Why I’d like child-free sections on planes
What’s the most annoying thing on a plane? The early seat recliner? The armrest hogger? The kicker? The person who yanks your seat back whenever they get up? The baby?
I don’t know where the assumption has come from that babies and children are automatically a nightmare on planes. Of course they can be, and a screaming baby is no fun for anyone at 35,000ft, least of all the parents desperately trying to shush them. But I’ve had more problems at altitude with adults, who really should know better, than small children – my own or anyone else’s.
For me, the most annoying person on a plane is the grown-up jumping to the conclusion that under-five equals uncontrollable, loud, and instant peace destroyer. Which is why I’m all for child-free sections on planes.
Not because I think children should be segregated but because there are a lot of adults I’d like tucked away there. After the debate started up again on This Morning today, I saw some seriously nasty comments floating around.
‘I’d ban toddlers from flights, restaurants, cinemas, theatres & supermarkets…. If they were able to speak I think they’d agree that they don’t wish to be there either’ – my daughter adores planes, is wildly excited about going in a trolley at the supermarket and had a fantastic first time at the cinema recently. And she barely stops speaking to draw breath – she doesn’t like something, I know about it.
‘Why don’t parents who can’t control their kids suffer compulsory sterilisation and make the world a better place’ – (seriously, I’m not making these up). Letting your kids run riot? Ignoring them for a 10-hour flight while they make people’s lives a misery? No. But I can’t help feeling ‘control your kids’ is code for keep them absolutely silent and still.
Ignoring the fact that not everyone takes their child on a plane for a holiday, and ignoring the fact (as most commenters do) that not all children are seat-kicking, shrieking fiends, surely the only way to teach kids how to behave in a situation is to let them experience it.
Or perhaps they should be kept indoors where they can’t possibly irritate anyone, and then unleashed at 18 (presumably allowed out briefly for school). I’m sure they’d then waltz onto planes and trains, into restaurants and art galleries with aplomb.
Would I take my three-year-old to a Michelin-starred restaurant, all mellow atmosphere and intricate dishes at 10pm? Obviously not. Does anyone? Would I board a plane without trying to think of 900 ways to entertain her, keep her fed and happy until we land? No.
For every rogue parent who puts noise cancelling headphone in and falls asleep on a long-haul flight, there’s dozens trying to ensure their kids don’t accidentally offend anyone – even when some people board just raring to be offended and muttering about child-free flights.
Family areas sound nice in theory but it’s not exactly practical for airlines when they’ll be empty for large numbers of flights and months of the year. As school holiday prices go a long way to subsidising travel the rest of the year (a whole other debate there), I don’t feel inclined to pay extra.
So bring on the child-free areas in plane. Anyone who can’t bear the possibility of a small human nearby can pay extra to hide away in there.
They get their guaranteed peace (inconsiderate adults permitting), I don’t need to deal with people assuming my daughter is secretly preparing to make their life a misery, and the airlines get more money.
Don’t want to pay extra? Fine. The world is full of children. It’s time to learn to live alongside them – not demand child-free flights…
Images courtesy of Depositphotos
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Yes, well said! As you say, there are a lot worse offenders, such as drunken stag and hen dos, people with no idea of personal hygiene stinking the place ot, no idea of personal space, not just reclining, but arms and legs and bags everywhere, people being rude to the airline staff…. Some of the comments I’ve seen in response to this article are horrendous! Makes me sad we live in such an intolerant society. x
Should add to my last comment, most children on planes are so well behaved. Which is more than can be said for certain grown ups!
Indeed. I quite often get comments that my daughter is so well-behaved in a faintly surprised tone of voice. It’s not that she’s a miniature angel (although she is pretty well-behaved, I hope!) but I think people are sometimes taken aback when children are anything less than nightmarish.
Thank you! Exactly – no-one’s suggesting kids should be more important than anyone else, but why would it be OK to imply they’re basically an annoyance to be endured. How is that going to inspire a new generation?
Cathryn, I agree. I’ve been on plenty of long-hauls where there is a group of grown-ups off for a wedding or party, who think everyone else on the plane must be there for the same reason. As the attendants dim the lights and everyone puts on their eyeshades, they stand in the aisle next to their friends’ seats, drinking tiny G&Ts and laughing heartily. HA HA HA. I promise my daughter never does that.
Exactly this!
Here, here! I get you on every point. Nicely put Cathy. Pay to go hide or else go have a word with yourself!
