Anyone who has ever flown on an airplane knows how annoying it is to be stuck next to a crying baby. That’s why Japan Airlines is being applauded for their new booking process in which they show travelers which seats have been will be occupied by babies.
These days, most airlines show travelers what spots have already been taken on a seat selection map when they book tickets. Japan Airlines, however, takes this a step further by showing which seats have been reserved for children who are 2 years old or younger. For this airline, their seating chart shows an image of a baby’s face marked on a seat booked for a child.
Thank you, @JAL_Official_jp for warnings me about where babies plan to scream and yell during a 13 hour trip. This really ought to be mandatory across the board.
Please take note, @qatarairways: I had 3 screaming babies next to me on my JFK-DOH flight two weeks ago. pic.twitter.com/kQYQFIqqCD
— Rahat Ahmed (@dequinix) September 24, 2019
“Passengers traveling with children between 8 days and 2 years old who select their seats on the JAL website will have a child icon displayed on their seats on the seat selection screen,” Japan Airlines’ website states. “This lets other passengers know a child may be sitting there.”
That being said, the website goes on to clarify that there are several situations in which the child icon may not display. For example, if someone buys a ticket through another website or is part of a tour or awards program, the icon may not display. In addition, if the aircraft is changed pre-flight, the icons “may not be displayed correctly.”
Some users have praised this innovation on Twitter, with one person simply writing, “That is awesome.” Others, however, are not fans of what Japan Airlines is doing.
“As a father of 5 and having traveled with each one as a baby at one point or another, I try to do everything I can to keep them from crying,” another user wrote. “It’s hard on parents too. And remember: it’s just one day. You’ll survive your flight. Chill.”
What do you think about this? Let us know in the comments section.
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