The flight from Canada to Mexico was very uneventful. My kid slept all the way through, eight hours. After ten days in the sun and beach, we headed back to the airport in Cancun. I was traveling with my wife, kid, mom, mother-in-law, sister-in-law and my nine-year-old nephew. The hotel we stayed at was a nightmare (another story), but we made the best of it and looked forward to going home.
As we checked in with the Sunwing desk for our flight, I was told that even though I had already picked my seats, we no longer were sitting together. I did not want to fight, as long as I got the Economy Plus seats for my group and me as I already paid the extra money for it about two months before. But no, since it’s a different airplane, the agent said I lose that and must file to get my money back if I did not get a “special seat.”
On the flight my kid just lost it; she kept crying and crying. We gave her Gravol before the flight, and Tylenol as the flight started, but they had no effect on her. We could not give any more medication. My kid was loud and I felt bad for the others around me. I took her to the bathroom as the flight was in the air to try to get her to sleep; no luck. I was told by the attendant to go and sit down or the captain would divert the plane to get us removed if my kid did not stop crying. My wife was crying as she was stressing out.
I must say all the passengers around us were amazing. They all tried to comfort my wife and kid. Sorry, I forgot to say that my sister-in-law has Down syndrome and was getting bothered by my kid not being happy. Both my mother and mother-in-law had to comfort her. Again the passengers around us were amazing; they all helped us out.
Sadly, the flight attendant came by and told me that due to the fact I had been very disruptive on the flight, the captain radioed in to see if they should be landing soon to escort my family and me off the plane. Again and again, I loved the passengers around us. They all heard this, and every single one of them stood up and said they were not bothered and that they really enjoyed the flight as it felt like a family. I LOVED EVERY ONE OF THEM (I am talking about within three rows up and five rows behind me on both sides of the plane).
With five hours to go I was a bit worried that they would kick us off the plane, but I kept trying to get my kid to sleep. With two hours left I finally got my kid to sleep, and I recall having so many of the other passengers coming over giving my wife and me a hug.
After the plane landed, as I was walking off the plane, two of the flight attendants felt the need to threaten me by saying that the flight almost got diverted due to this issue. I did not say anything back and just kept walking.
I have traveled a lot in my 41 years and I have seen kids go even crazier and louder than my kid and I never complained, just lived with it and let the parents deal with it. Now that I have seen the other side and how I was treated by other passengers, I will always help if I can.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE PASSENGERS AROUND US WHO SHOWED US KINDNESS.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
It was probably all the other passengers that were helping you out that changed the flight attendents/pilots minds to land the plane and remove you and your family. I can just imagine the uproar if they had. I have been on flights where there has been crying children and like you it didn't bother me I just let the parents handle. But after reading your post I will def involve myself more to try and help out the family. Great that you had people supporting you and really great you posted it. Thanks!!!
Even a child-hating passenger may prefer the screaming child to a multi-hour delay and missed connection caused by a flight diversion.
I was once on a diverted flight. It went from being on-time to being five hours late, due to the time landing, refuleing, recrewing, and taking off.
Thanks for naming and shaming the airline. I don't like crying children either but headphones drown it out. And very unacceptable on their end.
i'm convinced people no longer understand children. ergo, that pilot is a piece of shit. glad the passengers were understanding, i'd like to think i'd do the same. it's unfortunate that the situation caused your wife to cry, fuck those flight attendants for causing so much emotional distress. the idiots obviously made the situation worse.
I hope you wrote to Sunwing.