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?

[EauRouge]

I'm not saying child-free people should be grateful but it would be nice if children weren't treated as an annoyance until they were old enough to be useful. I don't see why families should have to change their plans because some people are annoyed by children on planes. You don't get to pick and choose who uses public transport.

[Eskino]

My kids are great on flights. Mostly they sleep or do quiet activities.

I would resent being forced to fly and put up with other people's supposedly noisy brats when I've put in a lot of hard work training mine to be well behaved.

[OneLittleToddlingTerror]

@LittleAbruzzenBear I hate the whole children are a sub-species thing. The UK is awful in that respect. I don't like it too, but I don't want to say it loud as I'm foreign myself. It's not just Asians who are friendly with children (I think I mentioned it upthread). But I found the Spanish really good too.

@jetlag Sorry, it's just tongue in cheek. I don't think anyone should be segregated because of size, age, etc. There are obnoxious people regardless of age.

[GreenEggsAndNichts]

Agree with Hecate. If we never flew, DS would almost never see his grandparents.

Flying is not a magical once-in-lifetime experience, it's public transport. Of course I try to keep him from disturbing other people, and most of the time I'm successful.

[WillSantaComeAgain]

Child free sections on the plane, fine idea. Go for it. Then at least there is an outside chance of families being able to sit together, rather than separated by a loud, obnoxious group of 20 somethings getting hammered.

Child free flights? Yes, if they put a premium on the child free flights. Otherwise, the people on the flight should remember that they are paying pittance to fly on public transport. If they don't like it, they should pay to fly in a private jet . And no, just because you've paid to fly first class, it doesn't entitle you to have a child free section either, as if there are children in there, they presumably have paid for the privalege. (Or their parents have).

[underthemountain]

Personally I have never been annoyed by children on a flight. And adults can be just as annoying!

[LittleAbruzzenBear]

Maryz - great idea, but with the wrong people in the cages. It needs to be entitled, whinging sorts in the cargo. Perhaps then the remaining adults and children could have a pleasant flight? Pay for a private jet if you don't like people.

[SnakesheadFritillary]

There might be a case for 'family friendly' flights or areas, but I think this is a bit pointless in terms of placating other people. Yes, noisy children can be trying, but they are far from being the worst offenders on the many long haul flights I've been on. If anything I love sitting near anyone smaller than me. And if a child is repeatedly kicking the back of your seat, it's easier to politely ask their parent to ask them to stop than it is to ask a drunken adult to stop kneeing you or whacking their seat back in your face while you're eating.

Anyway, top quality ear plugs really take the edge off

[LittleAbruzzenBear]

Now you're talking Mary!

[SilverMoo]

And no fat people flights too, I hate it when they bulge into my seat... Also no smelly people or people who recline their seat.

Seriously though, I think it depends on the child, some are better behaved than adults on flights.

[bumhead]

I would like to see either each seat cubicled off or at least some sort of curtain contraption so I can have a bit of privacy on flights.
Again I find it offensive that DC are seen as a lifestyle choice, they are PEOPLE.
Unless they are planning on installing a sound barrier or something I don't see how this could work. Also it kind of 'downgrades' families as humans to my mind.

[Hullygully]

i dunno

[Viviennemary]

I think it's a good idea. But on the other hand adults can be just as annoying or even more annoying than children.

[TryDrawing]

I think that this is a good idea. Some adults are too intolerant to be allowed to sit near children. Putting those adults in a separate section of the aircraft is only sensible.

However, I would also suggest another section for generally wilfully noisy and annoying people. Stag parties spring to mind from a recent upleasant experience of being seated in the middle of a conversation about finding "slappers" and "hitting that"

[PrincessFiorimonde]

I don't see how it would work. If children can only sit in 7 rows (say), you could buy your child-free zone ticket and find you were sitting in the 8th row, couldn't you?

So would you have to have:
rows 1-7 for families with young children
rows 8-15 for people who don't mind children much
rows 16-30 for people who want to be well away from children (but would still hear them if they scream/see them if they run up and down the aisles)

[LabelsGalore]

It's a very bad idea iom.
It puts children as second class citizens, the ones that you should been seen but not heard.
Forgetting that all these adults that are complaining have been children themselves (and probably have children themselves!).

If you want a 'quiet' zone then make it a 'quiet' zone wo restriction on age or whatever. As other have said, it's not just children that can be disruptive (Actually, I think I have seen more adults being disruptive because they don't have anyone to tell them off, distract them etc...). On the other side, you have children that extremely well behaved and are NOT a disruption at all.
That's what you find in trains (and yes that includes no lour music for example) and imho would work much better.

[foofooyeah]

There are already child free zones on [planes and have been for years

Its called FIRST CLASS - a lot of airlines only allow passengers over 12 in first class. so if you want a child free flight just pay the thousands of pounds for a first class ticket!

[SilverMoo]

I actually think it's a good idea, I don't want my family to be seated around awful people tutting and shooting nasty looks, I would much rather be with other families. So yes, but for my benefit more than theirs!

[LabelsGalore]

Also are we talking about a 2 hour flight or a 12 hour flight there?

because tbh, in a 2 hour flight to another European country, it does feel over the top (Although I like the area for 'Intolerant People' rather than an area with 'No children' or even a 'Quiet Area').
For a 12 hours journey, a bigger plane etc... that is more understandable and easy to organize. After all, we use to have some 'smoking areas' in the planes too.

[LabelsGalore]

I am wondering why some people automatically associate child = disruptive though....

[OneLittleToddlingTerror]

Labels long haul already have children zone. At least all the babies are together already.

[noseynoonoo]

Excellent idea - then even if I am without my children I can choose to sit with other people's children rather than the type of baby-boomer who would want to be in a child-free zone. I doubt however that they would want to pay any extra.

I have never been annoyed by a child on a flight but plenty of older men have been unpleasant to share cabin-space with and I can think of 2 men on 2 flights who made me cry. Give me the children any day of the week.

[SilverMoo]

LabelsGalore - I think it's more kerfuffle and noise than disruption. The majority of younger children whine, laugh loudly and get in and out their seat often on long flights, and babies cry.