I am 6'4" and used to play second row (Rugby) in univeristy. Travelling (almost always on BA) in coach (something I did allot of when I was pursuing a career as an Opera singer) was pretty much unbearable on long packed transatlantic flights. Screaming children didn't help but I always felt more sorry for their parents who often try their very best. Except for the time when I was seated in front of two young children whose parents were up in first and didn't come back once throughout the flight (a transatlantic) to check on their offspring. With that kind of parental attitude you can imagine that the children were not the best behaved individuals. Of course the FA's in coach have enough on their plate on a packed flight to have to look after two boisterous children as well.

Now I am a father with an infant that is currently going through some stranger aniexty and cries when she sees people she doesn't know. I plan on travelling to Europe this summer to take her to visit with her grandparents and hope that she will have past this stage by then but what if she hasn't? Whilst I sympathize with the need of business people to get some needed R and R on long flights or to get some work done am I supposed to not fly because I might inconvience them with, despite my best efforts, my childs cries?

A couple of posters suggest taking the child to coach class. If there are plenty of available free seats that is a good suggestion (even though I will be paying for Biz class service and seating, downgrading to coach is not an option as I won't then have use of the lounges) but if it is a packed flight then what? Why should those who are far less comforatble and less able to distance themselves from my child in coach(many of whom may also be biz people trying to get some work done etc) have to listen to my childs cries any more than those in Biz class, and what about the fact that the airline has allowed people with children, who they have to expect may cry, to purchase a biz class ticket?

As for those who suggest "doping" the child up with some type of medication for the comfort of others all I can say is that I would like to meet you in a scrum!

Maybe a solution is to not allow children under a certain age in biz class (I would hope that my child will be behaved enough to travel unobtrusively in her own seat by the time she is 5 but who knows). This way people who really need sleep or to get work done undisturbed can be assured of a conducive environment. But the airline should then provide some seats in first class at a cheaper rate similar to biz class for those travelling with young children, or at the other end of the spectrum provide more spacious seats and leg room in a certain section of coach for an additional fee for those travelling with children (personally I would take the coach option if I wasn't squashed in to a seat designed for someone about 30% smaller than myself with a child on my lap).

Last comment: for all you harried executives, don't forget that working yourself into a tizzy will only make the situation worse for you. I suggest bringing earplugs or using the ones provided and in Biz class there is enough space between seats that you shouldn't be physically assualted by the lap child next to you unless the parent is being inconsiderate.
Clearly a child should be changed in a toilet especially is smell is involved but you won't catch me sitting a dirty toilet trying to console my child.

[This message has been edited by Mvic (edited 05-25-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Mvic (edited 05-26-2000).]