KIDS ON PLANES
Kids on planes - Luxury Travel Magazine
Kids on planes |
| By: Antonia Maiolo |
| Date: 12 August 2011 |
| Being trapped in a metal tube in the sky with an out of control child who might be running up and down the aisle, kicking your seat from behind, crying, screaming or yelling is not an infrequent occurrence for airline passengers. And when that child is not your own, it can be a struggle to manage murderous impulses. Starting from October this year Ryanair, a Dublin-based budget airline, will offer child-free flights. In a press release the airline said it made the decision “after a Europe-wide survey of 1,000 passengers showed half would pay higher fares to avoid other people’s children.” And with the growing prevalence of the flat bed, first and business class passengers paying for the pleasure of sleeping through at least some of the flight, can be denied that opportunity by an unruly child or crying baby which is why earlier this year Malaysia Airlines banned infants from first class on its Boeing 747s and A380s. The move affected flights from Kuala Lumpur to London, Amsterdam and Sydney. According to the airline, the “baby ban” was introduced as a result of many complaints from passengers that screaming babies made it impossible to sleep. Babies are now only allowed in business and economy class, accompanied by their parents. It’s not only other people’s kids travellers want to avoid on the plane, according to a survey of 1,000 British parents. Its also their own. The study conducted by Gatwick Airport in London found that children misbehaving or crying on the plane is actually most distressing for their own parents, with 62 per cent admitting this is the part of travelling they fear above all. Gulf Air might have found the magic answer when it launched a free service dedicated to young travellers; the Sky Nanny. Usually two Sky Nannies per flight operate across first, business and economy classes. More are assigned to flights carrying more than the average number of children. Sky Nannies assist parents with boarding and disembarkation. They arrange convenient dining times for children so that parents can eat their own meals in peace. And, according to the airline, from the moment of boarding until the end of the journey the Sky Nannies ensure kids are kept occupied and quiet. The service benefits parents, fellow passengers and the children themselves. Despite the succuss of the Sky Nannies, in operation since their launch in 2003, no other airline has announced a similar program. Sophia Connelly, a spokesperson for Qantas said: “Qantas allows children of all ages to access all areas of the plane including first class and business.” As for parental surpervision of potentially unruly children the Qantas policy states that parents of children over 11 can choose to travel in first or business whilst their children are seated in economy. If the child is between two and 11 and not seated with their parent or guardian, an unaccompanied minor form needs to be filled out before the flight takes off. At this stage Qantas has no plans to ban or exclude children from any of its flights or cabins. |