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AIBU?

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Original poster

Child free flights. would you pay extra?

102 replies

HookedOnHooking · 03/09/2015 21:00

I bloody would.

OP posts:
Baconyum · 04/09/2015 04:15

"I think it takes special kind of arsehole to put their kids in economy whilst they travel first class." Yea selfish ones that had no business having kids!!!

"DD does the stare now.
She's 14 and we live in a close with a bunch of ned kids out the back, she goes out with the stare and they scarper.
I can see why, that stare bloody terrifies me!" I laughed out loud reading that! In my family its called 'granny's look' as my gran perfected 'the look'!! Mum and I do it and dd (also 14) is learning. I've heard dd saying to friends when she's asked if she can do/go whatever and that's been my answer that she knows not to push 'ah got the wee granny look' same part of Scotland as you too I suspect.

No problem flying with kids DO have a problem flying with shit parents though who don't attempt to help their child.

What I WOULD advocate absolutely is no alcohol immediately before and on flights no need for it. People who can't handle their drink far more scary and dangerous than any child!

SteveBrucesNose · 04/09/2015 04:16

Although my last trip, my outbound flight was shared with a group of about 20 18 year olds coming back from Thailand on a 6th form trip for 2 weeks. I had the poor luck of being allocated a seat in the middle of them for an 8 hour flight plus a 1 hour delay on the Tarmac.

For me it was a 2am flight after an 11 hour working day, urgent booking so that morning hadn't even known I was travelling, so hadn't done my usual early night the night before a redeye. I was bollocksed and needed to sleep.

They treated it as a school coach, up and down talking to each other, kneeling on the seats to talk to the person behind, shouting up and down the cabin.

I did the grown up thing, ordered 2 large whiskies, and sent myself to sleep. Got about 2 hours over the whole journey.

AcrossthePond55 · 04/09/2015 04:44

I usually don't have a problem, but I don't want to have to entertain some stranger's child. One flight, in response to a toddler's constant bids for Mummy's attention, it was 'Show Nice Lady your toy, Tell Nice Lady your story, I'll bet Nice Lady likes puzzles'. By halfway through the flight, Nice Lady wasn't so nice anymore; 'I'll bet Nice Lady doesn't want that chocolate' was the last straw.

ChopsticksandChilliCrab · 04/09/2015 04:57

I'd love child free flights.

A recent flight to Tokyo was awful with a small child kicking my seat the whole way. Neither the mother nor cabin staff were any help.

Last year I had a child be sick in the row in front of me and the vomit dripped down over my feet. Arrived in LHR after a 13 hour flight feeling pretty grim.

A few months ago I was flying in BC and DD age 24 was in economy on same flight. I went to see her during the flight and as I walked into her cabin the stench of dirty nappies was overpowering. There was a baby being changed at the front. Gross. I was very glad to be able to escape that cabin.

Sansoora · 04/09/2015 04:57

You do realise that your child free flight would cost a lot more than an extra 5 quid per person? That 3 or 4 times more than the price you pay now would be likely, and that it would perhaps be one flight a week or so instead of the frequency you have now.

Spartans · 04/09/2015 05:07

I would probably be tempted if I was flying without my own. But to be honest I would pay more if they could promise a no twat zone.

From the drunks, to the stag/hen parties to parents kicking off because their entire party didn't get seats together because they turned up late. They all piss me off more than other people's kids.

Queeltie · 04/09/2015 05:38

Why would it cost a lot more? Everyone would be paying full price instead of some paying reduced child prices.

Sansoora · 04/09/2015 05:45

Queeltie, its not as simple as that.

TheDowagerCuntess · 04/09/2015 05:59

I've never had a problem with children on flights. And besides, any Child-Related Fracas that's coming from children other than mine is, quite frankly, bliss. Someone else's problem, not mine to deal with.

TinyTear · 04/09/2015 06:15

Queeltie, what reduced child prices? If the are over 2 they pay full price...

ChopsticksandChilliCrab · 04/09/2015 06:39

Children pay reduced fares until they are 12.

goblinhat · 04/09/2015 06:43

Children pay reduced fares until they are 12.

Rubbish. Children pay full price at 2. If they take a seat they pay full price.

FoxesSitOnBoxes · 04/09/2015 06:46

Oh fuck. I'm flying home by myself with a 3 year old and a ten month old next week.
When I prebooked the seats I wanted to be able to put a little note on the empty seat on our row warning people not to chose that seat.
I hate flying with children Sad

SladeGreen · 04/09/2015 06:47

I travel solo quite a lot, for work (both short and long haul).

Noisy kids do not bother me at all. I plug my headphones in, drink wine and fall asleep.

My issue is with inconsiderate adults, and also children of school age who have no excuse to be arsing about. If they are old enough to sit in a classroom, they sure as hell are old enough to know how to conduct themselves on public transport.

FoxesSitOnBoxes · 04/09/2015 06:48

DD is 3 and paid slightly reduced. dS paid a standard infant charge, which was actually more than my ticket as I booked well in advance for the cheap tickets

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 04/09/2015 06:50

Rubbish, goblin. They do not pay full price at 2. They pay about 75% of the ticket price, and probably around 90% of the taxes.

goblinhat · 04/09/2015 06:53

Which airline is that?

I have flown many many times with my kids and always paid full price.
Of course some holidays may give a child discount, but I know of no airlines.

Bottlecap · 04/09/2015 06:59

I hate hen/stag parties on planes. Hate hate hate. I would pay extra to avoid them. Why they serve these assholes alcohol is a mystery to me.

I haven't endured a screaming baby or badly behaved toddler in recent memory, I hope I'm not tempting the fates as I'm flying today. I flew earlier this week and had an adorable baby cooing at me, leaving me fantastically broody.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 04/09/2015 07:01

BA.

sleepyelectricsheep · 04/09/2015 07:07

No I would not. I'd much prefer the kid friendly flights given a choice, away from you intolerant types.

Artandco · 04/09/2015 07:09

I always pay full price for my children. Even as newborns I have paid full price so I have two seats for myself and newborn so a place to spread out/ lay baby etc

OllyBJolly · 04/09/2015 07:19

Frequent flyer - business and visiting family in US and Canada. Too mean to pay for an upgrade.

No issue with kids. I can zone out to crying, girning, screaming.

It's the entitled adults I have a problem with - the ones who have no consideration for fellow passengers. They have paid for their flight and to hell with everyone else (who also paid for theirs). Recline as far as they can, clutter up as much space as they are able, complain loudly about everything.

Happy to say that most people I meet on flights are very pleasant.

TinyTear · 04/09/2015 08:03

Full price on air portugal, ba quoted us more than double for the same flights so even if the child was reduced it wasn't worth it...

Lurkedforever1 · 04/09/2015 09:17

another no not at all. And kids don't bother me anyway. I meant it in the sense that if people didn't like the noise of economy they should go business class. I've only ever flown business once, one way, as a result of an airline fuck up so I got a free upgrade with dd. Which I only mentioned in response to someone saying kids are allowed in business too. I certainly don't fly business by habit, and if I had the funds it wouldn't be to avoid the general noise of kids and babies! That just tends to be a side effect from my own single experience and that of friends and acquaintances who fly business more often.

borisgudanov · 04/09/2015 10:26

No. "Seen and not heard" went out with Queen Victoria.