JAL Introduces Child Icon on Seat map

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Lynda2475

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Unfortunately if a passenger books and select seats via an agent the icon wont appear - they need fix

It would also be cool to have a set number of rows/mini cabin at front of economy which is a child free zone.
 
It would also be cool to have a set number of rows/mini cabin at front of economy which is a child free zone.

Or rear of the economy cabin :) Makes sense to have bassinet and children/families together, which would be at the front bulkheads.
 
Except more revenue opportunities to charge say $20 per seat to be in a mini cabin in the front and disembark earlier.

On most domestic flights no basinets anyway, so let the adults have the front.

They need to build an actual wall to sepaprate the kidzone on the big international planes so put bassinet on that or develop a carseat type capsuel that attaches to a seat and charge for baby seats, then any seat in the kid zone can be a baby seat. I was stuck down the back section on a BA A380 last year and there were basinets that far back., as there are mutiple bulk heads.
 
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Whilst I can understand the wishes of some to not sit near an infant, I’m not sure I understand the calls to segregate all children into one section. Surely it is the minority that will cause any issue. Wouldn’t a drunk or one with bad BO or DYKWIA problem be less ideal as a seat neighbour?
 
Ive sat near babies and toddlers who have been quiet and not an issue, but far more often on long hauls its been very distracting not just the crying (and sometimes full toddler meltdown), but having toys and food thrown into aisle then being constatly asked to pick up said toy/bottle and pass back, and constant opening of overhead bins to get kid stuff out or put it away, the pacing up and down the aisle sharing the noise with those trying to sleep, read or watch their IFE.

An idicator on the seat map and a few rows of prefeered adult only seating or mini cabin gives people the option to maximise distance from potential screaming kids - it is why i've burnt points over the years for exot row on A380 to gurantee i wont be seated next to a small child. Also why i predominantly plan personal travel outside of school holidays.

The worst flight of my life was a 6:30am flight to Melbourne on Ansett where there were 4 relatively newborns surrounding me on a full flight (why if travelling with kids not fly later in the day, they dont need to beat a 9am business meeting) - i was on aisle, had a baby next to me on window, one across the aisle, one in front and one behind, and all 4 screamed from moment of take off until landing, i thought my ear drums would burst. Never seen the call button pressed so much with male passengers demading to be moved, and FAs hiding cause nothing could be done.

As a parent of a young child, wouldnt you prefer the people sitting near you were sympathetic? How does people being easily able to avoid sitting near a kid hurt you?

Yes drunk and dykwia wankers present their own challenges, but to date ive never had entirety of a flight made unbreable by an adult. And yes i realise i have probably just jinxed my next flight.
 
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There’s actually also a flip side to those who can’t tolerate children, on a full flight with only a few empty single seats, if one of them were next to a child I might well choose that. Vastly reduces your chance of being stuck next to someone who will hog the armrests and spill over into your space :p

On a more serious note, can never see this becoming a thing in the west. There will be total paranoia about paedophiles being able to specifically choose a seat next to a child.
 
I get those who hate travelling anywhere near kids might like this idea, but it's also creeping me out a tiny bit, given that the marker includes children up to the age of 12, not just (potentially) "screaming babies".

The likelihood of abuse by a stranger is very, very small (compared to a person known to the family/child), but I can see a minority of situations where someone creepy could deliberately choose to sit near a child.
 
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The children are never the problem, it's always the parents who are the problem.
For example, not knowing to give children something to chew on during take off and landing to promote swallowing to help equalise their ears and prevent pain and therefore crying. Or not feeling it is their responsibity to manage the behaviour of their child and its impact on other PAX.
Sadly a seat map of poor parents would be difficult to implement.
 
The likelihood of abuse by a stranger is very, very small (compared to a person known to the family/child), but I can see a minority of situations where someone creepy could deliberately choose to sit near a child

Easy to avoid as a parent though, set the parent (P) between the child (C) and the stranger (S).
On a 2-4-2 you'd do: CP SSSS SS or SS CPSS SS or SS CCPS SS and
On on 3-4-3 you'd do: CPS SSSS SSS or CCP SSSS SSS

You'd be wise to do this now if you are worried.

