In a first-of-its-kind initiative, Dutch airline Corendon announced it will introduce an “Adult-Only” zone on its leisure flights between Amsterdam and Curaçao, starting November 3.
But is this decision a clever ploy by the leisure carrier to boost ancillaries, or will it benefit passengers? Let’s have a look inside the plane.
Corendon Promises a Peaceful Journey
The newly announced zone, primarily targeted at passengers without children and business travelers, will provide a serene atmosphere perfect for those aiming to work or simply unwind during their flight. Moreover, the airline promises this zone will alleviate parents’ concerns, who often worry about the potential reactions of fellow travelers should their children become restless or start crying.
What to Expect in Corendon’s Adult-Only Zone?
Situated at the front of the Airbus A350 aircraft the airline uses to operate this flight, the Adult Only zone will comprise:
- Nine XL seats provide additional legroom for an even more comfortable experience.
- 93 standard seats.
- Physical separation from the main cabin by walls and curtains ensures a tranquil environment.
Passengers over the age of 16 can access the zone. The pricing to reserve a seat in the Corendon Adult-Only Zone is set at €45 for a standard seat and €100 for an XL seat, per journey. That’s an ancillary charge, in addition to the fare.
Corendon’s Founder on the Inspiration for the Adult Only Zone
In a statement about the innovative move, Atilay Uslu, founder of Corendon, shared, “On board our flights, we always strive to respond to the different needs of our customers. We are also the first Dutch airline to introduce the ‘Adult Only’ zone because we try accommodating travelers looking for extra peace of mind during their flight. We also believe this can positively affect parents traveling with small children, who can enjoy the flight without worrying if their children make a little noise.”
For those eager to experience this new offering, flights can be booked via corendon.com, corendon.nl, and corendon.be.
Inside the Plane: Corendon A350-900 flights to Curaçao operate through collaboration with Spanish leisure carrier World2Fly
World2Fly is part of the Spanish World2Meet and the Iberostar Group, a major player in Spain’s travel industry and agent of Corendon Holidays. Corendon leases the World2Fly A350-900 to operate flights to Curaçao.
The Spanish carrier offers us a 360º view of the Airbus A350-900 cabin.
Corendon and World2Fly A350-900 Cabin Features
It is an all-economy and economy+ wide-body aircraft with 2 aisles and a 3-3-3 seating arrangement. There are 432 seats onboard, divided into 3 main cabin sections.
Corendon promises, “You always have enough choice of seats and more legroom than you would expect.”
The Corendon XL seats (available in all three cabin sections) feature:
- Deployable Seat-screen
- USB In-seat power
- Adjustable wings headrest
- Recline 15,23 cm
- Extra leg room
- Fixed armrests
The Corendon Standard seats (available in all three cabin sections) feature:
- Seat-back screen
- USB In-seat power
- Adjustable wings headrest
- Recline 15,23 cm
Parents Flying With Small Children on Corendon Would Likely Book the Two Back Cabins Anyway
Take A Closer Look at the Corendon and World2Fly Seat Map
According to the World2Fly (LOPA) Seat Map, the A350-900 only features bassinets (baby cots) on the bulkheads of the last two cabins on this aircraft.
- Cabin 1 (Adults-Only) has no bassinet in the bulkhead and has 12 rows of seats. All rows are 3-3-3.
- Cabin 2 has a bassinet in the bulkhead middle seats, and the bassinet seats are also XL seats. All front-row seats are XL. There are 21 rows in his cabin, including two two-seater rows, both XL seats.
- Cabin 3 also has a bassinet in the bulkhead middle seats, and the bassinet seats are also XL seats. There are 17 rows in this cabin, including four two-seater rows. Two of the two-seater rows (at the front of the cabin) are XL seats. The two remaining two-seater rows are at the back, with convenient access to the galley and lavatories.
Parents miss out on little with Corendon’s ‘Adults-Only’ offer, except having to pay extra to be closer to the front. Those who prefer quiet isolation can pay for it. That said, even for couples or singles, the two-seaters at the back of the Corendon/World2Fly seat map are attractive seating choices.
