Airline Introduces Tool To Stay Away From Screaming Babies On Its Flights
Japan Airlines’ seating map shows where children under the age of two are during their flights. This move, which is part of the organization’s Smile Support travel service, is supposed to benefit everyone involved: it keeps children only near passengers who aren’t bothered by screaming and other disruptions, and puts passengers who want nothing to do with a fussy baby aisles away from young families who are sick and tired of angry looks.
Image credits: Masakatsu Ukon
At least one other Japanese airline offers its customers customers the same feature. A spokeswoman for All Nippon Airways said its seat maps have shown where children are sitting “for a while”.
The feature has been met with mixed reactions online. Some fliers have been expressing relief
Image credits: dequinix
Image credits: dequinix
Heloisa Flores, a Japan-based moderator on the popular aviation Facebook group, Airborne Memes for Flight-Oriented Teens, said that trying to make everyday life as convenient as possible with little behavioural changes is, in a sense, very Japanese. “In my opinion it works in Japan, and is positive,” she told Bored Panda.
“In Japan, a big percentage of people flying everyday are businessmen commuting to and from work. Depending on the route and time of your flight, you’ll notice that most people on it are men in suits. I live in Fukuoka, and there are more than 100 flights from FUK to Tokyo airports every day. That being said, and following Japan’s culture of not speaking loudly, eating or drinking in public transportation, I think this new feature is trying to make the experience of commuting on flights more similar to commuting on buses, trains or the Shinkansen, which are very quiet. And usually, this is due to respect for workers who are either preparing to work long hours or coming back from it.”
Image credits: EricM66524480
Image credits: TarekHaidar
While others have been saying that flying near a crying child is simply part of air travel and everyone should just get over it
Image credits: timmyhillier
Image credits: gsundar
Image credits: danascully73
Image credits: Ballahooligan
Image credits: thestrawbster
Here’s what others had to say about it
Most people understand and tolerate baby crying. They just can’t tolerate idiot parents that let their baby screaming for hours and still pretending they’re not there.
THIS six million upvotes. I don't mind kids, or babies. I HATE parents that ignore their needs that cause them to disturb other people.
Two idiotic responses in a row. You CANNOT stop a crying baby at will. You may be confusing spoiled bratty kids who don't behave with crying babies and those are two entirely different situations. You both sound really ignorant.
@Crochet lady: you can't read well, can you?
You really think a crying baby has a remote control to turn them on and off? So many reasons they can cry and you can’t do shit. Cabin pressure, sleeping schedule change, noise, lights, colic. I don’t know if you’re a parent but if you are you would know it’s not always controllable.
The point that is, you can tell when parents try to confort a child, and when they just don't give a F. Think OP is talking about the second ones.
yes. this.
What happens when the baby's seat is chosen after yours? If there are empty seats when you choose yours, surely a baby could then be booked into it.
Also, even if you understand, if you have the option to be far from the baby, it's useful. You can understand things that are annoying and still take steps to avoid them.
Love this answer, I am a parent & I hate hearing other babies cry. They are NOT attention seeking if a baby is crying something is genuinely not right
Planes are not that big so if there is a screaming baby on the flight you're going to hear regardless of where you sit.
It's still better than to have it right next to you.
I agree. I have been couple of times in a situation where someone's baby has started screaming next to my ear. That hurts.
yup
I'm with the guy who would pay extra for flights where only people over the age of 18 are allowed. On a long flight, that would be worth extra money.
I don't know, I've seen some bratty entitled adults too. So put up with a baby that can't help themselves, or an unbelievably whiny, entitled, loud, grown ass person who SHOULD know better?
I don't have time for the assholes, either. Babies cry. That's what babies do. It's not a big deal. KIDS that race around the cabin unrestrained put everyone at risk....and I want to smack their parents. The REALLY annoying people are the morons that sit and babble at you like you'll be their buddy if they just keep chattering. Um...No. I do NOT want to be their buddy, I DON'T care about their kids and puppies and kittens, and I really DO want to read the trashy novel I've been saving for months for just such an occasion.
Most people understand and tolerate baby crying. They just can’t tolerate idiot parents that let their baby screaming for hours and still pretending they’re not there.
THIS six million upvotes. I don't mind kids, or babies. I HATE parents that ignore their needs that cause them to disturb other people.
Two idiotic responses in a row. You CANNOT stop a crying baby at will. You may be confusing spoiled bratty kids who don't behave with crying babies and those are two entirely different situations. You both sound really ignorant.
@Crochet lady: you can't read well, can you?
You really think a crying baby has a remote control to turn them on and off? So many reasons they can cry and you can’t do shit. Cabin pressure, sleeping schedule change, noise, lights, colic. I don’t know if you’re a parent but if you are you would know it’s not always controllable.
The point that is, you can tell when parents try to confort a child, and when they just don't give a F. Think OP is talking about the second ones.
yes. this.
What happens when the baby's seat is chosen after yours? If there are empty seats when you choose yours, surely a baby could then be booked into it.
Also, even if you understand, if you have the option to be far from the baby, it's useful. You can understand things that are annoying and still take steps to avoid them.
Love this answer, I am a parent & I hate hearing other babies cry. They are NOT attention seeking if a baby is crying something is genuinely not right
Planes are not that big so if there is a screaming baby on the flight you're going to hear regardless of where you sit.
It's still better than to have it right next to you.
I agree. I have been couple of times in a situation where someone's baby has started screaming next to my ear. That hurts.
yup
I'm with the guy who would pay extra for flights where only people over the age of 18 are allowed. On a long flight, that would be worth extra money.
I don't know, I've seen some bratty entitled adults too. So put up with a baby that can't help themselves, or an unbelievably whiny, entitled, loud, grown ass person who SHOULD know better?
I don't have time for the assholes, either. Babies cry. That's what babies do. It's not a big deal. KIDS that race around the cabin unrestrained put everyone at risk....and I want to smack their parents. The REALLY annoying people are the morons that sit and babble at you like you'll be their buddy if they just keep chattering. Um...No. I do NOT want to be their buddy, I DON'T care about their kids and puppies and kittens, and I really DO want to read the trashy novel I've been saving for months for just such an occasion.