My husband feels this story needs to be told.
I don’t feel that it needs to be, given that it is just another everyday occurrence in the life of being me.
I have flown solo with the moosh on at least two dozen separate flights (Dear Airlines, THANKS FOR ALL THE DIRECT FLIGHTS TO INDIANA, REALLY. Suck it, Casey) and during these two dozen flights I’ve learned that as soon as you put people on airplanes 90% of those people will become jackasses if they weren’t one already. Cody has flown with us three times and only once has he flown solo with the moosh.
Oy, if I could only tell you the number of times people were unwilling to move one row back so that I could sit with my kid. When someone rudely refused to trade me seats on a flight last year a dozen spring break frat boys almost jumped the guy and used his head for a pinata. Another time when the moosh and I were booked in different aisles I was left with no choice but to plunk down her bag of toys with her in the seat and walk away. Only then did Mr. Businessman realize I was serious.
So on Tuesday I entered a full plane, well, full except for every middle seat. The flight attendant told me to start asking around to see who wanted to trade. I took one look at those cold eyes staring back at me and made an announcement “You can sit with my four year old, or you can trade me seats.” I wasn’t trying to be rude, I was only trying to be efficient.
Cody on the other hand was mortified that I would YELL! in my SHRILL! MOM! VOICE! at unassuming passengers and he also thinks I’m quite lucky I didn’t get kicked off the plane.
Not a single person volunteered. At least I was able to get out of the way that the entire front half of flight 1815 were oblivious or jerks instead of having to go row to row asking for either mercy or babysitting.
I’ll have you know I am a very nice person to fly with. My kid has manners and entertains herself. Except for that one time that I shoved an old lady out of the way in Chicago, I would like to think that I have been nothing but nice to anyone lucky enough to be on the same plane as me.
However Cody had me sit two rows away so he didn’t have to be associated with the crazy yelling plane lady.
Whatever, he loves me so much he can barely stand it.
Personally it’s the crazies that make flights fun, if anyone needs to be kicked off it’s the fools who turn into complete horses asses upon entering the jetway.
Anyway, that’s the story.
The end.
making unbreakable - formerly moosh in indy. 
So you didn’t get to sit with her? I totally agree about people on planes. I think it is great that you dumped the bag of toys and walked away! Awesome!
midwestmommys last blog post..Because She Was Dirty
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Haha! I may or may not have done the same thing, if I was in your position 😉 And yes, people on planes can be VERY, um, not nice.
Mrs. Wilsons last blog post..It’s all in my head
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yeah, did you get to sit with her???
Some people are so clueless until you drop the bag of toys 😀 I love that you did that!
Megs last blog post..Sam-isms
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I don’t blame you. I’d do the same thing.
Reeses last blog post..Job Security
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I’m flying with a 4 month old in March. Its only a 90 min direct flight, but I’m still scared to death.
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People can be such jerks!
I was so angry at the movie theater because people with kids were sitting in the handicap spaces with their strollers.
Normally I wouldn’t care but being that my husband is a quadriplegic, he needed to sit there. He can’t transfer or anything he has no feeling or movement from the shoulders down and it’s evident when you see him.
People would NOT move. The one person who offered to move was sitting in a wheelchair herself. The woman they asked to move threw a tantrum when the theater workers told her she had to move and she actually left. I felt like telling her my husband would be more than happy to sit anywhere else in the theater if he could! Sheesh.
I mean people see that it’s not a want but a need you are there with a small child, it makes no sense to me.
Sashas last blog post..Calling a spade, well, a spade…
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You are my HERO for dumping the bag of toys and walking away. ha!
Jens last blog post..Adventures in the Land of Puke and Crank
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Same thing happened on flight to Japan. My vindication was that he had to listen to my kids whine across the aisle at their mommy who was wearing headphones…for 11 hours. He brought it upon himself, no?
merlotmoms last blog post..The Resurrection: She’s A-L-I-I-I-V-E!
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I once sat next to a little girl about Moosh’s age and her daddy. They were perfectly delightful. I’ll bet Moosh and her curls are just as delightful!
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It’s ridiculous. What is wrong with people? They are all “family values, I love kids blah blah blah” but then they won’t move their butt 22 inches to the right or left to let a mom sit with her child? Ack.
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You go, girl. I’d love to fly leaving my children sitting with dickheads. hehe
Do you guys make puppets out of the puke bags? That’s what we always do.
Have you EVER seen anyone use a puke bag?
