Child-free flight zones: what do you think?

[HelenMumsnet]

Morning. We've just seen this article in the Telegraph about a Malaysian airline which has launched 'quiet zones' on selected flights, where children under the age of 12 are not permitted to sit.

It seems that a recent poll of Telegraph Travel readers also found that nearly 70% would support the introduction of child-free flights.

What do you think?

Should people have the right to travel without being 'disturbed by noisy children'? Or not?

Fair enough. As long as there are enough flights for everyone. And they don't push up the prices for family flights!

Do the "quiet zones" also exclude loud, annoying adults?

I wonder in the long term, will there be more demand for family flights or child free flights? Because that will determine which will be cheaper. And will then be a equality claim saying families are discriminated against since we'll have to pay more for our flights? (It won't be a problem if family flights are cheaper because child free adults will not be excluded). Remember the equality of prices we now have in place for gender and insurance.

By the time you took everyone off the plane that annoyed me I'd need a private jet :(

Fair enough. But I'd also like a no student area as the groups I find most annoying and disruptive are the big groups of 16-20 year olds who never shut up and keep moving around between seats all the flight.

Can they stuff all the stag and hen party people on those flighs as well? Last times flew there was a hen party and they were very rowdy, shouting "we're going to crash" a few times and being general pains in the arse.

I'm in two minds.

I would be way more relaxed about taking the DDs on a flight if I took more valium knew that there was an alternative available if people really hated sharing a flight with children.

But I do really hate the way that children are seen as a 'lifestyle choice' and are expected to be not seen or heard. This kind of idea just reinforces that.

It would be nice if airlines could do a bit more for younger passengers (they have paid after all!) rather than just banning them from certain flights.

I wish they would ban people from pooing on planes, we also end up near the loos (2 young DDs) and I hate spending 8 hours having to smell other people's shit. Surely that's worse than listening to a baby cry?

@Maryz I want a no fat americans and fat elbow zone

And they do put families with very very young children on special rows. I've flown two short hauls and one long haul with DD, on three different airlines. They all reserved either the bulk head (ie first row) or last row for infants. I guess they can't do the same for those between 2-12.

And yes to banning hen and stag parties!

Will they be introducing family-friendly flights, then? Because it would be lovely to be able to fly and not have to constantly be on edge that DS might make a sound.

And agree- will these quiet zones exclude drunken idiots who feel the need to chat you up for half the flight? That would be nice.

While we're at it, we should have 'no reclining' zones.

Flying is annoying. These people making a point of being in the "over 12" part of the plane are just going to end up having something else irritating them.

By the way, even in the time before DC, I almost never had problems with children on planes, and I've flown quite a lot. I can, however, clearly remember the drunken boor across the aisle from me going on about his black Amex card and wanting to discuss every game I was playing or film I was watching.. for hours.

There are as many badly behaved/loud adults as there are children, could they be removed from all flights please? My 4YO is quieter, politer and better at queuing than half the idiots we come across at the airport. It is a good idea as long as, like Hecate says, the family flights do not cost more and the availability is ok. Also, a valid point from Lego. Perhaps hen and stag parties should have separate planes....

But if there are children in row 6 or row 15, how does this help? Looks like a gimmick to me

I think it is a good idea.

Excellent idea.

Last time we flew to Italy it was just unbelievably loud, about 5 or 6 babies all howling at the same time!

But mumble, those same babies would still be on the plane, just further forward or further back.

Depends - would the airlines go after business travelers (where the margins are) by making the majority of flights or those at most convenient times child-free? I'd be annoyed by that but could easily see it happening.

i think people are becoming less and less tolerant of each other and more and more rude themselves. maybe if everybody would just live in a plastic box with no annoyances of others , they would be happier?

mumble: i know there are nicer things then flying with screaming babies around but hey that's life u know?

Fab idea. Benefits everyone AFAAIC....

Do children magically become quiet at 12?

I would like a no recliners, no farters, no sneezers and coughers, no loud chewers, no snoggers, no swearers, no 'lads', no seat spillers or hoggers, no boozers, no loud headphoners, no window blind fiddlers, no 'cabin baggage' stuffers, no chatty folk, no snorers and no nervous flyers. If that could be arranged. Thank you.

If you read the article, it's only 7 rows of the plane, enough that you aren't sitting next to or being kicked by a child but wont stop being disturbed by noise