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.
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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.”
“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?
Top Comments
Common courtesy, respect and patience, you're doing it wrong people! Have a little compassion...
I feel like this is along the same vein as the article about people taking the disabled parks. A lot of people feel so entitled nowadays that they have lost all care for societies most vulnerable... Was there any concern from the staff to assist the mother to settle her baby? It doesn't sound like it. Plus 10 minutes into the flight? Really, people complained after just 10 mins? An hour on incessant crying maybe, but 10 mins?!? This is a sad story that reflects some aspects of our society that needs review. Stop thinking me, me, me from time to time...
If you'd like control over who you do and don't sit beside in any class of flight then I'm afraid you will have to book and pay for every seat. Otherwise accept that you win some and you lose some - children and babies have a right to travel too. Parents don't go into hibernation for 16 years once they give birth. Life goes on, as they say.
Let's look at it a different way shall we? You board your business or first class flight and someone with bad flatulence is near you, it's literally turning your stomach. Do you ask that that passenger be promptly evicted to economy? How about someone gets on beside you and immediately falls asleep and snores unbelievably loud. Throw them out too? Of course not. Yet a crying baby that will likely settle for the majority of the flight? A small HUMAN BEING, get it out of your sight asap.
To those who said they have to work - would a child prevent you from typing away? If the work is urgent enough you will get it done regardless of the distractions. To those that need to sleep - 5.5hrs of sleep as opposed to 6hrs won't do? The baby will settle in time with a little patience and a few less rude stares in the mothers direction. My understanding is that most seasoned flyers know to always travel with quality noise cancelling headphones anyway? Slip those on and mind your own business perhaps?
People aren't willy nilly deciding to fly with babies and children. Most are doing it because they have to. While it wasn't the case here but what if they were travelling for a funeral or something equally devastating. The purpose is irrelevant anyway as paying the ticket cost means they have as much right to be there as anyone else.
To the person who suggested mild sedation for the child - drugging a baby purely for the comfort of other people would be a form of child abuse. This point shouldn't require expansion and I hope your comment was sarcastic.
On a final note, a little compassion goes a long way. Maybe one day you'll be in a similar circumstance, in which case how would you like to be treated?
It's a real shame the staff didn't step up and assist this mother. The outcome could have been so different...