Back in 2012, a couple flying with their infant twin boys for the first time handed out ear plugs and goodie bags filled with candies to their fellow passengers, along with notes from the babies apologizing in advance if they “lose their cool.”
Their actions generated lots of press and debate online over whether handing out such plane goodies is thoughtful and considerate or overboard and unnecessary.
I fall on the “considerate” side of the debate, as I was one of those fliers pre-kids who couldn’t stand when I sat near screaming babies and kids and would have loved a token of appreciation for my patience (especially on that one flight years ago where I sat next to two young kids and the parents sat in the row in front of us).
But creating such elaborate bags isn’t realistic for most tired and time-starved parents. So, if you fall on the same side of the debate as me, today’s hint is an easy approach to plane goodies for fellow passengers: Just hand out lollipops to those sitting around you and your young children on the plane.
I did something similar back in December 2012 when we flew with my then infant daughter for the first time. Inspired by news reports of the couple with the twin boys, I bought a bunch of bags of Tootsie Roll Lollipops to hand out during our flight. I then taped a note to each lollipop saying something like “This is my first flight. Thanks for understanding,” and handed them out to the passengers sitting in the 20 or so rows around us on the plane.
In retrospect, I didn’t need to spend the time writing the notes and taping them onto hundreds of Tootsie Pops – just passing out the pops as passengers boarded and walked past my near-the-front row would have been fine. In fact, some of the lollipops lost their tags and I handed them out noteless, explaining that it was “my daughter’s first flight so enjoy a lollipop from her.”
My fellow passengers seemed to appreciate the candy and if they didn’t take a pop, they seemed to still appreciate the gesture. After the flight, I got numerous comments about what a great flier my little one was.
To be sure, I didn’t realize then what I know now: babies, who mostly just drink and sleep, tend to be much better fliers than restless mobile toddlers. In fact, my daughter barely made a peep on that first five-hour flight, and I probably should have saved the lollipops for the first time we flew after she began walking.
Still, you can never know for sure how your little one is going to act on any given plane ride, so it’s good to always be armed with some lollipops (or any kind of similar substantial and individually-wrapped candy) to hand out in flight.
For more inspiration regarding easy plane goodies to pass out, check out these tips over at Oh Joy! and if you want to go more elaborate, there are loads of ideas for plane favors on Pinterest and Yahoo Travel.
What do you think of handing out goodies to fellow passengers and why? What have you handed out, or what would you hand out, as a token of appreciation for their patience?
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Love the simple lollipop idea.
When we first get on a flight I just remind my son in a loud (but not shouting) voice to stay on our seats not to play with the tray table or kick the seat. I hope that our neighbouring passengers can see that I am doing my best.
I also apologise immediately if he does kick the seat, and remind him again.
People tend to be much more understanding if they can see you trying rather than sitting back and occasionally YELLING at your kids.
At the end of flights I have received comments from fellow passengers at how well behaved my son has been. (by the way he is a very energetic boy)
When my kids were little we lived in Hawaii, so every single flight they took for the first 6 and 4 years of their lives was a minimum of 6 hours (our families are in Texas and East Coast at the time). Kids can behave on airplanes!! So many parents just assume it will be a nightmare, but it doesn’t have to be. You have to plan and prepare, but you can make flying easy for everyone if you are organized. It astounds me when I see parents get on flights with nothing for the kids to eat, do or change in to. One flight we went from Hawaii to Newark direct and the lady in the row in front of us said she didn’t even realize children were on the flight, much less right behind her.
Those are very simple and easy ideas. I wonder if I would feel silly handing them out to the fellow passengers? I can’t decide.