Any parent will tell you that even the cutest kid can suddenly turn into a roaring, crying monster, for the most random of reasons. Pity, then, those parents who have to fly regularly with their children. And pity more, perhaps, the passengers who have to sit on a plane for hours listening to a crying child.
Now Indian budget carrier IndiGo has debuted “quiet zones”, from which children under 12 are barred. While such zones already informally exist in business class on many airlines – few parents can afford four or more expensive seats, after all – this will apply to those who may not want to spend that much.
We wonder how welcome such options will be. Children crying is often cited as a major issue for passengers. That said, once children have been banned from rows, the door may be open to banning other “irregular” passengers, such as those who are overweight. The principle of treating all customers the same may be diluted. We ask our readers: would you pay for a child-free flight?
