There’s nothing quite like hopping on a plane for a long haul flight and thinking you have two seats next to you wide open.

You’re preparing for the joys of actual arm space, and maybe a lie down a little later, and boom, a parent with a wailing baby sits down next to you and the dream is over.

Of course, the crying baby doesn’t actually have to be anywhere near to you, because sound tends to travel on a plane.

Parents, we know you hate it just as much as the rest of us without children, and you’ve had it up to here with your little rascal, but it’s not a vibe.

Enter Japan Airlines, who have unveiled an online booking tool that shows where toddlers will be seated. More from the Guardian:

When passengers with children aged between eight days and two years old reserve their seat, a child icon automatically appears on the seat plan, alerting other passengers who have yet to select their seats.

JAL was quick to point out that the new feature did not guarantee that passengers would be out of earshot of a screaming infant.

The icon would not appear if passengers booked their flight through a third party or were part of a tour group, or if there was a last-minute change of aircraft, the airline’s website said.

If ever there was a reason to check in online 24 hours before your flight, this is it.

Of course, as with every decision made in the age of social media, there was some backlash:

“They are babies, as we all once were. We need to learn tolerance or will soon start needing a map of seat locations for mouth breathers, droolers, farters, drunks, and perhaps a lot more things in life,” one user said.

Cool, seat locations for all of them, please.

Let’s add snorers, and people who insist on reclining their seat to the absolute maximum, to that list.

Also, if you’re the type of traveller that wants to talk to the stranger sat next to you – that should also carry a warning.

[source:guardian]