Summer holidays have finished and children are back to school. This means a lot of children have been flying in the last 6 weeks and the issue of their behaviour whilst flying is in the news again.
Parents need to ensure that children observe a few general courtesy rules such as not kicking the seat in front. However it is not easy to keep young ones entertained on a long haul flight. Books and games can amuse for only so long. It would be nice if planes had a small area where children could quietly play instead of being restricted in a seat - maybe take out the last couple of rows. But I guess seats means dollars.
Last year an airline put a ban on children in First Class. This might be a great solution for passengers but why don't airlines look at the underlying issue - WHY do children become disruptive?
When I first started flying in the 1970's, the cabin did not have the "rules" that exist today. The routine now is, after take-off a meal is served then the cabin lights are turned off and blinds closed. This system is in place whether departure is in the day or night. In the last few years I have made several flights ex Australia departing around midday. Turning off the lights is not an issue for me because I can watch movies or read or sleep. A child is not ready for sleep mid-afternoon but is expected to be silent and stay still. Try explaining to a toddler that all of a sudden they have to sleep. No wonder they are not happy - it's still daytime!
Why do airlines insist on this routine? Why can't cabin lights stay on and blinds stay up until it is "night" for the passengers' bodies and they are ready for sleep? Is it to make less work for the cabin crew? If they make us sleep, they don't have to provide service? Strangely, most airlines provide eye masks but not the conditions to use them!
Last year I flew from London to Hong Kong. The flight departed Heathrow at midday. After lunch, lights were out and blinds down. Despite the best efforts of the parents, the children behind me were unsettled and crying until the lights came on for the last couple of hours - then they did not make a sound and were happy!
Don't blame the children. Blame the intransigent airline policies.
Light travelling!
Marie
PS I prefer children over drunks talking loudly and constantly going to and from the toilets!
Absolutely!
ReplyDeleteIts hard enough keeping a 1-year-old entertained on a one hour flight... Rationing out little bits of food to make her tolerate the fact that she's being restrained. I hate to think how we'd cope (or not cope) on a long-haul flight. It wasn't so bad when she was 6-months on a flight to the US - wasn't as mobile and determined as she is now!
A play area is a great idea (and not just for the kids!), but I can't see that happenening - that would take up valuable seat space, and since airlines are already running on such tight margins.
But to any airline execs out there: if you put a kids play area on your planes, I guarantee I will fly on your airline (most other things being roughly equal, ie. you tend not to fall out of the sky unexpectedly).
Yep it is hard work travelling with young kids - hmmm - bring back the good old days of sedatives??! I just can't imagine someone telling me at 2pm that its time to go to sleep by putting the blinds down - let alone trying to convince children, what a nightmare. I agree, I reckon its a ploy to try and decrease their work load. Wonder if Virgin increased the percentage of hip young things travelling with them when they introduced the bar idea? That must take up seat space. Bring on the play pens I say. And a nanny, oh ok, specialist in early childhood learning.
ReplyDeleteKirsten