What do you think about this?
Should babies – or kids – be allowed to fly first class?


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/the-hot-button/airline-bans-babies-from-first-class-cabins/article2079483/

Quote :

Airline bans babies from first-class cabins
Adriana Barton
Globe and Mail Blog
Posted on Tuesday, June 28, 2011 8:41PM EDT


For first-class passengers aboard Malaysia Airlines, squalling babies are a thing of the past.

The airline has booted babies from the deluxe cabins of its Boeing 747-400 aircraft because of complaints from jet-setters who don’t get enough shut-eye, Australian Business Traveller reports.

The policy will be extended to the airline’s six Airbus A380 jets due for arrival in June, 2012. Malaysia Airlines CEO Tengku Azmil defended the ban on Twitter, saying he’s heard from too many first-class passengers who “can’t sleep due to crying infants.”

Like the airline’s 747-400s, the A380 jets will make long-haul flights between Kuala Lumpur and Sydney, London and Amsterdam.

Travellers with babies less than 2 years old will be sent to the back of the Airbus, either in business-class cabins equipped with bassinets or economy seats (where sleep-fighting infants get to scream on their parents’ laps).

Currently at MalaysiaAirlines.com, a first-class one-way ticket from Kuala Lumpur to London costs about $5,000.

Online reports suggest the baby ban is the first of its kind for air travel. But if airlines start paying heed to their wealthiest customers, child-free flights may take off.

In a poll released earlier this year, about 75 percent of business travellers in the United Kingdom identified children as the most annoying thing about flying first class.

Travel specialists have urged airlines such as Virgin Atlantic and British Airways to offer kid-free flights, the Daily Mail reported in February. Former Virgin Atlantic director Paul Charles nixed the idea, telling the Daily Mail, “Once you did, would you start banning other types of traveller? It would be a mistake.”

But so far, Malaysia Airlines shows no signs of regret.

I don't know what the STC rating is for that curtain that separates first class from the cattle in the back of the plane but I don't have a problem with kid-free zones. As with any private company that deals with the public, it's their bottom line will tell. Are they losing business or are more people buying first class tickets?

That is amazing, but I think the age should be upped to eight.

Toddlers tend to be the worst.

I heard about that the other day. I think its a good thing, nothing worse than having a screaming child on a 5 or 6 hour flight. The infant can't help it, if its screaming it must be in some kind of discomfort but its still annoying to other people.

Yeah - i think the age should be higher, too! Maybe set it at 4 or 5 at the very youngest? I've been on planes with screaming infants and by the end of the trip, you're exhausted. I feel for the moms and the babies, but having a baby screaming for most of the flight?

Also, I've had to sit in front of kids who keep kicking or bumping the seat and that gets annoying pretty fast. 8 might be a better age to set it at!

In a way, I can dig it. If I'm paying all that money for first class, I don't want to hear any whiny ass baby disrupting my flight.

I agree with it too. First class tickest are so expensive. A crying child should not interrupt the expected comfort in that section of the plane.

ITA with it. All airlines should make babies & kids under 10 fly coach.

I'm all for this - and I'm a father of 3 kids 10 and under. Airlines have every right to allow passengers who pay more for their seats to have some peace and quiet. Goodness knows that if I were lucky enough to sit up there, I'd want no kids around me.

What about other types of annoying people? What about people with body odor or that wear too much cologne, or who chatter constantly or too loudly? Should they be banned from first class, too?

I think people look for all sorts of ways to make children into second class citizens in this country. I dunno...I've flown quite a bit in my life and I certainly have never heard a baby crying for the entire flight.

2xy wrote:

What about other types of annoying people? What about people with body odor or that wear too much cologne, or who chatter constantly or too loudly? Should they be banned from first class, too?

I think people look for all sorts of ways to make children into second class citizens in this country. I dunno...I've flown quite a bit in my life and I certainly have never heard a baby crying for the entire flight.

I assume you're talking about adults, who can be reasoned with and adjust their behavior? Chances are an agitated toddler won't comply with the flight attendant asking them to quiet down. If someone paid over a thousand dollars to fly first class and be comfortable, they shouldn't have to listen to a screaming baby or the incessant chatter of a hyperactive little kid, who won't stop kicking the back of their seat.

Maybe I've been working with the public for far too long, but I've met PLENTY of adults who cannot be reasoned with and/or refuse to change their behavior.

Barring physical pain or illness, most small children will quiet down when their needs are met.

I might add that a parent traveling with a 3yo in first class ALSO paid a lot of money in order to fly comfortably. Why does someone else's comfort take priority?