Parents move and jobs change - are you going to leave your kid behind? Also, if you're an expat wouldn't you like to go 'home' at least about once a year? As for parent with kids - fly any S-American, South Asian or Southern European airline to not have to deal with some of the people above. People flying on US airlines seem to be far less considerate and far more self centered (witness the amount of carry-on and some of the responses here).