All of us have different pet peeves – not putting the phone on silent mode during a movie, slow internet, people calling instead of texting, unnecessary abbreviations, too many hashtags on social media posts and sometimes crying babies on flights.
According to BBC News, Japan Airlines has taken note of that last one and now displays an “infant’s seat icon” for kids below 2 years of age on their website. When someone is booking a flight and selecting their seat, it “lets other passengers know a child may be sitting there”.
This gives passengers the option to choose a seat away from a child. However, HuffPost reveals that the icon appears only for seats booked on the website as opposed to third-party sites.
The move has pleased some travellers who are in favour of adult-only flights while others maintain that fliers should be more tolerant towards babies and empathetic towards their parents. Overall, the ‘baby map’ has garnered mixed reactions on Twitter.
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
I used to feel and say exactly what you have just said – but after having my own son, I am very sympathetic to parents travelling with kids. If you're not happy with a screaming child in the cabin then I am more than happy to you to try and reason with them 😉
— Andrew Lim (@andrewlim85) September 26, 2019
They are babies as we all once were. We need to learn tolerance or will soon start needing a map of seat locations for mouth breathers, droolers, farters, drunks, and perhaps a lot more things in life. What ever happened to life's surprises 😉?
— GS (@gsundar) September 26, 2019
I’ve been saying for ages we need a 21+ or 18+ only flight. I would gladly pay a fee for such a flight.
— Tarek Haidar (@TarekHaidar) September 26, 2019
https://twitter.com/sideburno/status/1177290235379666944
https://twitter.com/DDubDub21/status/1177214422835707904
Well I think it's a bloody good idea. It doesn't stop people travelling with their babies; it just gives people the option of sitting further away. I fail to see the issue.
— Disgruntled Technician (@DisgruntledTec) September 26, 2019
https://twitter.com/TryToBeShy/status/1177339807627759616
Do you agree with netizens that believe other airlines should also introduce the “child icon” for those who wish to avoid babies on flights? Or do you think earphones and headphones ought to be enough? Tell us.