None of this in the child-free zones (Picture: Alamy)

An airline has managed to make a lot of people’s dreams come true and seriously anger a lot of others – all in one fell swoop.

They’re introducing child-free zones on their planes.

Indian budget carrier IndiGo has adopted a ‘quiet zone’ policy for its premium seats, meaning that children under the age of 12 aren’t allowed to sit in those areas.

Judging from the general reaction to this announcement, you’re either like this right now…


Or like this.

Unsurprisingly, the idea has gone down well – very well, in fact – with frequent flyers, people who don’t have children, and pretty much anyone who’s had to sit through a long-haul flight with a baby screaming beside them or a kid kicking the back of their seat.



Which, we’re guessing, is most people who’ve ever been on a plane.

There are now #ChildFreeFlights in India. Please, please, please become a US concept soon. — Marisa Tacoma (@MarisaTacoma) October 6, 2016

Totally agree with #childfreeflights I would gladly pay extra for a seperate section on the plane — Alaisdair (@alaisdair) October 4, 2016

#childfreeflights has to happened. No one needs to tolerate 7 hours of screaming kids and ignorant parents. — Arissa (@Arissa1992) October 6, 2016

#Childfreeflights is a very interesting idea! I have been tortured by screaming children on longflights. I paid a lot for my seat — Patricia Tallman (@patriciatallman) October 6, 2016

Parents need to understand that not everyone wants to listen to a screaming child 4 hours. It's not personal. #childfreeflights — Vanessa (a.k.a Vhaleesi) 🧝🏻‍♀️🐉🔥 (@senoritav76) October 5, 2016

But there has also been a massive backlash to the announcement – mainly from parents who resent being made to feel they aren’t welcome on flights with their kids.

‘The policy is discriminatory,’ Anshuman Sinha, from Pune in western India, told the Hindustan Times.

Couple who met on their balconies during lockdown planning to get married

‘It means you cannot ask for more leg space while travelling with your children.

‘It’s clear that they do not want children to disturb fliers paying extra for these seats. But then why permit children in the nearby rows?’

And people online have been complaining too – although they are definitely outnumbered by those in favour of quiet child-free flights.

When airlines create #childfreeflights they are saying adults comfort is more important than kids exploration of the world. #bullshit — K Raine Walker (@soulshine_raine) October 6, 2016

I sensed this on my recent IXJ-DEL flight. #indigo so discriminatory on part of u to announce such a ridiculous offering #childfreeflights — Man Kumar (@MtmManoj) October 6, 2016

In a statement, the airline said: ‘Keeping in mind the comfort and convenience of all passengers, row numbers one to four and 11 to 14 are generally kept as a Quiet Zone on IndiGo flights.

‘These zones have been created for business travellers who prefer to use the quiet time to do their work.’