Airlines refuse to change seating policies

[oz_mark]

From Radio New Zealand

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/bulletins/radionz/200602271605/7026ae3

Air New Zealand and Qantas say they will not change their seating policies, despite more than 30 complaints to the Human Rights Commission.

The complaints have been filed over the airlines' practice of refusing to seat men next to unaccompanied minors.

The Human Rights Commission says it is trying to resolve the issue through mediation or another avenue.

However, both airlines say they will not change their policies, whatever the outcome of the investigation.

One complaint has been laid by National Party spokesman for Political Correctness Eradication, Wayne Mapp, who says the policy is a breach of the Human Rights Act and the fundamental principles of democracy.

 

[Dave Noble]

So this is the official view of human rights of NZ and QF then. Not impressed

Dave

 

[Gazza]

Wayne Mapp, who says the policy is a breach of the Human Rights Act and the fundamental principles of democracy.[/quote][/quote]

Where you sit on an aircraft is "Fundamental to Democracy"???????????

This guy is a wanker!

Gazza

 

[Skyring]

Cripes. The last place I want to sit is next to a loose kid!

 

[Mal]

Cripes. The last place I want to sit is next to a loose kid!

Try sitting next to two "brats" instead. :roll:

I posted about that QF experience (Jan 2004 I think) previously.

Jal put me next to an unaccompanied minor late last year (child was in A seat, I was in C).

I'm more than happy to be segregated from unaccompanied children. I think tho that the airlines have it wrong. The children should be seperated from all adults, not just males...

 

[aus_flyer]

I am quite surprised, but certainly not upset.

 

[cpl]

The children should be seperated from all adults, not just males...

Sure, and certainly not occupying exit row seats as seen on a domestic flight last year. One brat blocking 3 exit row seats even though it violated regulations. No I could not bother complaining as it was a short flight. I was just amazed.

 

[cpl]

Where you sit on an aircraft is "Fundamental to Democracy"???????????

This guy is a wanker!

Gender-based discrimination is the issue.

 

[cpl]

Where you sit on an aircraft is "Fundamental to Democracy"???????????

This guy is a wanker!

Gender-based discrimination is the issue.

And of course the implicit accusation of all males being potential child molesters. Aussies who happily surrender their privacy rights and agree to be treated like potential thieves when entering Coles and similar supermarkets probably won't even notice 8)

 

[Gazza]

Hello All

While I appreciate and share everyones concern at the implication that all men are somehow not to be trusted with children. My comments were based on his linking this issue which is really trivial with the preservation of basic democracy.

They were also based on the fact that he is a "career polie" who is just looking for a headline and wouldnt give a cough about where children or anyone else sit.

I have had the misfortune of dealing with him and several of his "kind" within the NZ National party. He is widely seen as a bad joke who trawls from issue to issue seeking 15 seconds of airtime without ever making a real contribution to anything (other than his own ego).


Gazza

 

[one9]

Hello All

While I appreciate and share everyones concern at the implication that all men are somehow not to be trusted with children. My comments were based on his linking this issue which is really trivial with the preservation of basic democracy.

They were also based on the fact that he is a "career polie" who is just looking for a headline and wouldnt give a s*it about where children or anyone else sit.

I have had the misfortune of dealing with him and several of his "kind" within the NZ National party. He is widely seen as a bad joke who trawls from issue to issue seeking 15 seconds of airtime without ever making a real contribution to anything (other than his own ego).


Gazza

maybe this is true, but just because a prominent person behind the campain doesn't really care about the issue, it does not make the issue any less important.

I remember when I first heard this I was very surprised. I really think that it is stupid discrimination and I can't understand why such practice is still done. But then again, I suppose if an alone child was abused by someone on a plane, and the matter was taken to court, then I believe it would be much harder to make a point and get people on your side if the abuse was done by a woman, simply because people don't expect and imagine women sexually abusing children.

 

[Skyring]

But then again, I suppose if an alone child was abused by someone on a plane, and the matter was taken to court, then I believe it would be much harder to make a point and get people on your side if the abuse was done by a woman, simply because people don't expect and imagine women sexually abusing children.

Ah, I don't think too many people are concerned about kiddies being sexually abused on planes by lustful male passengers. I think the worry is that a bloke would give the kids a clout if they spilt his beer.

 

[oz_mark]

I remember when I first heard this I was very surprised. I really think that it is stupid discrimination and I can't understand why such practice is still done. But then again, I suppose if an alone child was abused by someone on a plane, and the matter was taken to court, then I believe it would be much harder to make a point and get people on your side if the abuse was done by a woman, simply because people don't expect and imagine women sexually abusing children.

I have no statistics on it, but it seems to me that the number of cases of teachers sexually abusing children is pretty evenly split between males and females (based solely on the media reports I have noticed)

 

[QF WP]

Well, let's not just stop at "seating men next to unaccompanied minors", we might as well include:

women
girls
other boys
lesbians
homosexuals
transsexuals
gender reassignees
cross dressers

where will it end (well, actually now, when I can't think of any others :roll: )

It's surely just the current political pawn of the hightened "fear" about child molesters. Let's wait until the next news story and just "insert profile here"...

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

But then again, I suppose if an alone child was abused by someone on a plane, and the matter was taken to court, then I believe it would be much harder to make a point and get people on your side if the abuse was done by a woman, simply because people don't expect and imagine women sexually abusing children.

Ah, I don't think too many people are concerned about kiddies being sexually abused on planes by lustful male passengers. I think the worry is that a bloke would give the kids a clout if they spilt his beer.

No beer on domestic flights.

 

[cpl]

No beer on domestic flights.

Finally a good reason for demanding NZ to join Australia.

 

[bigjobs]

never mind not being allowed to sit next to UAM's ...

i want to know where i can lodge my request to NOT be seated next to the adults who are unable to control the little cherubs that they are responsible for during flight.

 

[Damien]

never mind not being allowed to sit next to UAM's ...

i want to know where i can lodge my request to NOT be seated next to the adults who are unable to control the little cherubs that they are responsible for during flight.

You're not the only one! Do let me know when you've found the answer...

 

[NM]

In Qld, anyone who works with kids in any way (including voluntary such as football coaching, school tuckshop, etc) must hold and carry with them a Qld Government issued "Suitability Card" also known as a Blue Card.

If there was a federal equiv of this card, it would be appropriate for anyone seated next to a UM to be asking to show their card before being seated there. This could apply to men and women alike so no way to claim discrimination.

I would have no issue with this either as a travelling male member of the population or as a parent of a UM.

 

[cpl]

In Qld, anyone who works with kids in any way (including voluntary such as football coaching, school tuckshop, etc) must hold and carry with them a Qld Government issued "Suitability Card" also known as a Blue Card.

If there was a federal equiv of this card, it would be appropriate for anyone seated next to a UM to be asking to show their card before being seated there. This could apply to men and women alike so no way to claim discrimination.

I would have no issue with this either as a travelling male member of the population or as a parent of a UM.

And next a card proving that a male is suitable to be placed next to a female? And perhaps another card proving that a guy just looks like a bogan but isnt one? No thanks.