Thanks! Exactly 🙂
Such a great idea. We have often felt in the same boat as you describe, then to have people come up to us at the end of the flight and comment at how well behaved the kids were!!!
They are kids, not tiny monsters, and a normal necessity of life (if we are to continue as a species) – we certainly shouldn’t have to be secluded on the plane.
Thanks – that’s it exactly, where did this idea come from that children are horrendous little beasts to be shut away or endured if they have to be allowed out?!
Yep, I entirely agree! I like to think some of them would have an epiphany in their child free area, realise THEY are the most annoying people on the plane, and ask to be reintegrated!
Thanks! And exactly – I’ve had far more annoying adults on flights than children…
Yes and bloody yes! You know how I feel about this… having had to put up with an absolute a**e recently on a 10-hour plane journey. I am seething at those comments you found… seriously?? I better stop before I rant too much – but I agree – child-free sections that are available to those particular individuals should be offered – it would at least give us families the chance to relax slightly when our children may act out… knowing a grumpy so and so had the opportunity not to sit nearby!
I was thinking about you while I wrote it…! And I was absolutely seething at some of the comments I saw online. Thank goodness for being able to let off steam in the blog.
Totally agree with this.I can switch off to the noise of kids (suppose it’s cos I’m a Mum).I’d much rather sit next to a crying baby or toddler than someone talking loudly on the phone about total drivel and that person who pulls on your chair when they get up drives the hell out of me!Had some real dirty looks the few times I’ve been on a plane with a child despite the fact he sat quietly with book the whole time.Knob off x #bestandworst
Definitely – the seat pullers are one of my pet hates, and they always seem to get up 10 times more than anyone else. It’s not that I love the sound of a crying baby, but I don’t think I’ve come across many parents ignoring them – I always feel more for the mums and dads trying to quieten them.
I just don’t understand why when children have been travelling forever, people are now getting peed off with them. I can’t even write a real response because it’s just ruddy ridiculous! #bestandworst
Very good point! It’s not as if children are a brand new invention, or people have only just decided to try travelling with them…
We don’t have kids yet (one on the way though), so we usually time our holidays to be during term time. It’s less expensive, and usually there aren’t many children or families on the flight. If you’re not travelling with children, it’s actually remarkably easy to avoid them, but if you must fly during the school holidays, you can’t really be surprised – just don’t travel during August!
That’s true – certainly while I’m not restricted by school holidays, I make the most of cheaper trips in term time. As you say, if you’re going to a family-friendly destination in August, you can’t be too surprised if there are lots of children travelling!
We were on a notably terrible flight with a 1yo and a 3yo years ago; delayed on the tarmac with the seatbelt sign on, wet trousers, 9pm arrival turned into 1am arrival, etc. Certain adults on the plane were so badly behaved that passengers sought us and the other family with children out to tell us how much nicer our children were than badly behaved Very Important Men.
Oh what a grim experience – that must have been really hard with two little ones, and definitely the kind where they could be forgiven for getting very very fed up. How brilliant that other passengers actually made the effort to tell you how well they’d behaved compared to adults who should really be able to cope with delays a lot better.
This is just superb, could not agree more!!! x
Thanks! 🙂
Well said!! What they need to think about too is that they were a child once!! People were fine with them moaning and crying/screaming tantrums!! xxx
Good point! Presumably they think they were impeccably behaved 24 hours a day… 😉
I think child free areas on planes are a great idea, if the airlines can make them work. Master ATWWAH is usually a good lad but Mini ATWWAH recently on a short flight back from Venice just screamed and screamed. He was approaching 12 months at the time and I tried to placate his screams with food, toys, cuddling, singing, lifting him up in the air, talking, begging…….it was awful. At that age you are pretty much at a loss as you can’t reason with them.
Our immediate fellow passengers hated us. There was a lady in front of us who reclined her chair on to us as soon as we set off, she had really long hair which she threw over the back of the seat so Mini ATWWAH wanted to play with it. A lady across from us kept turning around and glaring over at us from her e-reader and when he finally did go to sleep she just said something like ‘at last….that is why he was crying, he was tired’ as though I was some clueless idiot.
A couple came up to us at the baggage reclaim to meet the ‘little monster who kept everyone awake’ it was a midday flight!!!!
I appreciate nobody wants to hear a screaming baby on a flight but I did everything I could in terms of preparation to cater for his every whim to try to avoid it. Unfortunately babies can’t really be programmed to ‘behave’. Unlike the grown man with the e-reader lady who downed about six G&T’s on a 90 minute flight (I was counting as I wanted one!) and then proceeded to blow his nose a lot, inspect the contents of his tissue and then stick the tissue inside the meal tray which was folded up ready for the next passenger. Bleurgh.
