Adult only planes

I have had good and bad experiences with children on planes and to be honest the bad experiences were down to the parents ignoring them.

The worst for me was when for some reason I was seated in the middle of a large family. The children started fighting as soon as they boarded, were running up and down the aisle and at one point those sat in front of me threw food across me to those sat behind me. It was at that point I shouted and told them to sit down and behave themselves (which they did) - the parents said nothing. (To make matters worse the father of the group played the "Happy" song over and over and over and over again until his phone battery went flat!!)

Having said that I have also had some lovely "conversations" with friendly toddlers.

Yes, it can be annoying if a baby is continually crying but in most cases the parent is trying to comfort the child and you really can't expect any more than that

As others have said I would prefer that anyone showing any signs of intoxication be prevented from boarding.

Great Idea!! When kicking the back of your seat and screeching for four hour flight is a nightmare! Why don't people control their children on flights, or just don't take them on there in the first place. Agree entirely!

30 years ago on a 9 hour non stop flight I took my 2 young daughters age 4 and 1, and at the end of the flight the lady behind us congratulated me on their good behaviour. I’d planned various little surprises for them and taken all sorts of little toys, crayons etc. Last year my youngest daughter took her youngest ,age 1, on holiday and used a special headband to cover her ears and prevent the awful pain babies can get on board a plane. If parents plan journeys and look after their children properly plane journeys should be better for everyone.

I thought my generation was tougher, more resilient than posts to this thread seem to suggest. Everyone seems to think that whatever they don’t like might be solved by removing the elements that offend them. Does nobody ever just put up with stuff they don’t like for a short while? I’ve seen threads where people have tolerated abuse from spouses or unkindness from children for years. How come we can’t all put up with a howling baby, or a loutish child, or a noisy drunk for a few hours?

Yes I would pay extra for this

YES PLEASE. I’ve had 4 children myself, but to listen to kids screaming while their parents pay no attention whatsoever drives me mad. It actually can ruin the start of your holiday x

It might be a nice idea but I don’t see how it could work, logistically. Airlines have enough problems already and Coronavirus isn’t helping. Be grateful you get to fly at all because with extinction rebellion and airlines going out of business all the time it might not be so easy in the future.

Ditto knspol. I can tolerate children finding it hard to fly. Dgd was upset flying with us when she was 2 and it was hard to settle her.
What I can’t stand is adults who are drunk when they get on the plane, carry on drinking and swear continually. Often had hen dos stag dos and rugby teams on a flight who were appalling.
Flying is something I can barely tolerate anyway, lack of leg room, boredom, not able to sleep, security......

beancounter, The only time I have seen a children’s flight discounted is when they are under two and sitting on their parents lap. Otherwise if they are in a seat, they pay full price. Most parents buy seats because it’s much safer for them.

Totally ! adult only planes and hotels ….my children were not 'screamers or kickers'...can't STAND it when children just scream for the sake of it ...although I do realise it hurts their ears ( and mine ha ha ) sometimes …..I came back from the UK having had to pay £600 for an urgent flight ...only to have a plane full of screaming children, two kicking the back of my seat ….I was not happy ...just been to the UK as my brother was found dead and I was called by the Police...I had had a very hectic four days and had to fly back and forth as my late (now) husband had a terminal illness and could not be left alone (care home whilst I was away) so I had to fly every 4 or 5 weeks back and forth. I did not appreciate the screaming children ...especially paying that much ! Last week I went to Prague on a short reak...wonderful ! no children on plane, no children in hotel …..relaxing ! Flying business class on one Air France flight (not posh ...just that piece of curtain pulled and a china instead of plastic cup, and the only choice at the time !) I sat next to a Thai lady with a baby …..could not believe how well behaved and quiet it was !...in French supermarkets you can tell the English children as they are running riot and shouting and screaming ...WHY ???? the parents seem oblivious ….I now make a note of all holidays from school (did make a mistake once...after a serious op, needed some r & r so took myself off for a fortnight knowing UK schools were back ...only to find, in my lovely hotel that SCOTTISH schools were not ...two teenagers playing football on the terrace outside my ground floor room ….had to hire a care to get away ! On the other hand, I also own a holiday home and have no problem with children screaming there ...or at the school next door to me ….its just when I need peace n quiet …..

