Originally Posted by hegira
Touchy subject here - but should kids really be allowed in first/business lounges at all (or business class for that matter) ???
This is a good point.......then again when we look at what lounges have become with the usual herd of business men eager to test the noise limiting circuit on their mobile telephones explaining where they are and their latest deals then I don't think this is a valid point. No offence intended but it does seem that some of our friends from the US tend to be much more prone to this.
One of my kids took my seat in Europe Select the other week, had a row to his self, did not make any sound or scene, requested nothing from the FA other than a glass of milk (he did not want to read the Guardian) and was constantly addressed as "honey" by the FA. I am sure she was quite pleased serving him.
Since most clubs have alcohol sitting out for people to help themselves, airlines are technically in violation of many country/state liquor laws by allowing kids to roam freely in their lounges.
The same can be said for many hotel executive lounges around the world. Provided that the law permits supervised minors then I don't see the problem.
If kids are not allowed then the lounge access rules should state this.
To give an example my 9 year old son who was KLM Gold, travelling business class could not access the KLM lounge at Glasgow or the Servisair lounge at Edinburgh since they have a minimum age requirement of 12.
To boot, there is the nuisance factor.
Of course but this has to be down to the parent/guardian. If the kid(s) are causing a nuisance then discretion should be used and they should be removed. Most kids however can be very well behaved.
I'll probably be accused of child-hatred by all of you who expect to be upgraded along with your children and small pets (as AF seems inclined to do)..., BUT the nuisance factor also applies to business/first class. Why do businesses bother to pay a lot extra for their personnel to travel upfront? Perhaps so they can arrive refreshed and productive for a full day's work after a 8, 12 or 14 hour flight?
Try that with a screaming baby next to you and bratty kid kicking your seat back the whole way.
I can understand that traveling with toddlers and in particular babies can be a nuisance but when the parents try their best then I can live with that.
Now the ones that let the kids run wild, I have no sympathy for at all and agree that they should be removed to steerage at once.
Then again most of the seat kicking, pulling at, loud talking (yelling), laughing as loud as they can to the comedy film, spilled drinks etc. that I experience are actually by adults and that has no excuse other than these adults having no consideration for their fellow passengers.