I do agree that not everywhere needs to be kid friendly. I don’t believe every pub has to have highchairs and so on as there are enough family friendly pubs that not all of them need to cater for kids. But, on flights, I just think you have to suck it up. I don’t know any parent who takes their kid on a plane thinking ‘bring it on, irritate the hell out of every passenger please’ and I’m pretty sure most kids aren’t deliberately being pains in the arse. Although I hate with a passion the ones who kick the back of seats and are old enough to know better, or whose parents don’t bother telling them to stop it.
Rant over…..
Oh no, what a combination – why anyone would think it appropriate to go up to parents and call their baby a monster is astonishing! Especially after a draining flight… I swear some people think there’s a button you press to stop babies crying or a formula to follow and can’t imagine why parents don’t. I still remember one couple very fondly on a flight where my daughter waa overtired after we were delayed but too excited to sleep – she melted down just after takeoff and they tactfully ignored the whole thing as I frantically tried to get her to sleep. Frankly in that situation, that’s all I wanted!
Exactly. You would rather people ignore or give a sympathetic smile than pass comment.
Love this, we are also wildly excitable about planes. Good job being an expat and needing to go on a plane to see family. Not all plane journeys are about holidays. I had to laugh at one mum commenting she wouldn’t take her kids on a plane until they were 4. Give me a stationary baby any day!!!! X
Absolutely! I think the earlier you start, the easier it is as well – I’m not saying it’s commonplace for us to get on a plane, but it’s neither strange or scary for my daughter now, so she’s much more likely to behave.
This is such a good post. I agree with your points and to be honest we have been put off flying with our three years old for worrying of offending people. Perhaps I shouldn’t be so concerned. I do think that child free areas might be beneficial on planes however, would hopefully appease all sides of the triangle. Thanks for linking up a great link to the #bestandworst. X
Thank you! But that actually makes me really sad to read the thought has put you off. I should say I’ve had far far more helpful people offering their assistance when I’ve been on my own, people amusing my daughter, than complaining. My three-year-old and I will be back on a plane in a month or two regardless 🙂
Completely agree with this!!! On our flight back from Dubai we were stuck with a guy behind us who was absolutely drunk and who really disturbed everyone around him. He kept throwing up everywhere, made a huge racket, didn’t have his pants done right. It was pretty bad. Not one child made a fuss. I’d welcome child free zones too, put all the horrible adults in there!
Thanks! And argh, that’s a real nightmare flight…
Argh I agree. My three year old has been on lots of planes, short and long haul since we are now living in Dubai and he is brilliant. He is such a good boy, he would sit and watch films for the whole 7 hour flight from UK to Dubai no problem.
The most annoying people are those who recline their seat after two seconds, cough and sneeze all around you, and just get drunk.
I think travelling is so good for children! It’s educational and opens their minds to new experiences. It’s a few hours on a plane, train, whatever…. Some adults need to learn to be more patient and understanding.
Exactly – I think the more flights they do take, the better they are (common sense, right?). And even if it is a bad flight, who’s really going to let a couple of hours ruin a week away?! Time for some perspective…
We lived and worked overseas so travelled a lot on long haul flights with our 7 children. Never had any problems with them or other passengers, maybe because they got used to it from a very young age. They did need entertaining of course. Our dilemma was always whether to book a night flight, more peaceful for us as they would sleep, but then we wouldn’t and would then have a whole day to face us exhausted and the kids bright and bouncy.
My worst flight ever was from China with a plane load of adopted babies and their parents. The babies were fine, the parents not so much. They constantly walked around, talking in loud voices and even leaning across the back of our seats to shout across to each other.
I’m not an old grouch and certainly not a child hater, and can understand tgeir excitement, but itwas rather a nightmare for us as it was an overnight flight, we’d had a busy day, had a five hour drive in the UK so desperately wanted to getvsome sleep.
Needless to say we didn’t.
I think that’s part of it – everyone remembers the occasional terrible flight (and that sounds a long exhausting one) but then some decide that all children on all flights are always like that…
As a childless couple, I have to say I agree with you completely.
As you know, we like our Walt Disney World trips so our flights usually have an unusually high amount of children on them, even during term time. Plus it’s an 8-9 hour flight so it’s not like the potential to get a little stir crazy in there – and that’s just me, haha.
