baby

A "stressed" mum was booted from First Class on her flight with her crying baby.

When US fashion blogger Arielle Noa Charnas decided to take her nine-month-old baby Ruby on a six-hour flight from their New York base to Los Angeles, she pre-empted the potential difficulties that could arise.

A stressed mum, crying baby and flight full of strangers was never going to be the makings of an enjoyable six hours. So she thought ahead, and paid to spend the flight in first class, where more space would mean a happier baby and less stressed parents.

Posting on Instagram before the flight, Charnas wrote that it was her first time taking Ruby on a flight and that she was “nervous” about the experience.

“I’m terrified of flying and the thought of bringing her on a plane with me doubles my anxiety,” she wrote before flying.

Travelling with kids? Join Holly Wainwright and Andrew Daddo for a game-filled podcast that will keep the whole family entertained.

And it appears her fears weren’t without reason. She claimed she was kicked out of first class and told to reside at the back of the plane the minute the nine-month-old began crying.

“On our way to LA a few days ago it was my first time flying with Ruby, I had a screaming crying sleepy baby who was so overwhelmed that she couldn’t fall asleep,” she wrote on Instagram after the flight.

“My husband and I paid for first class so that we’d have the extra space and could lay down with her – once we were boarded I was getting tons of eye rolls and head shakes from fellow passengers … because my baby was crying (as if I could just look at Ruby and say okay now it’s time to stop.)”

Charnas said it took less than 10 minutes for her family to be asked to move out of their seats.

“I tried to ignore it until 10 minutes passed and a flight attendant came over to me and asked me and my baby to move to the back of the plane (as if the people in the back didn’t matter). Give up our seats that we paid for and move. Apparently I was upsetting and getting a lot of complaints from the first class passengers.”

ADVERTISEMENT

On our way to LA a few days ago it was my first time flying with Ruby, I had a screaming crying sleepy baby who was so overwhelmed that she couldn’t fall asleep. My husband and I paid for first class so that we’d have the extra space and could lay down with her – once we were boarded I was getting tons of eye rolls and head shakes from fellow passengers on @delta because my baby was crying (as if I could just look at Ruby and say okay now it’s time to stop ????). I tried to ignore it until 10 minutes passed and a flight attendant came over to me and asked me and my baby to move to the back of the plane (as if the people in the back didn’t matter). Give up our seats that we paid for and move. Apparently I was upsetting and getting a lot of complaints from the first class passengers. I started crying because I was so stressed and anxious and instead of the stewardess being helpful and compassionate she instead made the situation worse. I don’t know what’s right and wrong when it comes to flying with a baby but after telling a few people the story they were in shock. Thoughts? We’re headed back to NYC today and we’re hoping for a much better experience. ✈️

A photo posted by Arielle Noa Charnas (@somethingnavy) on

“I started crying because I was so stressed and anxious and instead of the stewardess being helpful and compassionate she instead made the situation worse,” she wrote.

Rather reasonably, although Charnas outlined her frustrations about the incident, she did ponder “what’s right and wrong when it comes to flying with a baby” but that ultimately “after telling a few people the story they were in shock”.

More than 1,500 people have since commented on Charnas’ photo offering their sympathy, with many writing that although they aren’t totally sure of existing protocol, the entire scenario “just feels wrong” and illustrates a total “lack of compassion”.

What do you think?