If you’ve ever had to sit next to a screaming toddler on a plane, you might have wished an adults-only flight had been available.
After all, child-free cruises have long been an option — Virgin Voyages, Viking and P&O are just three of the major cruise lines that offer them — so why aren’t airlines taking a similar approach?
Some carriers offer ‘quiet zones’ on certain flights, which have age restrictions in place, making them effectively child-free.
Turkish-owned Corendon Airlines is one of these, and caused a stir when it announced plans to introduce an adults-only zone in 2023.
The idea proved deeply divisive, but Metro readers have been quick to defend the desire for child-free spaces on planes.
And, perhaps surprisingly, a lot of people supporting the idea are parents themselves.
Anna Chandramohan said: ‘As a parent, I would be ok with this. I am very conscious of other people, so actually flying with my kids is really stressful. If there was a designated family area it would take the pressure off and allow others who could be travelling for work or just want some peace to get that as well.’
Gem Shelswell agreed, writing: ‘I have two kids and support this for longer haul flights where they are able to divide sections up. Mine are pretty good as [they] love flying, but can understand if you don’t have kids or have never wanted kids that it can be a disturbance.’
Another parent, Charlotte Saunders, added: ‘Children have different experiences on planes and taking into account children with disabilities or neurodivergence too. Doesn’t seem fair that the whole flight should have to put up with children crying etc when they’re having a hard time.’
But not everyone is on board (pardon the pun) with adults-only flights.
Aaron J Kennett pointed out: ‘I think tarnishing all the children that fly with the same brush is unfair and why would children who are keeping quiet want to be in the same small space as those children that are being a nuisance?’
Emma Louise Duff added: ‘It’s called private planes, noise-cancelling earphones or just simply not travelling. People do not need to accommodate to others. And I’ve been on more flights filled with annoying drunken adults than crying or loud children.’
Meanwhile, Jo-ann Bliss simply said: ‘Children are humans and valuable too… not second-class citizens. How very sad.’
‘I took a holiday without my husband and children – every mum should’
It’s not just childless travellers who want to go on holiday without being disturbed by children — parents are entitled to solo time away too.
But they’re often shamed for it.
Singer Frankie Bridge has recently been branded ‘selfish’ and ‘the worst parent’ for going on holiday without her kids and husband.
And writer Alison Perry faced similar criticism when she booked herself into a Travelodge overnight for a break from family life — but she has no regrets.
‘Checking in at the front desk, I was giddy with excitement, if a little embarrassed that the hotel staff could check my address and clock I lived so locally.
‘It was such a treat to be able to sleep in, rather than my usual morning routine of being woken by the hollering of my twins at 5.30am.
‘Walking back through my front door at home, I felt like I could breathe again. I was looking forward to seeing my kids rather than wishing I could be somewhere else.’
Metro spoke to Anthony Radchenko, founder and CEO at AirAdvisor, the world’s leading air passenger rights company.
Radchenko thinks we could see more airlines introduce child-free zones in the future.
‘Airlines are presently testing child-free zones, so they’re still taking notes before normalising it. Apart from the obvious, one major advantage of child-free zones on planes will be improved in-flight productivity for business passengers.
‘In fact, airlines might market these as ‘productivity hubs’ on long-haul flights to allow frequent flyers uninterrupted work time. This means they can create more seat categories, earning more money from tickets.’
Other advantages would include a smoother boarding process and enhanced crew efficiency. Child-free passengers can board into the dedicated area quicker, while crew in that section will spend less time assisting families.
However, Radchenko adds, ‘travelling with a child is not a crime, so families might feel marginalised’ by these zones.
Airlines with child-free zones
- Scoot Airlines: Scoot-in-Silence is a dedicated quiet cabin available to travellers aged 12 years and above. The seats have wider legroom, adjustable headrests and are located near the front of the plane, so passengers disembark first.
- AirAsia: The Quiet Zone is available only for guests aged 10 years and above and promises ‘minimal noise and zero disturbances’, as well as speedy disembarkation and early meal service.
- Corendon Airlines: The first European airline to offer an ‘Only Adult’ zone, the area is reserved for travellers over the age of 16 and costs €45 one way.
- IndiGo: The budget Indian airline first introduced its Quiet Zones in 2014. These make up rows one to four and 11 to 14 on the aircraft and are areas for travellers over 12 years of age only.
- Japan Airlines: This airline doesn’t have a separate child-free zone, but it does have a feature on its booking system that informs passengers where infants aged two and under will be sat.
But what about completely child-free flights? After all, just because you’re several rows away from a child doesn’t mean you won’t be able to hear them.
As Shelly Hill pointed out: ‘How exactly are they going to stop the noise of a crying child breaching that ‘child-free’ zone? No problem with child-free flights though.’
Stephen Yarrow agreed: ‘Child-free flights would be good.’
It’s not just Metro readers who have been discussing the possibility of adults-only flights.
Posting in the subreddit r/childfree, one Reddit user shared: ‘I feel like this is the only place I can say this and not get downvoted but I’m tired of flying with kids. Last night I was stuck on a plane with like 10 kids, including two screaming babies. It was a late night flight too so imagine trying to catch a quick nap but can’t because a baby is screaming bloody murder.
‘I’m surprised there isn’t a child-free airline yet. I would pay extra for that convenience.’
Other users were quick to share their own experiences of being sat near small children.
One said: ‘I flew from NYC to Paris this summer and there was a baby crying several rows behind me for the majority of the flight. Let’s just say that my noise-cancelling headphones were not cutting it. I hate heights but if someone had offered me a parachute, I would have seriously thought about it!’
Another shared: ‘My last flight was overseas from Heathrow to San Diego –five kids under three years old, and they each had their own special turn to scream and cry.’
A user offered some advice, saying: ‘I have had good luck taking extremely early flights. It’s rare that a family is organized enough to be on a 6am flight.’
However, Radchenko has some bad news for passengers hoping that airlines will soon start introducing entirely child-free flights.
He told Metro: ‘Under EU Regulation 261/2004 and UK air passenger rights frameworks, airlines are legally required to provide non-discriminatory access to services. Having child-free flights will breach these rights and invite unnecessary chaos. It will catch the attention of consumer advocacy groups and push regulators to formalise new standards.’
So, if you’re someone who prefers to holiday undisturbed by children, make sure you book yourself into an adults-only hotel to welcome you after your flight.
You could even check out Metro’s round-up of Europe’s best adults-only hotels to inspire your next trip.
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