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Child-free plane sections: ‘I’d rather a screaming child than a drunk adult’ 

“The last thing you want is for children to act up."
Ellen Kenny
Ellen Kenny

14.58 27 Apr 2024


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Child-free plane sections: ‘I’...

Child-free plane sections: ‘I’d rather a screaming child than a drunk adult’ 

Ellen Kenny
Ellen Kenny

14.58 27 Apr 2024


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With an airline introducing a child-free section, some have argued a screaming child is better than a drunk adult on a plane. 

Turkish-Dutch airline is in the process of introducing adult-only zones on its flights, allowing passengers to pay an extra €45 to be seated only among people over 16. 

Flights will offer 93 child-free seats, separated from the rest of the plane by walls and curtains. 

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Paul told Lunchtime Live, however, it’s not children he hates most about noisy flights. 

“You're talking about a zone for adults only,” he said. “What about people who get drunk and disorderly? 

“At least with a child, you know things aren’t going to get violent, but when you’ve got drunken adults on a plane... you see planes diverted every day because of such and such was acting up and shouting obscenities at staff. 

“I’d take a child screaming any day over older adults acting up and being drunk on a plane.” 

Woman with yawning child on plane ( Folio Images / Alamy Stock Photo)

Paul also pointed out no parent sets out to annoy their fellow passengers with crying children. 

“The last thing you want is for children to act up, but it does happen,” he said. 

“Parents in a lot of cases will do anything to try and make the child be quiet but sometimes you can’t do it.” 

Child-free early flights

Anne argued, however, parents could do more to reduce the risk of a child having a meltdown in the air. 

“I remember a friend of mine was only going to Lanzarote and she had two children,” she said. 

“She had the two children up at the airport at godforsaken hours in the morning. 

“you're waking your children, particularly under five years old, you’re waking them out of sleep or not letting them sleep, then you're bringing them to an airport to have an early flight. 

“The kids are going to be cranky because they’ve been woken up to be at the airport at 4.30am or 4.45am.” 

Anne suggested a flight at a more reasonable hour would prevent children from being so cranky and disturbing other passengers. 

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