Germy Brats

August 24, 2008

in Baby & Kid Stories

When I was a junior in high school (age 16) I flew TWA to Washington D.C. for Presidential Classroom, an educational week-long program that teaches kids about government. On the way out from Kansas City, I was stuck in a 3-seat isle with a mom, her two kids ages 5 and 7, and a baby that was at least 2-years old. The two older ones were sick with colds. The airline let the mom hold the “baby” in her lap and the other two were supposed to share the middle seat. The two kids were too big to share the seat so they raised the armrests and took over half my seat. The “baby” squirmed and climbed over the mom the kids and myself.

I asked the stewardess if I could be moved to a different seat but was told the flight was over-booked and no seats remained. So I asked to be moved to the seat that one of the children were supposed to be sitting in but weren’t and was told the family only had two seats, one for the mom and one for the kids. So I asked how could they, a family of four, be allowed to board the plane with only two-tickets? The stewardess told me that was just the way it was and that I needed to be quiet and sit in my seat – which was impossible because I kept having to get up every five minutes because the brats kept having to go use the restroom. The mom was too stupid to have brought the kids snacks to shut them up so they whined about being hungry the whole time and were kicking and pushing each other.

It was a three-and-a-half hour flight; the airline didn’t apologize nor did they offer any compensation. Within two days I caught a terrible cold, I’m sure from those germy brats, and my trip was pretty much ruined. Because I was a minor, TWA didn’t take my complaint seriously even though my parents filed a complaint on my behalf.

{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }

Sonki April 1, 2009 at 8:18 pm

I don't find this story plausible. You can carry a child less than 2 years old in your lap, but a 5 and 7 year old will have to have their own seats.

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zebra April 2, 2009 at 9:34 am

I don't know the date you took this flight but it seems that trying to allow any children- let alone 5 & 7- to try to share a seat is not only impossible but a safety concern your parents could have reported.

If the plane had crashed there would not be enough life jackets since most airlines use part of the seat as the safety device.

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Anonymous April 2, 2009 at 9:59 am

This is a terrible story and you are only too selfish to post it. I feel sorry for you because this sort of attitude will leave you lonely and friendless. I hope you do not become a parent because you will probably neglect them.

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Jacklynn April 2, 2009 at 10:55 am

I don't believe you. Airlines won't let children share seats. This is a sad attempt for attention.

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Anonymous April 2, 2009 at 12:50 pm

I think those that are calling you selfish are the parents of "brats". We've all dealt with them.

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Caitlin April 2, 2009 at 1:56 pm

And how many people did you pass YOUR cold onto? I’m sure it wasn’t just the “brats” faults. In fact, maybe if you would have sanatized after getting off the plane, you would have been immune to the situation. But instead you were too busy bitching about children who can’t take care of themeselves.

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Whiney kid April 2, 2009 at 1:08 pm

What is with your A-holes posting on these comments about the poster being bad. I know your a bad parent too but please can't YOU show some understanding. Also if being alone means being a free of stupid garbage like some of the ones posting here, i welcom it.

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Anonymous April 2, 2009 at 1:13 pm

You are obviously lying. At least learn to do it plausibly.

5 and 7 year olds in one seat, my ass!

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Cheryl April 2, 2009 at 1:40 pm

I agree that airlines would not allow anyone over 2 years old share a seat with another older child.

As a parent of 3 small children, I understand the frustrations that both parents and other passengers have when children are loud or whiney on a plane. I have to admit that it's hard entertaining kids in a cramped setting for a prolonged period of time. They are out of their comfort zone, a little scared and their ears are often hurting. Flying back from my dad's funeral a few months ago, all 3 of my kids were cranky with ear pain and nothing in my bag tricks could comfort or distract them for very long. All I can say to other passengers is to try to be a little more tolerant. Little kids aren't the best at handling stress. Having passengers switch seats so that the entire family can sit together is very helpful in mitigating many unpleasant situations.

When I'm the flyer who has to listen to other people's kids, I feel for them. I also understand I was a kid once and I'm sure I aggravated someone at some time in my childhood… so I can't throw any stones.

