No kidding: Japan airlines offer seat maps to avoid children

TOKYO - Fed up with finding yourself next to a screaming child on a long-haul flight? On some Japanese airlines, a seat map will warn you where potentially bawling babies are sitting.

The facility, offered as part of Japan Airlines' "Smile Support" travel service for those with infants, is not new, but lit up the Internet after a Twitter user praised it.

"Thank you, @JAL-Official-jp for warning me about where babies plan to scream and yell during a 13-hour trip. This really ought to be mandatory across the board," venture capitalist Rahat Ahmed tweeted.

A somewhat bemused JAL spokesman confirmed the feature, pointing out it was not a novel offering.

At least one other Japanese airline does the same - All Nippon Airways (ANA), where a spokesman confirmed its seat maps have shown where children are sitting "for a while".

JAL's maps indicate where infants under age two are sitting, with a child icon to let "other passengers know".

The revelation caused an Internet firestorm, with supporters and naysayers battling it out.

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"Answered prayers," airline specialist site The Points Guy titled a post on the subject.

"Nice. But how long before we get upcharged for seats away from said babies?" one user asked.

Another called the map an unnecessary offering.

"Japan Airlines seat map helps avoid screaming babies. Why not just have noise cancelling headphones?!"

And some pointed out that babies aren't the only troublesome travellers.

"Can we use the same software to avoid people who eat noisily instead?" one Twitter user asked.

"Will airlines also have maps for obnoxious passengers that drink too much, remove their shoes, hog the armrest or recline in my lap?" added another.

Mr Ahmed reported on Friday that he had arrived in New York after his JAL flight.

"Ironically, chose to sat next to several babies on my two flights: Some great, some loud. It happens. Some adults were worse," he tweeted.