Should J & F be AO? (Kids we dont want you in Business class!)

[drron]

Sounds like the perfect relationship! The man knows his place and SWMBO is always right!!

I understand this only too well.

So true.

 

[QF WP]

"A happy wife is a happy life" - never were truer words spoken. "You're correct" is also a perfectly suitable two word phrase - finished with "as usual " (in your head of course, never spoken out loud :shock

Sounds like the perfect relationship! The man knows his place and SWMBO is always right!!

I understand this only too well.

I guess that why they are known as SWMBO!!!

Two words for the secret of a long-lasting relationship.... "Yes Dear"

More words to smooth the long lasting reationship:
"No Dear, your Dress/Butt/anything-else look fine" ...

 

[ozbeachbabe]

However you answer make sure you respond quickly. I remember once I put on a dress that SO looked at & there was too long a pause before he said anything.

Well that dress never saw the light of day again & it was probably the most I'd ever paid for a dress. Expensive mistake.

I don't know what it is but we just don't like to be told by our SO if the dress makes our bum look big or whatever it is that's wrong with it.

The funny thing is that if a friend eg a gay guy told us it was terrible we would take that advice onboard & listen to them because they can tell us the truth & we won't sulk or give them the silent treatment, this includes "everything is fine".

They're also masters of spin so they can downplay the bad but most importantly give us a solution eg "sweetie you just have to wear the black, it's just so slimming & those shoes & your handbag are just the perfect accessory"....or words to that effect.

Easy!

 

[LiamR]

I'm reviving an old threat here, but looks like one of the airlines has acted upon infants in F:

Malaysia Airlines CEO defends 'baby ban' in First Class cabin - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

MAS have banned infants in their first class cabin.

The airline's explanation was that the pointy end of these 747-400s are simply not equipped with bassinets, and no bassinets means no babies.

However, there seems to be more reasoning behind it, the CEO said upfront on twitter:


I know this topic has been done to death, has anybody else read the story, what are your thoughts? There's a poll on AusBT asking what everybody's thoughts are, at the moment approx. 40% believe babies should be banned from F & J.

I personally think Infants under two should have no place in the first class cabin, unlike children aged 2-11, they can't be controlled and silenced as easily. Causing an inevitable disruption to the F Cabin.

 

[medhead]

I personally think Infants under two should have no place in the first class cabin, unlike children aged 2-11, they can't be controlled and silenced as easily.

gotta say that is not my experience at all. Generally infants are crying for a reason - hungry, wind, tired or soiled. It should take no more than about 30 minutes to work through the options and satisfy the baby, provided you have decent parents. On the other hand we have terrible 2s, IME more like 3 or 4, where the child can not be satisfied easily, cannot be reasoned with and may simply be bored. Those are things that are not easy to address. Perhaps those complaining don't really understand the difference between an infant and a toddler.

 

[Smackbum]

gotta say that is not my experience at all. Generally infants are crying for a reason - hungry, wind, tired or soiled. It should take no more than about 30 minutes to work through the options and satisfy the baby, provided you have decent parents. On the other hand we have terrible 2s, IME more like 3 or 4, where the child can not be satisfied easily, cannot be reasoned with and may simply be bored. Those are things that are not easy to address. Perhaps those complaining don't really understand the difference between an infant and a toddler.

I agree. It's the three to five year-olds which are more likely to cause the most grief. So my main problem with MAS is why they don't have bassinets in First. The fact that infants are therefore banned is sensible from a safety viewpoint, but it seems to be anti-family in nature.

 

[concorde71]

Im in two minds about this. I have young kids, and even as infants we did travel J, however, I really doint think I would even contemplate F with kids.
1. They would get just as bored in F as J or Y
2. The fare could not be justified
3. If they did have some issue, I wouldnt want to have to deal with the toffee nosed staring at me / the offspring. They obviously have no tolerence
4. I couldnt afford F anyway, so point is moot

 

[ozmille]

There were quite a few kids in J last night. Didn't notice them at all, very well behaved

 

[Chatterbocks]

wow...my mind is blown by some of the comments on here and lack of compassion by some people. EVERYONE hates getting seated near a crying baby - especially when you have forked out for J or F. But what is the alternative? I have seen what a stressful and tiring effort it is for parents who, for whatever reason have to ferry their baby somewhere.

