What if you could sit on an airplane without children kicking your seat or babies wailing in the background?
An Asian airline is making that possible.
AirAsia X, the long-haul arm of AirAsia, launched its Quiet Zone this week, banning passengers under 12 from the first seven rows of economy class on flights to China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Australia and Nepal.
Although there is no additional charge for the Quiet Zone, passengers traveling with children under 12 are also not allowed to sit in the area, according to the airline.
AirAsia X joined Malaysia Airlines, which already offers child-free first class seating and a child-free upper deck economy section.
With the idea picking up in Asia, child-free sections on an airplane doesn’t look like it will be making an appearance in North America anytime soon.
American Airlines spokesman Matt Miller wrote in an email that the company “doesn’t have plans to do something similar.”
Kate Fogarty, UF associate professor of youth development, said business traveling is the only way airlines in the U.S. could justify child-free seating.
Fogarty said work culture in the U.S. is not always family-friendly, adding that grocery stores and restaurants give subtle hints.
“Taking your kids to Walmart — even though it seems like a family-friendly place — there still are expectations,” she said.
For some flyers, a childless flight is worth putting out extra cash.
About one-third of the respondents to a 2012 ABCNews.com poll said they would pay more for a kid-free flight.
Margaret Yan, a 19-year-old UF business administration sophomore, said she travels often to Taiwan and would be willing to pay for a flight that offers an escape from restless children.
“It’s sort of like roller coasters,” she said. “You have a limit.”
