Babies cry, it is their nature, not a fact of responsibility. Sure there are extreme cases where the parents don't do anything about it, but being a parent sometimes these things happen and you can't control it. Is the solution to stay at home and not in public, until the kid is out of this stage. A small inconvenience it is. You can be driving and someone comes smashing into you, that is an big inconvenience. You can be sitting in Japan and a tsunami comes, that is a big inconvenience. I would think catching someone else’s flu is more of inconvenience than a kid that has an occasional cry on the plane. Again something out of your control, and due to someone else.

Large is relative. I began flying back and forth between Europe and North America on a regular basis late 2010. Another family I know did the same. We have both tried CO and LH multiple times and have had the same experiences.

CO has not loaded the special meals for my children twice, despite me trying to verify multiple times before the flight that it was in my reservation. Continental Flight Attendant literally made my wife cry because she was doing everything she could to settle my child and the FA was downright rude to her while doing so. LH, on the other hand, goes out of their way by providing toys to the children, asking if we would prefer to move to a different seat where they believe it will be easier for us to make our children comfortable, etc. My friends just returned to Europe and said that the LH flight attendant brought some gummi bears to help settle their near 4 year old child. It worked and made both the mom and everyone around much happier, not to mention the child.

So again -- sample size is relative. My observation is that it is consistent enough, I will likely choose LH over CO when priced similarly and the times are convenient. It is not a strong enough opinion that I would pay more or fly at a less convenient time most likely.

I hope for your sake that:

- you never get old
- never have children
- never become ill

otherwise, you'll find yourself quickly among all the folks you are complaining about being allowed on an airplane.

Ah. Now I get it. When you had small children, you had no problem taking them on a flight, but now that they are older, you'd like for others not to take their kids on flights. Makes perfect sense.:rolleyes:

Correct. Flying itself isn't a right. But if an airline sells tickets and purchasers are allowed to buy tickets for children, then it is my right to take the kids on the plane when I have paid for their seats. Am I missing something?

By all means, open up said airline and let us know how how business is on your airline. I suggest a catchy name for the airline like "intolerair" or discriminair".:D

Great. You know your kids, but you don't know mine. I took them to Thailand this year, and they did fabulously. Everyone commented on how well they did both ways. That's because they are used to flying and because my wife and I are ultra-prepared for each trip...anticipating every need. So in the end, you make your choice, I make mine. If I had your kids, maybe I wouldn't set foot o a plane either. But with mine, no issues.

Right. So in other words...because your family is close and it's not a need you have, others should be gracious and just have an entire extended family come visit you so you don't have to put your kids on a plane. Makes sense. And we haven't even addressed the financial aspect of your absurd suggestion.

Your not handicapped or special when you travel with small kids....they are not exempt from the seatbelt rule.....please use headsets while your child watches TellaTubbies, do not allow your child to kick the seat in front and the aisles need to remail clear, it's not romper room or your own private day care.....oh and the Flight Attendants are not there as your baby sitter or personal servant...it's a public airline not a private charter

All true (except technically kids are exempt from seat belt rule on some airlines) but I don't think anybody on either side of this argument is condoning your actions you listed.

I've been following this thread so thought I would share this Gem with you all.

Remember Folks its April 1st

http://money.msn.com/saving-money-ti...8-12da8aeda32e

RYANAIR TO INTRODUCE ‘CHILD FREE’ FLIGHTS

Ryanair, the world’s favourite airlines, today announced that it will introduce ‘Child Free’ flights from October (winter schedule) after a Europe-wide survey of 1,000 passengers showed that half would pay higher fares to avoid other people’s children. The survey showed that a third of passengers (36%) have had flights ‘ruined’ by other people’s noisy kids with one in five passengers (18%) urging Ryanair to restrict the number of children on flights.

While the survey found that passengers would prefer to avoid other people’s children, it placed ‘blame’ firmly with parents with top gripes being:

50% Parents who expect ‘special treatment’ because they have children.
25% Parents who allow children to annoy those in seats behind.
15% Parents who board late and expect others to accommodate them.
10% Parents who allow children to run in the aisles or kick seats.

I think this thread now belongs in 'OMNI'!:rolleyes: