Malaysia Airlines which operates out of Kuala Lumpur has gone a step ahead in pleasing its wealthy customer. They’ve banned babies from the first class cabin of its Boeing 747 jumbo jets.
The reason behind the move is that babies create noise and disturbs the sleep of other passengers. The policy will be applicable from second quarter of next year. Chief executive of Malaysia Airlines, Tengku Azmil Zahruddin twitted last week, “We do not take infants in 1st Class whether on their own seat or on the lap. We do lose some revenue but many ppl complained (sic).”
The decision of baby free flights might have made elite passengers happy but parents all across the world are opposing the idea. "It means babies have no right to travel in first class. The decision is very insensitive and will not be welcomed by parents in any part of the world," says Nupur Mehta, mother of a one-year-old baby.
Smita Saxena, mother of an infant echoes the same. “It’s a funny decision. A mother will travel in first class, and her kid will be seated in economy class, is that what it means? I hope other airlines don’t start following their footsteps,” she says.
{{/usCountry}}Smita Saxena, mother of an infant echoes the same. “It’s a funny decision. A mother will travel in first class, and her kid will be seated in economy class, is that what it means? I hope other airlines don’t start following their footsteps,” she says.
{{/usCountry}}Apart from offended parents, other airlines too are not pleased by the idea. Kamaljeet Rattan, spokesperson, Air India says, “We don’t have any such policy. Infact, we have a trained staff to take care of small babies and infants. For us, babies are as important as grown ups.” Jet Airways too feel the same. “We have no such plans,” says a Jet official.
“British Airways has no such plans. In fact, British Airways allows infants to travel in first and provides bassinets for customers travelling with infants in all cabins,” says a British Airways official.
Interestingly, while on one side Malaysia Airlines are banning babies from first class, Etihad Airways have come up with special kids plans recently, allowing infants and babies to travel in first class.
No one else’s doing it
Jet Airways has no such policy
Indigo Airways, too, has no ‘no baby’ policy
Kingfisher Airlines allows little ones to travel with their parents in first class