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Are We There Yet? When Families Fly.

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SURELY they could spare a little milk, right? But when John and Mary Rose Lin of Jersey City ran out of milk for their 18-month-old twins on a recent Continental flight from Newark to Maui, the flight attendant onboard refused to give them more. That particular beverage, the Lins recall being told, was for coffee, not children. “I was not asking for a full bottle, just a cup,” said Mrs. Lin, noting that she even offered to pay for the milk. (travel.nytimes.com) More...

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leahburns73
Leah Burns 1
Instead of children flying for free they should require the parents to pay double for them! Or make adult flights only!
leahburns73
Leah Burns 1
Lol Ken Young:):). To be honest the thought crossed my mind. People need to be more considerate when putting their children on long or short flights. Regarding the Flight Attendant not providing milk, I have no doubt they are even more sick and tired of children because they have to put up with them for their job every day. It was probably some mean way of saying "Im so tired of dealing with your screaming babies and unruly children". When my step son was very young he was always so well behaved on flights, now he's a fireman who the Flight Attendants all flirt with lol.
devsfan
ken young 1
Oh..As one of the little brats ran by I would have tripped the little sh*t.
leahburns73
Leah Burns 2
Lol Ken, my husband and I had to fly to Washington D.C. for a meeting and we were in first class on American and I could not believe it when the last people boarded, a family of 5 all on first class and it consisted of parents and 3 children all in first class with us! I was so mad. I sat in the window seat. In the beginning the children were very well behaved and quiet but eventually became restless and loud. I love children just not on flights. Finally I yelled at the parents to get their "dam children under control" and loud too. The mother got so mad at me that it seemed that she encouraged and let them be a burdon. Finally I told my husband to switch seats with me so I could trip one of them like you told me to. My husband said "I don't want you to get arrested for assault on a child" loool. Soi yelled at the mother again and loud too so she called the flight attendant who heard everything. The attendant was so cute she told mother "I didn't hear anything and if you don't control your children I will be forced to move you to the back of the plane because this is first class". My poor husband was so relieved the "mommy fight was over". The flight attendant winked at me as she walked by, sooo sweet. Finally peace and quiet. Although the flight attendant should have told them to shut their children up during the first episode.
bnewton31
Babs Newton 0
What are the flight attendants on? That was just cruel.
crkdoug
Oh these poor people, maybe they shouldnt have tried to go non stop from Newark to Maui. Common sense, which is sorely lacking in 21st century American parents, should have indicated to these dolts that a stop over in LA or SFO would have allowed them the opportunity to buy more supplies for their snot lockers as well as a break from being in an aluminum tube and give the rest of the pax a respite from being subjected to their selfish behavior. One thing the "golden age" of flying had was a dearth of poorly raised brats in the cabin, that in hindsight is what made it golden.
mwyss789
MICHAEL WYSS 0
Amen to that!! I got on a 10.5 hour flight & 2 brats scremed the whole time--selfish parents did nothing, FAs did nothing!!
sfjasper
Steve Jasper 0
Didn't the NAZIS try to improve rail travel this way. Efficiency! Just a bunch of cattle cars. I've never had a pleasant experience with Continental. I'm sure the passengers in '39 felt they didn't have a choice either.
chris13
Chris Bryant 0
Wow. Really? Nazis? REALLY?
Are you really equating an airline with the National Socialist party?
Every airline I've flown has done something at one time or another to tick me off, but, for the most part, the people I've dealt with (ticket counter, gate agent, customer service, flight attendants, etc.) have been professional and courteous. I didn't always like what I was told, but I don't "kill the messenger" as it were.
BenKFIT
Ben Lillie 0
If they wan't more paying customers they're going to have to treat them better
bnewton31
Babs Newton 0
I agree.
chris13
Chris Bryant 0
Nope. The customer will learn to accept it. They always do. Flights will continue to be full, customers will continue to complain, but in the end, they'll continue to buy tickets. And that means the airlines win.
WALLACE24
WALLACE24 0
Not sure they need more paying customers, they probably need customers paying more.

