Controversy stirs over Emirates' fresh regulation concerning children in first-class cabins
In a recent development, two major airlines, Emirates and KLM, have implemented policies restricting children aged eight and under from redeeming rewards for first class seats.
Emirates, the Dubai-based airline, has amended its Emirates Skywards rules, making it ineligible for passengers aged eight years old and below to redeem first class Emirates classic rewards and upgrade rewards. This policy change, which took effect on August 15, 2025, has stirred debate about whether young passengers should be seated in first class.
On the other hand, KLM, the Dutch national carrier, has established a separate 'adults-only' zone on its Airbus A350 for the approximately 10-hour flight from Amsterdam to the Dutch Caribbean island of Curaçao. Similar to Emirates, this policy applies to passengers 16 years and under.
The policy changes were not formally announced by the airlines but were shared by travel blogs such as One Mile at a Time and The Points Guy, who described the Emirates policy as 'family-unfriendly' in an Instagram post. Hundreds of travellers responded to the post, fueling the debate about the policy.
Interestingly, Corendon Airlines, a Turkish-Dutch carrier, has taken a different approach. They have introduced an 'Only Adult' section on their Airbus A350 for the 10-hour route between Amsterdam and the Dutch Caribbean Island of Curaçao. This zone is located in the front area of the plane and is only accessible to passengers 16 years and up.
Meanwhile, in 2019, Japan Airlines launched a booking feature called 'baby map,' which indicates the seats occupied by passengers up to two years old. Passengers booking through Japan Airlines' website can view these seats, marked with a child icon.
Amidst these changes, Canadian model Khloë Terae defended family travel and announced plans to travel with her one-year-old and newborn in first class, adding a unique perspective to the ongoing debate.
As the aviation industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these policies impact family travel and whether other airlines follow suit.
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