Etihad had it coming, Air India, take notes

Air India, lend us your ears: the future of high-end air travel may hinge not only on the discerning tastes of CEOs, HNIs and VIPs but also on the preferences of their well-travelled and very vocal children. Earlier this week, Mark Ross-Smith, CEO of a Singapore-based loyalty product tech company, shared on X his 6-year-old daughter's review of business-class travel with dad on Etihad. The munchkin showed her gremlin side when she gave a no-holds-barred critique of her flying experience on the much-feted UAE carrier: a measly 1 out of 10. Why this kolaveri di? Her dissatisfaction reportedly stemmed from (1) absence of her buddies onboard, (2) no chocolate in the Etihad kiddies' meal, and (3) omission of hot-towel service for pint-sized passengers.

This mini-critic also lamented the striking similarity between business and economy kids' packs - entitlement means entitled to know the diff. And let's not forget the travesty of in-flight entertainment not kicking off until - horror of horrors! - the plane was airborne, delaying her cartoon-watching. HNI Jr's feedback prompted Etihad to express hopes for a 5-star review next time. Could this signal a shift in the airline industry, where feedback from pint-sized pundits and candy-craving critics will determine in-flight amenities? Air India, read the signs of today's future.