Babies in First Class: Which Side of the Aisle Are You On?

NYT TRAVEL: Babies in First Class: Which Side of the Aisle Are You On?
By Danielle Braff
Section: Travel
Source: New York Times
Published Date: December 27, 2022 at 02:00AM

For some travelers, nothing can kill that premium-cabin buzz quicker than an infant next to them. But for parents, despite the overwhelming opposition (and glaring side-eye), seats in the front of the plane can be golden.

Nurhachi Che, a 37-year-old I.T. consultant from Cherry Hill, N.J., was looking forward to two hours of uninterrupted work on her first-class flight from Philadelphia to Kentucky in February. Prepped to conquer all her work tasks, she carefully unpacked her laptop, her AirPods and her noise-canceling headphones. And then a mother and her baby plopped into the first-class seat next to Ms. Che’s, and she was pretty sure her undisturbed flight was doomed.
Even after putting in her earbuds and then noise-canceling headphones over them, Ms. Che said she was unable to block out the sound of the baby’s cries. When, an hour before landing, the baby and her mother finally fell asleep, the infant started slipping into Ms. Che’s lap.
“I am not heartless and would never wish harm on a child, but, quite frankly, it’s not my job to watch a sleeping baby,” said Ms. Che, who is child-free by choice. “Needless to say, between the screaming and then babysitting for the final hour, I got almost no work done, and ended up working late into the night to catch up after a long day of travel.”
For many travelers, luxury and babies don’t mix. For those who prefer to mix with grown-ups while they’re trying to unwind, we have adults-only pools and kid-free cruises. And yet, at 33,000 feet, when passengers are paying thousands (or dipping into their precious points), there’s no guarantee of a relaxing, adult experience.

Read More at: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/27/travel/babies-flying-first-class.html

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