And my observation for unaccompanied minors is the FA always seem to put them in a seat near the galley with either a vacant seat next to them or seated next to a female passenger. I know this because:
1. On a SYD-MEL trip I was asked to move to alternate aisle seat so the unaccompanied minor would not have to sit next to a male passenger and
2. On a MEL-SYD trip i was asked if I would take the middle seat so an unaccompanied minor could sit on the aisle and not next to a male passenger.

Make of that what you will.
 
As a parent I don't actually mind if others know / avoid seats near me / my kids.

Last thing I want is an intolerant child hating a-hole glaring at me the whole flight if my child has a meltdown.
 
The children are never the problem, it's always the parents who are the problem.
For example, not knowing to give children something to chew on during take off and landing to promote swallowing to help equalise their ears and prevent pain and therefore crying. Or not feeling it is their responsibity to manage the behaviour of their child and its impact on other PAX.
Sadly a seat map of poor parents would be difficult to implement.

It’s not always that simple. Our Miss is fine on take off but sometimes during decent, feeding her isn’t sufficient to stop her from crying in pain. Sometimes a dummy works, sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes you just have to ride it out, it’s only for a few minutes. Doesn’t make me a poor parent, it’s just life.
 
Most kids are fine. Some are great.

Most adults are fine. Some are great.

I have been on many a flight when there have been no children/babies in the bulkhead seats and they have all been occupied by adults who have paid for the privilege (or been status passengers perhaps).

I have raised my own kids and have six grandkids, often baby sit a 3-6 month old, and have no problem with other people's babies/kids in general unless they are uncontrollable little brats and the parents take no action to intervene when they are misbehaving.

I have been on flights where a flight attendant has said the airline has placed two unaccompanied children alongside you on this sector, would you mind just keeping an eye on them. I had a great time talking to two very well behaved and polite kids around 7 and 9, hearing their stories about school and their favourite games etc.

I have been on flights sitting in the actual bulkhead row next to parents with a baby & bassinet who went out of their way to be non-disruptive as possible, were quiet and respectful and when the baby cried walked down to the toilet area and settled the child before coming back.

However, on my last flight I was put one row back from the bulkhead. Three bassinet points were in use, they were all young babies. At all times during the flight when the seat belt sign was off, three or four of the 6 parents were standing in the aisle talking to the other parents comparing baby stories, or making goo goo noises at the baby, or one or more of the babies was screaming.

It was one of those flights from hell with zero sleep or rest. I spent most of the flight standing in the rear galley to get away from the noise and traffic and calm my nerves.

Advance warning those seats had babies in them would have prompted me to request a change of seat at check-in.

PS: Not that it should matter - I am male.
 
Interesting innovation by JAL.

My personal experience is that "screaming kids" have been an extremely infrequent blip on my travelling radar. I agree with those that have experienced far greater problems from adult pax.

But I also recognize that some people are more sensitive to the issue - and this can only help them.
 
Once they are old enough to sit quietly and look after themselves, I don't mind sitting next to/near them. But generally I'm one of those whose anticipatory horror at the sight of an infant is so great it might ruin a good part of the flight until I realise the child is not going to be disruptive. I'd call it PTSD but that would be disrespectful to people who've had real trauma in their lives, but it IS a result of a flight from hell I took about 12 years ago, and still haven't got over.
Yes, I do carry Xanax when I fly. But I'd rather avoid them.

ETA: though TBH, the Japanese kids I've come in contact with on my travels have almost without exception been quiet and polite, so I don't think this is being implemented on the right airline. They should do it on JQ and VA. ;)
 
I was once in a window seat and even before take-off the child in the middle seat next to me was kicking his legs sideways into mine continually. I asked a crew member if she could help, saying "I really don't like children"(!) and after take-off she arranged a clever swap: put me in a window seat a row or two forward, moved the child into what had been mine, his mother next to him, and a woman from the row I was now put in, into the aisle seat, for which she had a strong preference.

Neatly done, without any fuss.
 
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