Rheas last blog post..Blue meat & noodles
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Confession: I was one of those jackasses. Well, not on your flight, but before I had a child, I LOATHED people flying with children. The screaming, the kicking of the back of my seat, the not letting me sleep. Then I had a kid and retroactively feel awful for all the mean thoughts I gave mothers on planes. And now I dread the day I will have to fly with my baby and deal with that 90 percent.
ameliorate mes last blog post..Note to self
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You are so freaking hilarious….dood I can’t imagine not being accomodating to a mom and a kid. So so sad. Glad you made it home okay.
Kimmies last blog post..Gingerbread, Christmas & Back Rubs
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You’re awesome! I can’t believe the airlines let that happen though. Seriously? How come you didn’t get to board first with a child? And you don’t get to assign seats together? That seems like a major airline problem.
Although the rude people are a problem of their own. I hope I never have that problem… but seeing as we’re flying literally halfway around the world in March with a not quite 2 year old… wish me luck!
Kristas last blog post..Cory-isms Again
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That’s ridiculous, Casey (that people wouldn’t trade you, not your behavior). I’m a travel writer by profession, meaning I’m on planes much of my life, and almost every flight I’m asked to trade with a mom/girlfriend/wife wanting to sit with her kid/boyfriend/hubby (or vice versa) and I ALWAYS oblige. Karma, mean airplane people! I hope they get their just desserts.
Camels & Chocolates last blog post..Shameless Wednesday Confession: On Fire
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Girl, I love your style!
We’re lucky – the airline we use to fly with (seeing as we only ever go to Brasil and back) has a policy of letting kids on first and will happily move people around for you if necessary.
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Dude, you ROCK! I would gladly sit by either of you on a flight.
I was thinking the same thing though about the airline not seating you together in the first place, is it one of those cattle call airlines?
I rarely get the chance to fly but if I did and someone needed to trade me seats, I sooooo would!
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Wait… so he sat two rows away from you, but where did the Moosh sit? Was she with you, or was she stuck between two mean people?
(I’ve got to admit, for the betterment of the world, I hope she sat between two mean people. There’s no way she couldn’t melt the evil right out of them during a plane ride. I’m certain of it.)
SciFi Dads last blog post..Pick The Lies – Volume Two
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Umm, three thoughts come to mind.
One, save for Southwest Airlines, you do know that you can request seating assignments – in advance? Surely, you aren’t buying the tickets that close to departure date, are you? Always request your seats when you purchase the tickets. Kid’s meals on meal flights, too.
Two, always ask the airline gate agent for assistance if you need it – nicely. 90% of the time, they will help you out. Or, if necessary, get a flight attendant involved. You think they want to hear from a passenger complaining about the Moosh wanting to “see” their Excel spreadsheets? I think not.
Oh, and consider joining Frequent Flyer programs. Even if you only use that airline once, you may get access to advance seating that others dont’.
🙂
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If you were flying Southwest, I’ve always seen them board people traveling with kids first to try to avoid situations like this…but if you’re in a spot where most people aren’t getting off the plane but are just sitting there for the layover, it doesn’t really matter anyway…you get on and all that’s open are 100 center seats. I can’t believe that people wouldn’t move though…what do they expect you to do with her if they don’t? All you can do is plunk her down with her toys.
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Awesome. Just awesome.
At least frat guys are good for something.
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we’ve had issues with this too. and with 4 kids it isn’t usually pretty! once all 6 of us were seated on different rows! the person taking our tickets noticed and did some arranging right then and there. sometimes we just have to deal with it though! now that the kids are getting older they can handle sitting next to strangers, but they don’t like it at all!
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For what it’s worth, if you ever show up on the same flight as me, I’ll trade seats. Ask me first and you won’t have to ask anyone else! : o )
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i seriously can’t believe people would be so rude! Honestly, what do they think would happen? Kudos to you for leaving the toys and walking away.
erins last blog post..
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People actually don’t trade?!?!
I always preboard – even with my oldest loudly asking “but mom, she isn’t technically under two, why are we in line?!?!” and just sit by the kid.
I figure if someone wants to argue with me and ask me to move, they’ve earned a few hours of babysitting.
Miss Brits last blog post..I need a girlfriend.
