Following a viral incident where a woman was caught looking at her neighbor’s text messages complaining about her baby during a 24-hour flight, passengers on TikTok are urging airlines to implement child-free flights.
Traveling by air can cause stress for anyone, but it can be particularly difficult for infants due to the effects of air pressure on their still-developing ears, as explained in this article about infant ear discomfort during flights.
Despite the fact that medical experts do not recommend flying with infants under seven days old, parents with young children often find themselves having to take cross-country trips for various reasons. As a result, a viral TikTok video posted by one mother has sparked calls for change from child-free passengers.
On May 10, Emily, a TikTok user, faced criticism for a video where she alleged to have read her neighbor’s text messages during a 24-hour trip from Canada to Australia.
Despite Emily’s claim in her video that her fellow passenger was unhappy about sitting next to her 9-month-old infant on a long trip, it was evident from the upside-down smiling emojis she added on top of the clip that the passenger was not pleased with the situation.
@emily_mumscence Off to a great start!!! Wish us luck pls #newmom #momsoftiktok #travelingwithkids #travelingwithbabies ♬ These Memories – Hollow Coves
Despite Emily’s perspective, she did not have many supporters. A number of commenters criticized the TikToker for taking her young child on a long flight, citing potential discomfort and disruption for other passengers.
Although some criticized Emily for reading her neighbor’s text messages, accusing her of invading their privacy, others continued to berate her.
According to one user, babies are extremely overstimulating and they have the tendency to invade one’s personal space in every manner. This makes them very valid concerns.
“Another person commented on the annoyance of a nosy seatmate reading your texts at the beginning of a long flight.”
Another person stated that it appeared she had accurately evaluated the situation, judging from your reaction or response.
In a subsequent video on May 20, Emily addressed the backlash and clarified that viewers had misunderstood the intention of her initial post.
“According to Emily, her in-flight neighbor was displaying her annoyance quite openly. She put up her hood, audibly sighed, and even moved her phone closer to me to send multiple texts to her friends.”
As a parent, I am extremely attentive to any noise Max might make during this flight, which is why we are hesitant to travel by air.
@emily_mumscence Replying to @KittyQueenTengu trying to respond to all the hate comments xx #newmom #travelingwithkids ♬ original sound – emily_mumscence
Despite her explanation, netizens remained unsympathetic and continued to criticize Emily for reading her neighbor’s texts.
In addition, TikTok viewers have suggested the concept of child-free flights and expressed their willingness to pay an additional fee for a peaceful travel experience.
One user pleaded, “I am willing to pay extra for flights without children, please airlines!”
“Someone else shared, “The flight back from Egypt two years ago was absolutely horrendous. It was a nightmare. I strongly support the idea of child-free flights.”
Another person confessed, “I would gladly pay extra if they offered child-free flights. I truly wish they did.”
Although child-free flights are not currently available in the United States, certain airlines have implemented ‘quiet zones’ for travelers who want to rest or relax during their journey.
Likewise, some companies have implemented ‘family zones’ to accommodate families with young children and prevent any disruption for other travelers. In some cases, these zones even offer entertainment specifically geared towards children during the flight.
Despite the fact that only a few major airlines, such as AirAsia, Japan Airlines, IndiGo, Malaysia Airlines, and Scoot Airlines, currently provide these options, there is hope among Americans that more companies will begin implementing these zones in the near future.
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