Child-free flights: discrimination or something worse?

MrCreosote · 11-02-2013 10:57AM #1

So a few Asian airlines are bringing in child-free areas on planes, (and possibly pushing for child-free flights)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2274854/Peace-Air-Asia-rolls-child-free-zones-stop-screaming-infants-ruining-travellers-flights.html?ito=feeds-newsxml#axzz2Ka1JR8Qn

Is this another example of the worsening discrimination for society towards children and their parents?

Utter disgrace, if you ask me.

summerskin · 11-02-2013 10:59AM

As a parent I'm outraged! This should have been done years ago!

seriously, a great idea.

kneemos · 11-02-2013 10:59AM

Great when they're yours otherwise just annoying.

11-02-2013 10:59AM

The first seven rows in the economy cabin are off-limits to children under 12 on flights from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia to Australia, China, Japan and some other destinations.

First 7 rows, oh no

He added: ‘The airline is not banning kids from travelling, but instead, is enhancing the array of product offerings on board to suit its guests’ individual needs and preferences.’

^ That's exactly what they are doing, advertising more products. You pay extra to get the quiet spaces.
No discrimination

MurdyWurdy · 11-02-2013 11:00AM

I have a child on the way and will need to take a long-haul flight with said child this time next year to visit family. I'm already dreading it. I've had many a flight sitting near a screaming child almost crying with tiredness and wanting sleep, and yes I know the parents/child can't always help it.

I think child-free spaces on airlines is a great idea. I'd be more comfortable having a crying baby on a plane if I knew that people had had the option to go in a child-free areas. I'd feel much less guilty.

MrCreosote · 11-02-2013 11:01AM

They can dress it up any way they want- banning kids from an area is discrimination pure and simple

11-02-2013 11:01AM

MrCreosote wrote: »

They can dress it up any way they want- banning kids from an area is discrimination pure and simple

Are you going to sue all the nightclubs so? Good luck with that

Annasopra · 11-02-2013 11:01AM

I'm actually outraged...

that people are calling a minor thing like this discrimination

Sofiztikated · 11-02-2013 11:02AM

I'm staying away from this one. Work away, MrCreosote.

MrCreosote · 11-02-2013 11:06AM

There's already few enough spaces set aside for infants, without them being reduced still further.

You pay to be flown halfway around the world- halfway around the frikkin world!- and people complain about petty little things like a little noise.

Ban pissheads, they're the real danger in the air.

johnr1 · 11-02-2013 11:06AM

If you want to whine about discrimination, then find an area where it actually exists OP.

This is a great idea.

shruikan2553 · 11-02-2013 11:10AM

They can still fly its just some people don't want to sit near your bored child. Your child may not be the special little angel you think it is and could be an annoying brat. But I suppose kids will be kids and I don't understand because I don't have any.
This will probably come down to an argument between parents who can't understand why maybe other people don't want to be around their children and everyone else.

Angron · 11-02-2013 11:10AM

Well it's not like they are putting the kids in a cage for the duration of the flight (as appealing as that may seem at times).

tritium · 11-02-2013 11:11AM

johnr1 wrote: »

If you want to whine about discrimination, then find an area where it actually exists OP.

This is a great idea.

Agreed. What about the airlines that won't allow male passengers to sit beside a child - you know, because he might be oneof them paedo thingies. Now theres blatant discrimination. This on the other hand is pretty sensible, and I say that as a parent

Gee_G · 11-02-2013 11:11AM

I think it would be discrimination IF they don't allow kids on certain flights,but just not letting them in a certain few rows?What about it!

ScumLord · 11-02-2013 11:15AM

MrCreosote wrote: »

Is this another example of the worsening discrimination for society towards children and their parents?

No. Not even remotely close.

11-02-2013 11:16AM

OP - what's the "something worse"?

hoodwinked · 11-02-2013 11:16AM

You know societies turned their head and ignored it when groups of human beings were forced to sit at the back of buses, now here we are in 2013 and its children being forced to the back rows of aeroplanes...

you'd think people would learn to treat all humans equally....

MrCreosote · 11-02-2013 11:17AM

tritium wrote: »

Agreed. What about the airlines that won't allow male passengers to sit beside a child - you know, because he might be oneof them paedo thingies. Now theres blatant discrimination. This on the other hand is pretty sensible, and I say that as a parent

It's not like the man is bumped off the flight, or made to pay extra.
By reducing the number of seats available to parents, they are making it less likely they'll get on a flight- that will increase the (already high) cost for them

Gee_G wrote: »

I think it would be discrimination IF they don't allow kids on certain flights,but just not letting them in a certain few rows?What about it!

