Is air travel for young families about to get more expensive? In a
press release, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has
recommended an end to the practice of allowing children under two
years old to fly for free on the lap of a parent or guardian. The argument is twofold. According to the NTSB, there's an increased
"likelihood that parents and caregivers may not be able to maintain a
secure hold on a lap-held child during turbulence and survivable
accidents. Additionally, unrestrained children have become separated
from their parents during survivable crashes and parents were unable
to locate them during the evacuation." If the case for safety is that simple and compelling, why isn't it
already law? Christine Negroni at the New York Times notes that,
although the NTSB has proposed this before, "the F.A.A. has rejected
the recommendation several times, saying that parents unable to afford
tickets for their young children would opt to drive rather than fly,
resulting in more highway fatalities." Have you flown with an infant? Did you purchase a seat or opt for the
lap alternative? What do you think about the possibility of children
under two needing their own seats? Will this discourage you from
flying? Share your thoughts below!
press release, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has
recommended an end to the practice of allowing children under two
years old to fly for free on the lap of a parent or guardian. The argument is twofold. According to the NTSB, there's an increased
"likelihood that parents and caregivers may not be able to maintain a
secure hold on a lap-held child during turbulence and survivable
accidents. Additionally, unrestrained children have become separated
from their parents during survivable crashes and parents were unable
to locate them during the evacuation." If the case for safety is that simple and compelling, why isn't it
already law? Christine Negroni at the New York Times notes that,
although the NTSB has proposed this before, "the F.A.A. has rejected
the recommendation several times, saying that parents unable to afford
tickets for their young children would opt to drive rather than fly,
resulting in more highway fatalities." Have you flown with an infant? Did you purchase a seat or opt for the
lap alternative? What do you think about the possibility of children
under two needing their own seats? Will this discourage you from
flying? Share your thoughts below!
No comments:
Post a Comment