We don't need kid-free flights; we need more kid-friendly ones

OPINION: "Why are parents encouraged to keep their kids at home if they're now rolling out the red carpet for pets to travel onboard?"

Travelling overseas is great before you have kids. However, as you grow your own family, long-haul flights become less and less appealing.

And yes, I learned this the hard way.

My husband and I recently took our three boys overseas for a family wedding. When people asked me if I was excited about the trip, I hesitated before saying "yes." I was nervous about the flight over; I would be trapped in a flying metal can for 24 hours with an eight-year-old, six-year-old, and 10-month-old.

What could go wrong? 

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When we arrived at the gate, ready to board, the other passengers' looks of terror matched how I felt. All they could see were annoying kids, and I know they hoped we wouldn't be sat next to them. I felt like saying, "We don't want to be here either, but there's no other way, so let us be!" 

Before takeoff, the flight attendant took a Polaroid to mark the occasion, and we all plastered on a smile. When the photo came into focus, I had to laugh - not at my family but at the passenger next to us who got snapped as well. Her face... Well, you can see it below.

As we hurtled through the air toward our destination, I kept waiting for my kids to muck up, scream, cause a scene, or do something to make us a cautionary tale on TikTok with the caption "Never fly with kids." 

But our flight went as smoothly as my baby's butt.

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"I expected everyone to cry, including me"

My husband kept reiterating, "have low expectations," so I would not be disappointed. Accordingly, I boarded that plane expecting everyone to cry and not sleep. 

When we made it to the end with the boys fairly well rested and voices still intact from whispering, I was waiting for the applause and accolades from my fellow passengers. Of course, they didn't come.  We were still getting dirty looks until the baggage claim.

Admittedly, even I couldn't fully rejoice, because I knew that soon, there would be the flight home...

Luckily, that went well, too. I was so proud of my boys and myself for getting there and back without an Air Marshall getting involved. 

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The start of the long journey home. Source: supplied

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"Pets are welcome, but children aren't?"

Of course, my experience is an anomaly and I doubt it will be repeated. I'm just grateful now we didn't go viral for anything. I feel so much for all the parents of kids who make headlines for their shenanigans on a plane - like this family, whose toddler was jumping on a tray table.

I would be mortified if that was my child... but I also understand how annoying it was for the neighbouring passenger.

Having said that, I couldn't understand the knee-jerk reaction with an outcry for kid-free planes.

I don't condone this behaviour by any means - it's appalling - but airlines need to reassess their attitudes regarding children.

Why are kids encouraged to stay home if they're rolling out the red carpet for dogs and cats to board with their owners?

It doesn't make sense that the priority is to launch pet-friendly flights before family-friendly flights. Don't they want more families flying? Children over the age of two are actual bums on seats.  

And also - asking kids to remain in their seats (even with a screen) for hours is absurd! They need to cater better for families who need to fly - and want to live life. 

Who's ready for a long-haul flight and three kids? Source: supplied

"Swap the bar for soft play"

Here's an idea - let's make a playroom by ditching the sky bar!

The fact that there is space for a full bar on a plane is mind-blowing. Who needs it? Ask the flight attendants if they would prefer parents bringing their children into an open space over policing adults' alcohol consumption.

Replace that valuable real estate with a soft play area. That way, kids can move and release some energy before they sit. And yes, I get that this would be a hazard during turbulence, but so is a passenger getting drunk at a bar. 

Think of it this way - if you want to ban kids from flights, maybe you should also ban the adults who think the plane makes them invisible - you know, the ones who remove their shoes, release gas, or clip their nails.

Just remember; there are worse people to be stuck with at high altitude than children.

Originally published as We don't need kid-free flights; we need more kid-friendly ones