AirAsia Fulfills A Dream Come True For Many Travelers With “Baby-Free” Quiet Zones

You know how it goes: You see someone with a baby boarding your flight and you think, “I hope that baby is a happy, quiet one.” But sometimes babies cry, and even the most patient traveler can get cranky when a pair of lusty lungs are involved. That’s why AirAsia is trying out a “baby-free” quiet zone on long haul flights starting in February.

Of course, there’s no guarantee that designating a few rows of a plane will keep the passengers in those rows in blissful silences, as sound does have a tendency to carry. But AirAsia, a low-cost airline in Southeast Malaysia, is hoping its “Quiet Zone” will do the trick for many of its travelers, reports the Overhead Bin blog.

The first seven economy class rows will be “exclusively for guests age 12 and above,” says the company. There’s no extra fee for those seats beyond the one charged for seats with extra legroom. The cabin is somewhat separated from the rest of the coach cabin, which will keep the baby noises somewhat out of that area.

“Because we know that sometimes all you need is some peace and quiet for a more pleasant journey with us,” AirAsia says on its website.

Don’t expect this practice to carry over to U.S. domestic airlines anytime soon, however. Most airlines here have one continuous cabin on their flights, rendering it basically impossible to sequester and soundproof any set of rows. And babies are pretty good at crying as loudly as possible when they try. Parents would also be displeased, as many complain it’s hard enough to get airlines to seat them together, what with new fees on choosing window or aisle seats ahead of time.

So just continue to be considerate on both sides of the crying baby — parents will do their best to quiet the little ones and the rest of us will try to be patient and understanding. Right? Right.

Airline to offer baby-free ‘quiet zone’ [Overhead Bin]

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