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We’ve only flown once with our son, but we had an awesome flight attendant that took care of the seating for us on one flight, then on the way back, we just took the seat and asked the guy if he wouldn’t mind switching (same window seat, different row). It’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission. 🙂
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Plunking the moosh down next to that guy would be AWESOME. Once you realize you can use your kids’ annoyingness to your advantage, you’re pretty much golden for entertainment. I hadn’t thought of using it this way. I now look forward to flying with my kids.
(yeah. I’m not as nice as you in day to day life. Sorry. But I WOULD get over my social awkwardness and sit between people on a plane so you could sit with your toddler for crying out loud.)
ButrflyGardens last blog post..Work
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I am impressed that you are brave enough to fly with a child! I pretty much told my California in-laws that we would see them in three years.
Domestic Goddess (In Training)s last blog post..Big Girls Don’t Cry
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i don’t understand people who don’t want to trade seats. it’s in their best interest, really. assholes.
alis last blog post..my ali-never-gets-hit-on reputation remains and a contest
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ARE YOU KIDDING ME???
well, I would be crazy too, I can’t believe someone wouldn’t switch with you. It isn’t like you are asking them to JUMP off of the plane…whatever. JERKS.
staciesmadnesss last blog post..Flying WITH kids
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Unfortunately, the (seemingly) vast majority of people with less behaved children has probably ruined it for the very small percentage of parents (IMHO, YMMV) that have well-behaved children.
For every story you can tell about people being rude to you, it seems there are 10 events I see on a weekly basis with parents allowing their children to run rampant or scream at the top of their lungs without fear of reprisal.
Sorry you had an issue on the plane…it does suck for you. Perhaps it will inspire other parents to keep their kids under better control in public places in the future and people won’t be so hesitate to cut you some slack. 😉
Honestly, if I had behaved the way I see a majority of children behave today in public, it would not have been pretty for me.
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Ugh. I can’t believe no one would switch with you. Really, though, I think the fault lies with the airlines. Now that they charge you for absolutely everything (aisle seats, window seats, bulkhead seats, breathing :-), it can be really hard to get two seats next to each other without paying some exorbitant extra fee. And even when you do get assigned seats together when you buy the tickets, sometimes your seats STILL get switched by the time you check in. I was on a flight at Thanksgiving where SIX sets of parents and young kids had been split up by the airline and it was a MESS with the flight attendants trying to get them seats together. It actually delayed my flight by a good 30 minutes! So stupid.
This is why I pretty much only fly Southwest at this point — even though they don’t assign seats in advance, they still board their flights the quickest, and I’ve never seen this happen on one of their flights. (Plus, I like the flight attendants’ bad jokes!)
ChrisC.s last blog post..How I Spent My Christmas
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That would make me want to punch somebody. I would have been yelling, and more. Jackasses!!
Jills last blog post..The myth of my schedule
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There is also the time my two year old spend the entire flight sleeping on a strangers lap in front of us. She was way more interesting in a grandmotherly sort of way (and had an empty seat by her) and he loved her so much after playing with her for all of 5 minutes he passed out cold. Bonus for all. But yea. I really don’t get why people won’t get off their ass and switch seats so families can sit together. Really. Would they want their 4 yr old sitting with some pedifile of a stranger? I don’t think so.
angelas last blog post..The Galbladder, the back story
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Been there! I hate having to ask people to trade. I always pick a guy who looks like he’d be uncomfortable about me picking him. Typically caves fast. If hubs is with me I make him ask because he’s just flat intimidating.
Amys last blog post..
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My aunt has done this. She once told a businessman, he could either switch with her OR her 4 y.o. would be sitting next to him. He gave up the seat.
Bries last blog post..Goodbye 2008. Hello 2009.
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You must be flying with some serious asshats! I have never had anyone tell me no when I wanted to sit with my husband. That is just wrong to tell a mother and child no.
Megans last blog post..The Texas Trash Showdown
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Hey there. What a great post! From one Hoosier to another, I just had to thank you for this one. We just flew again over the holidays to and from Florida. We have a 9 year old son and a 5 year old special needs daughter. Everytime we fly, they seperate us. WHY WHY WHY don’t they book families together anymore??? I just don’t get it. It’s truly ridiculous! They had all four of us in different seats on the flight home – no where near one another at that. Like my specil needs daughter can sit alone. Come on people. Then comes time to sucker somebody into switching seats for you. They call a certain families name over the intercom in the gate away and they know they are doomed. And of course, there we stand, being the family that is jacking up their perfectly seated seats. People hate moving. They hate helping another poor soul out on a plane. We had a guy tell us no on that same flight. It’s so daggone aggravating. What are we supposed to do? I love how you set Moosh down and walked away from the gentleman and then he changed his mind. Hysterical! Maybe we should try that next time. Ha ha!