The A350 cabin offers a very comfortable flying experience, even when flying in an economy seat, no matter what cabin you fly.
| Seat option | Main advantage | Potential drawback |
|---|---|---|
| Adult-only standard | No passengers under 16 in the section | No extra legroom |
| Adult-only XL | Extra legroom and adult-only section | Additional charge; check exit-row restrictions |
| XL outside adult-only zone | Extra legroom | Some seats may have restricted recline |
| Rear two-seat pairs | Convenient for couples | Some close to galley or lavatories |
| Standard economy | No need to pay for a premium seat category | Less legroom |
Based on Corendon’s published seating information and the original FlightChic cabin diagrams. Exact seat availability and restrictions should be checked against the booking seat map.
Corendon A350 seat map: Which seats are best?
Corendon’s Airbus A350-900 offers several seating options for passengers flying to the Caribbean, including an adult-only section, extra-legroom XL seats and standard economy seating.
The aircraft, operated in cooperation with Spanish airline World2Fly, has 432 seats arranged across three cabin sections. Most seats have a 3-3-3 layout, although some rows towards the rear have pairs of seats beside the windows.
The best choice depends on whether passengers prioritise additional legroom, travelling without young children nearby, or sitting together as a couple.
Is Corendon’s adult-only zone worth booking?
Corendon’s Only Adult zone occupies rows 1–12 at the front of the A350. It is available to passengers aged 16 and over and is separated from the rest of the cabin.
The section contains both standard and XL seats. Standard seats offer approximately 77–81 cm of pitch, the same as comparable seats elsewhere on the aircraft.
Consequently, passengers paying for a standard seat in the adult-only section are primarily paying for its location and age restriction, rather than additional legroom.
The front-cabin position may also appeal to travellers who prefer to leave the aircraft sooner after arrival.
However, the age restriction does not guarantee a silent cabin. Passengers looking for more personal space should consider the XL seats.
Where are the extra-legroom seats on Corendon’s A350?
XL seats are available in the adult-only section and elsewhere in the aircraft.
According to Corendon’s seating information, these seats offer approximately 96.5 cm of pitch, compared with 77–81 cm in standard economy.
They also feature adjustable headrests, USB connections and individual entertainment screens.
Some XL seats are positioned beside emergency exits. Passengers should check the applicable safety requirements before booking.
Corendon also advises that certain extra-legroom exit-row seats may have restricted recline. Travellers should therefore check the specific seat offered during reservation rather than assume all XL seats provide identical comfort.
Which Corendon A350 seats are best for couples?
The A350’s standard economy layout has three seats on each side of the cabin, making it less convenient for couples who prefer not to share a row with another passenger.
However, the seat map shows two-seat rows towards the rear of the aircraft. These pairs can be attractive for couples who want a window and aisle seat together without a third passenger.
The trade-off is location. Some of the rear pairs are close to lavatories and galley areas, where passengers may gather during the flight.
Couples should compare these rows with the available XL seats before paying extra for a particular location.
Which Corendon A350 seats should passengers consider avoiding?
There is no single worst seat for every passenger, but some locations have potential drawbacks.
Seats near lavatories and galleys: These may experience more passenger movement and activity during the flight.
Exit-row XL seats: They offer additional legroom, but passengers should check for recline restrictions and eligibility requirements.
Bulkhead seats: Some are designated for bassinets, making them useful for families travelling with infants but potentially less appealing to passengers seeking a quieter location.
Standard seats in the adult-only zone: These have approximately the same pitch as standard seats elsewhere. The additional charge does not necessarily buy more legroom.
How much does Corendon charge for seat selection?
Corendon charges separately for certain advance seat selections, including XL seats and places in the Only Adult zone.
Charges vary according to the seat, flight and availability. Passengers can review the options through Corendon’s seat reservation service.
The original adult-only zone announcement quoted €45 for a standard seat and €100 for an XL seat, each way. Those were introductory published prices in 2023 and should not be treated as current fares.
Passengers should check the amount displayed during booking before selecting a seat.
The FightChic Take:
So, will putting families at the back make a difference for Corendon’s ancillary revenue and bottom line? It’s a very clever strategy targeting some passengers preference for a quiet flight to boost ancillaries. However, unlike a silent cabin on a rail car (which requires all passengers to keep quiet regardless of age) Corendon makes no such guarantees. Unfortunately, adults can behave worse than children on a plane (especially after a few drinks). Regardless, it will be a curious development to watch.
Updated 10 October 2026 with current seat-selection information and a guide to XL, adult-only and two-seat rows.