Then maybe not so many will be on the brink of bankruptcy. Of course the airlines could look internally and make a few changes too. Old habits die hard. The cold hard facts though are they will figure out a way to get more $ or go broke.
NF2G
David Stark 0
The article said that they are about to post their fourth year of "modest profits." Modestly profitable is nowhere near bankruptcy.
WALLACE24
WALLACE24 0
Not all airlines are posting modest profits. Maybe Continental could afford the milk, but customer service will probably not be a "long suit" in the mass transit arena.
bnewton31
Babs Newton 0
I agree.
dbaker
dbaker 0
It's a bit tough when the passengers that generally pay the least are expecting more.
WALLACE24
WALLACE24 0
Your statement is very true. There is a simple answer-don't sell cheap tickets. Then the airline will make money and us pax will get good service and an enjoyable trip. Not sure we really need a thousand airliners flying at a time and nobody making money.
xmacfly
ALLEN McLEAN 0
Passengers (of all ages) are the ENEMY !
emoad1
Edward Moad 0
Its called GREED, pay more and get less. Thats why I fly Hawaiian, they treat you like a person, not a piece of high cost of baggage.
n7224e
BC Hadley 0
Eighteen-month-old twins on a 12 hour flight? That's just dumb, especially when there are plenty of options. The aisles on any commercial airliner are not intended to be used as a play area. As for the flight, maybe I'm not looking in the right place, but I don't see any Continental flights flying into Maui (Kahului). Are we getting facts here, or a story?
pdixonj
pdixonj 0
They most likely bought their tickets on Continental, and had a stopover, probably in LAX or SFO...so a portion of their flight may have actually been on the "United" part of United-Continental. Still, for a 12 hour trip, that stopover would've been extremely short. They should've opted for a longer layover time which would've given their kids more time to roam freely in the airport. They also should've bought more milk on their stopover, which they most likely couldn't because they didn't allow themselves more stopover time to rest and regroup.
THRUSTT
THRUSTT 0
Was breast milk available???
bnewton31
Babs Newton 0
I don't thhink courtesy, customer service and a little empathy/sympathy for various passengers' situations, in all travel classes, is too much to ask.
THRUSTT
THRUSTT 0
That's true, but they may not have had much to work with according to the article. I think it said that after 9 am, there's only 2 pints of milk, and they reserve it for first class.
I didn't put my son on an airliner until he was almost eight years old. I understand there are instances where younger children have to fly, but the parents have to be prepared to deal with whatever comes up. Personally, I would not be upset at a baby screaming, but I'd be pissed off at the parents not reigning in an unruly 6 year old.
On the other side of the coin, there are flight attendants who have power like the TSA, that don't show any sympathy. Like everything else in this world, it's life...
bnewton31
Babs Newton 0
True.
THRUSTT
THRUSTT 0
Also, 2 pints of milk is ridiculous for a big airliner, it should be at least 2 gals..
bnewton31
Babs Newton 0
Again, I agree.
devsfan
ken young 0
That's an additional 16 lbs....In an industry where every ounce matters( fuel costs out of control)carrying a few gallons of a beverage that will probably spoil before it gets used is foolish.
Like the article says, bring your own stuff.
THRUSTT
THRUSTT 0
16 lbs. isn't going to make it or break it, it's 16 lbs. of something that's probably needed. If the passengers bring it themselves, then the weight is still there and honestly I can't see the milk going to waste on a large airplane.
devsfan
ken young 0
Really? 16 lbs here, 25 lbs there...It all adds up..
My brother works for a trucking company...The company studied using single wheel( 4 wheels total) running gear on their trailers as opposed to the normal dual wheel ( 8 total...The study showed the trailers with the 4 wheels got anywhere from 3/4ths to 1.5 miles more per gallon. SOLD!!!! The company saved close to $2 million in fuel costs in one year...In the grand scheme of things 16lbs is a lot of weight. Carriers can save thousands of pounds of fuel by reducing weight wherever they can.
THRUSTT
THRUSTT 0
Ok, they saved money on gas but probably put more wear on the remaining tires. I don't think 16 lbs. makes a difference on a 280,000 lb. airplane. You can't cut weight on something that's needed. We could go on and on reducing weight, ie; getting rid of reversers, placarding the toilets inop., but this is stuff that is needed. Some common sense needs to be applied here.
Getting rid of the basics and the little extras will bring being on an airplane on par with being on a bus. The solution is for the public to not expect those $59 fares, pay a little more and have air travel back again where it should be, that is, clean airplanes, decent meals, and hot female flight attendants. There's enough jobs elsewhere for guys and older chicks who should be spending quality time with their grandchildren. Also there are too many airlines out there!!! By the way, I'm not implying all hot females should be FA's, they should be pilots too...
Oh boy, the backlash should be starting soon here, help me out Wayne Bookout!!!
devsfan
ken young 0
No..The tires actually last longer than the dual. Yes they cost more, but the savings in fuel costs and replacement cost is huge.
Wanna use a better gun to shoot holes in my logic? Go right ahead.
The air carriers will try to cut costs where ever needed.
Milk is not a need for air travel. Please do not state that it is.
Air travel has become like bus travel. However,air travel is faster and safer.
THRUSTT
THRUSTT 0
Well, you might as well say that water,soda, alcohol, and food are not needs either. How about toilet paper??? That'll reduce some weight on a 16 hour flight. Have that trucking co. call Boeing too, they could probably eliminate 9 of the 18 wheels, like the 747 in Soul Plane!!!
devsfan
ken young 0
Please.
THRUSTT
THRUSTT 0
Stop being childish and be realistic! Why do you think there is not a need for milk on an airplane??? Is this the world according to Ken Young???
devsfan
ken young 0
just about on every flight....I never stated nor implied milk should not be on board. Just that there's no need for gallons of it.
Case closed.
As stated by many on here, if you need it, bring it yourself. Period....
sbmay83
BERNARD MAY 0
Geez, your parents were lucky to have an angel such as yourself. I'll bet you never drooled, cried, got hungry, had to pee, or do any of those nasty things that the remainder of humankind has had to suffer through. May your airline of choice run out of Depends just when you need them most - while throwing a hissy fit over the smelly child in the next row.
THRUSTT
THRUSTT 0
Whose comment are you replying to?
bnewton31
Babs Newton 0
Bernard's.
THRUSTT
THRUSTT 0
I was actually asking him who he was repying to...
THRUSTT
THRUSTT 0
replying
bnewton31
Babs Newton 0
I don't know who Bernard is addressing but he seems perturbed. I just want to say I am not trying to p.. anyone off-just exchanging thoughts.
devsfan
ken young 0
then DRIVE!!!!!Your kids have the same rights as everyone else. No more . No less.
Remember, your kids rights END where the rights of others begin.
If your kids are well behaved, fly all you like. If your kids are unable to behave in certain situations such as on a commercial flight, then you must out of consideration for others use another mode of transportation.
CriticalMass
CriticalMass 0
True story. Many moons ago my wife and I had to attend a funeral in LA and had to fly from Huntsville, AL. We had a small one and we had all the necessary supplies. At one point, at what looked like a slack time on the Memphis-LA leg, we asked the flight attendant if we could have some hot water to place in a container we had to warm up the small pre-filled milk/formula bottle. The answer was a rather harsh "no". I appealed, no good. Reason given? No reason given. Name of the airline? Eastern. And the rest, as they say.....
budai2
George Haksch 0
I'm sure they that any particular flight,there will be infants on it. Given the present TSA enforcers mindset, I don't think you can carry on milk. The Airlines surly could afford half gallon of it,just to be thoughtful
.
mwyss789
MICHAEL WYSS 0
NObody has the right to bring kids that young on that long a flight--the airlines need to make the parents leave 'em home in respect to all other pax--I DO NOT want to endure your scremin' brats!!
Ugadaria
UMesh Gadaria 0
well this is a tough one but we are all in the difficult financial times. And flying is not what it used to be.Are these twin paid travelers? or are they using complementary seats? parents should have known the milk needed and should have taken on board specially on a very long journey.

