Should kids be allowed in first and business class?

“I’ve had several flights where economy has no screaming babies but there is a screaming baby up in first class! I think as economics pushes more and more young people to prioritize career over child rearing, first class has become the scream baby section, because wealthy people are the ones having kids and traveling with babies.”

My Take

I was a frequent flyer way before I became a parent so I can understand both sides of the argument. I flew for 10 years quite frequently before becoming a father, so I’ve been through the transition myself. Here’s what I think:

• Firstly, its not just about the kids. Yes, sometimes kids can be really cranky and create a ruckus. There are often factors beyond the control of most parents. Also, it’s very tough to explain to a 2-3-4 year old that they’re stuck in a metal cabin for the next 10-12 hours and they cannot ‘step out’ or keep running around.

• Secondly, preparation is the key. My toddler has already notched up over 8 countries and 40+ flights and we focus a ton on preparing before the flight, to make sure things are ironed out for her. Planning out meals, nap times, keeping her entertained et al. We make sure we carry enough coloring books, smaller toys or simply read a book or two to keep her entertained as opposed to keeping her exposed to the IFE glare.

• Before the flight, we tend to avoid feeding our toddler foods that are high in sugar or salt. By keeping her diet simple and restricting it to fruits, vegetables, milk and nuts, it has helped us a ton in making our flights much smoother.

My Experience before becoming a parent

As I mentioned earlier, I was a frequent flyer for at least 10 years before becoming a parent, flying premium cabins for both business and leisure. Were there times when a unruly or cranky kid simply disturbed peace in the cabin? Absolutely yes. However, I’m not someone who got bothered too much, because I usually had my headphones on, either listening to music or watching a movie. Also, I’m someone who sleeps pretty well on planes, so I’ve never had issues with my sleep disturbed due to kids in premium cabins.

The Other Side

Obviously, I can understand why some people may think that kids simply don’t belong on planes, let alone in premium cabins. However, with kids, especially at an early age, things can always go wrong even if parents take the utmost precautions. Also, if your kid is sleep deprived and is fed food that’s high in sugar, in addition to prolonged exposure to a screen, there’s every chance that kid is going to be more belligerent in flight as opposed to calm and composed.

Prepping for a flight with Kids on board

If your’e a parent, then preparation is key. Planning goes a long way in helping your kid and yourself destress before a long flight. When things go wrong, they can go absolutely wrong and sometimes you just don’t have control over the circumstances, but as a parent, prepping up well sets you up nicely for success, more often than not.

If you’re simply traveling solo or as a couple and are worried about your flight being disturbed due to kids, then you first need to focus on seat selection, avoiding the bulkhead as much as you can. Also, for some people who tend to be more sensitive to kids’ sounds in a small cabin in flight, ear muffs or noise canceling headphones can do the job for you, at least to some extent. Also, you can make sure that your devices are loaded with enough entertainment options, just in case the IFE doesn’t have what you want

The Pundit’s Mantra

When traveling with kids, things can go wrong even when you take the utmost precautions. Sometimes it could just be an illness or just lack of sleep or reasons you may not foresee in advance.

There’s no way airlines are going to simply ban kids from flying in premium cabins. As parents or as solo travelers, what we can do at a minimum is prepare in the best way possible just in case things go south while in flight.

As someone who has traveled a ton before becoming a parent, I can proudly say that travel is one of the best gifts that one can pass on to the next generation. I was fortunate to have received that gift from my parents and I’m more than happy to pass it on to the next generation.