To think children should be banned from long-haul flights in economy?

[OneGreenLeader]

Before I get jumped on - I don’t hate children. But I do think it’s unfair that someone paying hundreds or even thousands for a flight has to endure hours of screaming, kicking seats, or being disturbed constantly. Some parents try, but let’s be honest, others just don’t care. Shouldn’t there be designated “family zones” or restrictions on certain routes/times? AIBU to say it’s inconsiderate to bring babies or toddlers on 10+ hour flights?

Firstly people should stop their kids kicking seats but I think intolerant people should be made to pay first class or just get on with it.

I can see both sides.

Family zones and quiet zones like they have on trains is reasonable, I think.

You can’t force people to book them, though.

I would happily pay more to go on a child free flight or be seated in a child free area.
I didn’t fly for years when mine were small as the thought of the screaming the whole way filled me with anxiety.

Always flown long haul with my kids and honestly never had a problem with them. They have always been well behaved. However booze filled adults have caused problems around us!!

As someone who has flown long haul many times with a baby, toddler, primary age, and now adult child (same child but over many year) I think yabu tbh.
I actually think short haul flights are worse than long haul as kids get bored, long haul they either sleep or watch movies.
Honestly other than babies crying, esp before take off , I can't say I've ever had a long haul flight spoiled by a young child. Adults reclining their seats all the way for 90% of the flight have been a bigger bug beat tbh

One of the best behaved people I ever sat next to on a long haul flight was a 6 month old baby but he had very responsible parents!
I understand your feelings but I don't think anyone is going to ban children from economy. It's a pity some parents have no idea or inclination to make sure their children behave themselves.

Flying 10 hours in economy is going to be horrific no matter what. It’s not just badly behaved children (and I’ve never been on a flight where the parents aren’t making an effort) but adults spraying perfume all over themselves every 15 minutes, adults watching porn on their iPads without headphones, adults whining for hours because they didn’t book seats early and now can’t sit with their friends, people who overdid it in the pub before getting on the plane and are vomiting noisily… lots of people in close proximity is always going to be awful.

Get good headphones and plenty of books and just get through it. At least you won’t need to deal with a child with jet lag at the other end.

I’ve flown a lot, I was once with someone on an 18 month world tour which involved a lot of flying, I’ve also flown a lot with children, including long haul. I’m yet to witness anyone have a flight ruined by a child screaming, kicking etc. I have however seen several people have their flights ruined adults due to poor hygiene, being abusive, sexually assaulting other passengers, vomiting due to being drunk. I don’t however think that adulta should then be banned from what is essentially public transport.

Private planes are an option for people who don’t want to fly with children, just as private coaches are option for those who don’t want to share a bus with children.

Family zones or quiet zones would be lovely. I’ve just done a series of flights in business class and EVERY ONE had at least one child that screamed for hours and hours. I feel for the parents, they tried so hard but these were small children and there was no stopping them. I would absolutely definitely pay more for a quiet flight.

Go into business class then, or private jet

No. We had a period where we were flying long (and short) haul a lot. The kids did not misbehave.

Other people’s children in public are a part of life, if you can’t cope with it, maybe the problem is just as much you as them?

I fly a lot and it’s weird, I’ve never yet had a single flight ruined by kids screaming, kicking, etc. Yeah, you get the odd crying baby (which is completely natural, nothing to write home about, and usually over pretty quickly).

Conversely, I’ve had a decent few flights marred by inconsiderate, pissed, loud and/or obnoxious adults.

I agree shorthaul is often worse, because for only 2-4 hours parents 'wing-it' and end up with bored kids who act out. With long haul most parents are planning how to manage the kids for 8 hours and have plenty to entertain them.

My heart does sink when I'm near kids on a flight, and 90% of the time they are no trouble, but the 10% they can be an utter nightmare. I would also pay more to access a childfree flight, or appreciate childfree sections on a plane.

No but I would happily pay more for a child free flight.

If it was something airlines could make money out of they’d already be doing it. Commercial aviation is public transport, I’m afraid, and the fact that it can be very expensive doesn’t change that!

We’ve flown extensively over 4 continents in the past and I can’t honestly remember being bothered by any children.

(Not so the bloody man who wanted to talk constantly when I was flying solo on a flight to Japan to meet up with my husband! A real pita, ordering vodka after vodka and trying to persuade me to. I was in first and discreetly asked to be moved, and was).

Plenty of kids in business and private jets are £££££££££££££

A child-free area would be great for anything over a 4 hour flight, but probably unworkable for the airlines.

AIBU to say it’s inconsiderate to bring babies or toddlers on 10+ hour flights?

If my family lived a 10+ hour flight away and I wanted to take my kids to visit them, I'm hardly not going to do it because it's 'inconsiderate'.

I don’t think any airlines bar kids from business do they?

Oh yes have also had flights (usually short haul) ruined by drunken awful people, even at 7am! Surely though, if “quiet zones” were available these people wouldn’t book them?

I’ve flown hundreds of times, many long haul flights, and have never had a flight badly affected by a child. Adults, yes but never a child.
I choose our seats carefully away from the bassinet area but have never had any issues.
My now adult DCs have also flown a lot from birth, often alone with just me, and they were actually very easy to manage on a long haul flight as they eat, sleep, watch TV, repeat….get noise cancelling headphones and take some Nytol if you want to block it out.

It’s public transport - that should not exclude babies or toddlers - they have just as right to be there as adults. Quiet zones would be reasonable however.

I have a problem with the parents not doing anything and thinking it's cute and their children are the centre of the universe, not the children themselves

I've had business class flights ruined by screaming babies too so that's not always the answer. Family zones are a great idea. I assume a lot of people flying long haul with babies or children don't have a lot of choice. Short haul was hard enough, in my experience!

Flew long haul business class last weekend.
A baby cried all through the night.
If you want to travel, these things happen. The poor child couldn’t help it and their parents did their best. They were knackered too!