Should be bubble be a child free zone?

I think there's some over reaction on this thread.....
I for one try not to holiday during school holidays, my youngsters are nearly 21 & 19 now and don't find it cool to travel with the 'rents any more.
I don't think anyone as remotely suggested that children shouldn't be allowed on flights, but I don't see any problem with discussing hypothetical quiet zones or child free zones on a plane. They've done it for years at certain hotel resorts etc.

An alternative suggestion...
Instead of blaming parents or the kids themselves (or obnoxious adults for that matter) if you hate all the noises on-board get some decent noise cancelling headphones or use the ear plugs kindly provided by VS in your amenity kit

[honey lamb]

I'm not going to embark on the pro/con debate about child-free zones but just point out my views both as a parent and a frequent traveller.

As a parent I am the mother of a former poster known to many on here as Aer John. He was born a teenager! Stroppy, opinionated, uncommunicative - anyone who has gone through the teenage years knows what I mean. However I rapidly discovered that put him on public transport (especially planes) he became a changeling, a charmed child! His behaviour was impeccable. He charmed cabin crew into releasing various memorabilia and blagged his way into lounges! No wonder I brought him around the world on aircraft! )

On the other side, on his first flight his ears were affected on take-off and especially descent which was rather steep and he screamed the place down! :0 We tried everything to no avail but for future flights I made sure he had earplugs in and was sucking something.

Then there was the toddler who screamed his way across the Atlantic. In fairness the parents did all they could to pacify him and annoying as that was we had every sympathy for them because of their efforts.

Contrast that with the parents of a "No darling, don't do that" child. The child was as quiet as a mouse but adventurous and we had to endure Dad's exhortations throughout. When Mum got a bit firm with her , Dad took her to task! ?|

As for the parents who think the crew are there to look after their kids while they sleep/drink/watch films/join the mile high club, fortunately I haven't been on any of those flights but I have endured some DYKWIA passengers. Give me the kids any time. At least you can tell them to shut up and behave

I've flown short and long haul with my kids very frequently and I am content the only person they have significantly annoyed is me and possibly the other half (aka Docjo for the purposes of the forum and recognising her status).
I am more frequently amused by other people's little ones than annoyed and would not consider myself to be overly blessed with tolerance.

Maybe Virgin could make a larger PE cabin at the back of the plane and allow the bubble soley for Y pasengers. I have flown Y everytime I have flown due to financial reasons not because I am a lesser human being than others. My son is very well behaved on the flights, and does not run up and down or climb over other passengers. I'm sure it would've been every Y passengers dream to have a seat in the bubble and thanks to Virgin that may now be acheivable for some!!

I would support the idea of a quiet zone, although the experience of it on trains suggests how difficult it is actually to police and enforce this.

However, as indicated earlier in the thread, I do not support the idea of a child-free zone. For one thing, discrimination on the basis of age is in many cases now illegal -- you would struggle to make a case for this because there is no accepted evidence that children are more disruptive than adults.

It's called public transport for a reason.

Totally agree...maybe ...... we could get a 'grumpy middle aged fart' free zone )

Best advice I've heard when being on a flight with noisy unruly children....

Imagine for a minute that they are yours and you are responsible.... :0

Then think yourself lucky they aren't + put on headphones and eye mask & enjoy your drink.. 8D

Trouble is, that's what their parents are doing too! (And muttering under their breath that anyone who doesn't like it is a grumpy middle-aged fart!

[honey lamb]

Oh, if only I could find the faux TR mdvipond wrote about a family with unruly kids! It was a classic )

An alternative suggestion...
Instead of blaming parents or the kids themselves (or obnoxious adults for that matter) if you hate all the noises on-board get some decent noise cancelling headphones or use the ear plugs kindly provided by VS in your amenity kit

Completely agree... The worst flights I've endured were not spoilt by children but by adults who clearly haven't seen clean water for months and cause much gagging around them. At least with noisy children you can put headphones on. Pegs on nose are a bit impractical...

I've travelled business class and PE many times with my child (first time age 6) and there's as always been other kids there and there's ne'er been an issue. Unlike the businessmen who drink too much and snore so loudly the ruin everyone's flight.

Oh, if only I could find the faux TR mdvipond wrote about a family with unruly kids! It was a classic )

I can't remember the faux report but this one ( featuring Tarquin and pals) is another classic .
forum/index.php?f=6&t=272034&hilit=tarquin&rb_v=viewtopic

Wearing my work hat here, I would say that the bubble is a good place to put children. (actually just stick them all up there with a nanny person )

Usually the reason they are 'kicking off' is because they are restricted and frustrated. xx(

In the bubble there is more room between the rows of seats across the cabin, so they can wander up and down in a relatively more open space, thus creating a calmer atmosphere for them. y)

Yes the stairs are a bit of an issue, but that's up to parents to police as is the case now.

