I'm going to pull this quote from page one to point out that AA has this system ability as well - on flights into LHR I'm always asked if one or ore passengers is under 12. It would be pretty simple for them to implement a systems change to make this problem go away. Draw the line somewhere (they already split up children by ages here) and voila!

Of course, on at least the JFK-LHR it's all in 777's which have that block of middle seats to seat families together trivially without additional fees and without system changes.

Regardless of what the policy AA decides on, with their new, "Pay for everything a la carte," pricing they should at least clarify their position on the web page and give tips for parents to alleviate the screaming somewhat. The lack of even that seems moronic.