Airline passenger news and views

I think this could instigate a huge argument. Children have rights too, what are you supposed to do, stick a gobstopper in the mouth for the duration of the flight? They have as much right to be in Business and First Class as adults have!

I don't see an argument - if you have kids you can't get on a quiet flight, just take an ordinary flight instead. You wouldn't make a noisy phone call in a quiet train carriage would you? Oh wait, yes you would wouldn't you.

I'm concerned about the character of people who don't like children.

As a latecomer to parenthood I was a lone business traveller for many years passenger and have to say that I was very frustrated if I was sat next to a crying baby/child. However obviously now I have a child of my own my views are very different. I expect that most customers that would find child-free zones perfect are the ones without children, and generally selfish adults!

What is this world coming too? I can't believe that the society we live in cannot tolerate children. Maybe all women should be sterilised at birth.

In theory this all sounds like quite a sensible plan, but at what lengths are travel companies prepared to go to in order to please business travellers! I am a single parent and travelling to see my family abroad is a nightmare, my children are generally well behaved but obviously they have their moments. How do you think I as a parent feel when I get toffee nosed business travellers looking down on me because my child may dare to speak?

With two children of my own and adorable as they are there is no worse than the sound a child or baby crying. For a parent it is heart breaking and embarrassing but for almost anyone else it is very difficult to bare. It is apparently one of the few noises our bodies are programmed not to tune out. However that said you start barring children from certain flights the silliness will only follow. The best the airlines can do is supply a good pair of earplugs!

I agree with Sandra, it can be embarrassing as a parent to have to deal with the disapproving looks from others, but where do you draw the line? Maybe there should be adult only flights, but as long as it does not affect the amount of flights available to us long suffering parents!!!

The person behind this idea must surely be a male who has no children and no young relatives or if he does then obviously has never experienced travelling abroad with them!

I think it is just luck of the draw, sometimes you will get a perfect flight with plenty of kids on and get a good nights sleep and others you could be squished next to a child screaming the whole 9 hours! I understand the anguish but I think it is just one of those things you complain about but deal with.

I reckon it is a good idea for business flights to key destinations (eg New York) but it is bound to cause resentment.
Before I retired, I used to use the London to New York and then return on the red eye. A few times, I used Concorde and always on business. Children would have been (and I suppose were) a pain on those flights but I guess you just take it as it comes.
I cannot see much expansion in business travel. We were just starting to make increasing use of video conferencing when I left and I expect that will continue to grow. It is always interesting to watch two teams of corporate lawyers at different ends of a video conference.

Business is business but life is life and children have rights. As a parent I find this sort of discussion so frustrating, it is not easy travelling with children and I already have to put up with disapproving looks from stuck up business travellers if my child so much as sneezes, get a life you pompous people.

I am a business traveller and I think a child free flight would be heaven. I pay to travel business class and expect a high level of service; do I want noisy children distracting me when I am working on board? Simple answer NO!

I too like this idea of a child free environment. As a business traveller too there is nothing more distracting, and it is a time when I can really knuckle down and get some real work done.

I find it distressing to read some of the comments regarding this article. I can understand that business class is generally for business travellers however saying that children may not be allowed on some flights is surely discrimination.

I can see both arguments, but surely if you pay to travel business class then you are a business traveller, therefore I would not expect children to be travelling. On the other hand reading some of the above, I find it totally unacceptable that children seem to be receiving such negative comments. Lets remember we were all children once, even you pompous arrogant business travellers.

Being a regular business traveller I have to say that a child free flight would be perfect. Travelling is a major part of my life and this time has to be utilised working therefore I do not want the disruption of children around me.

Hello,
I have hyperacusis and cannot tolerate the noise of boarding or unboarding an airplane unless it is via an air bridge.
I have spoken to airlines and airplain operators but have yet to find a way to gaurantee an aibridge for arrival and departure for outward and return flights.
Is there a way I can do this?
Thankyou