In keeping with the mysterious cycle by which old news stories resurface on social media, an airline feature introduced a while back has gained some renewed interest online recently.
At least this particular feature is genuine, unlike, say, "standing" airplane seats or the feasibility of most alleged travel hacks in the ever-popular one-simple-trick genre.
The real thing we're referring to is a handy tool for flyers hoping to avoid being seated near a baby on an airplane.
Customers purchasing seats on flights operated by Japan Airlines can see ahead of time where infants will be sitting.
The plane's seat map, used during the booking process on the carrier's website, displays a baby icon on any seats that will be occupied by "passengers traveling with children between 8 days and 2 years old," according to the Tokyo-based airline.
So if you don't want to sit near a howling or squirming infant, you'll want to opt for a spot far from that smiling baby pic—or, if open seats elsewhere are unavailable, at least you'll know what you're in for and can stock up on earplugs accordingly.
As we mentioned, Japan Airlines has had this feature on its online booking platform for several years—since 2019, in fact. But the simple icon remains novel and appealing enough to have inspired a fresh wave of admiration (and, from U.S. travelers, envy), thanks to social media posts, such as one that racked up nearly 2 million views over the weekend.
One reason the Japan Airlines system hasn't been adopted more widely could be that the icons aren't 100% reliable, such as in cases where the carrier has to make a last-minute change in aircraft.
Other airlines that help you avoid in-flight babies
A few other international airlines similarly cater to baby-phobic flyers.
Malaysia's AirAsia X, Singapore's Scoot, and Turkey's Corendon Airlines all have designated quiet zones covering several rows of seats with age restrictions.
In the U.S., meanwhile, you're probably gonna have to rely on those earplugs or invest in noise-canceling headphones.