Sunday, April 01, 2012

WestJet introduces child-free cabins

 

Young children and airplanes often just don't mix, whether you're a child-free passenger getting your seat kicked and eardrums pierced by restless or scared young ones, or the exhausted parent trying desperately to calm those same kids.

Now Canadian airline WestJet says it has the solution: kid-free cabins.

In an April Fools Day prank released Sunday, WestJet announced the new service on board select flights.

"We've heard from many of our guests that they're tired of kids screaming and running up and down the aisle and are looking, quite simply, for some peace and quiet," Vice President of communications Richard Bartrem says in a tongue-in-cheek video posted on WestJet's website.

The video also introduces WestJet's solution for travelling with young ones: a new program called Kargo Kids, wherein children get to fly in a "special VIP" area of the plane - the cargo hold.

In the video, a WestJet counter agent helps two harried parents plunk their crying, fussy children into a so-called "travel toboggan," or cargo bin. As peaceful music plays in the background, the baby and pre-schooler are seen winding down the baggage belt. A little blonde girl with her hair in two braids waves goodbye to her parents.

"Your child will be whisked away on a magic carpet ride and your work is done," Bartrem says with a grin.

"Your child's toboggan will arrive safely with the luggage, and other kids, who will be boarding that flight."

The Kargo Kids area features a WestJet counsellor, Bartrem says, who will make sure the kids are safe and supervised.

"With plenty of toys and a state-of-the-art feed trough, your children will be able to run, play, scream and eat all they want, while you enjoy your flight in peace and quiet," Bartrem says.

Cue a shot of the same harried parents now sighing contently and leaning back in their seats, eyes shut in relaxed bliss.

"From all of us at WestJet - you're welcome," Bartrem says.

The video ends with a child in a wooly monkey toque wishing everyone a happy April Fools Day.

WestJet was founded in 1996 and flies to 76 cities in North America and the Caribbean.
Source: http://www.canada.com

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