While enduring the company of a crying baby during a flight isn’t an enjoyable experience for most, the idea of prohibiting children from a section of the plane has divided opinions.
One user on X (formerly Twitter) expressed their view, calling the decision ‘strange’ and ‘unfortunate’. However, another disagreed, stating that they would be willing to ‘pay extra to be on a child-free flight’.
The tweet that initiated this online debate stated: ‘So apparently airlines are considering creating “child-free zones” on planes, and I can’t decide if this is a dystopian shift or not, but in general, it’s really disheartening to see how little patience people have for children and babies, even going as far as to suggest they shouldn’t be in public.’
This tweet reached over 17,400 people, prompting more than 120 users to share their thoughts.
One individual said, ‘I’ve noticed people seem more irritated with kids in public than I’ve ever seen before. Normally, when people encounter little kids and babies, they smile or react warmly, but that seems to be gradually changing. It’s peculiar and disheartening.’
Others said, ‘I won’t endure a crying baby next to me on a four-hour flight’ and ‘It’s a great concept. I also support having separate zones for those who need more space on airplanes.’
This debate follows an announcement by airline Corendon about their plans to introduce an ‘Only Adult’ section where children are not permitted.
This feature will be offered on Corendon’s A350 flights between Amsterdam and the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao, beginning on November 3 of this year, just a few weeks away.
The dedicated zone will occupy the front portion of the aircraft and include nine ‘XL’ seats featuring extra legroom and 93 standard seats, according to Corendon.
The airline clarified that this section will be physically separated from the rest of the plane using walls and curtains to ‘create a secluded space that promotes a calm and relaxed flight.’
Reserving a seat in the adult-only section is restricted to those aged 16 and over, with a fee of 45 euros (£38/$48) for standard seating and 100 euros (£85/$107) for the XL seats.
Some individuals are concerned that similar concepts could extend to other aspects of life – one user on X (formerly Twitter) mentioned: ‘I’ve literally seen apartments that outright state they do not accept tenants with children. It’s upsetting.’
One individual attributes loud children to parenting practices, noting, ‘I think changes in parenting drive some of it. Like when I was a teen, many kids seemed pretty well-behaved. But I see increasingly more young kids that are incredibly rambunctious and loud, and the parents sit there scrolling on their phones.’
Another concerned mother fears that such policies might discourage people from having children: ‘Having kids is already an isolating experience. Before I had kids, I never cared about other kids in restaurants or on airplanes. But if they want people to reproduce, isolation for moms is not a good look.’
A different user responds indignantly, saying, ‘Excuse some of us for not being delighted to hear other people’s crotch goblins shriek at the top of their lungs in a confined space. Instead of bemoaning how people react to children’s poor behavior, focus on teaching your kids how to behave in public.’
Another traveler adds, ‘Last time I was on a plane, I thought, “I would pay more money to be on a plane without children.” Almost every time I fly, which isn’t much at all, there’s a child crying the whole time.’
As for those still undecided on the debate, one user comments, ‘I am on both sides on this one… If you have been on a plane with a toddler that the parents haven’t prepped ear equalizing items for them, you might understand.’
Someone else dismisses the idea as ‘nonsensical,’ pointing out that ‘if a baby is crying right next to the child-free zone, he/she will still be noisy enough for everyone to hear,’ and suggests having an alcohol-free zone instead.
Dutch carrier Corendon offers some insight into the reasoning behind the adults-only zone, explaining, ‘This zone in the aircraft is intended for passengers traveling without children and for business travelers who want to work in a quiet environment. At the same time, the introduction of the Only Adult zone also has a positive effect for parents with children. They don’t have to worry as much about possible reactions from fellow passengers if their child is a bit busier or cries.’
Atilay Uslu, founder of Corendon, adds, ‘On board our flights, we always strive to respond to the different needs of our customers. We are also the first Dutch airline to introduce the Only Adult zone because we cater to travelers looking for extra peace of mind during their flight. We also believe this can positively affect parents traveling with small children. They can enjoy the flight without worrying if their children make more noise.’