Child-free flights coming to Ryanair: good idea?
For an airline that services exactly zero North American destinations, Ryanair sure makes a lot of headlines this side of the Atlantic.
A quick rundown of its recent polarizing campaigns, all recognizable by just three hyphenated words: the “pay-to-pee” policy; the “only-one-pilot” initiative; and the “standing-room-flights” movement.
But for all the Dublin-based outfit’s bluster, there’s a reason the budget airline thrives – which is to say, it takes a no-nonsense approach to giving the customer just what it wants, no matter the PR consequence.
Ryanair’s latest strategy? Child-free flights, a decision every traveler has an opinion on, whether they’ll voice it or not.
Following a Europe-wide survey, which showed half of respondents would pay higher fares to avoid flying alongside other people’s kids, Ryanair announced on Apr. 1st it would offer child-free flights starting this fall.
Now, you’d be forgiven for thinking a Ryanair stunt unveiled on April Fools’ Day might be suspect, but the airline insists the plan is real. In fact, the idea of child-free flights has been bouncing around Europe as far back as 2008, when airfarewatchdog.com found 85 per cent of Euro travellers thought breaking a plane into “those with children” and “those without” was a good way to go.
In North America, though, the thought hasn’t made much of a public stir. You’ve probably had a flight hampered by a kicking or screaming kid here – and, parents, you most likely don’t care for the sneers you get when you may be the most embarrassed person onboard – but it probably wouldn’t play well for North American airlines to propose separating children on flights. Families are big money in the travel biz, and the risk of alienating such a lucrative demographic could prove costly.
Yet that doesn’t mean travellers wouldn’t bite on the idea. Since Ryanair’s April 1st announcement, interest has surely been piqued in Canada and the U.S. (“April Fools’ joke or just a good idea?” read one L.A. Times headline in reaction to the story).
Would you be in favour of child-free flights? If so, would you pay more for the option to fly in a different section from toddlers?
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
*Follow Jason on Twitter here.
Posted by: Chip | Apr 7, 2021 1:28:11 AM
I'd be in favour of having a Buckland free Everyday Money blog. Maybe Bucky can join the kids, his inane drivel is just as annoying as the little screetchers.
Posted by: Kathy M. | Apr 7, 2021 2:17:34 AM
I would definitely be in favour of childfree flights! My husband and I work our butts off all year to save for a trip to Mexico or whatever is affordable. I work in retail hear children crying or yelling, etc constantly. All I want is peace on my holiday and I have had too many 5 -6 hour flights ruined becaused of some sick, unhappy or undisciplined child/baby. On our last flight home we had a crying baby in the seat right behind us for 5 1/2 hrs. A chlldfree flight can't happen soon enough for me!
Posted by: Stan | Apr 7, 2021 6:52:49 AM
Listen CHIP< if that is your realk handle, it's the best news since Sliced Bread. The families are not being prohibited from flying, it's just giving a chance for those adults who do not desire the company of families on the same plane. Have you ever flown to OZ for 14 hours with families in your ear? I doubt it very much.
I was on one flight were the father of this family of 4 children, his wife was already in Canada, having to give the children over to other passengers for peace and quiet. So mate come down of cloud 9.
Posted by: terry | Apr 7, 2021 7:50:40 AM
to the woman that states,having to listen to some undisaplined babys,,,,,your a moron to think you can disapline an baby,,,, i hope you dont have any babys now or in the future,,just what the world needs,,more abusive women / mothers !!!!!
Posted by: Randy | Apr 7, 2021 8:29:52 AM
Kathy should have the option of childless flights or at least have section which are child free.I have a 3yr old and, though well behaved ,is probably irritating to some people who just are not kid friendly.
Having said that I hope Kathy is not one of the ignorant people who recline the seat on flights. Before I had children I will admit others could be irritating,but adults which recline I hate!
Posted by: DANA | Apr 7, 2021 8:46:21 AM
I work my butt off year round too and deserve to enjoy a beautiful vacation with my family. But let me guess - it's ok to be 350lbs and spreading out onto my seat. Based on that - if we start having child free flights can we also start choosing flights for those of us that don't fall into the category of obese? Yeah, I know it's rude but not all children are undisciplined - people just remember the bad incidents.
Posted by: Childless | Apr 7, 2021 8:58:44 AM
Even though I don't have kids, I'm OK if there is an irritated child on a plane. It's part of life. I purchased a great set of Bose headphones and it drowns all noises around me. I travel extensively and I would say about 50% of the flights have crying kids. They too deserve to get where they are going.
By the way, you can't segregate families with kids. That will just increase the chances of quiet kids to be unruly in this type of surroundings. Not fair to those families.
