Airline introduces ‘child icon’ that lets passengers avoid crying babies
Japan Airlines has introduced a new baby seat map to allow passengers to avoid sitting near infants during their flight.
“Passengers traveling with children between 8 days and 2 years old who select their seats on the JAL website will have a child icon displayed on their seats on the seat selection screen. This lets other passengers know a child may be sitting there,” the airline said on its website.
The move has drawn both criticism and praise on social media. Some called for people to be more empathetic, while others said they would prefer not to have to sit next to ‘screaming’ children. Others said they wished all airlines would follow suit as they preferred a quiet flight, while one Twitter user said that noise-cancelling headphones would solve any issues relating to crying babies.
Thank you, @JAL_Official_jp for warnings me about where babies plan to scream and yell during a 13 hour trip. This really ought to be mandatory across the board.
Please take note, @qatarairways: I had 3 screaming babies next to me on my JFK-DOH flight two weeks ago. pic.twitter.com/kQYQFIqqCD
— Rahat Ahmed (@dequinix) September 24, 2019
Omg!!! Love this. For years I’ve been saying they need to start having family only flights. Crew dress up, there’s peppa pig on tv, extra leg room so babies can play.. and us foke who have no kids with us, have no worries of a crying kid. This is why Japan Airlines have 5 stars! https://t.co/xfZ6QH5MvR
— stephanie fletcher (@fletch_master) September 27, 2019
What has happened to empathy? I was on a plane beside a screaming baby today & chose to offer solidarity, sharing stories of flying with kids, offering funny faces to bub, & helping hold the baby while mum organised bags. No one WANTS to fly with babies https://t.co/xJ3dzIPypY
— Carla Pascoe Leahy (@carla_pascoe) September 27, 2019
Japan Airlines warned that child icons are not displayed in the following situations:
- Seats booked as part of a tour or using award tickets
- Seats selected through means other than the JAL website
It said that the child icons may not be displayed correctly if there is a change in aircraft.
Read: Here’s what airline companies are working on to make your next flight more spacious
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