'Get a private flight next time': Plane passenger stands up for new mom being scolded by a Karen

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
May 17, 2023 11:00 AM EDT

As if flying wasn't stressful enough, imagine bringing a tiny baby along with you. 

If you're a new parent, chances are you're sleep deprived and spending 24/7 keeping your baby fed and cared for. Now add in the logistics of flying — getting your passport, arriving on time for your flight, getting through security — all with your little one in tow. Most of us would see a new parent with their baby and feel sympathetic towards them, since we can tell it's no easy feat. But this woman on a flight chose to be incredibly rude to this new mom, instead of just dealing with the slight annoyance that the baby created. 

As one person in the comments of this story noted, babies cannot control their crying, but grown ups can control their emotions and behaviors. This woman just chose to be completely nasty, and it's great that the OP was able to intervene. 

Next, check out these memes from the 70s and 80s. 

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  • 01
    Font - 'A lady that was sitting on the seats in front of us kind of scolded the mom of the baby and told her... "Instead of being a crybaby like your kid, be better prepared next time"
    via Chad Peltola on Unsplash
  • 02
    Font - r/AmItheA u/Deep-Sell-3425 2 . Posted by AITA for telling a lady on the plane to suck it up and get a private flight next time? I was on 3.5 flight from London to Athens as I was going to visit my family. Next to me on the plane it was a mom with her around 1 year old baby. The baby was upset and crying almost the entire time, the mom was also in panic mode and would take the baby to the bathroom multiple times to calm him down. She kept apologising for the disturbance to both passengers
    via u/
  • 03
    Font - A lady that was sitting on the seats in front of us kind of scolded the mom of the baby and told her word for word "instead of being a crybaby like your kid, be better prepared next time since none of us are in a mood to hear screeching noises for almost 4 hours. That or leave your baby at home."
    via u/Deep-Sell-3425
  • 04
    Font - The mom kept apologising and said she couldn't leave her baby at home since she doesn't have anyone to care for her baby. The lady then said " Then don't travel it's not a necessity, you chose to travel". The mom tried to justify herself saying how it is a necessity for her to travel in this case and it's for a family matter. The lady kept going and told the mom "then find other ways to travel then. Get a car and travel or go on a train or bus".
    via u/Deep-Sell-3425
  • 05
    Font - I had enough of this and I stood up for the mom. I asked the lady if she knows how much time it takes to travel from London to Athens in any other way? And that a train or a bus is as much of a public transport as the plane is? I told her to be compassionate. She told me "I don't have to be compassionate I paid for my f in seat and I want some peace and quiet" I told her to suck it up she's in a public transport. If she wants peace and quiet she should either book first class or a private
    via u/Deep-Sell-3425
  • 06
    Font - I was describing this story to my friend and she told me I was out of line talking like that to that lady and I should have minded my business. "not your circus not your monkeys" is what she said and said I purposely made myself an AH in this situation.
    via u/Deep-Sell-3425
  • 07
    Rectangle - omg_pwnies 7 hr. ago NTA. Standing up for another human being (especially an overwhelmed Mom) is a very good thing to do. And not having to listen to the mean lady for a couple of hours is totally worth it, too. 9.6k Reply Share
    via u/omg_pwnies
  • 08
    Font - Professional Ruin953 6 hr. ago Parta ipant [2] This is the crux of the matter. This mom was overwhelmed but still trying her best, she deserved someone on her side. If it had been a negligent parent letting their kid run around the aisle, grabbing and kicking the back of the seat in front she would have deserved the telling off.
    via u/Professional_Ruin953
  • 09
    Font - GCM005476-3 hr. ago Also, if I already have to listen to a baby (which sucks but such is life), I don't wanna also listen to adults complaining about the baby non-stop. Complaining isn't going to help the situation so they should shut up and not add to the overall discomfort and noise.
    via u/GCM005476
  • 10
    Font - Different-Lettuce-38 - 3 hr. ago Exactly. The baby can't really help themselves, but that lady sure can. I'd rather listen to a baby any day of the week.
    via u/Different-Lettuce-38
  • 11
    Font - Frequent_Couple5498. 2 hr. ago NTA at the same time you were telling your friend this story, that young overwhelmed mom was telling her family about you and how she was so thankful that you stood up for her and she wished she could thank you. She will always remember the person that stood up for her when she really needed someone.
    via u/Frequent_Couple5498
  • 12
    Font - Sometimes we have to step in even if it isn't our business. If we see someone in need we help, no matter if it's helping someone pick up something they dropped, paying the couple of dollars to help the person in front of us at the grocery when they are short or shutting up an inconsiderate person who's picking on an overwhelmed young mother. Good for you.
    via u/Frequent_Couple5498
  • 13
    Font - Witty_Comfortable404. 1 hr. ago The entitled lady was adding to the disruption, OP not only stood up for a struggling mom but she shut up half the problem. Win-win.
    via u/Witty_Comfortable404
  • 14
    Font - Brittneygreen. 7 hr. ago Parta pant [1] NTA. Someone who is clearly struggling and looks overwhelmed is rarely able to stand up for themselves in an unexpected attack like that. That young mum sounds like she was hanging on by a thread and I bet having someone else advocate for her made a big difference to how she felt on that flight and afterwards as well. You were compassionate. Too many people look away when someone else is being abused. Good for you for standing up to an obnoxious per
    via u/Brittneygreen
  • 15
    Font - loopylandtied 6 hr. ago Enthusiast [5] A NTA being trapped in a tin can with a screeching child SUCKS but the mom was trying to soothe the kid. I'm assuming the kids ears hurt the whole flight because crying for 3 hours straight ain't normal. Ped off passenger was achieving nothing other than making an already ahitty situation worse.
    via u/loopylandtied
  • 16
    Font - Fantastic-Loan-1532. 2 hr. ago I hate babies on flights. Screaming babies set my teeth on edge and give me migraines and there is no escape but I know that baby is just as upset as I am at this whole debacle. So I put my headphones on and pray one of us falls asleep. My dislike of babies and my inability to deal with the noises they make is my issue so I come prepared to deal with them and the man spreaders.
    via u/Fantastic-Loan-1532
  • 17
    Human body - NTA. That lady sucks, that poor baby and mama didn't want to be there either.
    via u/Fantastic-Loan-1532
  • 18
    Font - usemepls88 Parta ipant [1] 7 hr. ago NTA. i feel like you would be the AH if you didn't stand up for her and chose to be a bystander. children cry, it's annoying, but that woman chose to berate a young mother that's obviously embarrassed and trying her best. like jfc just buy noise cancelling headphones
    via u/usemepls88
  • 19
    Font - Diessel S 2 hr. ago While im still on OP's side I gotta add noise canceling headphones dont work on the high screeching cry of infants. It works with background noise like a work office and construction sites but not in this situation
    via u/Diessel_S
  • 20
    Font - West-Kaleidoscope129. 6 hr. ago Parta ipant [3] NTA - You defended a very clearly upset mother. You were correct that it is public transport and if she wanted quiet she should book something else. You defending that mother won't be forgotten by her any time soon, she will be very appreciative of it for a long time.
    via u/West-Kaleidoscope129
  • 21
    Smile - Beneficial_Award_308. 7 hr. ago Parta: pant [2] NTA. As a mom, thank you.
    via u/Beneficial_Award_308

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