I agree that there's plenty of awful adults around anyway so don't see it helping. Babies/toddlers can easily get ear ache when flying. Drinking helps ease it.

I'd much rather travel by train if at all possible - just wish it was cheaper than flying. It should be subsidised for environmental reasons.

Would rather endure screaming baby (however frustrating) than a badly behaved adult who should know better.

Wouldn't it be good if we could ban all badly behaved people, no matter what their age? I'd like to see drunks and rowdy, single sex parties on a different plane.

How about these people whose names have to be called umpteen times when the plane has boarded? Where can they be? Clearly they've checked in and their luggage is on board. But they can't be found, it seems.

Unfortunately, there's no chance, realistically, of banning antisocial behaviour of any sort.

Its no coincidence that in cultures where children arent tutted at/about, the children behave better in adult company...

I think there should be ‘family friendly’ options and ‘child free’ options. I might pay more for a child- free travel option sometimes and, being retired and able to choose when I travel, I could choose the occasional flight that was child free and avoid school holiday travel etc. Having children and travelling with them is a choice. It is very difficult for a parent to keep young children quiet all the time or to keep them still in a confined space. But I don’t see why other adults shouldn’t exercise a choice as they are clients/consumers as well.

Are you in America Beancounter?
I think most airlines in Europe charge full price for children requiring a seat (i.e. over 2). I looked at so many options for a family getaway two years ago and none I looked at offered anything after age 2.
I do accept I don't have whole-market knowledge though!

I'm pretty sure Southwest Airlines in America do have a discount scheme (up to 11?).

No no no I hate this discrimination against children they are part and parcel of our society a person who doesn’t want to be amongst kids, how ever annoying, is poorer in their life

Bless!
It's not discrimination against children. it's not wanting any annoying influences on planes and that includes drunks, loud gobby hen/stag parties etc..
Maybe if parents took more responsibility for their rampaging children we would all be happier.
We were waiting to board an overnight flight from Las Vegas and our hearts sank, loads of very small children but they never made a sound so it can be done!

My "ruined" flights have all been by adults.

My next comment will surely upset a few
Really? gilly1952 upset just a few
You think so

Yes please.
We always scrutinise the check-in queue and inwardly grown when we spy a family with young children when the parents are obviously letting them express themselves. We know then we are in for a noisy flight.

Adult Only planes? It sounds a great idea as are the Adult Only hotels I’ve stayed at in the past BUT sometimes children can be better behaved than some so-called “grown ups”

My next comment will surely upset a few, but I think passengers at airports should be weighed along with all their luggage, on a sort of weighbridge! Everyone should be given a TOTAL weight limit, rather than weight limits for their luggage, etc. How about special flights for the “lightweights” amongst us? Surely that would save on fuel? Ha! Now I will sit back and wait for the comments!

In my experience it's usually the parents with the children that are a problem.
Will never forget when I flew from LA to Melbourne one time - female passenger with 2 children, one a toddler, the other about 5 or 6. The toddler slept most of the way, the older child was allowed to wander at will and when not being returned by the cabin crew,due to wandering onto the flight deck and the galleys as well as walking in on someone in the toilet ,the nasal screeching of the mother of "Sari where are you?" every few minutes was unbearable.

I'd like to see people breathalysed before getting on planes and then refused more booze if they're not fit to have it. Drunks and parties on board - they are far more annoying than babies.I'd probably ban anyone who knows they're always travel sick too because I am quite emetophobic and dread being anywhere close to someone who might get sick.

Usually, it is the parents that are the problem, not the children

Have you thought of just upgrading to first class?
Bit silly to think that any airline would want adults only. Firstly alot of them are going bust at the moment anyway. But what happens when you get a noisy disabled adult?
Live and let live. Pay for a private plane or get upgraded.