I smoke, and I don't mind the no-smoking environment on short flights (under 5 hours).

But, it gets a bit frustrating to be on a 9 or 12 hour flight that is non-smoking, especially if it is a daylight flight at a time when one normally does not sleep.

Air France designates one galley (usually at the rear) as the smoking area, this seems to be quite acceptable to everyone.

It is unfortunate that the North American carriers don't do this on their intercontinental flights. I wonder how much of it actually has to do with a desire to inflict someone's will on others (meaning, put down or control others, being politically correct and smug about it) rather than the smoke itself.

Canada seems to be one of the worst offenders in this area - I phoned the Toronto airport authority to suggest that they put a smoking area in the international departures area of terminal 2 (there is such an area in domestic and transboarder), and was smugly told that the two existing areas would be removed ASAP.

Doesn't sound too much like they are making much of an effort to listen to their customers, or meet their needs.

Before the politically correct out there start sending flames back, consider this: small children create as much of an externally imposed disturbance/annoyance/aggravation to their neighbors as smokers - so, the airport authorities usually provide a play area for the small kids, where they won't disturb others. It work well for both parties - the small kids, and the people who don't want to be exposed to the effects of the small kids.

Why not look at the smoking issue that way?