Summary
- Air India is offering alternative seating options for solo female travelers and moms traveling alone with their children to boost comfort and security.
- The choice got here from feedback received from past female passengers who experienced discomfort when assigned a middle seat.
- Air India’s initiative known as “Gender-sensitive seat project practice” and it allows staff to alter seats at their discretion to guard the well-being of select passengers.
The newly rejuvenated Air India is ready to supply alternative seating options for females traveling alone, the most recent move, reported by the Hindustan Times. Based on the discharge, Air India will encourage solo female travelers and moms traveling with their children alone to choose alternative seats free of charge.
In a directive from the carrier, these solo passengers will likely be offered a window or aisle seat, depending on their preference.
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Children, moms, and solo female travelers
The choice has come from the carrier because it looks to lift its popularity because the carrier of alternative in India, and staff have been encouraged to make use of the seat selection discretion to ‘enhance the comfort and security of passengers.’
India’s leading carrier sent an internal communication to staff this week, on October third, announcing the most recent initiative, stating:
“To make sure the female guests traveling with us have a snug flight, we as an organization are adopting a gender-sensitive seat project practice. A circular has been released by…team regarding the identical.”
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It appears the move got here from feedback from past female passengers, who identified discomfort if assigned a middle seat when traveling alone. Moreover, the initiative has been widely celebrated by airline staff, who’ve noted that some flights can have no less than 10% solo women travelers and should not feel comfortable being seated between two males.
Airline critics have weighed in on their thoughts on the most recent move, noting that the problem wouldn’t have to be raised should the airline have a ‘less chaotic’ seat allocation system when booking or check-in.
More detail from the carrier
While multiple media outlets have reiterated the airline is yet to verify this to the general public, information shared by the Hindustan Times further cemented the airline’s move to make sure the security and well-being of females, moms, or young children while flying with the carrier:
“In an endeavor to adopt the practice, cabin crew members ought to be mindful and discreet (but not limit themselves) while offering to reseat the below guests in case there are vacant seats available, females traveling alone seated between male passengers, moms with infant seated in center seats might be relocated to a seat with bassinet location (preferably aisle) or window seat.”
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Air India’s initiative has been named ‘Gender-sensitive seat project practice.’ It ensures that airport staff and crew can change seats at their discretion should they imagine it’s in the very best interest of the select passengers.
It is just not the primary gender-based airline initiative.
Air India would not be the primary carrier to hit the highlight under gender-based seat selection; British Airways, Qantas, Air Latest Zealand, and Brisbane-based Virgin Australia have all hit the headlines prior to now when the airlines noted that they’d not allow unaccompanied children to be seated next to adult males when in flight. The reasoning is that ‘men are a danger to the kids.’
Conversely, relaxing gender stereotypes is on Dutch carrier KLM’s mind; as reported by Easy Flying in May, the airline has relaxed titles, allowing passengers to pick out ‘X’ should other abbreviations not fit the bill.
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Sources: Hindustan Times, News18