Quantas Goes Bonzo

So here in the USA we can once again take along a nail-clipper (see below.) But in Australia, you might have to change seats.

Air New Zealand and Qantas have banned men from sitting next to unaccompanied children on flights, sparking accusations of discrimination.

The airlines have come under fire for the policy that critics say is political correctness gone mad after a man revealed he was ordered to change seats during a Qantas flight because he was sitting next to a young boy travelling alone.

Auckland man Mark Worsley says an air steward approached him after take-off on the Christchurch to Auckland flight and told him to change seats with a women sitting two rows in front. The steward said it was the airline's policy that only women were allowed to sit next to unaccompanied children.

"At the time I was so gobsmacked that I moved. I was so embarrassed and just stewed on it for the entire flight," Mr Worsley said.

The 37-year-old shipping manager, who has two-year-old twins, followed the incident up with the airline and was told Qantas wanted to err on the side of caution.

"I felt that it was totally discriminatory - besides the point of what the hell was I going to do on a crowded flight."

The story does not say whether Mr. Worsley had a nail clipper, a screwdriver, or a cigarette lighter.