There are certain topics that are guaranteed to get a rise out of frequent travelers. Things like whether you can save seats on Southwest Airlines while you’re boarding (no), whether you prefer the window or aisle (aisle), if you should check bags or not (#TeamCarryon), if you should stand up as soon as the plane gets to the gate (yes) or if parents of young children should give goodie bags to fellow passengers (no). But perhaps nothing raises the hackles like whether kids should be allowed in business class.
Recent Air Canada Business Class Flight
On my recent Air Canada business class flight from Tokyo to Toronto, there were a few kids in the business class cabin. I mean I guess technically my son was there too, but as he recently turned 18, I guess he doesn’t count as a “kid”…
For most of the flight, I heard nothing from them, but at one point, one of the younger kids was crying for quite awhile. I didn’t catch exactly how young they were, but I’m guessing somewhere between 2 and 4? It also wasn’t clear to me if all of the kids I saw were part of one traveling party or separate. The child was not crying for very long (though of course in the middle of it, it feels like forever), though it was when everyone (myself included) was trying to sleep.
So yes, it was not ideal, but I just cranked up the white noise on my headphones and tried to get back to sleep. I was actually able to tune it out and go to sleep with no problems (though it doesn’t always work out that way)
Should Crying Kids Be Allowed In Business Class?
Now this might be an exception to Betteridge’s Law Of Headlines, but I am going to go on the record as saying that I have no problem with kids in business class. Yes, crying kids are annoying to be around, but I choose to put faith in people and parents doing the best they can. I know that there are some people who are of the opinion that young kids should not fly at all, and CERTAINLY not in premium cabins. These people usually have no kids themselves and, in fact, sprung from their mothers’ loins fully grown as an adult.
Again, I get it – the sound of a child crying is biologically engineered to be annoying. And I do understand that in many cases, people have paid extra for a premium cabin seat (either with cash or with miles) specifically to be able to sleep. So anything that interrupts that is going to be extra annoying.
I do believe that parents do have some responsibility here – if you know your child is going to cry and possibly disturb others and you won’t be able to console them, then I think you should consider either delaying flying or not flying in a premium cabin. And I would hope it would go without saying (though it probably needs to be said) that parents absolutely have a responsibility to do everything they can to hep console and/or entertain their children. While I’m fine with a crying kid if the parents are doing their best, it is NOT okay for the parents to be sleeping or otherwise ignoring their kids who are crying or running up and down the aisles.
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The Bottom Line
Now it’s your turn – what do you think.
Should Crying Kids Be Allowed In Business Class? Leave your (respectful) thoughts in the comments below
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Dan Miller travels with his wife and 6 (SIX!) children. He loves to help families travel for free / cheap, especially larger families. If you are looking for help, drop him an email at 
I think that once a child is old enough to communicate what problem ails them, can more-or-less feed themselves and is beyond the diaper stage they should be okay with flying up front. One huge proviso is that the parent actually has to care that their child is shrieking. My wife and I were in business class on a Korean flight around a half dozen years ago and there was a wealthy South American wife and her children aged about 11 down to an infant. The infant cried vociferously and very loudly several times and the mother apparently couldn’t care less so the FA’s ended up trying to sooth and coddle the child for everyone’s sake. Props to them but the family should have been taking care of their own rather than ignoring the crying.
Coming from someone who has been fortunate to fly up front for hundreds of flights, I say yes. Children should be allowed to fly up front. Children are a biological necessity for continuation of our species and cannot defend themselves.
To fellow fliers I offer the following: As a very tall individual, I cannot sit in many coach seats. I just do not fit. Airlines no longer provide accommodations. Most travelers are unsympathetic and tell us taller folk to buy a business class ticket. To those demanding peace and quiet in the over marketed section of the plane, I return the favor by recommending you fly privately.
Whether my kid cries in the row right behind business class or in business class your still going to hear it. Lol This is coming from a parent with two little ones who buys a ticket in business for even the little one to sit in their car seats in their own seat. The statements I hear from others in biz and the ones moving to the back of the plane are priceless. FYI my kids have cried while in business all the time can’t control little ones who can’t communicate.
Children who cry too much should be ejected from business class or fined. Either that or have an age restriction of at least 7 years old. Either that or compensation by the airline so that they will do something.
@derek
Boohoo?