Ermm, maybe becuase life these days includes a "need" to travel by air? In order to see most of my relatives I need to travel by air. Stuff it, they can come to me (including those in their 90s who can't really walk and can't afford it). Oh, and while we're at it, let's not see the relatives for 4 years, because 2 years after the first one we have a second one (how selfish is that?!).

To the OP I sympathise, but there isn't a lot you can do. I was on a full train over the weekend and there were parents with a baby who wasn't at all happy. However, they did everything they could to try and placate it, so whilst it wasn't pleasant I was happy to accept it.