This Airline Offers an Adults-Only Section on Certain Flights. Should Others Follow Suit?

On August 23, European low-cost carrier Corendon Airlines announced it would set aside the front rows of its Amsterdam-Curacao flights for passengers aged 16 and older, reigniting the ongoing discussion about balancing the needs of traveling families with those flying without children.

Corendon’s fleet features Boeing 737-800s, which have 33 rows with 3 seats on each side of the aisle. The adults-only area includes 9 larger premium seats and 93 standard seats within the first 17 rows. Passengers over 16 can opt for this section by paying an extra fee of €45 (approximately US$48) per flight for economy or €100 (around US$107) for a premium seat.

Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst at Atmosphere Research Group, views this as a potential revenue stream, a means of generating additional income. However, he questions whether this will lead to public backlash.

Atilay Uslu, founder of Corendon, believes that designating half the aircraft for adults only "can positively impact parents traveling with young children, allowing them to enjoy their flight without concern for noise from their kids."

Not every parent is on board with this idea.

In a discussion on Bébé Voyage, a global resource for traveling families, parents expressed a wide range of opinions. Some argued that disruptive adults, especially those who are intoxicated, present a greater issue than children do. Others appreciated the intent behind Corendon’s new policy but suggested improvements, while a few offered their enthusiastic support.

If Corendon’s goal is to foster "a protected environment that promotes a peaceful and enjoyable flight," as mentioned in their press release, it raises further questions.

"It’s not like people in the front won’t hear crying babies... I’m not sure what the real benefit is," remarks Sarah Maltzman Shah, operations director for the Jewish Fertility Foundation and a mother from Washington, D.C., with a 6-year-old.

"This is pointless on most domestic flights because they’re so small that everyone will hear the baby," agrees Brittany Alexandra Barnes, a school librarian currently home with her 1- and 3-year-old kids in Atlanta. "I’ve been on much larger planes, like Emirates, where boarding and deplaning happen in different zones simultaneously. This would make sense for an aircraft of that size."

Ivana Ivanovic, a marketing consultant and writer from Oakland, California, and mother of a 4-year-old, emphasizes that "recognizing children’s presence and accommodating their sounds, cries, and antics during a flight should be seen as a pleasure—like in many countries—not as a burden."

Monica Bartl, a mother of two working with an agency of the European Commission in Vienna, Austria, has proposed ideas to enhance the new policy for traveling families. She states, "I would endorse this only if it includes special amenities for families in their designated area, such as larger bathrooms for diaper changes, extra legroom for nursing, child-friendly wall decorations, and sticker-covered backseats, among other things."

Trains and planes with designated areas for adults and families

France’s high-speed trains, the TGV, provide exactly the kind of family-friendly amenities that enhance travel. On weekends, holidays, and school breaks, the SNCF (France’s national rail network operating the TGV) reserves specific train cars for families, featuring playful window stickers and convenient access to spacious restrooms equipped with changing tables. On the Paris-Limoges-Toulouse intercity route, there’s even a designated Kids Space car, complete with playmats, pillows, toddler-sized seating, bottle warmers, and stroller storage.

During school vacations, the SNCF offers a stark contrast to Corendon’s initiative. Their Junior & Cie service caters to unaccompanied minors aged 4 to 14, providing a dedicated car staffed by camp counselors, along with board games, arts and crafts, and various activities. This service is available on over 130 routes.

In the realm of air travel, Corendon’s initiative isn’t the first by an airline to create separation between adult passengers and families. Sharon Kurheg, a writer at the travel blog Your Mileage May Vary, notes that several airlines feature child-free sections on select flights. Two Asian airlines provide areas exclusively for passengers aged 12 and up. Scoot Airlines, a Singaporean low-cost carrier, offers silent zones on its 787 Dreamliners, while AirAsiaX, a Malaysian low-cost airline, has a similar policy for its long-haul flights. Moreover, Indian low-cost carrier IndiGo has maintained “Quiet Zones” since 2016, prohibiting children under 12 from sitting there.

Kurheg highlights that Japan Airlines has a distinctive method of indicating where infants and toddlers, aged 8 days to 2 years, are seated on the airline’s seat selection map.

In a story from USA Today on August 29, an American Airlines representative mentioned that the last few rows of their aircraft are generally reserved for families, allowing them to sit together. This implies that some airlines may unofficially group families with children toward the back of the plane. This move aligns with a broader commitment from U.S. airlines to seat families together at no extra cost. In February, United Airlines announced enhancements to its online seating system, offering families traveling with children under 12 more adjacent seating options in Basic Economy.

Harteveldt doubts that adults-only zones would be feasible for U.S.-based airlines. He asserts, "If U.S. airlines attempted this, a discrimination lawsuit would arise very quickly. Airlines are authorized by their governments to offer transportation to the public." He suggests alternative approaches to balance the needs of families with those traveling without children, such as "designating off-peak flights as family flights, offering special fares, unique catering options, and more kid-oriented content and toys. This would be a much more pleasant way to tackle the issue."

Another aspect where airlines could enhance the experience for families is during pre-boarding. Bartl points out, "Considering the most common triggers for restless children on flights and assisting parents in addressing those issues would also be beneficial. I haven’t yet seen a designated family area in the waiting lounge. While this won’t solve every issue—there will still be crying babies and anxious kids—it could alleviate 30 to 40 percent of the other disturbances, leading to a calmer flight for everyone."