After Dan Levy shared a hot take about babies on flights, public reaction suggests airlines should take note
Parents are surprisingly vocal in their support for child-free flights, preferring a “family-only” environment where they don’t have to worry about judgment.
A comment from a TikTok interview series sparked a major online debate about parenting, personal space, and flying. Dan Levy, known for his role as David Rose on the TV show Schitt’s Creek and his new series Big Mistakes on Netflix, suggested that there should be at least one flight where babies aren’t allowed. This idea received a strong reaction, with a majority finding it surprisingly reasonable.
In a recent episode of the TikTok interview series “Are You Okay?”, host Bri Morales asked Dan Levy what hill he was willing to die on. Levy quickly responded with, “I firmly believe there should be one airline flight with no babies.”
“Especially like a long-haul flight. No offense to the babies. One flight. I would take that flight”, he said.
This isn’t the first time Levy has brought up the topic. On the Fresh Mornings Show, he expressed that while he has empathy for parents traveling with babies, it would be great to have at least one flight where passengers can enjoy a quieter experience without the sounds of a crying baby. He even mentioned that he’d be okay with just one baby-free flight each week if that were an option. He emphasized that he really does love children, but would appreciate that option.
Parents were among the most vocal supporters
Hundreds of parents strongly supported the idea. One parent expressed a desire for flights specifically for families, saying, “As a parent, I also would like this and the inverse: A flight with only families so I don’t feel guilt about my baby being chaotic the whole time.” Another added, “It would be so nice to travel with people who are feeling the same anxiety and the same problems and feel not judged for it.” A mother of three wrote, “As a mom of 3, I agree with the no kid flight! We need family/kid-friendly places, but we also need kid-free places.”
Parents who express these thoughts are not saying this to get away from their kids. Their desire for a family-only flight stems from the exhaustion they feel when traveling with little ones and the worry that their baby might disturb other passengers.
Frequent flyers backed the idea with personal experience
Frequent travelers also voiced their support based on personal experiences. One Reddit user shared, “As someone who had to sit next to a parent with their baby on their lap in a crowded, 10-hour flight, both ways, I support this.” There’s already limited space on airlines, especially in economy class, where people often struggle for armrests and personal space feels almost nonexistent. And when you sit next to a crying baby or a toddler, it can create a challenging situation not just for the parents but for everyone around them.
It’s particularly difficult for travelers with health issues. One passenger shared, “As someone who had to sit directly in front of a screaming toddler for 5 hours, while battling a migraine, I support this.”
Even the flight crews feel the strain of managing flights filled with little ones. A crew member mentioned, “As flight crew, we feel the same way about a no-baby flight.”
Parents responsibility?
Some people emphasized that if parents start addressing their kids’ behavior, it can create a positive, relaxing experience for everyone on the flight. One person said. “I’ll never get angry at a child for kicking seats and misbehaving, but I will get angry at a parent who refuses to get them in line. Don’t make a stranger yell at your child. What are we doing here?” Many travelers aren’t necessarily frustrated with the kids themselves, but with parents who don’t take action when things get out of hand.
What airlines can learn from this
Some people mentioned which airlines are currently improving the travel experience. One person wrote, “Japan Airlines displays an icon when booking your seats indicating there is an infant in the seat, allowing you to avoid sitting near young children.”
If other airlines started using this feature, passengers would have a better chance to choose where they want to sit, so they don’t have an unpleasant experience on the flight.
Airlines can do better at listening to their passengers. On one side, there are travelers without children who would be willing to pay extra for a quieter flight experience. On the other hand, families traveling with young kids would appreciate the chance to board alongside others who understand the challenges of flying with little ones.
So, it’s not too difficult for airlines to create special sections for families or even offer specific flights that cater to families on popular routes, just like cruises offer adult-only experiences. Airlines already group passengers by factors such as seat class, special needs, and baggage limits. So why not take it a step further and give people options based on whether there will be kids on board?
Passengers want choices, not rules. No one is asking for a ban on children; instead, they just want the ability to choose what works best for them. The airline industry has the tools to make this happen and should consider offering more options for everyone.