But really, we hardly ever see or hear any ‘problem kids’. I think I can remember once on a flight where the parents had obviously decided they’d started their holidays too and basically turned a deaf ear to their kids running riot up and down the aisle. But that was one time out of literally dozens of flights and is definitely the exception and not the rule.
Besides, it’s not like we weren’t all kids once ourselves after all…
I think a few comnenters forget that (or assume they were mini angels!) – but the nightmares are usually the exception, albeit a memorable one.
I was child free on a flight recently, and found myself crossing my fingers that the very small baby being carried on wasn’t coming to sit next to me. As it happens, it wasn’t, but then I also didn’t hear a peep out of it for the next four hours. I did hear the man chatting relentlessly to his friend across the aisle though. A four hour monologue (poor woman).
And in fact I’ve never been on a flight with truly difficult kids, and that includes mine, who are not known for their calm ability to sit still quietly. Admittedly we do not go more than about four hours at a time, and that only once or twice a year, but surely, statistically, the times when someone’s child is having an epic off day cannot be more than when they are not.
That’s it exactly – there’s always the occasional off day or off moment but the idea all children are turned into raging balls of terror as soon as they set foot on board is nonsensical.
So well said. I get so frustrated by things like this, for every reason that you’ve articulated so well. Yes, bring on the child free areas!
Thank you! It is hugely frustrating, I think…
Such great comments here. I think sometimes it’s easy to forget that we ourselves were all children once — messy, emotional, hungry, tired, happy, crying, laughing, little learning machines. Although I’d say for every person on a flight that looks miffed when my daughter cried as my husband and I walked her up and down the aisle, tried to distract with toys, etc, there were 2 or more shooting us sympathetic looks, and even a few older ladies offering to hold the baby for a spell so we could go to the loo or “take a break”.
It took me a while to learn it but aeroplanes are not a personal leisure space but a group experience that we can all do our part to make a little better.
Thanks for writing about it!
Thanks! Absolutely, it’s all a lot easier if we can be a bit more tolerant towards everyone else on the plane, whatever size they might happen to be.
Your daughter is adorable. I think people who cant tolerate a baby or toddler crying for any length, are inhumane and cold. People who dont like children,Im specifically talking about the ones under the age of 10; are cruel people. Children are wonderful. Yes there are some annoying bratty ones,but thats usually the parents’ fault.
I have no kids,but Im from a big family, and Ive watched siblings/relatives for years. I agree with the premise of this article. Crying children on planes dont bother me.
Thanks! And absolutely, no-one enjoys the sound of a baby crying (well, I hope not) but the idea children are second class citizens always annoys me.
Couldn’t agree with you more. My older two at least adore being on the plane with endless movies and food bought to them in their seat – what kid wouldn’t! They don’t need the evil stares of ignorant adults, the a#%^ who won’t switch off his reading light when the cabin is dimmed, while they then proceed to recline their seat into them and snore, nor the person flossing their teeth in the bathroom for 15 minutes while they’re busting for a wee. Nope ship those nasty adults elsewhere so my quiet well behaved (99.9% of the time) little jet setters can enjoy their flight in peace.
Exactly this!
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Old post, I know, but when I saw the title I had to click on it. I was a little surprised to be honest, but the message reflects my thinking perfectly. Honestly, people who complain about “misbeaving” kids (or those who might misbehave in the future) are so out of touch with reality!
Thank you! And absolutely, the people who decide in advance that kids are going to be a trial are far more annoying than half the children on any plane!
Couldn’t agree more with what has been said in this article. Very helpful!
Thanks!
Hmm. On one level, I’m totally OK with kids being kids. Let ’em run and play and wear themselves out. I’d expect to find lots of laughing, screaming kids at a park, and if I couldn’t handle that, that’s on me. A park is a natural place for kids to be kids.
An airplane is a place where *everyone* needs to be on their best behavior because space is tight. We give the adults a hard time or a look of death for any number of reasons… We’re childless by choice, and as such, yes, I would pay extra to sit in a child-free zone… That still doesn’t excuse the adults, but it does make an already stressful situation a bit less stressful.
I think that’s fair – I’m not suggesting that kids should be able to run around planes and scream any more than I think adults should be able to act inconsiderately on a plane. But there are some people who seem to work on the principle that a plane is no place for children, full stop, and have prejudged all families before they’ve boarded – or do make a stressful situation more stressful – and frankly I’d prefer them elsewhere.