JetBlue Gives Plane Full Of Passengers A Free Flight After Four Babies Cry

A crying child on a flight can be a difficult endeavor for passengers and parents alike. In an attempt to create goodwill between fussy babies and exasperated passengers, JetBlue provided travelers with an unusual incentive on a recent flight: endure the cries and get a free flight. 

In honor of Mother’s Day (which is Sunday, don’t forget), JetBlue — which has been giving away free flights liberally recently — released a YouTube video aimed at honoring and encouraging flying mothers.

The video, which documents a recent flight from New York to Long Beach, CA, follows several mothers and their young children preparing and eventually traveling with the airline.

The women express their concerns about flying alone with their babies, noting that the process is more stressful than flying alone, and that they “don’t want to be that lady with the baby who is screaming for four hours.”

Shortly after boarding, a JetBlue flight attendant announces that this trip is going to be a bit different.

Each time a baby cries, passengers will receive 25% off a round-trip ticket with the airline.

This appears to change the attitude of some passengers, who swapped scowls for smiles.

In the end, four babies cried at some point during the trip. Those cries weren’t greeted with sighs, eye rolls, or head shaking. Instead, passengers applauded.

“Next time, smile at a baby for crying out loud,” JetBlue says in the video.

Erin Fritch, one of the mothers who participated in the video, tells Consumerist that other passengers’ attitudes can certainly have an effect on children during a flight.

“Flying with a kid is definitely a stressful experience, from the time you leave the house to the moment you arrive at your destination,” she says. “There are so many factors out of your control and sitting next to someone intolerable only adds to the anxiety. A little compassion and empathy from your fellow travelers, definitely goes a long way. Kids are smart — they pick up on energy and I guarantee that a smile from your neighbor will help make it a more pleasant experience for everyone.”

by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist