NO CRYING IN FIRST CLASS

Note to parents: Keep your crying babies at the back of the plane.

That’s what Malaysia Airlines has been saying since its ban on babies in first class became the subject of media attention once again this week.

The company’s no-infant policy in its most-expensive seats was thrust in the spotlight again by a Twitter conversation between Australian Business Traveler magazine and the airline’s chief executive, Tengku Azmil.  The magazine asked if Malaysia Airlines would extend the ban to its new Airbus A380 planes, to which the executive replied “Yup!” (The no-infant ban was instituted in 2004 and defines infant as any child under the age of 2.)

The news spread quickly as blogs and media sites alike both criticized and praised the plan. On Wednesday, Malaysia Airlines responded to the maelstrom of attention with a release clarifying and explaining its policy. According to the airline, the 2003 reconfiguration of the first-class section of its fleet of Boeing 747s, which allowed passengers to lie flat, also left no place to put bassinets. The airline reminded customers that infants can still travel in economy or business class on the 747.

There was no further information in the release on whether babies would be barred from first class on the new Airbus A380 planes as well (a company spokesmen declined to comment when asked), but Mr. Azmil’s unrepentant tone on Twitter certainly makes an extension of the ban seem likely.

Corinne McDermott, a Toronto-based travel consultant, sent her own tweet in response to the news: “But I find it hard to believe Malaysia Airlines would refuse a 1st class full fare passenger of any age.” Mr. Azmil responded: “We do not take infants in 1st Class whether on their own seat or on the lap. We do lose some revenue but many ppl complained.”