This week’s rolling news cycle (and it’s been a doozy) included headlines from Japan Airlines (JAL) announcing that it would be rolling out a baby seat map to allow passengers to see where babies will be located on their flight. I haven’t rolled my eyes that hard in a while. At first glance, a way for passengers to avoid other passengers sounds wild. But upon further deliberation, this might actually be a good thing. Read on for why a baby seat map is a great idea.

The Bright Side

I’m sure you’ve heard sayings like, “I’m not for everybody” or “They’re just not my cup of tea” or some other beverage of choice. You’ve probably even used these sayings yourself to describe just not getting along with someone’s energy or personality. So while I am in fact annoyed and fed up with the debate about babies on planes, maybe this baby seat map isn’t the worst thing in the world.

You mean to tell me there’s a way for people who don’t want to be around me to just avoid me all together? Sign. Me. Up.

Parents and baby lovers alike, picture it: a community of helping hands, welcome advice from seasoned family travelers, the absence of audible unhappiness when other passengers see your baby. A positive and welcoming energy that makes you excited to fly with your babies. Doesn’t that sound actually amazing? This (and other factors) would completely change your flying experience.

A baby seat map is designed to let child-less passengers know where kids are so they can avoid them. But can I use the map to avoid child-less passengers? This idea might actually be genius.

The Not-So-Bright Side

Now, on a more serious note, a way to avoid a demographic or segment of the population is actually pretty discriminatory. And I’m a little surprised that I haven’t seen anyone discussing that point. There are no icons on the seat map to identify passengers who put their feet on the tray table or any other number of gross things we’ve all seen people do. Or to identify people belonging to other social groups including gender, race/ethnicity or religion. Please understand that I am not comparing a baby seat map to racism or gender discrimination. I am simply pointing out that being a parent is a social identity that many of us ascribe to as closely as we do our religious, ethnic or other identities. 

While I can see the brighter side of a baby seat map, I hope it doesn’t become a thing across the airline industry. Rather, I would prefer that we become more tolerant of those around us and quell these preconceived assumption that my baby is going to be a complete nightmare. With travel becoming more and more accessible to families, I’m optimistic that debates about babies on planes will eventually disappear.

In the meantime, as we ask for patience from travelers without children, let’s be the bigger people and find patience for those that have such a hard time with our crying babies. In other words, let’s have the same sympathy for them as we have when our little ones throw their own temper tantrums 😉

What do you think about the baby seat map? Let me know in the comments below or join the conversation over at my instagram @from.my.world.