All those travel accessories that claim to help kids sleep on long-haul flights may become a thing of the past after airlines added them to their list of dangerous goods.
Australian airlines have added kids' sleeping devices to their list of prohibited carry-on items, saying that they are a safety hazard.
Qantas and Jetstar, which have the same dangerous goods policy, have banned popular travel accessories including bed boxes, leg hammocks and inflatable cushions. Air New Zealand also prohibits the use of non-aviation certified products, including the Fly-Tot, Bedbox and LegsUp leg hammock.
"Safety is and will always be our top priority, Bed Boxes are considered an evacuation hazard as they block the walkway areas off which will cause major problems in the case of an evacuation," Qantas said.
"Examples of prohibited in-flight accessories include, but are not limited to, inflatable cubes, 'bed boxes', and 'leg hammocks'. This list is not exhaustive, and the decision to permit use of a particular device rests with the cabin crew on-board."
Parents unhappy with the policy questioned the airlines about the move.
"Can someone please provide a legitimate example of how this is even possible?" one parent asked Qantas on Facebook.
"A product that can only be removed from the overhead locker/underseat once the seatbelt sign has been switched off, takes 10-15 seconds to set up and dismantle.
"Seems like a policy that has had no real world consideration and is unnecessarily preventing parents from using a premium travel product to improve the quality of their travel for not only themselves and their children, but also for the other guests on the flight."
A Qantas spokesman replied and said the "safety of customers and crew is paramount".
"We do restrict the use of products that could block seats or access in the event of an emergency."
A spokesperson from BedBox said the banning of the device by an airline "usually boils down to clear misconceptions about the product".
The company is currently in communication with Qantas, with the airline promising to review it's current policy.
- Stuff