If we are going to start with babies, I then vote for fat old men with sleep apnea to be banned also. In the 20+ times I have flown J over the last 2 years I have been disturbed by overweight businessmen snoring loudly more times than I have by a baby. My apologies to anyone here a) fat or b) old or c) with sleep apnea.

 

[TonyHancock]

My apologies to anyone here a) fat or b) old or c) with sleep apnea.

Apology accepted....on all counts.

 

[medhead]

My apologies to anyone here a) fat or b) old or c) with sleep apnea.

apology not needed for c), I have a machine that stops me snoring now. I've used it 50% of my J international flights. The other time qantas forgot to provide the power for me. So don't blame me, blame qantas

 

[TonyHancock]

apology not needed for c), I have a machine that stops me snoring now. I've used it 50% of my J international flights. The other time qantas forgot to provide the power for me. So don't blame me, blame qantas

So does that mean you are young, thin and have sleep apnea?

 

[medhead]

So does that mean you are young, thin and have sleep apnea?

40 is still young isn't it? Thin is a matter of perspective. Apparently, I've had it all my adult life due to another medical condition, so size isn't the problem.

 

[Moopere]

wow...my mind is blown by some of the comments on here and lack of compassion by some people.

Personally, I can't believe the indignation of some folk who insist on sharing the love of their little bundle of joy with me. That makes it sound like I don't like children, which is not the case, but there are plenty of examples of places and social situations which are not appropriate for children - whether this be for the childs sake or for the adults, or a combination of both.

You'll never get agreement on such an emotive issue because there is no clear right (or wrong), both sides have merit. People spending the big bucks for J or F should be able to expect a certain service level and experience overall, but this goes for both childless travellers as well as families. The obvious answer is an additional class, JF perhaps (for family) or maybe JC (for children)

For obvious reasons there should be some sort of noise barrier to other cabins, the right sort of curtain material would pretty much do the trick. You'd have Y, which is the cheapest fares available with all the joys one comes to expect there, JF, which is no less than J, but allows for children, J which doesn't allow for kids and F, also childless. There would doubtless be an additional revenue opportunity for the airlines with J and F divided in this way.

Alas, I suspect different forms of anti discrimination law probably prevent this type of idea already being a reality.

 

[Chatterbocks]

Personally, I can't believe the indignation of some folk who insist on sharing the love of their little bundle of joy with me. That makes it sound like I don't like children, which is not the case, but there are plenty of examples of places and social situations which are not appropriate for children - whether this be for the childs sake or for the adults, or a combination of both.

You'll never get agreement on such an emotive issue because there is no clear right (or wrong), both sides have merit. People spending the big bucks for J or F should be able to expect a certain service level and experience overall, but this goes for both childless travellers as well as families. The obvious answer is an additional class, JF perhaps (for family) or maybe JC (for children)

For obvious reasons there should be some sort of noise barrier to other cabins, the right sort of curtain material would pretty much do the trick. You'd have Y, which is the cheapest fares available with all the joys one comes to expect there, JF, which is no less than J, but allows for children, J which doesn't allow for kids and F, also childless. There would doubtless be an additional revenue opportunity for the airlines with J and F divided in this way.

Alas, I suspect different forms of anti discrimination law probably prevent this type of idea already being a reality.

I agree that this is not a 'right/wrong' issue. Great idea regarding the "JF" thing. Especially on those 747s with that J configuration where there is a small mini J section with (from memory) around 5 or 6 rows. I wonder what the policy is now regarding how to distribute pax with small children through the J cabin. I imagine they now try to spread everyone around to avoid one baby setting off another...

One of the issues I have with some of the comments is that a parent with a crying baby on a plane is already mortified/embarassed enough. I have always imagined the other passengers thinking 'poor lady/man - that looks like hell'. However it now seems like a lot of people are just thinking about how it is reducing their 'experience' of J class, perhaps making it difficult to fully savour the taste of their smoked salmon entree.

