Screaming babies on a plane: Why did these passengers applaud?

It's every passenger's worst nightmare: a crying baby on board a flight.

But one airline in the US recently conducted a stunt at 37,000ft which had passengers actively hoping that the babies on board would start to scream.

See also: Should babies be banned from flying?

JetBlue put four babies and their parents on a flight from New York to California.

See also: Airline bans babies in first class

During the usual boarding process, it was clear that fellow passengers were praying they weren't seated near them, and the babies duly released their typical cries and shrieks.

See also: Crying baby removed from London-bound flight 'like a terrorist'

It wasn't until after takeoff the crew announced that on today's flight each cry would be the equivalent to 25 per cent off their next flight. That meant a free flight for everyone if there were four outbursts...