Efrem

Your expectation to be able to go through life without being annoyed will, unfortunately, founder on the rocks of human nature. Your fellow humans are not perfect. (I suspect that neither you nor I is either, even though we're both probably well-behaved on airplanes.) You do not control their imperfection. All you control is your response to it. Getting upset over something is a personal choice. It should be a conscious choice based on "this is something worth getting upset over," not a gut reaction.

I suggest we should have, as the old Irish blessing says, "the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can change, and the wisdom to know the difference." What is at issue here is the serenity part. A bit more of it, whether sealed into an aluminum tube with a crying child or in any other situation, will help us all get along.

Rebelyell

That's not what he said. No person in the coach line is supposed to board until all the Elite passengers have boarded. Therefore, it only makes sense to board wheelchairs through the coach entrance, since all of those people are quite a long time from boarding anyway. He wasn't suggesting that the wheelchair-bound customers should be required to wait until the Elite passengers had boarded.

Mr H

This is undoubtedly true, but the issue is that airlines pretty much advertise the unattainable concept of complete comfort, peace and perfection in their premium cabins. It's understandable therefore that people are disappointed when the reality doesn't meet those expectations. Whether or not children should be banned from premium cabins is academic; it's not going to happen. The real question is whether airlines are entirely honest about the product that they are selling (at a very high price, I might add).

planemechanic

McDonald's advertises a burger unlike any I usually see at one of their locations. Am I disappointed when I get something less than they advertise, or am I realistic when I understand that all companies but their best foot forward when advertising?

BearX220

Gee, you seem pretty prepared to advise others on how to conduct theirs.

rbwpi

Please point out where I have advised others on how to conduct their lives.

United747

I agree that there should be an age restriction but some exceptions because if you are raised well and have good manners then you should be able to fly business, but then if not well behaved then you shouldn't be able to. I started flying J when I was 5 (MSP-AMS 747 Upper Deck).

Delta747

acunningham

How would airlines go about determining this before the flight? How would they prevent the inevitable complaints (and perhaps lawsuits) from those who fail to make the grade?

Mountain Trader

Last month, I went to a modern dance recital. Before the show, I saw a couple with an infant-the baby couldn't have been more than 2 months old, if that. The lights went down, the modern (read: non-soothing) music began and the baby screamed. Mom took the baby out of the theater for the rest of the show, so other than ruining the opening 2 minutes for everyone, no harm.

What happened in that case was a couple deciding that their right (clear and legal) to take an infant into the theater trumped everyone else's right to enjoy the show as the choreographer and director intended. There were no Irish proverbs during the recital.

Small kids don't know or care if they are in coach or business. Rather it is the parents' desire to enjoy upgraded service that results in kids in business and first. They are putting their right to book business for their small kids ahead of the right of the other passengers to enjoy an adult experience. On a plane, however, you can't just take the child and step outside.

It would be nice if all parents were like the one who posted above, who seems to book C with a careful eye to her kids' likely behavior, and with a concern for other passengers. Well dream on-they aren't. And the airlines are not going to referee this one either, any more than they do gate lice and overhead bag space poachers.

tommyleo

This kind of condescending response have no place on FT.

rbwpi

Or anywhere else.

rbwpi

LOL ^^^

planemechanic

Strange, it looked like good advice to me. Is there a problem with telling someone they need to relax a bit?

rbwpi

Yes, there is a problem with telling someone anything when it's done in a condescending manner.

BearX220

The kid was most likely an excellent arts critic. When a baby screams he's only doing what a lot of adults wish they could do.