I recently flew on Alaska Airlines and during the descent two kids (maybe ages 4-6 for both of them) started screaming due to ear pressure. We're talking screaming bloody murder style screaming and full meltdown. This went on for about 20 minutes.

The parents tried to talk and reason with the kids, but they weren't having it. I personally barely heard the faint screams over my Bose noise cancelling headphones. As they continued to scream louder, I just bumped the volume up and continued my blissful music listening.

Toward the end, out of curiosity, I removed the headphones and it was evident the kids had no respect for the parents and that they disregard their parents in every day life all the time.

Other passengers were screaming "GET ME OFF THIS PLANE!!! SHUT UP!"



The Portland granola-eating dad screamed "THE NEXT PERSON WHO TELLS MY KID TO SHUT UP, I'M GOING TO PUNCH THEM IN THE FACE!"

The mom screamed at the rest of the passengers too "I'M SORRY NONE OF YOU HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS LIKE WE DO!"

Once the wheels hit the tarmac the entire plane clapped and cheered. The situation was still deteriorating though. As people got ready to disembark the dad started targeting other passengers and said to one woman in my row Y0UR "C U Next Tuesday" STINKS, I CAN SMELL IT FROM HERE! I didn't want to get involved in the situation since I wasn't being attacked, but I signaled to the woman's husband with a cutthroat hand gesture to just keep calm and let the family off the plane.

The nearby passengers gasped and one mom with her kid sitting next to me shouted "HEY, THERE'S OTHER KIDS ON THE PLANE, THEY DON'T NEED TO HEAR THAT KIND OF LANGUAGE!"

It nearly came to fisticuffs. It was so bad the crew made everyone remain seated so that the meltdown family could get off the plane first. The woman who was personally insulted told one of the flight attendants about the "C U Next Tuesday" comment and I confirmed that it was said.

This whole situation was insanity. I wonder if the family will be placed on a no-fly list or at least banned from Alaska Airlines.

I was concerned that they would engage with other people at baggage claim but as we disembarked, they were being held off to the side of the gate. I didn't see them at baggage claim but wondered what will happen to them.

I don't think people should ever cover a screaming kids mouth or gag them, but this situation made me soften my opinion that maybe there would be an extreme situation where it's warranted to prevent violent escelation.

It's one thing to have pity on a family with screaming kids, but 20 minutes of constant meltdown wore everyone out past their limit.

Alaska Airlines does have a record of unintended door openings in flight...would be a real shame if such a thing happened at an opportune time and sucked that whole family out at 16,000 feet.

IMO the best course of action is to do exactly what you did...crank up the headphones and MYOB. Kids will be kids, pressure change can hurt, and if they're really special needs there may not be much the parents can do to silence them (maybe drive next time?). It sounds like in this case the parents were as much a problem as the kids, maybe more...but other adults throwing tantrums and screaming to be let off the plane (really, how to you propose they facilitate that when the plane isn't at the gate?) isn't making the bad situation any better.

This is why I hate flying and will drive whenever humanly possible. On a plane you're incarcerated with 150+ other people from the time the doors close to when they open again, and their issues become your issue for the duration of your time together. That's not a situation that I enjoy.

Nothing you can do, offer the kids some gum to equalize the pressure maybe , that's it.

It's a spin of the giant wheel of chance when you decide to fly.

This time you spun a big "go back three spaces"

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bendable,

It’s the parents, not the kids.

Had the parents tried to calm the kids, and the dad maybe stood up and said: “I’m so terribly sorry. Our kids have some learning disabilities and they don’t understand why their ears hurt. Please accept my sincerest apologies for ruining the last bit of your flight”.

I would bet that everyone would have had a far different reaction, most likely much kinder and understanding. It seems like the dad feels entitled enough that he shouldn’t have to apologize for causing a shitshow, and lashed out angrily. Completely unnecessary.

Reason #232 why I will never fly again.

Several passengers should complain and get them on the no fly list.
Make them get a rental car to drive back would be a good punishment.
Anyone that has kids that are that out of control shouldn't bring them out in public without meds. That includes restaurants.

Don't fly anymore but, when I did, and kids were screaming, I always thought of Bugs Bunny spraying the opera singer with alum or Elmer spiking Sylvester's milk.

Not the kids fault...Stupid parents didn't anticipate the issue! Chewing gum or valsalva maneuver (early and often!) would be the only solution, assuming the kids didn't have a preexisting issue (illness or physiological) affecting the Eustachian tubes. Unfortunately, by the time the kids were screaming (bloody murder style screaming!) and in full meltdown it was likely too late to resolve.

