A musician’s 29-hour flight to Germany quickly became an endurance test thanks to a relentless crying baby, and his witty response has ignited a fiery conversation about the challenges of traveling with young children.
Henry Beasley, part of the New Zealand duo Balu Brigada, shared his memorable experience in a now-viral TikTok video that has amassed over 3.7 million views. In the clip, Beasley humorously documents his reactions to the constant wailing from a nearby infant, capturing the highs and lows of the long-haul journey with eye twitches and dramatic sighs.
Beasley, rather than showing annoyance, takes a sarcastic approach, playfully rating the baby’s performance as an impressive “10/10” for stamina. “Rate my 29-hour journey to Berlin,” he jokes, keeping the tone light as he endures the endless cries.
The video resonated with many fellow travelers who have suffered through similar experiences, sparking a flood of comments from viewers sharing their own frustrations and tales of air travel with children.
Divided Opinions on Parents Traveling with Infants
While some viewers showed sympathy for Beasley, others questioned the choice of parents to bring babies on long flights. One commenter wondered why parents take young children on trips they won’t even remember, while another admitted to never flying with toddlers, calling it “painful for everyone.”
On the flip side, many parents defended the situation, arguing that sometimes travel is necessary—whether it’s for family emergencies, relocations, or other unavoidable reasons.
One commenter even suggested a controversial solution: “My mom used to give my brother and me cough syrup or something to make us drowsy. At least she was considerate.”
The Child-Free Flight Debate Heats Up
Beasley’s viral video has reignited the ongoing debate about child-free flights. Some travelers have expressed a willingness to pay extra for flights without children, claiming that long-haul flights are already taxing without the added noise.
A few airlines have already tried catering to this demand. For instance, budget airline Scoot has introduced a “ScootinSilence” section where children under 12 are banned. Japan Airlines also allows passengers to view seating charts showing where babies are seated, enabling them to choose their seats accordingly.
While such options offer relief to some, the idea of entirely child-free flights remains controversial. Critics argue that this would be exclusionary and impractical, while others see designated kid-free zones as a reasonable compromise to improve the flying experience for all passengers.
Finding Humor in a Shared Travel Struggle
Ultimately, Henry Beasley’s video offers a humorous and relatable take on a common air travel dilemma. While a screaming baby on a nearly 30-hour flight is undoubtedly challenging, Beasley’s ability to turn his frustration into lighthearted content struck a chord with millions.
As for whether airlines will ever embrace fully child-free flights, that remains to be seen—but one thing is certain: the conversation about kids on planes is far from over.
@balubrigada Hey babe, how was your flight?