>Flight Blight

>This post originally appeared on the Nashville Scene blog.

The AP has a story about a family kicked off an AirTran flight because their 3-year-old daughter was, essentially, being a brat. The airline spokeswoman said the girl was “climbing under the seat and hitting the parents and wouldn’t get in her seat.” The flight was already 15 minutes late, so the family of three was dumped and the plane took off without them.

Apparently, the parents were furious because they weren’t given a chance to “console” their daughter (although they were given a full refund, a free trip home and three free tickets to anywhere AirTran flies, which they angrily refused).

When I was three, consolation would’ve involved a trip to the ladies room and a few swats on the bottom. Actually, just the threat of that restroom visit would’ve most likely had me in my seat with my seatbelt buckled and my mouth shut.

I see a lot of “consoling” going on between parents and their tantrum-throwing kids. It never, ever works. We’ve all gotten so sensitive that parents are afraid to discipline their children and businesses are afraid to put a stop to it. When they do, it makes national news.

I’m not necessarily advocating spanking—I’m advocating consequences. It makes me sick that this child will grow up thinking that an airline was grossly out of hand for not standing by, delaying the flight and letting her throw her fit unhindered.