A passenger’s recent experience with a crying baby during a long journey has sparked a lively discussion about having children on flights. Imagine being on a 29-hour flight to Germany and the person next to you just won’t stop crying. This is exactly what happened to Henry Beasley, a musician from the New Zealand band Balu Brigada. He shared this ordeal online, and it quickly caught the internet’s attention.
Henry documented his experience and humorously asked his viewers to “rate my 29-hour journey to Berlin.” With a focus on his reactions to the constant cries nearby, he displayed subtle gestures of frustration, like twitchy eyes and big sighs. Despite being visibly tired, he maintained his sense of humor by joking about the child’s “incredible stamina” and rating their “performance” a “10/10.”
This video caught a lot of attention, amassing over 3.7 million views, and igniting conversations regarding the complications of flying with young children. People across the internet voiced varied perspectives. Some, empathizing with Henry, questioned the choice to travel with a young child on such a lengthy journey.
One viewer commented, “Kids don’t even remember anything from those trips. Why would anyone do that?”
Many parents also shared their views on the difficulties of traveling with young kids. One said, “I know some people don’t have the option, but I never took my babies or toddlers on flights. Ever. It’s painful for everyone.”
Another person shared a rather unusual suggestion, “My mom used to give my brother and me cough syrup or something to make us drowsy. At least she was considerate.”
This event has reignited the age-old debate about child-free flights. A chunk of the commentators stated they’d willingly pay extra to be on flights without children. Some airlines have already introduced child-free sections to offer travelers a quieter flying experience. For instance, the budget airline Scoot has a “ScootinSilence” zone that restricts children under 12. Japan Airlines allows passengers to check seat maps beforehand to see where babies are seated, helping passengers make informed seating choices.
These options can provide some respite, but the conversation remains contentious. While some see these child-free zones as helpful, others argue that they might not be fair or even practical. Still, many view these zones as an acceptable solution to improve air travel for all passengers.
Henry’s humorous approach to a common travel woe resonated with viewers globally. His video serves as a cheerful reminder that sometimes, finding humor in tough situations, even during lengthy flights, can lighten the load and bring people together in shared frustration.
