Reply #142: I won't put my kids on a plane unless it's absolutely necessary.

[Warren DeMontague]

Fuck it, I don't even want to put myself on a plane unless it's absolutely necessary. Part of the problem is that every single flight is packed to the gills, the airlines have made the experience extremely unpleasant, the staff is overworked, the people are pissed off and tired, there's no friggin' room whatsoever, and to make matters worse, frankly, the airlines and flight personnel have been known to abuse the god-like power they have been given, particularly since 9-11. (The case in the OP is a clear example, IMHO)

This is why you have people stuck on the tarmac for 14 hours with overflowing toilets, no food or water, and an attitude of "tough shit" from the airline.

This is why you have packed flights where the seat belt sign is left on for 3-4 hours at a time, due to (cough) "Turbulence"-- when we all fucking know it's really about crowd control, keeping the masses in their seats and out of the aisles. Need badly to take a leak? Again, tough shit. Hey, we've banned all the liquids, so you shouldn't be hydrating yourself without our express approval anyway.

In all my decades of life I've never so badly wanted to buy a Winnebago. I used to like it, but I can't fucking STAND flying anymore. Annoying kids and crying babies are the least of it.