Toddler tantrum grounds jet

This Is London ^ | 12 March 2003 | James Sturcke

[eyespysomething]

Toddler tantrum grounds jet By James Sturcke, Evening Standard 12 March 2003 Like any two-year-old Marcello Ferrand is prone to the occasional tantrum.

So when an aircraft crew tried to make him wear a seatbelt he panicked and sat under the seat - the kind of scene any parent will recognise.

However, for the staff of a British Airways flight from Milan to Heathrow it demanded immediate action - which resulted in the police being called and Marcello, along with his grandparents, being hauled off the plane.

The airline's ground staff then refused to let the elderly couple and Marcello, who lives in Kensal Rise, travel on a later flight. They then had to pay £300 for tickets with Alitalia to get home.

Marcello's grandmother Mariella DeNatale, 70, said the cabin crew had completely overreacted and had been responsible for scaring the toddler in the first place.

She said: "The police came aboard, checked our passports and then took us to a waiting car. I have flown all over the world and never had an experience like this. I felt like a Third World citizen."

The Airbus A319 with about 100 passengers was further delayed while the family's luggage was removed. It arrived at Heathrow 45 minutes behind schedule. Ms DeNatale, a former fashion editor for Vogue in Italy, added: "We were treated like rubbish. The captain told us he was not prepared to take us to London. It was a very bad experience. I will never buy another ticket with BA."

The scene took place as the aircraft was taxiing to the runway on Sunday morning carrying Ms DeNatale, her husband Peter Van Schalwyk and Marcello.

The couple boarded the 11.45am flight with their grandson, who had been staying at their Milan home. Marcello went to Milan with his mother, Margherita Gardella, 39,

deputy fashion editor of Harpers & Queen, who was attending fashion shows. Ms Gardella then flew to France for Paris Fashion Week, leaving the grandparents to bring Marcello back.

Mr Van Schalwyk, 64, a retired advertising director, said: " Marcello was in the seat between Mariella and myself. We had trouble getting him to put on his seatbelt. Three cabin staff crowded round him. They were quite aggressive. When one appeared with a special child seatbelt, Marcello took fright and hid under the seat. He was scared. He cried a bit but he was not screaming madly or anything. It's not like he was Dennis the Menace taking the plane apart."

Marcello's father, Nick Ferrand, 41, who owns an architect and interior design firm, said: "I was waiting in arrivals at Heathrow for over 90 minutes and no one told me anything. As a dad you fear the worse.

"Of course two-year-olds have tantrums but Marcello doesn't have any more than any child his age. Eventually I was informed they had been removed from the flight. I know airlines have to be careful but throwing an elderly couple and a two-year-old off the flight was ridiculous." A British Airways spokeswoman said: "It is absolutely imperative for all passengers to be wearing a seatbelt during take-off, landing and when the fasten seatbelt light is turned on. This is for their safety.

"The captain was called and reinforced the importance of being strapped in the chair. After speaking with the accompanying adults he made the decision to off-load the family."

[cajungirl]

They should have told the grandparents who couldn't seem to assume responsibility for the kid that they were to have him in a seatbelt in one minute or they were off the plane. The problem was the cabin crew tried to intervene and that isnot their job. Then the grandparents would not be able to blame anyone but themselves for being unable to have any authority with their grandson. Now I know grandsons, having two, and sometimes even tho I love indulging them, I am known to get stern and force them to do the right thing. These people seem to think a planeload of people should be waiting on a tarmac while the little Marcello was cajoled. I think BA may get more business because of this.

[homeschool mama]

In complete agreement of your posts 5 & 6.

[GilesB]

Anybody who chooses to fly with a young child who has not learned the basics of discipline and behavior, deserves to be treated as a third-worlder.

I don't care how they do it, but the notion that an entire airplane load of passengers should be subjected to a childs tantrums, whining, wailing, and general disturbances is an offense to common sense and the frequent flyer.

One of the things I look forward to when I'm able to upgrade to first class, is the seperation from the brats. Twice, I have had a family of wimp parents run by brat children make the experience a trial.

I applaud British Airways - I will seek to fly them more often.

[modendrite]

Many years ago when our children were young, we traveled a lot. The family rule was: "Sit down, shut up and keep your feet off the seats."

[Labyrinthos]

I don't think piping down was the problem.

