How to Handle People Who Hate Children on Airplanes
Many airplane passengers can’t stand flying within the same fuselage as children. In a survey of nearly 2,500 individuals by Travelzoo Australia, screaming children were named as the worst aspect of air travel by 67 percent of respondents. Apparently travelers think airplanes should be Zen zones free from the noise, exuberance, and annoyance of children. But what’s a traveling parent to do? Rather than staying grounded until the kids go off to college, use these six tips from family travel bloggers to handle people who hate children on airplanes.
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1. Make Friends
Jessica Bowers, author of SuitCasesAndSippyCups.com, suggests asking those seated nearby to tell you if your children are bothering them. She says, “I think just giving (other passengers) the freedom to complain makes them less cranky.”
Debbie Dubrow of DeliciousBaby.com says, “Once someone actually said ‘just my luck’ as he sat down next to me, and I answered with a polite and friendly, ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you?’ which sent him back-peddling. He was actually quite polite for the rest of the trip.”
Some parents even recommend purchasing a round of drinks for neighboring passengers or passing out ear plugs to drown out any child-induced noisiness.
2. Keep Kicking to a Minimum
Avoid jostling those seated in front of your family by removing children’s shoes. There will be less kicking if tootsies get sore from this unwanted behavior. Keep the tray table steady by choosing mellow activities and explaining to children how their behavior could disturb other passengers.
3. Fly Prepared
To avoid mid-flight meltdowns pack toy sets, arts and crafts projects, and travel-sized games and puzzles. Take a look at our recommended list of toys for traveling with kids.
You should also bring along favorite books or download children’s stories to your smart phone or tablet. Even if you don’t allow television or video games at home you may want to consider bending the rules to allow a bit of screen time, especially on a very long flight.
4. Pack Snacks
Pack a wide variety of healthy travel snacks, all in their own small containers. Dole out goodies one at a time to keep mouths happily munching (and silent). You might want to bring a few special treats to hand out for good behavior toward the end of your journey. Sandra Foyt of AlbanyKid.com always keeps a few lollipops handy on flights, “for emergency purposes.”
5. Make an Obvious Effort
Parental involvement is key to keeping offspring content in the close confines of an airplane cabin. Many travelers say they do not hate children on airplane, rather it is their inattentive parents they do not like. Make an obvious display of your efforts to show you’re doing your best to soothe the wails of your crying baby or to diffuse your child’s tantrum.
Lisa Goodmurphy of GoneWithTheFamily.com says, “I think the most important thing when flying with kids is that your attention needs to be 100 percent focused on them. Children can’t be expected to know how to behave on a plane unless you teach them how.”
6. Ignore the Haters
Other passengers may inwardly (or less often, outwardly) groan when you board with your kids. Despite all the negative polls and articles, not everyone on the plane will hate you. Many will be sympathetic to the sometimes stressful task of flying with children.
If all else fails, then silently repeat this mantra, “This too shall pass.” Soon enough, your family will land safely at your destination. And remember, you will likely never have to see your fellow passengers ever again!
Learn More Tips for Traveling with Kids
Traveling with a toddler or preschooler? Learn how to keep your child safe when flying with this compact airplane travel harness for kids.
For more air travel help, take a look at our tried and true tips for flying with babies and toddlers.
Keep kids content when flying with this list of recommended travel games for toddlers to teens.
Find out why to fly Frontier Airlines with kids.
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Do you have any tips for handling passengers who hate children on airplanes? Let us know in the comments below!
A Note from The Travel Mama: When I originally wrote this story (using the title “How to Handle Kid-Hating Curmudgeons on Airplanes”) for TODAY Travel in 2012, the story received over 100 comments, mostly from angry airplane passengers upset, apparently, that children exist in the world. The story is no longer on their website.
