8/26/2023 0 Comments Fly tot air france![]() ![]() I've been that sleep-deprived parent who would have killed for more space and a nearly horizontal surface on which my child and I could nap as we crossed the Atlantic. So, as someone who traveled very frequently with my children when they were toddlers (sometimes-and I'm still traumatized even thinking about this-someone who flew solo with multiple children under the age of three) and someone who now occasionally flies business, I have to say: sorry, but no dice. I want to answer that it depends on the child, but that gets squishy. – Betsy Blumenthal, Editor, Features and Franchises Make it a kid-free class If and when I become a parent, I’d want that same respect-not a sneer and a whine upon seeing my kids enter the cabin-afforded to me. The bottom line, however, is that parents flying with children deserve to indulge just as much, if not more, than the rest of us do. That should be the case no matter their seating assignment, though, whether business class, first class, or coach. In my view, everyone should be welcome to it-although I do think parents have an obligation to do what they can to try and make sure their kids remain calm and occupied, be it with an iPad, a personal gaming system, books, or snacks, so that the experience can be equally tolerable for everyone around them. But let me be clear: I’m in no way against having children fly business class. Which is why I’d be pretty devastated if I were to book an expensive seat, hoping for comfort and peace, only to have to contend with crying babies or children who run through the aisles wreaking havoc. I don’t have occasion (or pocket change) to fly business class often, and when I do, I really relish the experience. Getting out of the chaos of economy is probably much sweeter when you're doing so with your child-it's stressful enough to travel with kids without being banned from certain spaces in the plane. If we're talking about non-lap children, those who can afford to book a business class seat for their kid should be welcomed. The conversation around this usually involves griping about kids being loud/crying and ruining the sleep environment of a lie-flat cabin for others-to which I say, all the kids I've encountered on (the very few) business class flights I've taken are sleeping much better than the little ones wailing in economy a lie-flat seat is the perfect amount of space for a parent and lap-child. It's no secret that premium economy and business class bookings have boomed as people look for more comfort, cleanliness, and personal space on an airplane, and parents looking out for themselves and their children shouldn't be disqualified from the right to do so. I don't want to fly with an airline that would ban kids from business class-that seems draconian in a post-COVID world. Finally, with the horror stories of passenger behavior hitting the news since COVID, it may not be entirely fair to single out kids as being the only issue. Do what's going to make your life easier. If you think your small kid may just be easier to handle in a more comfortable cabin (and you happen to be able to afford it), especially on a long-haul flight, I say, more power to the parents. The lie-flat beds, whiskey flights, and all-around five-star service (not to mention a more seamless pre-board process and access to the lounges) is where your thousands of dollars are going. But avoiding potential wails from a toddler isn't one of them, and I'm not sure it's fair to think it should. It's a fact that the higher price of business class affords you greater comforts. Should peace and quiet be among those perks? We have no business banning them ![]() After all, a higher price point ensures certain comforts-more space, lie-flat beds, better food, champagne on entry. And while children will naturally always be part of the flying experience, some among us wonder if, perhaps, there could be parts of the plane that remain kid-free: the front of the plane, for example. Although, these days adults have revealed themselves to be capable of behaving just as badly. Something that has the potential to disrupt an otherwise smooth in-flight experience? The presence of a screaming child. And things don't necessarily get better once airborne, either. Soaring ticket prices, flight delays, and cancellations have us frazzled before we even get onboard. Travel Debates is a series in which our editors weigh in on the most contentious issues that arise in-transit, like whether you should ever switch seats on a plane or if you should check your work email while on vacation.įlying has never been more trying-on this, we can all agree.
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