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?

I'm with you, OP.
This was not a post to complain about babies crying on flights. That's normal and everyone should be tolerant. It's not even about kids being kids.
It's about parenting.
I had a flight last year and had a seat kicker behind me. I ignored it to start with and thought the parent would intervene and the kid would settle down once we were on our way. After 30 mins of jabs in the back of my seat I looked round and met the parent's eyes. I could see that they were not hostile and the seat kicking stopped soon after. I didn't think that the kid was doing it on purpose but the parent thankfully intervened.
I'm a parent, I know it is hard flying with small children and sometimes melt downs happen. But repeated seat kicking isn't ok and it isn't fair on the person in front who may be flying for lots of different reasons (in my case, to support family after bereavement). If your child is the restless type, plan ahead and give them something to do, or get them up for a walk along the aisle.

Yeah, it's interesting that age discrimination never seems to apply to comments about kids. Over 80% of people have children and any airline restricting the ability of over 80% of adults to travel for 18+ years of their life would soon be in the hole financially. As a family we don't fly a lot but do spend £3-8k on flights in any average year and there are millions of us.

Or - rather than book the private plane you have on tap - book with that airline which, when you select your seat, shows which seats have already been allocated to children I think it might be a Japanese airline. Likely a bit limited on routes though

Tbh I’ve only ever had my flights disturbed by drunk adults. My last long haul flight a very loud and over the top woman spilt her glass of red wine over my young chest carry one. Not her fault as it was an accident apparently!

I don't think the problem is kids in general, it's some kids. We've flown long haul with DS (6) and it was fine. He slept most of the way, watched a film, did some colouring, played a few card game type things with us. He categorically wasn't allowed to shout or kick the seat in front of him. The child behind me spent the whole time booting the shit out of the back of my seat (to the point I spilled a hot drink in my lap) and the parents did absolutely fuck all about it. It was very irritating, but the moment they got on they were joking how they'd told the air stewards that he was going to be their worst passenger that day so it was also very unsurprising that he turned out to, indeed, be a pain in the arse. That's not an all children or all families problem that means everyone should be banned or kept in special zones, though, that's a "some people are inconsiderate arseholes" problem and unfortunately you can't identify and ban them pre-emptively, really, and it's an issue not limited to having young children.

I’ve had both great and horrendous experiences with babies. I spent the most delightful long haul flight with some babies next to me and they were utterly adorable and were so chirpy and happy. I also flew last year long haul and a baby close to us screamed the entire flight all night. I didn’t sleep a wink. It was awful. But I survived, albeit with the worlds worst jet lag, so think you have to suck things like this up.

TBH I find on long haul flight the kids are usually ok because it’s a certain kind of family that can / does travel long haul with children of that age.

The most feral on-flight behaviour I’ve seen (and as a parent of small kids myself) is on the classic chartered flights / easyJet to classic British holiday destinations (Alicante, Corfu etc).

On the latter there often seem to be a few groups where the children are allowed to run absolutely wild. I assume they’re like that everywhere. Running up and down the aisles alone mid flight etc.

I’ve never seen anything like that on a long haul flight and I must have taken 100+ in my life!

No, they don’t, infants and children are absolutely allowed in BA first class.

I actually think it’s easier to go business/first with young kids. It’s very difficult for them to kick the seat in front, everyone is given decent noise cancelling headphones, you get your hand luggage pretty much guaranteed to be near you, rarely a queue for the loo and loads more space for them to sleep. We’ve pretty much always gone business the past few years and will continue to do so now we’ve got a child.

As others have said I’ve only ever experienced disruptive adults on a flight.

Why do families need a whole different section on an airplane because you came across some ineffectual parents one time? I had the misfortune of being sat next to a drunk passenger going to Miami a few years back. I don’t think all drinkers need to be segregated due to this experience.

I’ve witnessed some horrendous behaviour on flights … from adults.

I’d rather sit on a flight full of kids than drunk, obnoxious adults who can’t handle their drink.

Drunk adults have given me far more stress on flights than children ever did!

You are so unreasonable. Children are noisy. You were noisy as a small child. Get some noise cancelling earphones or find another way to tolerate normal human behaviour.

Yep same here, my daughter is 8, been flying long haul since a baby and has never been an issue, never cried for long, never kicked seats (would stop it immediately if she did)
Been on plenty of flights where kids have been great but drunk adults were being loud and bashing seats

I am noise sensitive so would love to be able to book a ‘quiet’ flight where everyone is expected to speak quietly, wear headphones and has no crying, screeching, swearing, shouting, annoying music or games etc.
It’s not really kids that are the problem - it is inconsiderate adults. The loud, badly behaved kids are merely a consequence of the inconsiderate, shitty adults.

We have had many flights ruined by unruly, unmonitored children. I have no problem with babies screaming, or even toddlers performing but once a child gets to the age of say five, then there is no excuse for bad behaviour ie screaming, or kicking. The parents are often blithely ignoring such behaviour and lo behold if an affected fellow passenger says anything.

I have travelled with my kids since they were 8 weeks and they have been good. I make sure am engaging them. Banning them from flights? YABVU. How else will they get to know their grandparents half a world away. More involved non-permissive parents? absolutely. Different sections? sure but not everyone will book those and parents woth well behaved kids shouldnt be forced to be with those with "active" ones. I can swear hand on heart my kids have never kicked a seat because I will shut that down so fast they'd be spinnibg. But commiserations!

I find a higher percentage of adults more entitled, problematic and difficult (and often quite smelly) on flights than children. Personally, I think they're worse because they are choosing those behaviours whilst young children are still learning to navigate the world and their emotions.

YABU

I think there should be child friendly flights where the adults who go on the plane will be well aware that children will be on the flight and might make a noise. (Shock)

Then adults only flights might be useful too. But they should be more expensive. Hopefully people would pay the money and give families with children a break from their presence on planes.

You don’t need to financially penalise people simply because they would prefer an adult only flight 🙄. Charging the same price is sufficient.

Amazing how on this thread nobody will confess to themselves having a badly behaved child or seat kicker or screamer. And only encounter little angels on flights (other than grizzling on take off and descent).

Thank goodness for the voice of reason. Well done! We raised our two children to the same standards and they are considerate, rounded people. If only we could have your children behind us next time we fly. My husband always seems to get the ‘kicker’ and he no longer engages with parents. It is not worth the aggravation… and the parents already know what the child is doing and does nothing anyway.

There are definitely certain destinations which are much worse than others.

Yea, sure... let's restruct freedom of movement for families with kids because you cannot tolerate the noise!!!

I've just done a trip to Thailand and back with my 1 yr old grandchild. He was extremely well behaved and caused no problems at all.
There were at least two other babies on the flight back, younger than a year, and again there were no issues with them either.

I have flown long haul multiple times and never had problems with children on flights.

Let's also have "non-snoring" people only flights, "non-annoying-drunks" flights and "non-loudly-talking" people only flights then! All charging the same!