This is the thin edge of the wedge. Child-free flights are next, Ryanair have already been looking to bring them in.

11-02-2013 11:18AM

Deleted User wrote: »

OP - what's the "something worse"?

"Really unfair and mean omg"

IceFjoem · 11-02-2013 11:20AM

MrCreosote wrote: »

There's already few enough spaces set aside for infants, without them being reduced still further.

You pay to be flown halfway around the world- halfway around the frikkin world!- and people complain about petty little things like a little noise.

Ban pissheads, they're the real danger in the air.

What a ridiculous opinion. It's about providing a quiet(er) space on the aircraft where travelers can get some rest without the inconvenience of listening to screaming infants.

A 'petty thing like noise' is the difference between arriving at your destination exhausted or well rested, especially on long haul flights.

Your comment about pissheads is equally ridiculous. First of all, loud, drunken behavior is already disallowed. Secondly, nobody is suggesting that the noise of infants is in any way dangerous. It's merely a convenience the airline is providing, similar to the old no-smoking zones.

ejmaztec · 11-02-2013 11:21AM

Deleted User wrote: »

OP - what's the "something worse"?

Allowing the kids to fly the planes.

MrCreosote · 11-02-2013 11:21AM

Deleted User wrote: »

OP - what's the "something worse"?

Increased prices for families would be one thing.

bluewolf wrote: »

"Really unfair and mean omg"

Totes!

MrCreosote · 11-02-2013 11:23AM

IceFjoem wrote: »

What a ridiculous opinion. It's about providing a quiet(er) space on the aircraft where travelers can get some rest without the inconvenience of listening to screaming infants.

A 'petty thing like noise' is the difference between arriving at your destination exhausted or well rested, especially on long haul flights.

Your comment about pissheads is equally ridiculous. First of all, loud, drunken behavior is already disallowed. Secondly, nobody is suggesting that the noise of infants is in any way dangerous. It's merely a convenience the airline is providing, similar to the old no-smoking zones.

You're never going to be well-rested after a long-haul flight. It baffles me why people expect to be, and then get annoyed when they aren't

Drunken behaviour is both disallowed, and encouraged by hosing booze down every red-faced moustachioed businessman's open maw...

flanders1979 · 11-02-2013 11:23AM

If some parents could control their children it wouldn't have to come to this.

Gee_G · 11-02-2013 11:23AM

MrCreosote wrote: »

It's not like the man is bumped off the flight, or made to pay extra.
By reducing the number of seats available to parents, they are making it less likely they'll get on a flight- that will increase the (already high) cost for them

This is the thin edge of the wedge. Child-free flights are next, Ryanair have already been looking to bring them in.

Well to be hoNest I would not mind child free flights as long as the same service and same quality of service/flight(flight times, food,etc) was offered on both the child free flights and the one with kids

irelandrover · 11-02-2013 11:26AM

MrCreosote wrote: »

You're never going to be well-rested after a long-haul flight. It baffles me why people expect to be, and then get annoyed when they aren't

Drunken behaviour is both disallowed, and encouraged by hosing booze down every red-faced moustachioed businessman's open maw...

I've been well rested after long haul flights. Just because you can't sleep well on a plane doesn't mean everyone can't.

I've also been sat beside screaming babies for long haul flights. I would happily have paid money to move away from the screaming baby and in future would happily pay to ensure I wasn't sat beside a child.

Carlos Orange · 11-02-2013 11:27AM

hoodwinked wrote: »

You know societies turned their head and ignored it when groups of human beings were forced to sit at the back of buses, now here we are in 2013 and its children being forced to the back rows of aeroplanes...

you'd think people would learn to treat all humans equally....

If adults behaved the way some kids do on planes they would be greeted by a pair of handcuffs when they landed.

Sergeant · 11-02-2013 11:28AM

Other peoples children are dreadful creatures. Crying and kicking the back of the seat. I'd be in favour of put them in the cargo hold if it was allowed.

WinterSong · 11-02-2013 11:29AM

So parents can still travel with their children, and people who would prefer to be seated away from children can chose to pay more money to the airline for the privilege.
Really struggling to see any problem here at all...

hoodwinked · 11-02-2013 11:30AM

psinno wrote: »

If adults behaved the way some kids do on planes they would be greeted by a pair of handcuffs when they landed.

Sergeant wrote: »

Other peoples children are dreadful creatures. Crying and kicking the back of the seat. I'd be in favour of put them in the cargo hold if it was allowed.

stop assuming all children behave like that, we fly with our 3 year old and she has never once cried/screamed or interfered with other passengers...

Child-free flights: discrimination or something worse?

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