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?

Possibly on a larger plane for a long haul flights there could be quiet/adult only zones but otherwise if you fly economy it’s the risk you take

Sorry but children are people with a perfect right to travel their parents will have also paid the same for their children's tickets as you have for your ticket.
If anyone is to be banned from flights I would prefer it to be hen and stag parties and others who drink throughout the whole flight.

We flew for 10 hours last week with 3 kids all under 6. They were really well behaved considering but naturally they do get a bit bored and want to get up and down and chat to people etc. everyone around us was lovely and chatted back to them but we had no other families near us and I did think to myself a family area on the plane would’ve been good. Maybe other kids would’ve encouraged ours to be a bit more boisterous though.

YABU kind of…. DD is 8 and so good, very quiet and just sits/snacks or sleeps. She doesn’t kick the seat, cry, scream… she doesn’t put her chair back either. I do agree with you to an extent as I’ve sat in front of a seat kicker.
Adults can be annoying too, I suppose that’s what business class is for? You pay more for a nicer seat.

Someone else’s child trying to chat to me would have driven me up the wall.

”Should people listening to music on their phones on speakerphone on trains be banned too ? What about annoying city types having loud phone conversations on the train ? No one cares about your latest client Brian.”

Glued-on headphones for the former, Scold’s bridles for the latter, I’d suggest, @teledays.

I've had flights when I've heard babies screaming and been glad they weren't near me!
It's a lottery isn't it?

Agree. I either fly with my kid (where my job is to keep them entertained/ quiet etc) or by myself where I want peace and quiet as it’s a rare luxury to be kid - free on a flight. No chance I’d be entertaining someone else’s kid!

So those of us who have immediate family in other countries should never take our children to see our home countries? Older relatives who can’t fly should just be told tough luck, we have to wait until child is an age where they may not cause a disturbance while grown adults do so all the time and should know better can?

People bang on about how people should care more about family, be nicer to others and not be so individualistic and then tripe like this gets spouted off.

I wear headphones and they often provide them on long haul flights. I constantly keep an eye on my own children when travelling and make sure they’re not being disruptive.

I did a long haul flight alone last year with walking 10 month old DD and was worried about how people would be since it had been years since I traveled with a baby. People were absolutely lovely going there and back from the States and were chatting to me and DD throughout and letting me know if I need any help, let them know. It was a packed flight going back and she let out a few whimpers here and there over an 8.5 hour flight but kept nursing her to keep her quiet and asleep and occupied by talking to her, giving her snacks , when it wasn’t packed, letting her walk a bit when it was safe to do so and wasn’t in anyone’s way, and letting her watch a bit of Teletubbies.

We get looks when it’s autistic DS with ear defenders on and yet he sits by the window quietly or watches his tablet. I have seen parents who don’t do anything but it has been rare and tbh, I would not want to be put along in the same area as them because people such as OP want to lump all parents and young children together as problems.

If we’re going to go there, I’d like to see the same restrictions for the plenty misbehaving adults who should know better.

Anyone kicking my seat gets a death glare, followed by a stop kicking my seat if they don’t stop.

Yes agree, it was a very minor chat for a few minutes and the other people all said hello to them first and seemed happy to have a little conversation. I would never let them bother someone who didn’t look like they wanted to talk. We have immediate family who live abroad, not just decided to randomly have a long haul holiday.

Ridiculous!! Why on earth should me and my family be punished for badly behaved kids/adults? Mine are 7 and 4 and have travelled extensively, short haul, long haul, trains, coaches, road trips. Not once have they ever been noisy or caused any disturbance, not even as babies. We went long haul last year age 6 and 3 and there wasn't a peep out of them. They watched tv, coloured in/stickers, ate and napped.
We would absolutely choose to sit in a quiet zone!
I've had many many flights disturbed by obnoxious adults though.

People were absolutely lovely going there and back from the States and were chatting to me and DD throughout and letting me know if I need any help, let them know.

This has always been my experience when travelling with my children.

They are 8 and 5 now so are happy to just sit with their iPad and sleep for a bit. Like the majority of children I encounter on flights.

Of course, when boarding, there is always the odd person with a face like a smacked arse at the thought of children being on a flight. But I suppose they are the type to be annoyed by/complain about anything. For the most part, people are either lovely, or don’t bat an eyelid.

I imagine the demand for adult only flights is relatively minimal.

How about a 'sin bin' area...drunks, druggies and other antisocial twats all get moved into it with direct route to exit and police escorts off the plane. I bet parents would soon stop Alfie from kicking seats and shouting if they know they will have to sit next to Phil, Liz and Ryan who are pissed on duty free.

I have just had an idea (yes I have had a kicker once and parents pretended not to. notice. And another time a kid that kept trying to play on my laptop. Mum stood in aisle doing nothing and after my nose were ignored, I used a stern voice and mum picked her daughter and finally stopped that crap). Now back to the idea. Travel with a scary mask. Give kid/parents the pls don't do that. If they do it again, discreetly put the mask on, turn around and in your scariest villain voice tell the kid you will chomp off their foot.

Good grief yes, children should be put in the hold with the luggage not allowed to disturb people who have paid hundreds/ thousands for there seats, not even as if the kids will have paid for a seat

I imagine the demand for adult only flights is relatively minimal.

It certainly will be if people work out how much more it'd cost them.