After I read the travel expert's advice, I was spurred to dig deeper to see what else was being written on the web on the topic of traveling with kids. What I found was surprising-on both fronts. One mother wrote that she is a frequent traveler with her small children. She complained that many airlines no longer allow families with small children to board first, but she suggested that if you're with a frequent flyer, you might be able to join him or her in early boarding. She encouraged the parent to "set up camp" with the children and to get settled in right away. She then suggested ways to soothe a child that is crying during a flight-one idea was that the mother put the infant in a baby sling and walk up and down the aisle. She also talked about the possibility of using the airplane seat as a diaper changing station. I felt my blood pressure rising with each of these mental images, along with the thought of ME sitting next to this family!

I was surprised that these experts on traveling with babies never once suggested that the parent think twice about putting their small child, not to mention fellow passengers, through the ordeal. In reading the mother's article mentioned in the last paragraph, I saw no mention of the importance of being aware of other passengers and taking care to not bother them. She only commented that smiles from other travelers tend to be more common than scowls. She did not seem to take into account the fact that someone who has worked hard and is finally going on a hard-earned vacation does not want to sit next to her and watch her breast feed under a blanket, shake a rattle, or change a diaper at 30,000 feet? Or, what about the business traveler who is on his way to an important interview and is trying to focus on preparing for his meeting?

The airlines are finally taking a stance!

It's a serious matter, and one that airlines are paying attention to. Things are shaking out quickly in the airline industry, and it's all about customer service. One family was removed from a flight prior to take off when their young child refused to take her seat and began to hit her mother. Another passenger was awarded damages after she suffered hearing loss from sitting next to a screaming child for hours on a long flight.

Ryanair announced in April that it will introduce childfree flights from October of 2011. This decision was made following a Europe-wide survey of 1000 passengers--half said they would pay higher fares to avoid other people's children!! A third of passengers reported that they have had flights ruined by other people's noisy kids and one in five passengers urged the airline to restrict the number of children on flights. The respondents placed blame firmly with parents, indicating that parents expect special treatment because they have children and that they allow their children to run up and down aisles, kick seats and annoy fellow passengers seated behind them. A Ryanair spokesman stated, "When it comes to children, we all love our own but would clearly prefer to avoid other people's little monsters when traveling."

I recently had my own "monster" experience on a long flight from Paris to Seattle.  A young mother with a small child (she told the stewardess that he was 18 months old) was seated just across the aisle from us. The mother did not bring any toys for him to play with on this long flight, and he was quite undisciplined. He refused to sit in the seat with his mother (he didn't have his own seat) and he threw food and shrieked loudly when he wanted something. All the passengers around us were amazed at what we were witnessing and having to endure, when what we yearned for was a peaceful, quiet flight. At one point shortly after take off I asked the flight attendant if there was any possibility of moving the mother and infant to another location. She curtly informed me that this would not be possible, but that I was free to move if I wished to do so. Fortunately, I had earplugs and was able to tune out the ruckus!

What can you do?

My advice to travelers who would like to see radical changes made to the child-friendly airline policies is to write letters asking for what you want and to speak out when you're in a situation that's making you uncomfortable. If you are seated next to an infant, ask to be moved prior to take off, and if this isn't possible and your flight is disturbed, request monetary compensation. Airlines need to get a clear message that, as paying customers, we have the right to a quiet, peaceful ambience when flying.  Take some common-sense measures including bringing along your ear plugs.

It's also time for parents to begin to take this seriously, including thinking twice about bringing a small child on an airplane. Why not wait until he or she is old enough to understand what flying is all about and is capable of comprehending and following rules? It's up to us all to do our part to ensure the comfort of other passengers around us.