An airline is offering child-free zones on its flights. But lately, the real culprit of awful flying experiences isn't babies on board — it's the airlines themselves.

04.09.2023 - 13:57 / insider.com / Edith Piaf / Airlines

An airline's offer of child-free zones on flights promises "extra peace of mind." But while it may solve complaints of crying or noisy kids, the idea of an adult-only zone doesn't address some additional culprits of tense travel sagas.

Last month, Turkish-Dutch airline Corendon Airlines announced the creation of a child-free zone on flights between Amsterdam and Curaçao, where single adults or families can isolate themselves from children. 

According to a news release, Corendon will charge customers seeking to sit in the "Only Adult" zone an extra $48. For the price, anyone over 16 can be seated among 100 people in the front of the plane, cordoned off by a wall and curtains. 

The airline claimed that the policy is "trying to appeal to travelers looking for some extra peace of mind during their flight," but also floated it as an option for adults who simply want to send their kids to the back of the plane.

And while that may work to calm some nerves for those taking Corendon for those specific flights, if the idea of an adults only section catches on across the greater industry, airlines are going to have to do some soul searching.

Recent onboard flight disruptions and delays would unlikely be solved by allowing those 16 and above to sit at the front of the plane.

Over the last few months, airlines have been plagued with flight disruptions, mass delays due to weather and other issues, labor negotiations, and pilot shortages. 

On more than one occasion, passengers have recently been trapped in hot planes.

An adults only section would not help with another root cause of recent travel disruptions: adults losing their cool on planes.

And there have been plenty of examples of adults behaving poorly. Passengers have had too much to drink, and adult passengers have tried to open emergency exits mid-air on flights this spring and summer. 

In a US-based incident, an adult passenger was escorted off of a Southwest flight after another passenger accused him of sending unsolicited photos and videos of his genitals. A separate passenger was accused by federal prosecutors of masturbating in front of a minor in August.

At the very least, adults sitting in the exclusive zone might not be spared an impromptu, old-timey rendition of Edith Piaf's "La Vie en Rose" by an inspired passenger.

In the current travel environment, the possibility of chaos — regardless of babies on board — remains high.

But for now, for $48, on flights between Amsterdam and Curaçao, Corendon passengers 16 and above will be able to fly in the "Only Adults" section skies.