Chasing down the parents in the airport, commenting on your inconvenience and running away is not very helpful and more or less rude. Next time, state your grievance and offer support. The parents will be grateful and very likely will be better prepared flyers the next time around.

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PerfectMama April 2, 2009 at 1:51 pm

Why is it that when people have kids, especially women, they lose brain cells. You think the world revolves around you and your uterus. You're not special and neither are your kids. If you have kids, be prepared to get feedback when they and their bad behavior infringe on other peoples rights(and nerves). Otherwise, keep them out of sight.

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E April 2, 2009 at 3:18 pm

Obviously, since she flew TWA, this was a long time ago- policies have changed on airlines a lot since then (remember smoking on planes??)… So don't be so quick to deem this person a liar.

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Collin April 2, 2009 at 6:49 pm

The poster is obviously on dope. She should have given some to the kids.

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oh please April 3, 2009 at 7:58 am

Yes, obviously on dope. ::eyeroll::

If this DID happen, I would be pretty cranky too. That is way too many people to be sharing two seats.

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Anonymous April 3, 2009 at 1:00 pm

Yay for airborne germs!

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JC April 3, 2009 at 3:02 pm

I have no relation to the original poster, but I, too, have seen children well over the age of two–in this case, three children–permitted to board a plane (with their single mother, of course) without having purchased seats. And this was an international flight.

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Private Porksword April 4, 2009 at 8:58 pm

Thanks for writing this. It is astonishing the calibre of some who are allowed to breed.

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Private Porksword April 4, 2009 at 9:00 pm

YAY for PerfectMama! Well said!

| | 04.05.09 – 2:00 am | #

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me April 8, 2009 at 2:45 am

Sounds like you were a bratty whiny ass little turd.

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Gage April 8, 2009 at 7:51 pm

Sorry but this is false. It doesn't matter when this took place there would not have been enough oxygen masks for all the passengers in that row. It would have been a violation of Federal Regulation. Sorry~

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Aislynn May 21, 2009 at 11:21 am

Don't discount this story as false. Airlines make mistakes with seating. I once flew with my cousins and their 2 kids under 2 (I was there to help wrangle the kids), and the airline knew in advance that we had 2 "babes in arms" and still sat us three adults and two babies in a three-seat row. Not only were there not enough oxygen masks, but they had seated us in the emergency exit row. We didn't ask for that at all.

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Amber May 19, 2016 at 10:54 am

Lap babies are allowed, they seated 3 adults in a 3 row seat with 2 lap babies, that is not against federal regulations. 2 People over teh age of 2 sharing a seat is against federal regulations and not going to happen.

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Laura Cardwell May 27, 2009 at 8:03 pm

That sucks but it's pretty much something that can't be helped. Cope and do not succumb.

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Atari May 31, 2009 at 6:53 pm

Well, since he got twenty-one comments, I'd say it worked if it is a ploy to get attention.

Anyway, I agree with the original poster; those little brats should have got their own plane and stopped being so germy.

Jerks.

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Siri June 3, 2009 at 10:58 am

I have read these stories about bratty kids over and over again. I know that ALL kids do not act that way, just kids with bad parents. Nobody wants to admit they are bad parents but the fact is that many people are.

If you ask your grandparents how children behaved in public I guarantee you they will say they didn't behave like kids do today. That's because children would be disciplined when they did so and they learned the consequences.

It's a shame that no one wants to take any real responsibility for their children anymore.

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Amber May 19, 2016 at 10:56 am

That's because spanking was a common and welcome form of discipline. Now spanking is so frowned upon it's near illegal. The laws in most places while not outright outlawing spanking, do cause problems for those wanting to actually discipline their children properly. Time outs do not work for most children. Bring back spankings and then the kids of today will be as well behaved as the generation prior.

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Atari June 5, 2009 at 9:12 pm

It's partly what you say, Siri (neat name, incidentally) but also because no one wants to BEAT (spank, if you wanna sound less 'mean') their kids.

It's either child abuse (people will call the cops because they are idiots and you will be thrown in jail for disciplining your child) or the parents are wusses, meaning they are too squeamish to whip their child's butt.

I'm glad I was raised by loving parents who were willing to tan my hide and hang it out to dry.

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