with you. I didn't get the idea that the lady was feeling "entitled". It seems that people are just getting ruder and there is no compassion for anyone anymore.  Maybe she had to travel that day. Perhaps she and the child just got sick. Not everyone has unlimited funds to stay somewhere for a few extra days, even if they want to.

It wouldn't have killed the FAs to have a little compassion or at least hand the lady some paper towels.

[HushHush]

Maybe I missed where the OP said that the mother had ALL of their luggage with them.  I only saw a comment in the OP that she had her carry on and her child's carry on.  A carry on could have been the diaper bag and the other a large purse.  I have a large purse I use only for travelling because it holds everything I need for myself and my 4 yr old son.

However, when he was an infant, I'd fly with his carseat (for safety on the flight), diaper bag, my purse and the stroller that was gate-checked before we entered the plane. Any luggage was checked even if it was a small rolling bag.  I could techically handle all this by myself but it was more cumbersome and I greatly appreciated when the FA's offered to take the car seat to our seats and then hold my son while I buckled it in.  Even if I was later than usual getting to the flight, I've never had trouble receiving help thats been offered.  I don't ask but will accept it gratefully if its offered. 

Its near impossible to change a flight during the Christmas travelling season.  I've tried.  I would have gotten on the flight with a sick child too and I haven't carried diaper wipes since my son was potty-trained at the age of 2.  I try to offer help to the parents with children if I can because I've been there and know how unpredictable kids can be.  And that poor mother was probably mortified that a child that she thought was okay was now a vomiting mess that she had to deal with for the next however long.

Charlotte

[Twik]

I know I'm belabouring a point here, but: There's still the point that the vomiting and resultant commotion happened while the plane was taxiing. People MUST sit down then. Before the FAs can be "compassionate" and start handing out paper towels, and such, they must either (1) wait until the plane has taken off, and reached cruising height, or (2) stop the plane while it's taxiing. Now, if they were already approaching the runway, they would run the risk of being struck by another plane, as well as holding up all the other aircraft behind them. So, they'd have to leave the line, and return to the gate. All this time, remember, it is illegal for anyone to stand up. In the best of circumstances, this would likely take more time than following option (1), and would have vastly increased the risk of an accident as well. Wearing baby spit-up for ten minutes is not enjoyable, but probably better than going flying like ten-pins when the aircraft makes a suddent stop or movement, and you're not belted in.

An aircraft is not like someone's private car. Once you get on it, you give over control to the people operating it. Anything short of a life-threatening emergency on your behalf, they will not stop once they start. That's just the way it is.

It's not entitled to have a baby suddenly get sick, even on an plane. It is entitled, in my opinion, to expect that the plane and all surrounding airport operations halt until you get cleaned up rather than wait a few minutes until you reach cruising altitude. (Note that the OP says nothing about the mother actually demanding such service - it was the people around her that seemed to cause most of the commotion, either trying to get away or trying to help.)

[goblue2539]

I know I'm belabouring a point here, but: There's still the point that the vomiting and resultant commotion happened while the plane was taxiing.

But, the question then remains why was the plane taxiing if this lady had just been let on it?  I agree with you, I really do.  I just see too many unanswered questions to make a good judgement call as to who was wrong. 

[Linda1967]

But what about the poor mothers fellow passenger? She stood up and wouldn't sit with them, offering no help and treating them like a leper, I bet that took quite a bit of time and wasn't the mother's fault. Why has nobody addressed her causing the situation to be worse? She sounds like the worst of them all.

For what it's worth, I would be very unhappy about sitting beside a vomiting person, whether it was a child or an adult. Had I been that woman, I wouldn't have been rude about it but I would have requested to move to another seat as being near someone who is vomiting/had vomited would make me ill myself. I don't agree with her actions, but I can certainly understand why she would not want to sit beside someone covered in vomit.

We also don't know anything about her except that she asked to be moved. Maybe she had a compromised immune system and didn't want to get infected by the child or the mother. Maybe she wasn't used to vomiting children (I'm not, since I'm not a parent). Maybe she didn't like children very much in the first place, and wasn't about to sit next to one who was obviously miserable. All of these reasons are enough for her to be moved.

And her rudeness may have come from her having a bad day in general, and a vomiting baby was the final straw.
    

[JudiAU]

I was watching an Oprah episode where a celebrity was talking about his arrest for disorderly conduct aboard a plane once. He was traveling with his 4 year-old daughter, and she had just been potty-trained. Even though she went before she boarded, after they were all belted in, she had to go again. So said celebrity proceeded to take her to the bathroom, only to be told to sit back down by the FA, as the plane was just about to take off and obviously no one could get up at that point. He was very indignant because his kid had to go to the bathroom and would pee her pants if she didn't. Well, that's what she ended up doing, and he got arrested for pitching a fit about it. What he did was absolutely wrong and the airline was right to arrest him, but what is a parent supposed to do in that situation? Your little kid has to go, and they don't have the control that adults do.

If your recently potty trained child is going to be on a plane than a diaper or a pull up is a good choice because accidents may happen for exactly this reason.

