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Airline to Ban Children From Economy Class

Libby Kane
Libby Kane
Posted on Apr 18, 2012

Thought air travel was difficult enough already?

Then clearly, you weren’t on the same wavelength as the powers that be at Malaysia Airlines, which will ban children from the top floor of its newest aircraft.

This summer, they’ll add new, two-story jets to their fleet, with economy and business class cabins on the top floor and first class down below. Children under 12 won’t be welcome on the top story … and babies won’t be welcome in first class.

This isn’t revolutionary for Malaysia Airlines in particular, which announced last year that it would ban children from first class on certain flights.

We can’t help but wonder: Will the new policy benefit Malaysia Airlines by attracting the childless and those who choose to leave children at home, or hurt the airline by disqualifying them as a mode of family travel?

And more importantly—will the child-free policy catch on?

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  • Guest

    As a single person, with no children, I would definitely seek out an airline that has childless flights/cabins, especially for a very long flight.
    But I can also see how this could backfire against the airline, as family travel is a big source of income for many airlines.
    Touchy subject, with pros and cons for different groups.

  • Guest

    I believe airlines make the bulk of their money through business class and First class. Malaysia Airlines is setting a higher standard and targeting a different audience for a reason. People will pay top dollar for a quiet, no children allowed flights. I dont see this being any different as adults only resorts and cruise ships. Its about time the airline industry either caters to the no children movement or to family oriented flights with screaming babies and the smell of stinky diapers. There are plenty of airlines like Southwest as quirkly and family oriented as they are, to allow children. It is also a cultural thing .. on how we raise our children. Some parents dont have control over their children whereas other cultures, elders are respected and children are very behaved and polite.

  • http://silverfinofhope.com/ Chrissy

    Honestly, I find children less annoying during flights than blundering and drunk passengers who have drunk  too many in-flight cocktails. I have a seven year old, and he’s always been very well-behaved on flights…but even before he was born, I could tune out a crying child whose ears might hurt from the pressurization of the cabin (they can’t help that!). I have more trouble tuning out an annoying person who won’t stop talking, or someone who grumbles rudely at a flight attendant. 

  • Guest

    they should ban people who snore loud or smell bad instead! you can make the child stop making noise, but you cant shower a dirty person or make a loud snorer stop! 

  • Makupink

    I recenlty traveled  on multiple airlines with a 7 month old baby, from LA to PERU – CHILE. The only time he would cry was when his ears hurt, and we contolled that by feeding him milk so the crying would last less than a minute. As for stinky diapers, it depends on the parents because we carried scented bags and disposed the diaper inside the scented bag then into the trash can. An adult can be stinkier than that. Most of the time he was sleeping or watching his baby videos on a IPad. I saw several other older educated kids that behaved very well. So it really depends on the parents.

  • Janet

    I’m confused. Are families with babies not allowed to fly at all? 12 and under aren’t allowed on the top floor and babies aren’t allowed on the bottom in 1st class? What about families with a 15yo and an 11yo? The 11yo has to fly first class? Makes no sense and seems impossible to book!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_275G5DXXYIHGQY7OROR6AXZEKY Mari B

    Your headline says economy class is where children are banned from. The article says first class is where children are banned from.  You might want to fix that discrepancy ASAP.

    • LibbyKane

      Hi Mari: Thanks for the careful read! Actually, Malaysia Airlines will be banning children from their top floor, which includes economy and business class seats. Babies are banned from first class. 

  • Zaenna

    I hope it does catch on. I made the choice not to have kids. For those who made the choice to have kids, that’s all well and good. Neither of us is better than the other. But for those who chose to have kids, I should not be inconvenienced because of your choice to have a child. You are no more entitled for having a child than I am for not having one. So to have an adult only area is a fantastic idea. You chose to have a child, so deal with the situations that presents to you. I chose not to…I should be allowed to exist in a child-free environment where ever it’s possible……and it’s possible on a plane!!!