the kid-hating jerk on the plane
By Indojo
@Indojo (242)
United States
December 24, 2008 11:28am CST
ok, I took a really long overnight flight from chicago to India with my 3 year old daughter. Had enough as it was, but our flight to chicago was delayed, so we missed our connection. We had to fly to London, and then to India. On the flight to India, we got stuck next to this jerk who obviously hates kids. He was sitting in the window seat. I was on the aisle, and my daughter was in the middle. I put her there for safety reasons, so she couldn't wander off with out my knowing if I fell asleep.
Anyway, this guy got mad if she accidentally touched him. It was really ridiculous...if she stretched, and her leg touched his, he would jerk his head and glare at me, like she was a leper or something. Once she tried to play with him, by running her hand up his arm like a spider. He absolutely freaked out! I was completely exhausted after 24 hours of travelling, and then I had 9 hours of keeping my 3 year old squished up against me on my side of her tiny airplane seat. I was practically in tears by the time we got to India.
The plane was full, so there were no two other seats together. My daughter is relatively well-behaved, and I as impressed with how she handles such an exhausting trip. I couldn't believe this jerk's reaction to an innocent kid accidentally touching him.
What would you have done? Should I have yelled at him? Shouldn't he have asked to be moved if he didn't want to sit next to us? Opinions?
2 people like this
6 responses
@rameshkumaar57 (5908)
• India
28 Dec 08
Indojo, you did not mention what is the nationality of that man, but never mind. The problem is AirIndia, where they do not care for their passangers, and the air hostess and stewards think they are next to the Civil aviation Minister. As an Indian I do not prefer to travel with Air India or Indian and I always prefer Singapore airlines or the private airlines like Jet airways.
1 person likes this
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
28 Dec 08
I don't hate my ex. I dislike him as a person. He is mean to other people of color and to kids. And my whole family is almost of a different color so yes that didn't go over. I feel sorry for him in a way. But then I didn't know that about him until after we had gone out for 9 months. Tried to help him see that kids will be kids and that they are great. No go. Tried to teach him that other races are just as good as him and no. So yes he had to go.
@kitttenskysong (676)
• United States
24 Dec 08
What a creep! I hope you told your little girl that it wasn't her fault he's such a meanie. Yes, he should have asked to be movied if he didn't want to sit next to you. I hate people like that.
1 person likes this
@kitttenskysong (676)
• United States
27 Dec 08
Considering the long flight maybe she was just to tired to notice?
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
26 Dec 08
What a strange man not to enjoy meeting a lovely little girl that plays nicely. He could have been sitting next to a baby that cries on an off for the whole flight. Anyone would think that the person sitting next to him was dangerous he was scared of them, like a lion with sharp teeth. Long haul flights can be uncomfortable for most adults so your three year old daughter did really well. Nobody would want to sit on a plane sitting completely still for ten hours or so of traveling. Leg stretching whilst on a long plane trip is a very good idea. If I was you I would have swapped places and I would have then ignored the strange man. It is a shame that your daughter didn't have the window seat, then you the middle and the man the aisle seat. Well done for not yelling at him because if you had done so the cabin crew might have been cross. Good luck with getting better seats next to normal people, not strange men like that man.
@Indojo (242)
• United States
29 Dec 08
Yeah, he was strange. You know, after her got on the flight, he almost immediately threw the blanket over his head and went to sleep.
I could have moved to the middle seat, but I didn't want to sit next to the freak, either. My daughter seemed unconcerned about him. I also didn't want her to wander off if I fell asleep.
No, I didn't yell at him. The only thing I said was, once when he glared at me because she accidentally touched him, I said, "She's only 3, you know." He didn't answer.
The sad thing was, anyone else on the plane would have been a completely different story. Indians love kids, as we've found out since we came here. They would have loved sitting next to her, and almost everyone on the flight was Indian.
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
24 Dec 08
What a jerk. I probably would have asked him if he would mind taking the aisle seat so that your daughter could have the window seat and you could sit in the middle. He might have gone for that. But if he hadn't, I would have talked with one of the flight attendants, letting him/her know how disturbed the passenger was about having a child next to him. They might have been able to find another seat for you.
@Indojo (242)
• United States
24 Dec 08
I did actually call the flight attendants a couple of times, but they never responded to the call button. Apparantly that's common on Air India. I thought of asking when they passed by, but I was afraid if they couldn't find us a seat, that he would be an even bigger jerk if he heard me ask.
1 person likes this
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
27 Dec 08
I would of just left it alone. But maybe he is not supose to be around kids. But some people that fly are jerks my ex. is one of them he hates it when there are kids around but he likes kids. Just not when he has to fly. I flew with him once and he also had the window seat. Hey maybe it was him. Was he big tall and really ugly? Oh Yes and white. and bald. He was nice at one point but then he changed and He had to go. You Have a couple of nights to sleep and forget him. You did good and so did she. Have a wonderful night and day. Your friend onlydia
@rameshkumaar57 (5908)
• India
28 Dec 08
Onlydia, you really seem to hate your ex.Poor guy.
1 person likes this
@brady2moss (700)
• Singapore
24 Dec 08
Sadly dude there are people like that. But do give him a benefit of the doubt, he must have his own reason, no matter how twisted it was. What I would've done is talk to one of the cabin crew and ask them if they could possibly transfer you. They usually abide, just to avoid passenger conflicts. I tried this thrice already with long haul trips, and I usually get a much better seat. Granted of course that I'm usually alone when I travel, but I'm guessing the cabin crew would've done something to resolve the issue.