devsfan
ken young -1
"Active" means big pain in the ass.
I have no issue with children on commercial flights
That is, as long as the parent(s) keep their kids quiet and seated.
Unfortunately many parents think their kid'd antics are 'cute'. Or they say " oh he's only 3, lighten up"..REALLY?
Look lady, your kid is a brat and I can see why.
I was on a flight from CLT to ALB which is a quick 1.5 hour flight.
Of course this time there was a mother with two obnoxious 'active' children on board.
After the mother was told a few times to get a handle on her little cupcakes, one of the passengers finally snapped and in a raised voice gave the woman the what for.
He got a round of applause.
AAaviator
AAaviator 0
If infants and children were at home instead of on airplanes, a "parent" could probably find milk for them in their own refrigerator.
jimb2
Jim fisher 0
I would love to see some flight attendant in a resturant not get her/his milk for coffee before a flight.... just once... :o(
jimb2
Jim fisher 0
Just once would like to see a flight attendant refused milk for thier coffee..... Bet they would bitch....... up a storm..... just once...
leahburns73
Leah Burns -1
I flew in a Continental Air Bus years ago into Newark, I told my boyfriend at the time I felt like "we were in a flying trash can" and the flight attendant heard me. The service was already terrible but after the flight attendant overheard that comment we had no service at all. There was a woman sitting behind us who had her three young children with her so all three children sat behind us and the mom sat on the other side of the aisle closest to her children. These kids continuously kicked our seats, cried and ran up and down the aisles as soon as they thought the flight attendant wasn't watching. We flew many places and I can't remember any other bad experiences but that one was horrible! We never flew Continental again. American Airlines used to be great and they still aren't too bad but I recently flew Hawaiian and it was the most comfortable flight I've ever been on. We were in first class and I'm sure that had something to do with it but we fly first class on American now too and it is no where near as nice as Hawaiian. Hawaiian's cabin is as nice as American Airlines first class.
devsfan
ken young 1
Continental was a crap carrier. Another legacy carrier saddled with expensive labor costs. The unionized employees were at best there to tolerate the PAX...The mainline aircraft I flew were dirty. The FA's lost their enthusiasm for flying long before I got into the cabin.
I flew Continental because it was convenient to where I wanted to go.
What a trade off.
leahburns73
Leah Burns -1
I'll be flying To Fiji in three months and will fly Sun Air for the first time. If any of you know what to expect please reply. Will let you know how the flight was upon returning:):)

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