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Screaming toddlers are ruining airline travel. I'd happily pay extra for an adult-only flight

Surely both types of fliers would be happier apart?

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‘It’s not fair for individuals who have spent their hard-earned money for a peaceful getaway, to have it ruined by a toddler tantrum,’ writes Ellie Phillips (Photo: Peter Dazeley/The Image Bank RF via Getty Images)
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I’m not a monster. If your child is screaming blue murder as I embark on the holiday I’ve been saving up for all year, I’ll lend you an understanding smile.

But deep down, I am just as annoyed as the person who is loudly muttering that you should keep your kid under control, or visibly rolling their eyes.

Travelling anywhere by airplane is stressful enough at the best of times. There are long check-in lines and delayed flights to contend with. If you’re anything like me, you arrive at the airport hours in advance in a bid to beat the crowds and clear security lines with plenty of time left to grab some last-minute holiday essentials, squeeze in a cheeky pre-flight beverage and get to the gate on time for boarding. Once I’ve dealt with that, I just want to relax and start to unwind.

But the sight (or more likely the sound) of a child on board can shatter that peaceful feeling in an instant.

I remember one specific trip to Dubai in April 2017 for one of my best friend’s weddings like it was yesterday. Unfortunately, we were seated near the most disruptive junior school aged children, with parents who had clearly just given up.

The kids did not stop whining, moaning and loudly kicking off for the majority of what was an eight-hour flight. That meant we were stressed out, fed up and exhausted when we landed, and wasted the first day of our holiday trying to catch up on sleep in the hotel.

So, I hope you’ll understand why my heart sinks the second I realise that a child, of any age, will be on the same flight as me. It’s worse if they’re seated close by, especially if it’s on a long-haul flight. This happened on a long-awaited trip to St Lucia in January 2020, and the relentless crying of that baby is for ever burned into my mind, because it was our last getaway before the Covid pandemic.

Don’t get me wrong, some little ones I’ve been on flights with are very well-behaved and genuinely heart-warmingly sweet. I played peekaboo with the cutest baby while on a flight to Miami, last year. But, we’ve all experienced the opposite.

Some infants scream so loudly the sound pierces through “noise-cancelling” headphones. There are flights where irate toddlers run up and down the aisles. Sometimes shouty, attention-seeking kids cannot be subdued.

And I know it’s not always their parents’ fault. Having babysat for my one-year-old niece and five-year-old nephew, I know you can pack all of their favourite games and snacks and make sure they haven’t napped beforehand in the hope that they sleep through the flight and ensure they do an emergency wee before you leave. Children are unpredictable. Even a trip to the local park can feel like a marathon and sometimes they just don’t want to play ball.

Being trapped in that scenario on a plane for hours and hours is horrendous for any parent. But, it’s especially infuriating for those who aren’t child-carers and haven’t signed up to deal with that potential torment.

It’s not just a noise problem, either. I’ve even had a child next to me throw up on themself which stank to high heaven and made me feel physically unwell.

Like most people, I am not wealthy enough to afford private jets everywhere. So, there is often no way of knowing my flight will be sans children, and the inevitable disruption they cause.

But I do have a potential solution. You can book “adult-only” hotels and cruises. You can even reserve seats in the “quiet zone” on trains, so why isn’t there a similar option for flying with all airlines?

It’s even more surprising given that the air travel industry is filled with expensive add-ons for everything from the luxury of getting your boarding pass printed, to sitting next to your travel companion. In the past, I’ve paid small upgrade fees for speedy boarding to skip queues and extra leg room to make flying more comfortable. So why can’t I pay a bit extra for an “adult-only” flight or at least to be seated in a “child-free” zone?

I’m not alone in wondering this. A study by PhotoAID released in June this year found that 80 per cent of American travellers wanted “adult-only” flights, with 64 per cent willing to pay an average premium of 10–30 per cent or more when taking a long-haul ride. Of those against “adult-only” flights, 69 per cent were okay with “child-free” seating zones.

It’s been reported that Turkish airline Corendon has just taken this step, with child-free sections on their flights between Amsterdam and Curaçao.

Let’s end the toddler tantrum madness on every flight. It’s not fair for individuals who have spent their hard-earnt money for a peaceful getaway, to have it ruined by a screaming baby. It’s extremely annoying.

Parents who are dealing with inconsolable babies deserve better too. Imagine the anxiety. You have a small human, struggling to regulate because their tiny ears are in pain because of the air pressure change, and you must contend with disgruntled passengers on top of that? It can’t be pleasant.

Surely both types of fliers would be happier apart? Family-friendly flights would take the pressure off caregivers. Those around them would have chosen to risk toddler messiness and meltdowns. Childfree travellers – which also includes parents indulging in much needed me time – could rest without unruly kids running amok.

Adult-only flights are a win-win for everyone. Let me know when I can make my booking.

Ellie Phillips is a presenter and showbiz journalist

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