We all have our different pet peeves on planes. Some of us get upset when passengers recline their seats back, while others are annoyed by travelers who try to exit out of order. But if your biggest flight frustration is crying babies on board, a new solution may be coming your way. One airline has just announced that it will be testing "only adults" seating on flights. Read on to discover exactly what that entails.
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Many travelers are annoyed by children on flights.
iStockFlying can be a stressful experience as is. But when you add babies and toddlers into the mix, that can be enough to push some adults over the edge.
U.S. travelers ranked crying children as the second most annoying thing to deal with during a flight in a 2018 survey from Genfare, according to CBS News. More recently, The Street reported that 26 percent of respondents for a 2023 survey from flight aggregator Kayak said they believe it is never okay to bring a baby aboard a flight.
A simple search on social media also shows just how much of an annoyance this is for travelers. "Please ban babies from red eye flights. Not one but two crying babies on my flight home right now and I have to work once I land. Please ban it," one user wrote in an Aug. 28 X post.
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One airline is now planning to test "only adults" seating on flights.
iStockNow, one company is looking to tackle this annoyance by being the first airline in Europe to have a dedicated section on the plane for older passengers. In an Aug. 23 translated press release, Turkish-Dutch carrier Corendon Airlines announced that it is planning to test an "Only Adults" zone on one of its routes later this year.
"This zone in the aircraft is intended for travelers traveling without children and for business travelers who want to work in a quiet environment," the release states. "At the same time, the introduction of the Only Adults zone also has a positive effect for parents with children. They don't have to worry as much about possible reactions from fellow passengers if their child is a bit busier or cries."
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This initiative will start in November.
iStockCorendon Airlines said it is planning to test the restricted seating section on its routes between Amsterdam and Curaçao this fall. The flights are set to start Nov. 3, and travelers can already book their trip through the carrier's website. However, a seat reservation in the Only Adults zone will cost you a fee.
According to the release, the front section of the aircraft will be reserved for the adult-restriction seating. The entire zone will consist of nine extra large seats with extra legroom and 93 standard seats. "The zone is physically separated from the rest of the aircraft by means of walls and curtains, creating a shielded environment that contributes to a calm and relaxed flight," the carrier stated.
If you are 16 or older, you will be able to purchase a standard seat reservation in the Only Adults section for an extra 45 euros (roughly $48) each way. But if you want to book an extra large seat in the zone, it will cost you an extra 100 euros (roughly $108) each way.
One traveler said they hope other airlines start doing the same.
iStockDespite not going into effect until later this year, Corendon's decision to test an adult-only zone on flights has already received positive praise from travelers.
"As the father of two young children, I quite like the idea of one Dutch carrier to create an adults-only zone onboard in which children under 16 will not be permitted," Live and Let's Fly writer Matthew Klint wrote in an article. "It is good business opportunity and presents a practical solution to the bellyachers who complain bitterly about children on airplanes."
Other people also expressed interest in wanting other carriers to do the same. "I’d definitely pay for a seat in this zone. I hope this becomes the norm, and other airlines start offering something similar," user @wordcaster wrote in an Aug. 27 post on X.
