I am tired of the world revolving around child. Absolutely, positively, entirely over having my world revolve around other people's children. If parents don't want their kid to see a particular movie, then keep the kid otherwise occupied, preferably using a means that does not involve screeching, kicking, or otherwise disturbing the other passengers.

Posted By LIsa on September 26, 2007, 12:29 PM

I wholeheartedly support the legislation. Frankly, I think the airlines should be prosecuted for child abuse for showing movies like Panic Room. This really happened last year. Parents have no choice in these matters and cannot really shield their kids from them-maybe airlines should have to notify all passsengers of the movie content BEFORE they buy the tickets! This might have an effect.

If the airlines weren't so irresponsible, Congress wouldn't have to get involved.

Posted By Jody Ruggiero on October 1, 2007, 11:19 AM

How much do you want to bet that they pass some dumba** law about movie content before they even address the long wait on ground issue? Our legislators are nearly totally disfunctional, democrat or republican. I'm not betting.

Posted By jim on October 1, 2007, 11:24 AM

I think these parents that are worrying about this need to focus their efforts on the screens their children see every day. How often do you fly with children domestically that there is a screen showing a movie? (even internationally for that matter) Now, how many times does your child sit down in front of a television and watch TV and there is something you don't want them to see? Children can barely see over the seatbacks anyway...just what we need, one more government regulation to be enforced for the smallest sliver of air travellers.

Posted By Nate on October 1, 2007, 11:30 AM

If the airplane has individual monitors then it should be the parents job to police what they are watching. However, if the airline has shared monitors, then I could agree with this policy.

Posted By Jim Wallace on October 1, 2007, 11:46 AM

Considering the growing problem(s) of delayed and overbooked flights, lost luggage, inconsistent (and in some cases incomprehensible) security measures, and decaying levels of customer service, I find Congress' interest in the in-flight movies to be ludicrous. They need to address the REAL problems first.

Posted By Michele on October 1, 2007, 12:58 PM

I have George Bush and Dick Cheney monitoring my phone calls and e-mail for years (I'm not kidding, since I work in Overseas Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Dubai, etc.)...

The last thing I approve of is the government's nose in any part of my business in which they don't already have a good sniff. Hell No!

Posted By PatrickInTbilisi on October 1, 2007, 1:10 PM

We had this issue just this week on a flight back from the west to the east coast. On our way out we were on a plane with individualized screens so my 6 year old could see Shrek 3, an acceptable movie to me, her mother. On the return we had the "flip down" screens, on an airbus, so we were "forced" to watch the more violent "Silver Surfer-Fantastic 4" movie. Even w/out the volume it's violent. what can you do? I would have much prefered the Gere movie "hoax" which is rated R but not violent...I realize the majority of airplane passengers are not the under 10 set, but seeing as how we are all "trapped" together on the plane there needs to be accommodation for the younger set.

Posted By sarah on October 1, 2007, 1:33 PM

"Parents have no choice in these matters"? Please! Airlines are in the business of making money. If an airline is showing movies inappropriate for children, then make a fuss, write letters, get on CNN. Make it clear you and all your friends will take your business elsewhere. If there is enough bad publicity and the airline is in danger of losing business, they will change their policy. That is how the free market system works- businesses respond to customers needs or they go out of business. We don't need the government policing these issues for us. We just need to get proactive and do something, instead of just whining about how powerless we are.

Posted By Julia on October 1, 2007, 1:41 PM

I'd encourage a kid's section, complete with a kid friendly movie. Make it in the back if you must.

My child isn't allowed violent movies at home and I object to them shown on the screen when we fly.

I also agree that others shouldn't have to put up with drivel because of a few kids.

Make separate sections, it will keep the kids happier anyway.

Posted By Nadine on October 1, 2007, 2:22 PM

Seriously, i agree with Lisa, does everything have to evolve around everyone else's child? Occupy the kids with something else. Adults don't want a steady diet of G-rated entertainment.

Posted By Gail on October 1, 2007, 2:33 PM

The goverment has their nose into many thing's already (now movies! if they don't like, take a night flight let them sleep). stick to the problem of illegal's, and paying all their medical at seniors expense. Why pay for medical when they can get it for free???

Posted By Jackie on October 1, 2007, 3:24 PM

I love children but I am an adult and I don't want to sit through family entertainment on trans-atlantic flights or even domestic ones. Parents are responsible for their children and what they view on airplanes, not the government.

