Latest Turbulence in the Skies: Kid-Free Zones on Planes

Some say they're great, others say they're discriminatory
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 13, 2016 11:40 AM CDT
Latest Turbulence in the Skies: Kid-Free Zones on Planes
An IndiGo aircraft is seen in New Delhi, India.   (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri, file)

You can now fly on one of India's largest airlines without fear you'll get stuck in front of a screaming baby or a kid who likes to kick seats. IndiGo is the latest airline to offer "Quiet Zones" on each of its flights, with two sections of four rows each set aside for passengers 12 and older only. The airline says no young children will be seated in the surrounding rows or seats with extra leg room, either—though "there's no guarantee you won't be seated next to an adult chatterbox," per Good Morning America. IndiGo isn't the first to offer such an option: AirAsia, Malaysian Airlines, and Singapore's Scoot also have kid-free sections.

"These zones have been created for business travelers who prefer to use the quiet time to do their work," IndiGo says. Traveller reports the reaction on social media has been mostly positive, but not all are pleased. "The policy is discriminatory. It means that you cannot ask for more leg space while traveling with your children," a flier tells the Hindustan Times. "You know how uncomfortable you are sitting in that cramped seat yourself. Try sitting there with a crying infant," adds a Huffington Post columnist. Meanwhile, a Traveller columnist suggests flights should instead ban drunk and smelly adults responsible for "some of the worst flights I've had." (More airline industry stories.)

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