Are New Rules for Flying Kids on the Horizon?

The price-comparison website Skyscanner surveyed travelers this week as to their feelings about traveling alongside other people’s children. Nearly 60% of the 2,000 respondents recommended that airlines institute “families only” sections on flights, giving other travelers the chance to enjoy the peace and quiet of a child-free atmosphere. Nearly 20% supported the prospect of entirely child-free flights.Sitting in the vicinity of any child – other than your own – has long been a pet peeve of flyers. But recent incidents have brought the issue to the fore. In July, Quantas settled a lawsuit with a passenger who claimed to have suffered hearing loss due to the screaming three-year-old seated next to her on the long trip from New York to Australia. AirTran took an entire family off a Florida flight in January because of the problematic behavior of their toddler.Families with children might also benefit, as a family-only section would decrease the stress parents feel to keep their kids quiet at all times; hence many parents also supported the concept.The concept actually does have precedence in Congress: North Carolina Representative Health Shuler introduced a bill in 2007 to mandate family-only sections on aircraft. The Democratic Congressman, however, was motivated by a desire to protect children from viewing violent films while traveling, rather than by concerns about the noise they make. The bill has not yet come to the floor for a vote.In any case, in the current difficult times for airlines, where economics and security continue to create ever greater challenges, the chances are very low of family-friendly and child-free sections being implemented on commercial air flights in the near future.

Janice Marks

Janice Marks – A retired nurse and home health care professional, Janice has written prolifically about the American health care system. As a writer for Left Justified focused on the current changes in the health care community, she weaves her professional background and expertise into her evaluation of the current health care issues facing the American government and people. Contact Janice at janicemarks(at)leftjustified.com.

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