People Are Calling For Child-Free Flights As Passenger Films Baby Crying Non-Stop During 29-Hour Flight

A TikToker by the name of Henry Beasley, known online as @balubrigada, shared his experience two years ago during a long journey from New Zealand to Germany. 

In his video, Beasley highlighted his reaction to the ongoing screams of a baby in the background, humorously documenting the ordeal with text overlays such as "Rate my 29-hour flight to Berlin."

Throughout the video, Beasley humorously commented on the baby's impressive lung capacity and vocal projection. 

In a follow-up clip, he remarked on the duration of one of the baby's cries with "nice long one here," all while showcasing his growing frustration, evidenced by an eye twitch and vigorous gum chewing, as he likened the sound to that of a boiling kettle.

Beasley even went so far as to rate the baby's cries, with one being captioned "nice long one here, 100," ultimately giving the child's relentless cries a "10/10" for what he called a "stellar performance" and "incredible stamina." 

The video struck a chord with viewers, amassing 14.5 million views and 2.8 million likes, and sparking a flood of sympathetic comments in Beasley's support.

Comments ranged from empathetic to humorous.

One person quipped: "Oh lord, it's the eye twitch for me. Thank god you're okay," 

While another said: "29 hours of that? sounds like the kid is having a medical emergency." 

Some passengers wish to travel without children, especially on long-haul flights. Credit: Westend61 / Getty

A third user chimed in: "The reason why I waited till my kid was bigger before allowing her to go on flights. We gotta be considerate of others!! Tsk," 

And a fourth added: "The flight attendant should [intervene] and ask the parents to control their kid, the other passengers are paying to have good flight, it's unfair."

However, there was also recognition of the parents' plight, with one commenter acknowledging the embarrassment and exhaustion parents must feel in such situations.

One person pointing out: "Oh man..but can you imagine being the parents trying to handle that? It's mortifying, exhausting, mortifying, embarrassing….did I say mortifying?"

The debate extended to suggestions for "child-free flights" to accommodate passengers desiring a quieter travel experience, especially on longer journeys. 

Some social media users strongly advocated for adult-only flights, citing disruptions from crying children and the lack of discipline as major concerns.

"Yes adult only flights please," someone on Facebook wrote. "I don't pay for a flight to listen to kids screaming...and kicking the back of my chair for the entire flight and yes most times good parenting is an issue!"

A second user shared: "I think child-free flights should be an option...some children don't need to be around adults," 

Child-free flights are a reality on some airlines. Credit: Susumu Yoshioka / Getty

While another added: "I do agree with the people saying that we should have flights where no kids under at least 10 should be [allowed]."

Interestingly, the concept of child-free flights is already being implemented by some airlines.

Corendon Airlines, a Turkish-owned company, announced an adults-only zone on its flights, where passengers over the age of 16 can enjoy a quieter journey, separated from the rest of the cabin by walls and curtains. 

For a relatively modest fee, travelers can book a seat in this exclusive section, aimed at providing a more relaxed atmosphere for those on long-haul flights, like the 10-hour trip from Amsterdam to Curaçao.

Atilay Uslu, Corendon's founder, explained that the airline aims to cater to various passenger needs, including providing a peaceful environment for those traveling without children. 

"Onboard our flights, we always strive to respond to the different needs of our customers," as cited by Business Insider.

"We also believe this can have a positive effect on parents traveling with small children. They can enjoy the flight without worrying if their children are making too much noise." 

Other airlines like Malaysia's AirAsia, India's IndiGo, and Singapore's Scoot Airlines have also introduced child-free or "quiet" zones, indicating a growing trend towards accommodating diverse traveler preferences and ensuring a more tailored flying experience.