Families seek video-free enclave on planes

After her four- and seven-year-old sons were exposed to an R-rated movie with “a lot of nudity” on recent flight, a parent took her concerns to Congress, where two North Carolina legislators have introduced a bill to require airlines to offer “family friendly” seating sections without any visible TV screens. This parent apparently received an apology from the offending airline. (It’s not like R-rated movies are standard fare on main-cabin screens; I once endured the ghastly Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement on a Northwest flight.)

I do question the wisdom of Congress regulating customer service standards, I also have to wonder–is this even legal? Are airlines considered public spaces, and if so, how does case law on decency standards apply? Perhaps The NV Flyer, who specializes in this sort of thing, will weigh in for us.

Kid-friendly areas on planes proposed [AP via Things with Wings]