Let's consider this for a moment.

Children are not a protected class.. they all races and creeds, and your analogy is little more than a red herring.

Is it discrimination when a strip club doesn't allow anyone under 21 in? Or when movies won't let anyone under 18 in to see a film? The totality of the world is not accessible to children because many places do not cater to children. There is no reason for them to be in a place geared towards adults, no matter if there is sexuality or merely the sale of a quiet, dignified respite.

Having children does not give one license to bring them wherever they want.

Let's not confuse "public" and "private" so readily. A restraunt or bar is a PRIVATE property..perhaps open to the public, but a private property either way. Same with lounges. The only truly public spaces are government buildings, the sidewalk, and the park.

There is altogether too much entitlement nowadays among parents. There was a time when you would never see a rug rat running around a brewhouse at 10 pm on a friday night. There was a time when you would never hear a baby crying during a screening of an R rated movie, or have to put up with one in a very very expensive restraunt with an adult menu.

There is a reason civilized places like Switzerland offer "No kids allowed" dining and train cars: KIDS ARE NOISY AND CAUSE A DISTURBANCE.

The growing rage against children in our culture is misplaced; they are mostly well-behaved, though everyone remembers a few hellions. The biggest behavioral lapses I have seen in hotel lounges (and restaurants, and first-class air cabins, and airline clubs) are committed by rude, drunken, or boorish adults. I would rather sit on a plane next to a well-behaved youngster than a cretinous DYKWIA or booze-addled adult. Ban them instead.

As absurd and unjustified a generalization as FIRST CLASS PASSENGERS ARE ARROGANT TWITS or PLATINUM CARD HOLDERS ARE SMUG STATUS WHORES.

Behavior of those in the lounge I agree is the most important issue..

Including elite members.. can go far to make an example..

my emphasis

as do obnoxious FT'ers and those are not a protected class either although many would like them to be

Couldn't agree more. I spend a lot of time in hotel lounges every year and honestly I can't remember the last time I got disturbed by a kid. However, I can think of several times, just within the last couple of months, where loud and rude adults have taken over lounges.

Obviously this has a lot to do with where you are in life. When you got small kids at home (like I do) you are in general more tolerant for the noise they make and might not notice them in the same way as others do. When that is said; I have brought my kids to numerous hotel lounges around the world, from they where only a few months old. I for sure can say that my kids are average when it comes to behavior, they are kids after all, but I have newer had any problems in any lounge. On the contrary, many places the small, blond devils attract quite a bit of positive attention from the staff and other guests. However, as others are commenting here as well, if they do not behave we leave the lounge right away.

^^^ Very well said.

The adults who act like children should be banned as well..... I agree that the focus against children is a bit misguided. It is the PARENT'S responsibility to control them. Lucky for us, it's the people you describe as being borish who are also the parents!!!! So we are in a catch 22 here. Since the parents won't do their duty, the best option is to set an age limit. Keeping the kids out may help to keep their older counterparts out as well.... . Well we could always hope anyways...

If a child is misbehaving in the lounge such that it substantively negatively impacts my ability to enjoy a lounge, the problem almost always is a parent or some other adult in the lounge.

Most children in hotel lounges have been no worse IMO than the far more annoying adults in the lounges. And most parents seem to handle their children rather appropriately in the lounges.

If hotels were to prohibit cell phones and TVs in hotel lounges, then perhaps I'd find some consistency of position with that of prohibiting young children.

Being officially children (17) I obviously don't like this idea (although I won't have any stay in hotel until I reach 18). In my opinion, it would be much better solution to simply set some rules for behaviour in lounge and as long as one would comply with them, he would be allowed in lounge - after all, they all paid for it. On the other hand, those being (for example) too loud should be asked to change their behaviour or leave lounge irrespective of their age.

On the other hand, there is alcohol question which should be handled based on local customs.

Interestingly, the only time I have use for a lounge, or, at least, would ever consider paying extra, is for child's use.

So the real question, then, is it the mere presence children that bothers you, or is it the noise which causes a disturbance? In which case, isn't it more sensible to have a noise policy which is applicable to children and adults alike?

I agree. I spent enough time away from my son when he was little because I was working for a living that during my off-hours were were practically joined at the hip. (He's now living 3 hours away and owns a home and has a job he loves so yes, we DID develop our own lives.) Where I spent my time and dollars was driven by that. I walked out of more than a few fine establishments that acted as if I'd brought a pet monkey on a leash instead of a 6-year old boy.

Hardly. I would bet good money that you are more likely to hear a baby crying than witness DYKWIA behavior on any given flight. Babies cry to communicate, children have short attention spans and do not understand decorum.

There are some people who dislike kids so much it doesn't even matter what the child is actually doing, they'll complain. Recent example: I took my son (age 11) with me to mainly adult dinner in a nice-but-not-formal restaurant. As I knew the conversation wouldn't interest him much I had him bring a book and he read most of the meal. Two couples of Well Intoxicated Crabs at a table near us kept commenting (loudly) on how rude it was for a child to be reading at the table. Let's see, he was silent, minding his own business, staying in his seat and having absolutely no impact on their meal: and they still found something to complain about!

With all due respect, maybe your expectations need adjustment. Could be the club lounge is not a relatively quiet place due to noise from other adult and child guests.

It seems to me that if the club lounge does not meet your expectations, you could just have a word with the hotel or lounge management and see if they can deal with the noisemakers.