[hollasa]

Maybe I missed where the OP said that the mother had ALL of their luggage with them.  I only saw a comment in the OP that she had her carry on and her child's carry on.  A carry on could have been the diaper bag and the other a large purse.  I have a large purse I use only for travelling because it holds everything I need for myself and my 4 yr old son.

I was going to mention that, too. Sure doesn't sound as if she had all the luggage with her!

Another thing - the last time I flew with a child, the people handling the boarding said I could either board first, or wait until everyone else had boarded, in order to reduce the amount of time my child would have to sit still on the plane (and to avoid people dropping bags on them, the whole throng effect). This mother may have been boarding as directed (one wonders why they wouldn't have allowed her time to sit down before the plane started taxiing, though!)

It looks like a horrible situation all around, really. I think the OP should be applauded for having helped, but mildly chastised for standing up during taxiing. And I hope the mom had a nice, long rest after she got where she was going!

[kingsrings]

I was watching an Oprah episode where a celebrity was talking about his arrest for disorderly conduct aboard a plane once. He was traveling with his 4 year-old daughter, and she had just been potty-trained. Even though she went before she boarded, after they were all belted in, she had to go again. So said celebrity proceeded to take her to the bathroom, only to be told to sit back down by the FA, as the plane was just about to take off and obviously no one could get up at that point. He was very indignant because his kid had to go to the bathroom and would pee her pants if she didn't. Well, that's what she ended up doing, and he got arrested for pitching a fit about it. What he did was absolutely wrong and the airline was right to arrest him, but what is a parent supposed to do in that situation? Your little kid has to go, and they don't have the control that adults do.

If your recently potty trained child is going to be on a plane than a diaper or a pull up is a good choice because accidents may happen for exactly this reason.

I'm not a parent, but I would think that putting a diaper or pull-up back on a child who was just recently potty-trained would be totally confusing and disruptive to their potty-training routine. They wouldn't understand why they are suddenly back into a diaper again, and it might ruin all the potty-training that they just went through.

[NewMrsF]

And there are germs everywhere one goes, so to find them on a plane isn't any different than anywhere else. Just make sure you wash your hands a lot and take your supplements.

I apologize if I quote the wrong person, but I'm not used to nested quotes so I may have deleted the wrong poster names.
Anyway, yes, there are germs everywhere. But in most cases people have the option of avoiding them by walking away from the person. You cannot avoid them on an airplane because you're stuck in that metal shell with them for long periods of time with no opportunity to get fresh air. I cannot count the number of times I have been sick after coming home from a trip due to people coughing, sneezing and throwing up on the plane near me. No matter how much handwashing you do, you cannot get rid of all the germs.

While I agree that an actively sick person should avoid airline travel, if possible, much of the time, you are contagious prior to full-blown symptoms of an illness. I too have become sick after flying, but is that because of the germs on the flight or because I was already infected with something? I couldn't say. I do have to say that I have had no choice but to fly sick. It happens. I was trying to get home from out of town work and did my very best to not cough or sneeze on anyone. I highly doubt I was the only person sick on that flight.

I have sympathy for the woman with the sick child. Perhaps she could have been better prepared, but I also think the FAs should have assissted her in being seated as quickly as possible to keep on schedule. Willow has already pointed out that she should likely have stayed in her seat and tried to help.

[Secret]

for what it's worth, about spreading illness on an airplane, I've heard conflicting points on spreading germs.  I did a quick internet search and found that they do try to minimize the spread through filtration systems   People can get sick just through touching a door that someone has just opened with freshly sneezed upon hands.  If someone gets sick after flying, they could have contracted it anywhere.  Immunity is often surpressed due to the stress of flying.  Maybe they got sick from the cab door handle after they landed.

 "The Boeing Company said that the filtration systems on its planes could clean air to the standards of a hospital clinic. It maintains that recirculated air is better for passengers than fresh air, because it contains more moisture than the dry air outside an airplane cabin in flight. Airlines also save about $60,000 per aircraft each year by using 50 percent recirculated air.

''The risk of contamination is no greater than being in a confined area with other people, and the risk on airplanes is actually a little lower because of the air filtration,'' said Mary Jean Olsen, a Boeing spokeswoman. All of the planes that Boeing delivers to airlines, with the exception of small 717 jets, are now equipped with filters. "

But the Association of Flight Attendants said airlines did not always maintain the filters properly. The union also said the F.A.A. did not set minimum standards for air cleanliness, only required that cabin air be reasonably clean.

There have been conflicting studies over the years analyzing whether cabin air can transmit illnesses like colds, the flu and pneumonia. For example, the National Research Council said last year that respiratory illnesses could result from plane trips. However, the study found that illness was more likely to spread because passengers were crowded together, not because of the planes' air circulation systems.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9F00E3DD1738F937A35757C0A9659C8B63

Obvjously with vomit there's a greater chance of spreading germs due to the vomit particles. (making myself queazy). 

I'm not opening a can of worms on the whole clean vs recurlated air, I'm just sayin'.  Take it for what it's worth.  I'm not getting both sides of the story in detail cause I'm at work and don't have time!!!