Severe Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD) is very painful. Minor cases can be alleviated with Valsalva, but severe ETD, forget about it. I take care of FAs and pilots with this problem every shift. Give them Afrin and Sudafed and ground them until condition resolves. Sometimes it can last more than a week. So, don't blame the little kids.

Oh everyone knew this was a parent problem. Hands-down.

Today’s kids don’t get that ass busted enough.

Checked baggage. Next problem?

If you don't discipline your kids at home, you won't be able to discipline them on an air plane. I highly doubt that both kids were having trouble with their ears, significant enough to warrant screaming.

More likely, their parents allow that kind of behavior at home.


I am raising kids with good manners and I am frankly disgusted by people who don't.

It manifests in later years with the entitlement and stupidity that we see rampant in our society today.

This reminds me of a Dilbert comic where he's on a plane headed for a colicky baby convention.

More seriously, the passengers yelling at the kids to STFU were dicks and the instigators. Not that I don't understand the thought. I'm continually surprised how such little things can make so much noise. But this was not a temper tantrum, this was clear pain. Those passengers should have been more considerate. On the other side of the coin, although there was provocation, (but still no excuse) for the parents' comments, they were equally in the wrong. The first one I could "kinda-sorta" understand, but the parting shot was completely uncalled for. I'd say there was plenty of fail to go around. Your staying out of it (mostly) was the right call.

I've been on flights where little kids were screaming like that from take-off to landing. Like the OP, it's why I will never fly without my Bose noise cancelling headphones.

And I would gladly pay extra for a ticket on a flight where all the passengers were 55 and older.

quote:

Originally posted by IndianaBoy:
If you don't discipline your kids at home, you won't be able to discipline them on an air plane. I highly doubt that both kids were having trouble with their ears, significant enough to warrant screaming.

More likely, their parents allow that kind of behavior at home.

I am raising kids with good manners and I am frankly disgusted by people who don't.

It manifests in later years with the entitlement and stupidity that we see rampant in our society today.

Per the OP, "during the descent two kids (maybe ages 4-6 for both of them) started screaming...". I think it's a fair bet that the change air pressure affecting their ears was a contributing (major?) factor! Just Sayin'...

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:

quote:

Originally posted by IndianaBoy:
If you don't discipline your kids at home, you won't be able to discipline them on an air plane. I highly doubt that both kids were having trouble with their ears, significant enough to warrant screaming.

More likely, their parents allow that kind of behavior at home.

I am raising kids with good manners and I am frankly disgusted by people who don't.

It manifests in later years with the entitlement and stupidity that we see rampant in our society today.

Per the OP, "during the descent two kids (maybe ages 4-6 for both of them) started screaming...". I think it's a fair bet that the change air pressure affecting their ears was a contributing (major?) factor! Just Sayin'...

Maybe. The responses to other passengers by their parents is telling though.

Just drove from KS to MI. 12 hours, figured it was about a push with the airline on ETE, less trouble and no need to rent a vehicle.

Twice now I've been on international flights, one of them 12 1/2 hours long, seated next to a nursing mother and her baby. Stay calm, don't be a dick, find your zen, and it will be over soon enough. For the noisy 2-4 year olds, noise cancelling headphones are the way to go.

A baby crying is one thing. They can't understand what is happening, and will cry even if they are at home and something isn't right, so a plane just adds more potential for discomfort and crying.

But a two year old and up is another thing. I doubt both kids at the same time had altitude change ear pressure pain enough to justify the screaming. The fact that they are pacific northwest neo-hippy types with "special needs" kids is telling. Why is it that the west coast has so many "special needs" and "autistic" kids? I think parents indulge aberrant behavior and make it worse rather than instilling discipline.

Many if not most adults on the plane are also parents and have also travelled with kids before and know how to deal with their kids. Because I raised my son to be respectful and not cause any trouble in public, he never had a meltdown in a restaurant or plane. I think my ex wife had an incident or two in a store when he was 2 or so, but things do happen. I hated being sat in a "family" section of a restaurant when he was young, having to listen to the screaming brats at other tables, all the while my son behaved.

So yes, I am coming from a place of experience when I am around parents who cannot manage their kids. It is something they allowed to happen over time by neglecting proper guidance and discipline.

The comment about the female passenger was uncalled for and should result in banning from the airline.