Posted By Paris on October 1, 2007, 3:33 PM

All those in support of child inappropriate movies on flights: stop at the airport Blockbuster and rent one for yourself. I'm pretty sure it's illegal to blindfold and handcuff kids ... which is what it would take for them not to see the airplane community monitors.

Posted By Charles on October 1, 2007, 9:37 PM

I have 2 small kids, and we fly to Germany every couple of years to visit family. My kids are very limited in what they get to watch at home (my 5-year-old hasn't watched most Disney movies because they scare him). When we're on the flights, it'd be near impossible for me to stop him from watching the movie, and, honestly, with having to keep him entertained for a 9-hour flight, a movie is a nice break for all of us. On one flight, his seat was right in front of the screen, so he was mesmerized by the movie (which, to my horror, featured Jack Nicholson's bare backside). The individual screens are great, but not all planes have them, and we can't really pick what planes the airlines put us on. So weighing out the options of having my kids subjected to scary movies (which would make my son hysterical for the rest of the flight), or making an adult sit through Ratatouille, I'd go for the latter.

Posted By Mo on October 2, 2007, 8:34 AM

Lisa, like you, I'm sick of parents getting the government involved in situations when they should be exercising their own parenting skills.

I would wholeheartedly support a kids-only section of the plane.. as long as my seat was as far away from it as possible, and the area was encased in soundproof material.

There is absolutely no way that Congress should consider this before they address the maximum delay time issue of how long airlines can keep passengers on delayed planes before returning to the terminal. It's completely insignificant.

Posted By Kimberly on October 2, 2007, 9:03 AM

For all the Lisas: If you claim to be an adult, then ACT LIKE ONE! You can practice a little restraint and forego your pleasures for a few measly hours in order to not damage the next generation. There's no need to get your panties in a twist because you can't watch someone's head being blown off or see simulated sex. If it's that important to you, YOU make the adjustment. Fly Hooters.
And for the person who suggested that parents could solve the problem by writing to the airline - um, hello? That has never worked, as you know. But that's the tired mantra those who don't want change or be bothered always drag out and hide behind. Shame on you.
And it's not written anywhere that airlines can only change one policy. So regulating this doesn't mean delays or other issues will lose out. Get a grip people!

Posted By Cynthia on October 2, 2007, 1:42 PM

Um, hello? This is nuts. I love kids and there's a little one in my life due to my other's previous involvement, and I think legislation on this would be going too far! Most passengers are adults. Most movie entertainment on a plane can't be heard without headphones. There are laptops and portable DVD players (small and cheap) that parents can bring to occupy kids with their choice of appropriate entertainment if they wish. Isn't that enough? I'd prefer to get up in arms about American airports: I'm so tired of there being No place to sit in many of them without being bombarded by TV's - with no choice of content or volume level. Sometimes all you want while you're between flights is a moment of (relative) quiet.

Posted By Sarah on October 2, 2007, 11:36 PM

I disagree. Only if the airlines cannot avoid showing graphic violence themselves should the government prevent it. If the airlines cannot do so, then force them to show "Snakes on a Plane."

Seriously, though, I am against the government policing such things. The people who run the airlines should know better without coercion.

Posted By Richard on October 2, 2007, 11:47 PM

I want to agree with Julia's comment. There many many many other issues that the government needs to be occupied with in and outside the airline and travel industry. I do not have any children, but I can understand parents not wanting them to see certain content. The consumer can pursue and press the issue with the business if the demand for change in policy is that great.

Posted By Carlotta on October 4, 2007, 11:56 AM

Sorry, Mo, but if I had to sit through Ratatouille on a plane, I'd be hysterical for the rest of the flight!
But seriously, I strongly believe in personal responsibility. I am responsible for my child, not the government and not the airline. If I don't want my child to watch something on an airline screen, then I find a way to otherwise engage him/her--books, games, etc.

Posted By Sara on October 11, 2007, 2:38 PM

Thanks to everyone for the great comments!
--Sean
Blog editor

Posted By Blog Editor on October 12, 2007, 11:47 AM

Movies shown on airlines are already heavily censored and abridged. But the censors seem far more preoccupied with sex and nudity than with violence. I'm not in favor of reducing everything to a level suitable to a 7 year old. But it would make things much easier if the airlines would go to the individual screen format. Personally, when I have that I usually prefer to listen to music or, if I'm lucky enough to get one of Delta's old Song planes, play trivia against the other passengers.

Posted By Richard Rosichan on October 30, 2007, 10:14 PM