Babies not welcome?
If you been reading this blog, you know that the issue of flying with kids is a topic close to my heart. So I wasn’t too impressed to read about the results of a recent survey which said that 81% of Australian travellers thought that babies and children shouldn’t be allowed to travel with other passengers. The overwhelming majority of the 2500 people surveyed thought there should be a separate section on planes for parents and children to sit.
I have to say, I’m a bit surprised that the percentage is so high. Surely a fair number of those surveyed are parents themselves. If they voted for a separate section on planes, I wonder if they really thought it through. Just think about it! Let’s say we designate 20 seats on each plane for families with children. What happens when those seats are filled? This sort of segregation would make flying with kids really difficult. Imagine trying to book a flight for school holidays? It would be impossible. Prices would probably go up and a lot of families would stop travelling. Maybe’s that’s OK if you just decide not to go on the family holiday to Bali, but what of people like us? There’s plenty of families out there like us who have to travel to see their families.
I know that some people feel quite strongly about the “nuisance” of crying babies and annoying children disturbing their peace on a long flight. I also know that I feel terribly guilty and worried when my kids are loud on flights - I do everything I possibly can to calm them down and keep them quiet. But do people actually think that they should be able to exclude kids from their section of the plane? And its not like kids are the only possible “nuisance” on the plane. Where does it end? Do we exclude people who get airsick as well? People like the Wally we sat next to on the Sydney-LA leg last time who put his headphones on and sang at the top of his voice? What about the person with a bladder the size of a pea who has to get up to go to the toilet every 30 minutes?
My view is that when people put themselves out there in a public place, whether its on a plane, in a shopping centre or at the bank, they accept they are going to have to mingle with other people, some of who might possibly have some annoying habits. That’s part of living in society and just something we all have to deal with, unless you want to live under a rock.
Then, of course, there’s the question of whether kids should be allowed in Business and First class. Naomi Watts recently commented on a US talkshow that when she flew First Class from LA to Sydney with her seven month old son people “literally stood out of their seats and gave me glaring eyes” when he cried for 40 minutes. Interestingly the headline of that report was “Naomi Watts in plane breastfeeding row”, but it seems the row was more about First Class passengers making her feel unwelcome because her child was crying. The issue of breastfeeding in public (particularly on planes) is a rant I’ve already had - I won’t make you sit through that again!
I must admit when we have flown Business Class, I do feel a bit guilty if the kids cry or make lots of noise and I worry that people will get pissed off because they have paid a lot of money for their tickets. I think part of the reason I feel guilty is that the only reason we are in Business Class is because the company is paying. Thankfully, we’ve never had any fellow passengers get (obviously) annoyed at us and there has often been other kids in the same section. I have found on the whole people are very accommodating and understanding about how difficult it can be to travel with kids.
The reality is that separate sections on planes and restrictions on where children can travel are not that likely to happen, but still the thought of people being so intolerant as to try to herd all the families into their own “kiddie-class” is a bit disconcerting.
Here end my rant for the day. 
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Wow I find it really hard to believe that so many people feel that way about those travelling with children….I also seem to be getting on a plane every couple of months and I have never had a problem with kids on planes….and if you do well then that is what ear plugs or headphones are for!!!
I feel really sorry for mothers that are traveling alone with their babies or toddlers…I often offer to hold the child if I am close by because holding a baby for a long haul flight must get pretty tiring! On my most recent flight home a child close by saw me writing in my journal…he was Japanese and I pulled out a piece of paper and gave him a couple of pens…..His dad was so grateful (the mother was holding a baby so the dad was looking after the little boy) it kept the boy busy for close to an hour. He showed me everything he drew and I taught him to write his name in English letters…
I think I would be similar to you if I had children….I found your flying with children posts really great too and have marked them for future reference when it comes time for me to start flying with my own kids!!!! I hope you never have some idiot that complains about you travelling with your children……parents and children have the same rights to fly as anyone else!
Happy Easter to you also!!! Not much of a celebration here unfortunately! I forgot it was good friday yesterday also and ate meat…..The first time in forever I think! I guess Catholic guilt never lets up!
Lulu’s last blog post..Hooping adventures…
But don’t you realise that those who voted the kids out of “their” section of the plane either
A. don’t have kids
or
B. have the world’s worst ankle biters and want a bit of peace for themselves
Jayne’s last blog post..Trivial History March 22
I’m surprise the percentage is so high.
I also can’t believe a lot of people feel like that. If people wanted peace and quiet, wouldn’t they spare themselves the chaos with going out in public? There is actually a certain level of discomfort that you should expect when you travel - especially with planes, and riding in coach. Maybe these people should buy their own plane.
ApplesH’s last blog post..E-commerce in the Philippines
Lulu - I hope I get someone like you sitting next to me on the plane next time I fly with the kids!!! If only all airline passengers could be as understanding and helpful! (How do you fancy flying from LA to Sydney with me??!!
) I’m glad you found the tips useful - you’ll probably have quite a lot of travel between Japan and Australia in your future.
Jayne - you’re right - maybe there are some parents hoping they can chuck their kids in the kiddies section and stay in the adult sections themselves!!
Baby Boy & ApplesH - Welcome and thanks for visiting! I was surprised too at how high the percentages were. I agree, ApplesH - some people obviously just don’t want to deal with anyone else’s issues. Maybe they should have an adults only class that they pay more for?
I remember before having a child, I didn’t much relish the idea of having to share the plane with small children - especially on those never ending flights to India from the US, before the days of direct flights. I always assumed that Indian parents could not control their kids, b/c they would be screaming, running up and down the aisles and kicking the back of my seat. After having a child (and flying to India with her, as well as a number of other places, all I can say is . . . what a jerk I was in my thinking! So I agree, that most of those surveyed probably don’t have children, or don’t recall flying with them, and if they are that bothered by children, they probably ought to charter a private flight or stay home.
By the way, don’t feel bad about traveling in business class with the kids just b/c the company paid for your seats - most people in business class are there b/c the company paid for their seats (or due to mileage).
Rupal’s last blog post..Misconceptions
I was outraged with this article and comment as well, feel free to search my blog for my rant on this topic.
James’s last blog post..Ideas for bored kids on Holidays
Hmm …phooey! I´m more of the mind that people travelling with young children should be assigned a travel-mentor, –a person picked randomly from the computer to help entertain, field a tantrum, hold a drink or food tray and change at least one poopy diaper in an impossible amount of space. Maybe they could get a few free sky miles or something or just some good karma points! It would be kind of cool and then just maybe the rest of the world would be a little more sympathetic to what it´s like juggling two kids on your lap for ten hours straight.
(I say “on your lap” because you know full well that even if they have their own seat they won´t stay sitting in it much if they are under the age of five!)
misschris’s last blog post..Home is nice
Thanks for visiting James.
Great idea, Misschris! they could offer discount fares for people prepared to hold the baby while you go to the toilet - you know what its like trying to go in one of those little cubicles while wrestling a baby or toddler!!
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