PLT RPT; B767-200; JFK-LAX. COUPLE REFUSED DIRECT ORDER FROM CAPT TO PUT 3 YR OLD CHILD IN SEAT; WITH SEATBELT ON. CHILD ON FLOOR WHOLE FLT.

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I WAS A CREW MEMBER ON A FLT FROM JFK TO LAX. AFTER TKOF; THE LEAD FLT ATTENDANT CAME UP TO THE COCKPIT AND NOTIFIED US THAT THERE WAS A COUPLE IN BUSINESS CLASS TRAVELING WITH AN APPROX 3 YR OLD DAUGHTER. THE COUPLE WAS ALLOWING THE GIRL TO LAY ON THE FLOOR OF THE CABIN DURING TAXI AND TKOF; WITH THE FASTEN SEATBELT SIGN ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE FLT ATTENDANT TOLD THEM TO PLEASE HAVE THE CHILD IN THE SEAT WITH BELT ON WHEN THE SEATBELT SIGN WAS ILLUMINATED; THEY REFUSED AND WERE VERBALLY ABUSIVE. THE CAPT HAD THE FLT ATTENDANT TELL THEM THE CAPT REQUESTED THEM TO COMPLY; AGAIN THEY REFUSED. THIS CONTINUED ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND WE HAD A CUSTOMER SVC SUPVR MEET THE AIRPLANE IN LAX. THE CUSTOMER SVC AGENT SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO; UNLESS THERE WAS SOME PHYSICAL ABUSE INVOLVED AND THE FLT ATTENDANT PRESSED CHARGES. THESE PEOPLE WALKED AWAY FROM THE GATE AFTER ENDANGERING THEIR CHILD; INTERFERING WITH A CREW MEMBER DOING THEIR DUTIES; BREAKING FARS AND POSSIBLY ENDANGERING OTHER PAX. WE NEED CONSEQUENCES FOR PEOPLE LIKE THIS; JUST AS THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN CONSEQUENCES FOR MY AIRLINE HAD THEIR CHILD BEEN INJURED IN TURB WITH THE SEATBELT SIGN OFF. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THAT THE COUPLE HAD PURCHASED A SEAT FOR THE CHILD; BUT THEY WANTED THE CHILD ON THE FLOOR. THEY HAD 3 SEATS ABREAST IN BUSINESS CLASS; SO THEY HAD ROOM FOR THE CHILD TO LAY IN THEM. AS THE RPTR EXITED THE PLANE IN LAX; HE OVERHEARD THE COUPLE SAY TO THE CUSTOMER SVC SUPVR THAT 'I BOUGHT A TICKET ON YOUR AIRLINE; I CAN DO ANYTHING I PLEASE;' AND THEN PROCEEDED OUT TO LIMO WAITING FOR THEM. THE RPTR IS VERY CONCERNED THAT THE CHILD ON THE FLOOR CAN BECOME A PROJECTILE IN TURB OR A CRASH AND HURT OTHER PEOPLE.