Posted by: rob | Apr 7, 2021 9:10:03 AM
i have kids and love them very much but i also travel alot 50-70 flights a year and yes even my kids know this i would gladly pay for a no kid flight it usally isnt the kids over the age of 12 its the ones under that age that make noise scream and get sick all over the place i was on a flight last year where a woman let her 3 year old wander up and down the aisle way on a cross country flight wearing nothing but a diaper and screaming the whole time and while we are at it if your sick stay the f home and get on the next flight or at least be courtios to others and where a mask
Posted by: Kathy M | Apr 7, 2021 12:01:52 PM
Okay Terry, read my post again. It states "sick, unhappy or undisciplined child/baby". Obviously, you can't discipline a baby, but the one that cried behind us was sick and crying, screaming, coughing and whining the whole time. The parents did nothing to soothe the poor little guy. Sorry you misunderstood. I was never an abusive parent, and certainly don't condone it. I've just noticed that some parents seem to lack a little common sense when it comes to raising a child or being courteous to their fellow humans.
Posted by: Pyrrho | Apr 7, 2021 12:21:47 PM
Kid Free flights? I'm in.
Rug rats should be religated to the cargo hold or is it their parents?
Posted by: Pyrrho | Apr 7, 2021 12:23:54 PM
Pedestrian have no concern for their fellow human beings. They pay for their ticket and think the plane is their personal pod. These folks are ignorant and should travel by ship, cargo hold class. I support kid free flights all the way.
Posted by: Chip | Apr 7, 2021 12:35:25 PM
Don't know why people should pay higher fees for childless flights... if anything, those travelling with little screetchers should pay the extra fare for using airlines as their own personal playground or McD mosh pit. Much like extra cost for those who take up more than 2 seats. Otherwise, put 'em in the cargo hold with the other pets.
Posted by: John | Apr 9, 2021 2:18:35 AM
Actually there is a way to make every flight child free for those who want it without having to remove families from the flights.
You have first class, second class and coach, why not add one more section with a door and a wall called families and give them a sectioned off part of the plane.
That way it's quieter for others who are not travelling with children and making it easier for families to sit together and care for their children without disturbing other passengers to any major extent.
You could even show kids movies and make toys available for the children to be entertained with while the flight is taking place and if you really wanted to push it you could even show educational films about the airline industry.
Things don't need to change they just need to be tweeked a bit.
Posted by: Troy | Apr 11, 2021 1:41:34 AM
What pisses me off are parents that let children engage in rude behavioiur, as in, kick the back of your seat continually during a flight, and the stewardesses and stewards that do nothing about this behaviour.
Posted by: Mathew Palolithundiyil | Apr 11, 2021 6:37:48 AM
Great idea!!And sure it will boost more air traffic and profit. If this "Garbazo" type idea is to be implemented ,each airline will have to have two types of flights.One with kids and one with out.Hey how about having a flight without bitching wife/girl friend untill they both reach their destination by separate flights?
Posted by: Childless | Apr 11, 2021 7:05:38 AM
To John,
I agree with you 100%. That is a fantastic idea. It would be nice to have a divider, like they do for business and coach. I hope someone from the airline reads your comment. It could make for much less disturbance for the childless, like myself.
Posted by: Ted C | Apr 11, 2021 8:30:42 AM
Id pay extra for a kids-free flight but NOT for one with a designated area for kids. Trans-Atlantic flights with loud pestering rug-rats around drives me crazy. Any flight over 2 hrs should be sectored anyways IMHO. Where oh where is 50's-70's attitude where parents made sure their kids behaved, and had to take responsibility for the kids actions. Todays world, they are gods, not kids.
Posted by: Darla | Apr 11, 2021 9:13:47 AM
Great idea! Hate screaming children....I'd pay to get away from them!
Posted by: Bernadette | Apr 11, 2021 9:25:22 AM
What airplanes REALLY need is separate flights for people who marinate overnight in perfume/aftershave before flying! Yes, I know all the wannabe flowers out there will jump down my throat, but there are a lot of perople with serious perfume allergies. That type of allergy is usually anaphylactic (i.e. your throat closes up and you die within three minutes), meaning that people like me are unable to fly at all in case they are killed, quite literally, by their seat mate's cheical warfare. It means that, for example, we cannot travel to visit our fathers on their deathbeds in case we end up dead ourselves (my faterh died on New Year's Day and I was unable to see him to say goodbye because I came within 40 seconds of death last time I flew). Children can be an annoyance and perhaps rob us of a night's sleep, but perfumeed products can literally kill someone. So when are we going to have scent-free flights for those of us who don't want our next trip to be fatal?
Posted by: Ted C | Apr 11, 2021 11:59:15 AM
Bernadette - its called an oxygen mask that you can buy at any medical dispensary (asthmatics use them) and some are small enough to fit on planes with you. You didnt want to spend the money for one to see your dad one last time, its too bad, but that is your personal issue .... BTW I am asthmatic myself, but not serious enough to need one (yet). This is an issue that we have NO personal control over - diff thing altogether.