Should Kids Be Allowed in Business Class?
A personal take on tantrums at 35,000 feet — and why the issue isn’t always the children
Somewhere over the Atlantic, between dinner and dozing off to a movie I’d already half-watched, I found myself wondering (again) why airlines still allow babies in business class. The idea of paying extra for peace and quiet, only to be serenaded by baby wails or foot-thumping toddlers, feels like a betrayal of what premium cabins are supposed to be about.
Before anyone jumps to premature conclusions: no, I don’t hate children. I only question the judgment of parents who bring unruly kids into a cabin full of people paying extra for silence, sleep, and the occasional glass of undisturbed wine.1
When it works (and why it rarely does)
Years ago, I witnessed a rare exception: a dad traveling with his young child walked through the business class cabin before takeoff, to reassure every passenger around him that his kid was (already) a seasoned traveler and wouldn’t be a problem. “We do this all the time, it’s not what it looks like, don’t worry.”
And much to my surprise, he was right.
The kid didn’t make a sound. It was, honestly, impressive. And likely the one exception that proves the general rule is true. But before we get to that, his gesture and consideration stuck with me. The fact that he acknowledged the elephant in the cabin (the quiet, collective dread that sweeps across every premium seat the moment a child boards) was thoughtful. It diffused the tension before it could even build. We may all had our doubts, but at least he made an effort. And proved the doubts wrong, for the entire duration of that 9 hour flight.
That kind of self-awareness from a parent is rare. And it reinforced what I’ve come to believe: it’s not the children that are the issue. It’s the parents.
It’s not about perfection, it’s about preparation
Travel is stressful enough already. But bringing a child on board a plane without a plan, or worse, without boundaries, is a disservice to everyone, including the child. I’ve seen everything from iPads blaring at full volume (headphones, people!2) to full-blown meltdowns ignored while the parent either pretended to sleep or just stared into space, hoping someone else would intervene.
Let’s call it what it is: bad parenting. Not every child will be perfect on a flight for 9+ hours straight, kids will be kids. But if you’re not even trying to keep things under control, why should everyone else suffer?
This applies to travel in any class, including economy. If your child isn’t ready to handle air travel without turning the cabin into a chaos zone, maybe it’s not time to fly yet. Or maybe travel by train, or car. Or wait a year or two.
The case for kid-free zones
During my last 10-hour flight home, I watched a solo traveler in seat 1A, try to settle in for a peaceful flight. Seat 1A, in my opinion, is the holy grail of premium real estate on a plane. Moments later, the crew installed a baby cot directly in front of her. You could see the horror dawn on her face.
Imagine spending thousands on a flatbed seat, only to find yourself stuck with front-row access to a lullaby of baby cries and pacifier drama.
Kid-free zones might sound harsh. But are they really? We already have quiet cars on trains. Adults-only resorts exist for a reason. Maybe it’s time we rethink how we handle children in the air, and recognize that quiet, restorative space is not a luxury. It’s a necessity, especially on long-haul flights.
It’s not about exclusion — it’s about expectations
Everyone deserves to travel. Families too. But just like there are age limits for emergency exit rows or lounge access, maybe there should be a clearer conversation around business class etiquette, for all travellers, regardless of age.
Because flying is hard enough as it is. And while I don’t expect every journey to be a spa day in the sky, I’d like to believe that paying for peace might actually get you some.
Or at least, not stuck with somebody else’s baby cot in 1A.
Get Into Action
If you’re tired of overpriced, overcrowded flights and want to unlock better seats (ideally baby-free ones) without spending a fortune, check out my Travel Revolution course. It’s your guide to travel hacking the smart, sustainable way, with no tantrums required.
Further reading
First – let me set one thing straight before even kicking off this post: I love kids, including while travelling – but in some cases I strongly dislike their parents. They show up at the airport tired and stressed, causing their little ones to be even more frustrated and cry (if not scream) for the entire duration of a 9 hour flight. I’ve written about this before. Full story here.
Can we please end this social experiment where we subject everyone within earshot to our musical tastes and personal conversations? Instead, let's make a conscious effort to use headsets – a simple gesture that can greatly improve the travel experience for all. I tend to carry some of the free headsets airlines give out, and will happily share those free of charge with anyone who didn’t get this memo. It’s a win-win.