A European airline is testing new ‘adult-only’ seating zones on its flights so that its passengers can avoid crying children.
Corendon Dutch Airlines, the sister company to Turkey-based Corendon Airlines, is trialling a new ‘adults-only’ option on its flights from Amsterdam to the Caribbean – meaning that getting stuck next to a screaming baby could soon become a thing of the past.
Comprised of 102 seats altogether, the new “Only Adult zone” at the front of the Airbus A350-900 will be available to those over sixteen only. It also includes nine seats with extra legroom, for those in need of a bit more space.
Customers sitting in the ‘adult only’ zone will then be separated from the rest of the plane by walls and curtains, with the airline saying it plans to create a “shielded environment that contributes to a calm and relaxed flight”.
The airline has also said it hoped that, as well as pleasing childless adults, the new zoning system could have a “positive effect” on parents travelling with their children too.
Speaking on the move to introduce the new zones Atilay Uslu, chairman and founder of Corendon, said: “On board our flights, we always strive to respond to the different needs of our customers.
“We are also the first Dutch airline to introduce the Only Adult zone, because we are trying to appeal to travellers looking for some extra peace of mind during their flight.
“We also believe this can have a positive effect on parents travelling with small children. They can enjoy the flight without worrying if their children make more noise.”
It’s not the first time that an airline has introduced quiet childless zones, with Scoot, the low-budget subsidiary of Singaporean airline, also moving to appease childless fliers with its aged 12+ ‘Scoot in Silence’ cabins.
Reservations for seats in the child-free space will set passengers back €45 per flight, with that price more than doubling for those after extra-large seats.
Featured image – Wikimedia Commons
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Amazon is hiding loads of free stuff in lockers next week for Prime Big Deal Days
Daisy Jackson
Amazon will be hiding free gifts around the UK next week to celebrate Prime Big Deal Days.
The online retail giant will be stashing everything from mobile phones and earphones to beauty gift sets and designer watches in its network of lockers.
You might even stumble upon a new, free kitchen gadget when you’re collecting your normal Amazon shopping.
There is a catch though (or a perk, depending on how you look at it).
The Irish star, who just landed his first UK number one album, wants to make customers ‘feel like a big deal’, apparently.
And seeing as he shot to fame with his viral flashmob stunts, he seems like a good choice to be popping up from behind Amazon lockers as people pick up their online shop.
Cian Ducrot comments: “My flash mob performances are all about spreading joy and music, and I loved helping shoppers feel like a big deal at the Amazon Lockers.”
Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Day sales event, which is taking place on 10 and 11 October 2023, will also see the brand hide hundreds of items in Amazon Lockers around the UK.
Over those two days, Prime members who are collecting shopping will be given the opportunity to pick a code, which will open a locker containing a free item to take away.
Surprise locker locations will be in London, Cardiff, Liverpool, Newcastle, Belfast, Glasgow, Birmingham and Manchester on 10 and 11 October.
The giveaway runs alongside a Prime member exclusive shopping event, featuring deals on everything Prime members need for Autumn, from making an early start to festive shopping, to stocking up on seasonal essentials.
Council Tax in Manchester could be raised to support the city’s ‘poorest households’
Emily Sergeant
Manchester City Council has laid out plans to potentially raise residents’ Council Tax to help support the “poorest households” in the city.
Councillors are proposing that, under the city’s current Council Tax Support scheme, the amount owed by a household is reduced by up to 100% for pension-age residents with the lowest incomes, and up to 82.5% for working-age residents with the lowest incomes from April 2024 – with the maximum reduction for working-age residents increased by 2.5% to 85%.
This means the maximum that those eligible for support would have to pay is just 15% of the bill, according to Manchester City Council.
At the same time, it’s being proposed that rules allowing reductions to be backdated, in instances where someone “has a good reason not to have claimed sooner”, are extended to allow up to a year’s back payments, rather than up to six months as is currently the case.
With the proposals all laid out, a consultation has been opened and residents living in the Manchester borough are now being asked for their views.
The Council is proposing changes to the Council Tax Support scheme that would provide more support for Manchester residents.
The Council Tax Support scheme currently provides around one fifth of Manchester households with help paying their Council Tax, but it’s estimated that these proposed changes would cost the Council around £770,000 in 2024/25.
This proposed raising of Council Tax also comes after the Council revealed earlier last month that £50 million in funding will go towards upgrading and improving social housing in Manchester over the next two years – with thousands of tenants living in social housing and Council-owned residential complexes across the city and wider borough set to benefit.
Residents in these properties are set receive what is being dubbed “transformational investment” to their homes before 2026.
Council Tax in Manchester could be raised to support the city’s ‘poorest households’ / Credit: Archello / Rockpanel
“We are acutely aware that some residents are really struggling due to cost of living pressures,” admitted Cllr Rabnawaz Akbar, who is the Executive Member for Finance at Manchester City Council on the proposals, “and this is why we’ve already introduced a range of measures to help people access food, advice and support.
“As part of this wider response, we want to go even further to help the poorest households in Manchester with their Council Tax, and that’s what these proposals are all about.
“We’re keen to hear your views on what we’re suggesting before we make a final decision.”
Georgina Pellant -
29th August 2023 
