'CHILD-FREE ZONES' ON AIRPLANES BECOMES

GROWING MOVEMENT

Some international airlines have created "kid-free" zones, but US airlines haven't
followed them

Few issues get travellers more worked up than the debate over how airlines should
handle children.

Some think the chance of sitting near a noisy child is part of the risk one bears when
buying an airline ticket, but others think airlines need to take action and separate
children from adults by creating child-only or child-free seating sections.

There's demand for child-free seating in the US

A 2017 survey from the air travel site Airfare watchdog found that a little over half of
respondents believe families with children aged 10 and under should have to sit in a
designated section apart from other passengers, and the idea of separating children
and adults has gained traction on Reddit, where threads with titles like “Would you
pay extra for a child-free flight? YESSSS!!!” and “It's time airlines introduced child-
free zones” indicate the demand for child-free seating.

Some international airlines, including Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, Scoot Airlines, and
IndiGo have introduced “kid-free” zones where customers can purchase seats without
the risk of sitting next to a noisy child. 

So why haven't any US airlines followed them?

Child-free seating would be a PR nightmare

Because doing so would spark outrage, according to Airfare watchdog content editor
Tracy Stewart.

“It's probably hard for parents to be super objective for this stuff. Whenever this
comes up, people get so upset about it,” Stewart told Business Insider. “It would be
great if an American carrier would give it a shot, but I would be surprised if anyone
takes it on.”

Stewart said that once parents become acclimated to living with young children, it can
be difficult to recognise how disruptive their children can be to those around them.
“If you're a parent and you live with that kind of behaviour, you're probably pretty
resigned to kicking and screaming. If some stranger calls out your kid for
misbehaving on a plane, those situations escalate so quickly,” Stewart said.

Airlines don't need more controversy

Those tensions would make it difficult for a US airline to even test child-free seating
without creating controversy. Given the crisis airlines have faced around their rules
for allowing emotional support animals on flights - policies that affect a small
percentage of passengers - it's not difficult to imagine the PR nightmare that would
follow child-free seating policies, even if the current system causes as much stress for
parents as those sitting around them.

A 2012 Reddit post highlighted two parents of young children who offered ear plugs
to the other passengers on their flight via notes included in bags of candy. While the
gesture was largely praised, purchasing earplugs and arranging goodie bags every
time you fly would be time-consuming and only add to the difficulty of raising a
child. Creating separate seating for children would reduce the stress some parents feel
when sitting next to passengers travelling without children.

Still, it's unlikely that child-free seating will be introduced on a US airline anytime
soon. The status quo isn't perfect, but it's easier to keep a controversial system than to
adopt a new one.
 FedEx reveals a package-delivering robot backed by
Walmart, Target, and Lowe's that can climb stairs, carry hot
food, and replace human workers

FedEx revealed a cutting-edge robot on Wednesday that could replace human delivery
workers. 

The FedEx Same-Day Bot can deliver packages and hot food from stores and
restaurants to customers' homes. It will be hitting the streets this summer in select
markets, including Memphis, Tennessee, the company said. 

FedEx said it collaborated with retailers including Walmart, Target, Lowe's, Pizza
Hut, and Walgreens to develop the technology, which it said would "change the face
of local delivery." 

The Bot features a large white cube atop four wheels. The wheels allow the Bot to
climb stairs and maneuver easily over uneven ground, according to videos of the
battery-powered machine in action.

The Bot is designed to travel on sidewalks and along roadsides to carry small
packages from stores to customers' homes and businesses. Multiple cameras adorning
the machine help it navigate around pedestrians and other potential obstacles on its
route. 

Don Frieson, supply chain executive vice president for Lowe's, said the Same-Day
Bot has the potential to "greatly simplify and speed distribution for the full range of
our customers."

"Consider pros who could save time and money by never leaving the job site for the
critical tools and supplies they need from Lowe's," he said. "We look forward to
exploring all the possibilities to enhance the service we provide our customers
through this innovation." 

Target Chief Operating Officer John Mulligan said: "We're excited to be collaborating
with FedEx to explore how autonomous robots could enhance delivery services and
more, ensuring we continue to exceed our guests' expectations for ease and
convenience."
The Bot's Memphis test is pending city approval, but FedEx already has the support of
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland.

"We couldn't be more excited that FedEx chose its hometown as one of the pilot cities
for this revolutionary innovation," Strickland said. 

The initial test will involve deliveries between FedEx Office locations. FedEx Office
currently offers a SameDay City service that operates in 32 markets and 1,900 cities
using branded FedEx vehicles and uniformed FedEx employees, the company said. 

FedEx says the tests will complement this service. But if the tests are successful and
the Bot gets a wider rollout, it's possible it could replace human workers.