I have no children now and love the sanctity of the 'bubble' and yes it would be bliss to not have them up there but the existence of children is a fact of life we cannot get away from no matter how hard we try

thelaceys

Oh, if only I could find the faux TR mdvipond wrote about a family with unruly kids! It was a classic )

My dear lady, I'll have you know that I've never written a 'faux' trip report in my life! The very idea of it! The authenticity of my reportage is at my very core. Besides, I don't have the imagination to come up with a child as dreadful as 'Tarquin'...

As has been mentioned before, this is an oft-revisited topic on here, but for my two-penneth, I don't think a 'child free zone' is either practical or necessary. Drunk passengers, smelly passenger, boorish passengers, snoring passengers, arm-rest hogging passengers (I could go on) all represent as much of a potential inconvenience - if not more so - than most children do. I think if you want to be guaranteed to be sat amongst a certain kind and/or age group of people to suit your own particular sensitivities, then you may be better off chartering your own plane the next time you fly...

Wearing my work hat here, I would say that the bubble is a good place to put children. (actually just stick them all up there with a nanny person

not so good if there is an emergency though, imagine all the parents scrambling to get their kids from upstairs

Oh, if only I could find the faux TR mdvipond wrote about a family with unruly kids! It was a classic )

My dear lady, I'll have you know that I've never written a 'faux' trip report in my life! The very idea of it! The authenticity of my reportage is at my very core. Besides, I don't have the imagination to come up with a child as dreadful as 'Tarquin'...

As has been mentioned before, this is an oft-revisited topic on here, but for my two-penneth, I don't think a 'child free zone' is either practical or necessary. Drunk passengers, smelly passenger, boorish passengers, snoring passengers, arm-rest hogging passengers (I could go on) all represent as much of a potential inconvenience - if not more so - than most children do. I think if you want to be guaranteed to be sat amongst a certain kind and/or age group of people to suit your own particular sensitivities, then you may be better off chartering your own plane the next time you fly...

Well said, totally agree. Am bored of the anti child flying brigade !!

Totally agree...maybe ...... we could get a 'grumpy middle aged fart' free zone

I want to sit there! If the A380 ever enters service with VA, I for one am really hoping this becomes a cabin in it's own right. y)

Back in 2001, I remember being on a Virgin Sun flight to Chania on Crete. Prior to take off, the CC announced "For any parents with unruly children onbaord, please feel free to place your hand luggage on the seat beside you and secure your son or daughter in the overhead bins". Genius!

Usually the reason they are 'kicking off' is because they are restricted and frustrated. xx(

Welcome to the realities of air travel...oh hang on, the realities of life

In the bubble there is more room between the rows of seats across the cabin, so they can wander up and down in a relatively more open space, thus creating a calmer atmosphere for them. y)

Somehow the notion that they would amuse themselves discussing the plight of the BBC DG or "Whither the Tea Party Movement" rather than smearing their grubby little hands over everything and stabbing their siblings with felt tips until they cry seems a little far fetched.

I see less "Famous Five" and more "Lord of the Flies"...and remember, they would be very, very, close to the cockpit.

[honey lamb]

Oh, if only I could find the faux TR mdvipond wrote about a family with unruly kids! It was a classic )

My dear lady, I'll have you know that I've never written a 'faux' trip report in my life! The very idea of it! The authenticity of my reportage is at my very core. Besides, I don't have the imagination to come up with a child as dreadful as 'Tarquin'...

As has been mentioned before, this is an oft-revisited topic on here, but for my two-penneth, I don't think a 'child free zone' is either practical or necessary. Drunk passengers, smelly passenger, boorish passengers, snoring passengers, arm-rest hogging passengers (I could go on) all represent as much of a potential inconvenience - if not more so - than most children do. I think if you want to be guaranteed to be sat amongst a certain kind and/or age group of people to suit your own particular sensitivities, then you may be better off chartering your own plane the next time you fly...

Didn't you do a madey-up one about a family in Economy with kids one of whom was called Clamydia and whose parents let them run riot. Each paragraph ended along the lines of "It were a bit of a larf".

If it wasn't you, then somebody did

is this it?

last post on page 1

And yes it was you MDvipond !

I don't think a 'child free zone' is either practical or necessary. Drunk passengers, smelly passenger, boorish passengers, snoring passengers, arm-rest hogging passengers (I could go on) all represent as much of a potential inconvenience - if not more so - than most children do. I think if you want to be guaranteed to be sat amongst a certain kind and/or age group of people to suit your own particular sensitivities, then you may be better off chartering your own plane the next time you fly...

The voice of reason.

is this it?

last post on page 1

And yes it was you MDvipond !

Bugger me. So it was! I have almost no recollection of it (after all, it was over 5 years ago...). Good to know that HL is still sharp as a pin. It just goes to prove there's hope for us all...