Another Airline Adds Child-Free Zone

Child-free zones seem to have become a trend among airlines in the East. Last year, Malaysia Airlines banned infants in some first-class cabins. And then AirAsia set up no-kids-allowed “quiet zones” on some of its planes.

Now, add Scoot Airlines to the list of family-unfriendly Asian carriers. According to a report form The Telegraph, Singapore-based Scoot is introducing a “ScootinSilence” cabin to its fleet of Boeing 777 planes, to which passengers can upgrade for $16 AUD (about $14.40). Children ages 12 and younger will not be permitted in the ScootinSilence section.

The kid-free part of the plane consists of five rows of seats. However, last time I checked, the piercing cry of an angry toddler can travel a heck of a lot farther than five rows. The child-free area also offers a bit more legroom than standard economy, though. A seat map on Seatplans.com shows that these seats offer four additional inches of space. So you get some spaciousness with your silence.

Is this move an affront to families? Scoot CEO Campbell Wilson made an attempt to smooth things over with the parents of his customer base when he told The Australian, “No offence to our young guests or those traveling with them—you still have the rest of the aircraft.”

We have yet to see an airline in the States offer a child-free seating option to its customers. But if flyers are willing to open their wallets, I wouldn’t put it past any U.S. carriers. And something tells me a discounter like Spirit—with little to lose in the way of branding and a penchant for publicity at any cost—could be the first to go this route.

Do you think child-free seating is fair? Share your thoughts in the comments.

You Might Also Like:

• Has the Time Come for Child-Free Cabins?
• Things You Should Never Do in Airplane Bathrooms
• Top Ways to Travel Like a True Jetsetter