Tap, tap, tap. Pause. Tap, tap. Pause.
Tap, tap, tap, tap. Stop it! At least if you’re going
to annoy me with your foot kicking the back of my airplane
seat, do it in a regular pattern. Oh wait, you’re
four years old and you haven’t done patterning in
school yet. I’ll settle for giving your parents Stink
Eye.
As every air traveler knows, there is
nothing worse than getting to your seat and discovering
that the row behind you is full of children. Even if they’re
your own. As a frequent traveler and mother of four, I’ve
been on both ends of the annoyance spectrum. So what can
you do to make sure you don’t have the most annoying
children on a plane?
1) First of all, do whatever you can to
make sure you are sitting with your own children. I know
this sounds basic, but many times airlines split up families.
If you don’t have an upgrade for a confirmed business
class seat in your budget, investigate paying a nominal
fee ($20-$30) for a guaranteed economy seat, which will
likely come with more legroom as well. Children are not
allowed in the Exit Row seats, so unfortunately that option
is out. Failing this, though, check in early, online. Most
airlines allow 24 pre-check in online, which guarantees
a seat.
2) Book a flight time that will take advantage
of your child’s best behavior time. Try to avoid customs
line-ups, gate waiting, and boarding during baby’s
best naptime or toddler’s natural pre-dinner meltdown
time. You know your child; choose accordingly. If at all
possible, avoid stopovers. Paying the extra fee to fly direct
may be worth yours (and the other passengers’ sanity).
3) Prepare yourself and your child for
the journey. Extra clothes, non-messy snacks, favourite
toys and new toys. A handheld gaming device with age appropriate
games can be a great travel gift to your kids (and yourself).
Don’t just pack enough food and activities for the
actual flight time. A one hour flight is easily a three
hour journey when factoring in customs, security, and pre-boarding
time. Not to mention unexpected delays, which can happen
while you’re on the plane, stuck on a runway. Please,
please don’t forget the headphones for tablets and
video games. Make sure kids are comfortable wearing them
before you travel.
4) Don’t board when they tell you
to pre-board with children. Why do you want to be on the
plane longer than possible?
5) Talk to your child about what type
of behavior you expect from them. Warn them that they’ll
have to sit still for quite a while, and that they have
to use their inside voices, and not run up and down the
aisles of the plane. If you’ve been reinforcing good
“sitting rules” at the dinner table at home,
remind them that it’s similar to that; getting up
and moving around too much is rude.
6) Be hyper-aware of seat kicking and
don’t let them continually peek back to the seat behind
them, or hang over the seat in front of them. It’s
really annoying and rarely appreciated. Getting the back
row of the plane solves part of this problem, and it’s
also close to the washroom. Often the last rows are the
emptiest as well, so you could find some extra space. If
you can afford the front row, go for it.
7) An apology to other passengers on the
plane goes a long way. Many other parents will appreciate
that it’s hard to keep a child happy on a long flight,
and will be empathetic. But empathy only goes so far, for
them, and the other passengers who don’t have any.
If your child does something offensive, have them apologize
or say sorry on their behalf. It’ll go a long way
to getting more understanding.
8) If other passengers offer advice on
how to keep your child from behaving badly, try not to react
over defensively. As much as they are trying to help themselves
have a quiet flight, they may be trying to help you also.
Keep an open mind – maybe even try a suggestion –
or just offer a “Thanks for trying to help.”
Practice makes perfect. If you have a
bad flight, don’t give up. Talk to your children about
what worked and what didn’t, and reinforce good behavior
when you see it happen the next time.
Kathy Buckworth
Author, I Am So The Boss Of You (Random House)
Chief Family Advisor, PCFinancial & PCPlus
Expert, CBC's Steven & Chris
Columnist, SiriusXM Canada "How She Travels"
Columnist, “Parent Hacks” Post City Magazines
416-885-2967
www.kathybuckworth.com
@KathyBuckworth
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