Growing call for child-free flying options sparks fierce debate

Call for airlines to offer child free flights. Photo / 123RF

No one wants to sit next to a crying baby on a plane — even the parents hate it — but unfortunately it is not something you can control.

There is no box to tick when you book your tickets to ensure you will be seated far away from screaming children — it is all just luck of the draw.

And, as undesirable as the situation might be, many sympathise with the parents because kids cry and there is nothing anyone can do about it.

However, a recent viral video of a child throwing a dramatic, non-stop tantrum on an eight-hour flight has a growing number of people calling for child-free zones to be available on planes, news.com.au reports.

Are child-free flights a first class idea? Parents dread their kids playing up and getting the evil eye, while non-parents might do anything to avoid being sat near a brat. So one airline's offering cabins with families at one end and the children-free at the other. Thoughts?

— Jeremy Vine On 5 (@JeremyVineOn5) February 8, 2018

A 2017 survey conducted by air travel site Airfarewatchdog found that just over half of respondents believed that children should be seated in separate sections on planes so as not to disturb the other passengers.

The research found that the majority of people thought there should be a designated section on flights where families with children under 10 should have to sit.

Airlines should designate a handful of flights along long-haul routes to be child-free. I would be more willing to pay $50 extra for no kids on the plane than for 2 more inches of legroom. https://t.co/ixfukbLR8I

— Mask up! (Fava Bean) (@Fava) February 16, 2018

Other people said they would be willing to pay more for a ticket in order to sit in a child-free area.

"Some believe there should be a separate aeroplane cabin for those travelling without children but I will do you one better — there should be an entire AIRLINE that guarantees child-free travel," one Twitter user said.

Another person added: "There are child-free hotels, why not child-free flights?"

But there are other people who disagree with imposing certain sections for children on flights, saying it would be an unfair disadvantage to families.

@itvthismorning Why don't we just ban babies everywhere!? Where will it end, child free flights now child free cafes it's ridiculous! Babies cry, people need to get over it!

— Katie (@KatieTS1995) February 13, 2018

"Children and their parents have just as much right to travel without restriction. If you generalise all children as brats then you have problems. This is unfortunate," a Twitter user wrote.

There are several airlines that have already responded to this increasing call for childless flights, with Indian airline IndiGo introducing "child-free zones" to some of its flights.

But international airlines have yet to cash in on the growing demand for kid-free travel options, with Tracey Stewart from Airfarewatchdog attributing the outrage it would cause as the main deterrent.

"It's probably hard for parents to be super objective for this stuff. Whenever this comes up, people get so upset about it," she told Business Insider.

"It would be great if an American carrier would give it a shot, but I would be surprised if anyone takes it on."