The outrage about babies and children flying business class

[JPT96]

I always see people say that it’s not fair to fly business class with young children and they would be better off in economy. I find flying in business with my kids so much less stressful than Economy. They are comfy and less likely to whinge as we’re not all squashed in a tiny row of seats (plus the can have a proper sleep if it’s an overnight flight). If someone can afford it- why shouldn’t they be as entitled as the other paying passengers to be in business. Also, why is it ok to subject passengers in economy to crying babies. Their journey is stressful enough!

If the airline offer it then passengers are free to avail of it.

If others want autonomy over the passengers in their vicinity then they can hire a private jet.

“You are entitled to be childfree but not a childfree world”

I love this quote and it sums up so many circumstances so well.

I’m surprised that airlines haven’t gone down the route of getting people to pay more for a childfree flight. I’m not saying that children shouldn’t fly but I think that some routes would have enough demand for it to be a moneymaker.

Some of the attitude is probably a throw back to the days, maybe twenty plus years back, when Business Class was marketed as being mainly for those who perhaps wanted to work on the daylight sectors and sleep on the overnights...in those days it was relatively rare to see real youngsters in business.

As the business market declined airlines have targetted the class more as being ideal for family travel but at times it causes friction.

Frankly, I couldn't give a rats ass where your children are, so long as you're being a parent and looking after them. Which doesn't include allowing them to watch Percy Pig without headphones for 4 hours and kicking the back of my seat at the same time.

I don’t agree at all . The idea of business class is for there to be a quiet luxury option for those who need to arrive fresh for business/ work.

If I spend extra on a business class flight I don’t expect to be subjected to small children and babies crying That even noise cancelling headphones don’t block out.

I feel exactly the same with expensive restaurants and holiday venues

This. And I’m a mum. Parent your kids!

I just flew short haul club Europe (so business) with my teenagers (who predictably said and did nothing the entire time apart from headphones in iPad and book out. But my god the group of 60 somethings who were travelling together were loud, one had a gardener accidentally chop the wrong tree down and wanted paying for it. They took full use of the free alcoholic drinks and stood in the aisles talking

A baby would have been cute!

it was fine didn’t bother the flight and that had paid for it - the point being that every age range can and does make noise. You are on a plane!

from my actually fairly extensive plane travel it has always been the groups of adults who have made the most noise and who stand in the aisle talking

Yes there should be no issues about babies/children being in Business Class, Premium, First Class etc.

However recently I had paid dearly for a long haul business class ticket. There was a couple in the row in front with a baby on lap. The poor baby screamed the cabin down, most of the (overnight) flight.

Yes it was annoying, I can't sleep on planes anyway but I could see a lot of people were seething, but didn't say anything to the couple.

But I can see why they upgraded. Long haul with child still on lap, more room.

Luck of the draw for other passengers.

God business class is a godsend for kids on long flights! A flat bed, ability to move about, food on demand and control over your entertainment are pretty much the only things that make an 8-12 hour flight remotely bearable. Like fuck would I do long haul with a child under 12 in economy. Mostly that means we don’t fly long haul, but when we do we budget for business class.

I’m not really interested in whether other passengers like it or not - my kids aren’t noisy or disruptive so the only thing to object to is their physical presence in the seat, and anyone who doesn’t like that can FO honestly. We did overhear somebody complaining about DS to the cabin crew one time when we were coming back from Toronto (in first class 🤣) - it was a night flight and he had actually fallen asleep before the plane took off and slept through the entire flight, so the entire substance of their complaint was that there was a sleeping three year old a few rows in front of them. The stewardess came over and commented to me on how peaceful he looked, so she obviously thought they were being a twat too.

Older teens can understand why you are on the flight and can generally amuse themselves, and can manage on broken sleep. A preschooler cannot.

To what 'outrage' are you referring OP?

There are people who think under 18s should not be allowed in business or first class. They should sit with their nannies in Economy, and leave business class for adults who can fully appreciate the free champagne and ice cream.

Agree - I used to travel a lot for work and long haul flights would be business class. I'd usually have to work for at least part of the flight and as again as soon as I arrived at my destination and it's just not fair to have to listen to a screaming baby, did happen a few times on long haul US flights and I'd arrive knackered, with a migraine, and no good to anyone.
And before anyone comes at me, I don't have any problem with screaming babies when travelling for pleasure.
But I'd take screaming baby over farting dog any day (flew KLM business from Houston to Amsterdam once with a farting dog under my seat (not mine, belonged the passenger behind me) and OMG the stink😡

But that little curtain between business and premium economy isn’t soundproof - if there is a baby in economy screaming, you will still be able to hear it in business. Most airline toiletry packs come with earplugs.

Business class is available to anyone who pays for it, subject to each airline's policy. If the airline accept bookings with young children in business class, then those children and their parents have as much right to be there as you do.

Same in expensive restaurants or holiday venues. Select options which specifically exclude children if it is important to you. Otherwise, be prepared to suck it up.

Flying business class with kids is so much better. No-one getting grumpy waiting for snacks/drinks either in the terminal, or on board, no queuing up to get on board (or at least less queuing up), no waiting in a massive queue to check in, or wrangling them while waiting for your luggage which is last, you can pack everything you need because you have extra capacity.

Just generally, it's brilliant. Brilliant if it's just me, even more brilliant if it's me and the kids.

It shouldn’t make any difference where you sit with kids, as you should have brought enough toys and snacks to amuse them, settle them when they are upset, make sure they use headphones and don’t shout or kick the seats around them.

All this applies regardless of what class you are in.

What about the 'business' people who's company won't pay for business class? Tough luck on them in cattle class with all the crying kids?

There is quite a difference between a screaming baby x rows back in economy and a screaming baby in the seat behind you. Earplugs help but hurt when worn for hours. Frankly, when I've paid £££ to fly business because I need to work/arrive at my destination ready to work, I want to be able to work/arrive at my destination ready to work!

That may be your idea of business class but it’s definitely not the airlines’ idea. Business class is available for anyone that is prepared to pay for it (or use points or whatever), it’s sadly your own problem if you need to work the next day. I do agree that kids need to be properly parented though, both in business and economy. For hotels why not just stay at adults only hotels then? There are plenty around so I never feel bad subjecting others to my offspring at five star hotels that do accept children.

Its really twattish behaviour to bring kids into business

The twattish behaviour I've seen in business class has never come from kids...

Why do you think its called Business then? Rather than Premium?

As long as you don't put them in business on their own and the nanny in economy which I saw on a night flight from New York once. Nanny wanted to get the 3 ( one was only about 4) children changed/ settle them but she didn't have a seat so got booted out.

I flew on business class recently and some horrible loud, obnoxious, drunk women ruined it for everyone, screaming and shouting, absolutely hammered. A guy pleaded with them to quiet down as he'd saved for 3 years for this special honeymoon trip. They told him to fuck off then stared him out for the rest of the flight.

Adults can certainly be worse behaved than children.

@MKDex,

‘Why do you think it’s called Business then? Rather than Premium?’

So, are you happy with children in 1st class, but not in business? Or Virgin Upper class (which should presumably exclude rich plebs, given its name)?!

Personally, I agree with the poster above. Children and babies fine as long as they are parented properly.