I think AirTran did the safe thing. What I don't get is why the parents couldn't sit on either side of her and physically hold her in that seat. How big do three-year-olds get these days?
But, I'm grouchy about small kids on airplane flights, anyway. I didn't get to take an airplane flight until I was 11, and even then I was weepy on the descent (my Dad hadn't thought to tell us about the pressure change and it HURT. I've never gotten on a plane since without chewing gum to keep my ears popping on the way down).
With the restaurant thing- my problem is when parents of small children take the kids to upscale restaurants. I have no problem with screaming kids at Olive Garden, or Red Lobster, or Chevy's or whatever, just as I have no problem with screaming kids at a 2PM G-rated matinee (in fact, I think better to see a kids' film with actual kids in the audience- their reactions are usually as much fun as the film!). But small kids at a fancy place, or at a 10PM R-rated film make me nuts, because I feel it's as though the parents don't want to accept that maybe they have to make some sacrifices during the kids' first few years, and not get to go to grown-up things unless they can find a sitter or until the kids are old enough to handle it, you know?
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