Agreed, until you start wacking the kid on the rear in front of a hundred strangers. I guarantee that the kiddie poo will not accept the punishment in silence. I always explained to my kids in advance what was expected from them on an airplane, and I never had any problems whatsoever. And BTW, I have never, ever spanked my kids, and up to this point in time (they are 11 and 13), they have behaved like angels.

[eyespysomething]

Yes, now it is "please don't do that, but if you do, I won't do anything, and please don't do that then, wait it's ok, it's an expression of your individuality" blah, blah, blah

Parenting is hard enough without letting your kids walk all over you.

[SarahW]

I don't know how the grandparents reacted when the child acted up. Perhaps they didn't realize how difficult it would be to physically force the seat buckling. I'm sure the crew didn't help the situation, they probably frightened the kid.

A parent, of course, should have picked the kid up, buckled the seat, the end. That's what I would have done, anyway. I'm not sure why the grandparents didn't.

Though, I made it a point not to take a tiny child on an airplane.

[farmfriend]

Whip his butt and keep going

That was my thought. They had trouble putting on his seat belt? Why? I have flown with my kids at that age. I used a regular car seat for safty and he was used to it. No problem. If he had refused to put the seat belt on, also no problem, you simply put it on for him using as much physical force as necessary

[HairOfTheDog]

I bet the people on the plane were perfectly content to wait if it meant getting the screaming kid off the plane. Was gonna be a long flight otherwise, if two guardians and a staff of flight attendents couldn't even manage to get his seat belt on. Wait till he weighs more than 40 pounds and is *still* under no control whatsoever!

[Eva]

I was on a flight from Phoenix to Seattle with a couple with two small kids sitting across the aisle. The two year old was standing on the food tray and jumping into his mother's lap and squealing at the top of his lungs for most of the flight. The kid was so loud, but the mother spoke in a voice equally loud and the father just watched until he had had enough and moved to the seat in front of them where the other kid was sitting.

[homeschool mama]

**Gee that's an effective way to get the kid to pipe down and sit in his seat -- NOT.**

Boy, that's the truth. In a grocery store I witnessed a child crying (she was obviously in need of a nap...I'm a mom...I can sense these things) and attempting to be held by her mama. The mother slapped the little one (about 3 years old) on the leg and said, "Stop crying!" The child cried harder. Incredible.

In this situation (toddler on plane)...the grandmother should have become the adult and strapped the child in the seat. Period. arghgh.

[GilesB]

Good idea - but these grandparents would just blame BA for "giving them an ultimatum" - still BA's fault.

These kinds of (grand)parents NEVER take responsibility for their (grand)children's behavior. It is either acceptable, and anybody objecting is out of line, or it is somebody else's fault for "frightening" the child.

I just wonder how often sitting under the seat has worked in other situations for this little despot?

[Calpernia]

I agree Dead. NONE of my kids liked the child seat in the car. Just pick them up and put them in. Every one of my kids kicked and screamed over it. Just tell them they have to sit here. Put them in. That's it. Any other discussions or actions (including a spank) feeds their tantrum.

[eyespysomething]

I've left groceries in the store to leave when one needed a nap, but I don't think that was the problem here. The problem had started long before this. I'm sure the grandparents were begging the child to come out from under the seat. Pleading to a 2 y.o. is not becoming to adults.

I think the point here is the child was incontrol of the situation, not the adults.

[GilesB]

"Yes, now it is "please don't do that, but if you do, I won't do anything, and please don't do that then, wait it's ok, it's an expression of your individuality" blah, blah, blah"

Parenting by UN resolution?

[eyespysomething]

ha ha!!! ;-)

[Revolting cat!]

The kid must of been a peaceful Muslim terrorist!

[TC Rider]

Aside from being delayed, I bet all of those in nearby seats were happy to see the little brat leave.

[dead]

I agree Dead. NONE of my kids liked the child seat in the car.

My four-year-old complains that the straps are “TOO TIGHT!” (they’re not, they're appropriately snug).

If he keeps whining, I tell him I’ll stop the car, come back there and tighten them some more. One time I did.

Now the threat always quiets him down.

[Calpernia]

>>>In this situation (toddler on plane)...the grandmother should have become the adult and strapped the child in the seat. Period. arghgh

AGREED!