Personally, I have had a very upset baby sit in front of my seat during a 12 hour flight. It was a very long and very loud trip. And maybe it was because I was too busy listening to the music from my headphones or reading the HISP summer book in front of me, but the baby's voice wasn't too difficult to mute out. What I mean is, as long as you concentrate on something else on the flight, the baby's cries were perfectly bearable.
This Jet Blue Ad made me have some mixed feelings about people who are very upset at the idea of being on the same flight as babies. Not only are their dirty looks making the helpless mothers more stressed and self-conscious about being on the flight, they are completely unnecessary. We all get that you all want some sleep or some quiet time, but you have to understand that it's not the mothers' or the babies' fault. The air pressure is painful for me, so I can't even imagine how painful it is for the babies.The video showed interviews of newborn mothers and surely enough, all of them said that the worst thing that could happen is that they become that mom who can't control their child (which is not always the case). And of course, the reactions of the people who sat next to the newborn mothers were very negative. It seemed like any other flight until a flight attendant spoke through the speakers that this was a special flight because every time a child cries, it is 25% off every single person's next Jet Blue flight. The first baby's cry (25%) had no reaction from the passengers. The second baby's cry (50%) had a small applause. The third baby's cry (75%) had a few hoots. The fourth baby's cry (100%) had people standing up and smiling brightly at all the babies next to them.
I think the concept for this ad was very clever and it certainly makes me have positive feelings about Jet Blue. BUT, the other passengers still make me upset. Like, do you really need a 100% off your next Jet Blue flight for you to give newborn mothers, and just mothers in general, some respect and courtesy? Must your manners revolve around money and your own benefits?
Maybe I'm being a little sensitive but because I've personally gone through the experience, I don't think any one deserves some "slack" for being rude towards a mom on a flight.
Jet Blue's Mother's Day Ad
I know exactly how you feel. I have two cousins under the age of 4 so i know how hard it is to travel with them. People need to understand that its not the parents' fault that the baby is crying. Especially at that age where the baby can't talk yet, we don't have any way of communicating with them. I don't think that JetBlue's approach on the situation is going to be that effective. Giving 25% each time a baby cries to the people on the plane is a little extreme. This is going to make people want babies to cry on planes so that they will get a free ticket. I think that airline companies should have a designated area at the back of the plane for families with small children can go to when their child gets fussy. That way, it wont disturb the people on the flight and it will make the parents more comfortable.
ReplyDeleteI feel that people are more bothered by other things going on around them or in their lives but can easily take it out on a baby who, not on purpose, is causing a disturbance. I agree with Josephine where it would encourage more babies on the plane. So really it is with no benefits because either JetBlue loses money and passengers who don't really travel much or just don't care for the loud noises will want to avoid JetBlue since they now will have the highest chance of having the most screaming babies
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