Time for adult only flights

fed_up_and_stressed

pollypenny wrote: »

In these days of far flung families it's sometimes necessary to take little ones on flights.

Very few people *need* to take kids on flights ..its usually a choice

LilElvis

Nick_C wrote: »

By paying child benefits out of public funds, the government needs to raise more in taxation than it otherwise would. So as someone who doesn't have children, I am subsidising those who do and who claim benefits for them.

Simple economics.

Edit: And if you read my posts, I'm not moaning at meer53. On the contrary, I have commended them for being self reliant and not drawing child benefit. I wish more parents would do the same.

I was a higher rate tax payer for years (now a stay at home Mum) and my husband is still paying at the higher rate. We don't qualify for child benefit but I certainly don't begrudge those who do. Why not start moaning about having to pay for child benefit for children who don't live in this country, expat OAPs in Spain receiving the winter fuel allowance, drunk people costing the NHS a fortune every weekend when they clog up A&E ...... and countless other examples of what some see as the unfairness of the system. Paying taxes isn't a savings scheme where you put money in and get the same back, it's spent helping society as a whole so some will be net receivers and others net givers.

Whilst you say that you don't know whether your parents received child benefit (though they almost certainly did) you definitely received an education and health provision at a cost to the exchequer and those paying taxes at the time. Everyone takes out of the system before they pay in .... simple economics

LilElvis

Bantex wrote: »

Taking a 2 year old on a medium or long haul flight is a selfish thing to do, it is not only horrible for other passengers but also for the child.

Quite the contrary - our psycho-toddler loves planes. Not so keen on airline food though

LilElvis

fed_up_and_stressed wrote: »

Very few people *need* to take kids on flights ..its usually a choice

And absolutely no-one "needs" to go on holiday - but they do, childless or not.

happyandcontented

I would far rather be on a plane with babies and young children than rude, hysterical, miserable, drunk, loud, or over entitled adults.

duchy

Oh dear

Maths and economics not your strong point are they

Unfortunately for you-you simply aren't the demographic that interests the airlines.

Families bring in more bums in seat per booking than a singleton so you offer them less revenue.

If you were from a higher economic demographic you'd have access to business class which has far fewer children.

The simple fact is that the once a year bucket and spade punter like you wants a cheap flight ahead of everything else - people like you won't want to pay more for space or for a quiet cabin in enough numbers to be of economic interest to the airlines. All a matter of supply and demand. The airlines have researched this for years and the results never change. People like to moan but won't put their money where their mouth is for child free or quiet cabins....especially on leisure rather than business routes.

spinybif wrote: »

How pathetic, If all the adults were on one flight the parents with kids would be on the other, net result no difference in revenue to to the airline but a lot more satisfied customers.

Regarding complaing about foreign food, I CHOSE to travel and hence eat abroad, I didn't CHOOSE to sit near a screaming brat for 4 hours.

Nick_C

LilElvis wrote: »

Why not start moaning about having to pay for child benefit for children who don't live in this country, expat OAPs in Spain receiving the winter fuel allowance, drunk people costing the NHS a fortune every weekend when they clog up A&E ...... and countless other examples of what some see as the unfairness of the system. Paying taxes isn't a savings scheme where you put money in and get the same back, it's spent helping society as a whole so some will be net receivers and others net givers.

Everyone takes out of the system before they pay in .... simple economics

I agree that all the issues you raise need addressing. The country cannot continue living beyond its needs, and the deficit needs to be addressed.

I agree that everyone takes out of the system before they pay in. Unfortunately, far too many people never pay anything in, to the extent that they become net contributors.

Taxation undoubtedly helps society as a whole, but too much of the money the government takes from us is wasted, and the welfare state discourages people from being self reliant.

Nick_C

duchy wrote: »

Families bring in more bums in seat per booking than a singleton so you offer them less revenue.

... people like you won't want to pay more for space or for a quiet cabin in enough numbers to be of economic interest to the airlines. All a matter of supply and demand. The airlines have researched this for years and the results never change.

People like to moan but won't put their money where their mouth is for child free or quiet cabins....especially on leisure rather than business routes.

Clearly families contribute more per booking than single people. That's just stating the bleedin' obvious. But the airlines are interested in filling planes and maximising revenue. A plane full of adults generates more revenue than a plane full of families with children, as many of the children will be using seats but paying a lower fare.

Things are changing. Some airlines are now experimenting with child free flights or child free areas.

Not everyone wants the same thing from an airline. Some people want the cheapest possible flight, and don't care about comfort. Some people will happily pay more. The airlines are slowly responding to this, for example more airlines are now introducing premium economy.

LilElvis

Nick_C wrote: »

I agree that all the issues you raise need addressing. The country cannot continue living beyond its needs, and the deficit needs to be addressed.

I agree that everyone takes out of the system before they pay in. Unfortunately, far too many people never pay anything in, to the extent that they become net contributors.

Taxation undoubtedly helps society as a whole, but too much of the money the government takes from us is wasted, and the welfare state discourages people from being self reliant.

Glad we agree!

Just because you have chosen to be childless doesn't mean you should begrudge money given by the State to those with children - you received it as a child yourself. In later years you may well require State funded assistance to help you with personal care whilst those with children may look to their offspring for that support instead.

Having both lived and worked overseas myself, and knowing what it is like for friends and family living abroad also, I would rather the system we have (though far from perfect) than effectively being left to fend for ourselves.

marleyboy

fed_up_and_stressed wrote: »

Very few people *need* to take kids on flights ..its usually a choice

That surely depends on circumstances, lets take the scenario of a life saving procedure only available abroad, or narrow it right down to separated parents overseas, I can think of a plenty between them in which a parent may "need" to take a child on a flight.

It is usually a choice when it comes to using Public Transport and just like the parent with child, YOU make that choice.

If I wanted a child free journey on my way home from work, I could always flag a Cab instead of the Bus.