Adult only planes

I've just flown from Bournemouth to Cyprus with Tui. Bliss, everyone over 60 well behaved. I endured a flight to and from Majorca with constantly screaming baby next to me across the aisle. Sat on dad's lap, dad clearly didn't know how to cuddle and reassure a baby or give it something to suck to help ears. Mum sat with other child clearly ignoring the baby's distress. Horrendous. Hostess ignored it too. Whole plane suffered.

Yes thank you flygirl informed post

Excellent post, flygirl, thank you .

My username may give away what I do for a living ?. I am usually loathe to comment on such matters as it would not be looked upon as very professional. However, what you would be suggesting would be "ideal for some"... but, I'm afraid, simply not workable in real life. As you can imagine, aviation and holiday companies are really struggling to hold it all together at the moment in a very challenging environment. Commercially, this far fetched idea is totally unworkable for several reasons. We have watched the sad demise of Monarch, Thomas Cook and FlyBe most recently, with probably more to come. The grounding of the Boeing 737 Max, which still isn't back in operation nearly a year down the line, Volcanic ash clouds a few years ago, sand storms, terrorism (remember Tunisia and Sharm el Sheikh), & now a possible world pandemic to contend with, is taking its inevitable toll on the holiday industry and aviation. There is no way that a whole plane could be designated just for adults only. That would mean a whole plane would also have to be designated for those with children and infants of various ages. Children on our aircraft are considered to be adults at 12 years of age and are deemed able to open an emergency exit. So, theoretically a 12 year old would be able to travel on a separate aircraft from his/her family with younger siblings, which simply would not happen. Similarly, on the designated aircraft carrying just the young families, from a safety angle it would be a total nightmare. There are so many restricted seats where children are simply not allowed to sit due to strict regulations. So.... airlines would not be able to sell any of those seats to families at all, as they will quite rightly not want or expect to be separated. Neither should they. Those seats would remain totally empty. So....who will occupy them to comply with safety regulations? It will mean that the emergency exits would be totally "unmanned " and that is against regulations, so the aircraft wouldn't ever leave the ground! We simply would not have enough aircraft available to segregate.
Bear in mind, young children's ears are often very painful when flying as their tubes are narrow and undeveloped. A lot of the screaming on board is due to this fact and a degree of empathy is needed, as "most" parents are beside themselves with worry when this happens. Yes, you can get very unruly families where naughty children go unchecked. Yes, of course it's much worse in a confined space, (try pouring hot water successfully when a toddler is let loose in the cabin under your feet!).
Commercially and for safety reasons, this simply isn't going to happen. Even if it did, where would you then draw the line? As someone has said...a whole plane load of stag and hen parties? (Safety again?!!) A whole plane load of people with reduced mobility issues? It simply isn't going to happen if you are travelling on a holiday airline. Holidays are for everyone. Hotels are a different matter, as many of the safety considerations will not apply on the ground.
Sorry, but apart from earplugs, I'm afraid there will be no significant changes! Believe me I empathise after a 15 hour day in the skies in the summer...(at least you can get off the other end!) Lol.

There are some adults that behave worse than kids in flights

Ban the alcohol from flights as well.

Ha ha well postedChaitriona
Intolerance at it's best.
You forgot about the people who need to go to toilet regularly as well ?

Children are given activity bags on long haul flights and there are always plenty of films to watch.
Younger babies usually sleep in the bassinets.

Chaitriona I think short haul flights could be worse, not sure.
Long haul flights are generally peaceful although there is occasionally a child who may need attention and isn't getting it from the DP.

It sounds as though it was the parents who were at fault on this particular flight - perhaps ban them maybe?

The answer is for airlines to cater for the needs of children in some way, especially on long-haul flights. Activities - films etc.

Flying short haul is an unpleasant experience

Adults can be just as annoying as children. More so in many ways

Just bite your lip and get on with it.

Also people who sweat or smell

I forgot people who try to talk to you. Put them on the offensive plane!

What a hell it sounds on these airplanes. I realise that being chronically ill and unable to travel for thirty years has its silver lining. No-one has mentioned people coughing and sneezing on the plane and giving you their infections. With so many issues there should really be separate planes for offensive and inoffensive passengers. Let the babies, the children, the teenagers, the parents, the drunks, the rugby players, the party goers, the fat people, the men who kick their legs, the entitled people who recline their seats, the people who complain about others (and my own bugbear, people coughing and sneezing) go together in one plane. I would gladly pay extra to go in the other plane if I was able to fly.

Maybe I’m lucky never having had a problem with noisy children. Ear plugs are a help, recently I bought a pair of noise cancelling headphones, plug those into the planes audio system, you can hear very little other than your own choice of entertainment.

Well worth the cost!.

I like that. "Encroachment"
My driving test man encroached over to my side of the car, and it was quite off putting.

Gilly1952 I have always said when you buy a plane ticket you should have to provide your weight and if it’s over a certain limit you should be charged for, and given, two seats. Over a certain weight there’s an element of ‘encroachment’ over the person in the next seat that’s both uncomfortable and unpleasant.

I would definitely fly on an adult only plane and do holiday in adult only hotels. I have four grandchildren who I adore but my holiday is my time, when I recharge my batteries ready for the next 50 weeks!

Vivian123
I should have been so lucky when H and self once took an over 50's holiday.I would not consider eleven thirty too early for over 50.s wanting to go to bed even if we were on holiday only to be awakened at half past midnight by laughter and loud goodnights along the corridors. So much for an over 50's holiday.

Why don't you suggest this to some airlines? Though meanwhile you'll probably find that there is less ruckus in business class

Unless there is absolutely no option I would not take a child under two on a flight. I suffer extremes of ear pain when flying. I am told what to do about it. Try telling the same to a child under the age of two.

I am fortunate that I do not fly. It is a horrible experience, these days, from the time you try to book in until you board the plane. Then, unless you can afford 1st class or to a lesser extent Business, the flight is cramped and uncomfortable. A totally boring experience. I use Saga for cruising, which is for over 50s. No children and I have never encountered obnoxious drunks on board. A really relaxing way to travel. Of course, as I don't fly, I end up going round in a circle, but enjoy the trip.

If anyone has ever watched a video of someone's journey by air the annoying cough-coughing from adults drowns out any " noise " from children.
I've nursed babies on my trips to Oz in the past,. entertained children when the parents were out for the count.
I'd rather travel with a plane full of kids !

I really don't mind children - not one little bit.

Spoilt, rude and out of control kids with selfish, ignorant parents- yes, I do mind.

I would definitely go for a child-free plane. Is that selfish?Maybe. I don't mind treating myself to a stress free plane trip from time to time. Would I NOT go on a plane with children? Of course not. 9 times out of 10 I would go on what is the most convenient or the least expensive. But there are times (say I was on a romantic trip with my DH or I was in an incredibly anxious or high stress situation) when I would prefer that I'm not distracted by other people's children.

Many times on GN I have heard people give the advice that you need to take care of yourself, etc., etc. I don't see this as being any different. There is no shame in thinking about your own interests and comfort from time to time.

Oh no! I do like a glass of wine with my dinner.
They can surely see who is not fit to fly through drunkenness and also restrict the amount served on a flight?

We have been more annoyed by the adults who barge in and take overhead spaces with large pieces of luggage and recline seats without a thought for people behind them. If the children get up to mischief then it is the adults who are to blame. Babies crying? Well we all did it.