Airline offers passengers the option to avoid sitting near infants

Little boy watching through window airplane

By Alexandra Coulton

Japan Airlines (JAL) is now offering passengers the option to see where babies and toddlers are seated while choosing their seat.

The new feature will be available to those who book online through the airline’s website and will display a “child icon” on seats taken by children aged between eight days and two years.

The service will only be available on domestic individual fares, so if you book through a tour or are using award tickets you will still be going in blind to the ages of your fellow passengers.

pic_seat01_p While this announcement has many people jumping for joy at the prospect of avoiding potential tears and tantrums throughout their flight, the decision has copped criticism for fueling those who are less tolerant towards babies and new parents.

“Oh come on, babies aren’t that bad. They can’t help themselves. Imagine how stressful it must be for the babies, barely able to communicate their needs; and the tired parents. Stop being dicks to parents,” one Twitter user said.

“Do people who hate babies and toddlers on planes think that they were never babies or toddlers? Who never cried or screamed? I’d like a tool that locates drunks, racists, perverts and those with severe halitosis,” said another.

The airline has cautioned that the feature may not work in the case of last-minute changes of aircraft and told the Guardian that the feature in no way guarantees you’ll be out of earshot of a screaming infant.

While the feature is only currently available on domestic individual fares, the decision paves the way for other airlines to follow suit if all goes well.

Travel Weekly has contacted JAL for comment.

Would you like the option to know where infants are seated? Comment below!

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