Blessings, Angie
http://www.angelicagracedesigns.com/blog/
w.angieseamanphotography.blogspot.com/
Angies last blog post..FRIDAY WORDS FOR THOUGHT
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You should have told her to drive the person next to her nuts! People are such buttheads.
supermommys last blog post..The Human Pincushion
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I have been on some flights where parents act like the fact that they have a small child gives them free reign to ruin everyone elses’ flight. That being said, I would absolutely trade with you – if you asked me nicely. If you boarded and barked orders out like you described above? Nothing could convince me to give you my seat. Nothing.
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Okay, so this has happened to me on NUMEROUS occasions! And why doesn’t the airline put your seats TOGETHER when you hqave a small child? Can I make reservations at a nice restaurant and have my kid sit with another group? That would be great sometimes, right?
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Unless you’re flying Southwest, and can ask to pre-board as others have suggested above…why aren’t you reserving your seats beforehand? I fly a fair amount, both for business and vacation. I take the time to book my tickets, look at SeatGuru to pick the seat I want, and get a seat assignment. There’s no reason you can’t do this yourself. I understand traveling with a child is hard, but…take some personal responsibility and make sure you have seats next to each other. If I’ve taken the time and effort to pick the seat I want, and then am expected to give up my away-from-the-bathroom window seat for a middle seat because of someone who doesn’t plan ahead…I’m going to be very irritated.
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OMG this is too funny my mom and I were just talking about this today. My brother and his family flew home from Africa on Monday. We did not leave till today. So they were flying from Tunis to Paris. In Paris they sat on the run way for 5 hours. They were all seated next to eachother. My brother and his wife have three kids the youngest is 5. So the plane deboards and they are stuck in the airport in Paris for 24 hours because of 1.5 inches of snow. So they were not sure when they could get them on another plane. The next morning after sleeping on the airport floor they got 5 tickets all separate. The older kids are ok by themselves but the 5 year old can not sit alone for obvious reasons so my brother did the same thing you did. Basically said you can watch him or trade seats.
People are the rudest ever when they enter airports. They do not believe in lines, they cut you off, knock you over.
I truly dislike people in airports! People I am sure I would like otherwise.
Goodness I totally could have written a post of my own.
The Bossy Yankees last blog post..Sidi Bou Said…I Love You…
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How is it that people without manners and common decency seem to be able to reproduce at the speed of wire coathangers left alone in a closet for a day or two, while the truly lovely amongst us get fewer and farther between? The rudeness of some humans never ceases to amaze me.
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Those same asshats get that way when they enter theme parks.
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People can be such asshats!
Melanie @ Mel, A Dramatic Mommys last blog post..Mom Guilt: A Force of Nature
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it seriously amazing me that people would rather have a 4 yo sitting by themselves with strangers. I don’t ever fly by myself and I usually have 2 of my 3 kids sitting with me, but have felt terrible for the families in your situation.
inthefastlanes last blog post..Sounding It Out
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Funny what we’ll do when we’re fed up with a) traveling with young children and b)the jackassy people on planes who act like they own the joint (yes, fancy Businessman with your laptop and suit, I’m talking to you. Get some noise canceling headphones and save us all some grief, k?) Not that *I’ve* ever done anything like that… No, no. I’ve *never* been the crazy lady on the plane…
In my book, though, the best line in this post: “Whatever, he loves me so much he can barely stand it.” Something about it just made my day.
And wouldn’t you say that crazies not only make flights more fun but life in general? I loves me a good crazy. Maybe it’s ’cause I is one.
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This happened to me while flying alone with TWO two year olds.
We had three seats in three different rows. The airline was completely unhelpful.
Finally I stood with both of them completely blocking the aisle and said (loudly) “Who wants to sit with these strangers?”
They both started crying.
I told them to keep crying until somebody sat us together.
Eventually an off duty flight attendant who was just trying to fly home fixed our problem.
US Air can suck it.
Sarah, Goon Squad Sarahs last blog post..The Perfect Set Up
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What ever happened to “Disabled and people with young children can board first”? We always flew Continental (altho it has been almost 12 years since my last flight) Hopefully you did end up sitting with her or at least near by.
Domestic Extraordinaires last blog post..Haiku Friday
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