 

[medhead]

Personally, I can't believe the indignation of some folk who insist on sharing the love of their little bundle of joy with me. That makes it sound like I don't like children, which is not the case, but there are plenty of examples of places and social situations which are not appropriate for children - whether this be for the childs sake or for the adults, or a combination of both.

So you're saying it was wrong to wear my child in a papoose into the mosh pit?

 

[TonyHancock]

40 is still young isn't it? Thin is a matter of perspective. Apparently, I've had it all my adult life due to another medical condition, so size isn't the problem.

I'm firmly in the "40 is young camp"!! It's the new 20 as far as I am concerned!

 

[Tazza_0712]

First post!

Travelling in long-haul J to Europe for the first time in 2009, I was quite excited for the trip ahead. First flight from Sydney to Singapore was fantastic. Was very quiet and the noise cancelling headphones made sure that any annoyingly audible noises were approprately muted.

On the second flight however, Singapore to Rome, seated in the first row of J, I boarded and prepared myself for much the same experience. Departing at 1.30am Singapore time (approx) I was looking forward to a light meal, a suitably alcoholic refreshment and a long snooze.

Cue the baby. Situated at what I believe is the bulkhead (?), the bassinet contained baby in what appeared to be a very secure fashion. Immediate thoughts of piercing screams filled my head as I looked on in angst, waiting for the child to let out a continuous shriek. I was pleasantly, albeit cautiously surprised when this didn't occur.

Unfortunately for me, the silent bliss was short-lived. The doting parents of bub, decided to place a musical toy of some sort into the bassinet along with their quiet child. My immediate choice of adjective for the sounds emanating from the toy would be, relaxing. After a solid three hours of consistent polyphonic, "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", I started to become agitated. No problems, throw on the noise-cancelling headphones and listen to some recently released tunes on the IFE. Two hours later, still functioning on little sleep, with the sound of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" beginning to creep through my headphones and intertwining with a Kelly Clarkson song, it dawned on me that I should move seats since the J cabin was not full.

Having moved to a seat at the rear of the cabin, I reclined into sleeper mode and relaxed into a pure slumber. What seemed like mere minutes had passed when I felt a tug at my arm. I was asked to move back to my original seat by the FA, as this particular free seat was being used as crew rest. Begrudgingly, I moped back to my seat and settled in for the remaining hours of flight.

Twinkle Twinkle continued for the entire flight. Through breakfast, landing and disembarkation - "twinkle twinkle..." - I thought I was finally rid of it, when standing in immigration I heard a familiar sound.

So, after that entirely too-long a story, I would like to say that I have absolutely no problem with babies in J class cabins, just move the parents to Y and I won't have a problem.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Simple answer. Have dedicated no children flights (and charge a premium) and if these flights continually sell out then that is solid evidence that folks don't want kids on planes.

If I've paid for a F ticket and all I can hear is babies crying, you can bet your life I'll be seeking at minimum a 50% refund. Airlines have a responsibility to ensure high rev passengers receive the best possible experience and loud babies are the fastest way to destroy the overall satisfaction of a flight.

Good on MH !

 

[JohnK]

It should take no more than about 30 minutes to work through the options and satisfy the baby, provided you have decent parents. On the other hand we have terrible 2s, IME more like 3 or 4, where the child can not be satisfied easily, cannot be reasoned with and may simply be bored. Those are things that are not easy to address. Perhaps those complaining don't really understand the difference between an infant and a toddler.

I am still sitting on the fence but I beleve that the issue needs to be raised and addressed.

Someone spending $10,000+ on a First Class seat should have some expectation of a pleasant flight and not be constantly interrupted by parents trying to work out how to stop their child from crying. And "twinkle, twinkle little star" for 12 hours is not a feasible solution either.

Not sure we will ever get an answer to this one though as people travelling with infants expect other travellers to put up with them for the duration of the flight.

Personally there has only been one time for me when I had to move ~30 minutes after take-off to keep my sanity. Never again but thankfully most infants on my flights have been good.