The Airport Lounge Crisis

It seems that this is just another extension of general public behavior (at least in the U.S.) these days. No responsibility for anything not your own, no manners or consideration for anyone else because you are the only one that matters to you, no effort to impart any of those to your children as you let them do as they wish as well with no consequences and no guidance. I see it everywhere from the restaurant to shopping and even in church. Not to mention language, do you really talk like that to your kids?
And other people tolerate it! I have gained more than a few nasty looks or scoldings from my lovely wife when I quietly tell someone to please rein their kids in at the restaurant, or sometimes not quite as politely tell people to shut up when they are talking during a movie at the theater. If everyone accepts this type of conduce, then it is the norm.
Unfortunately, this means that everyone has to pay whether through suffering or fees in order to find another lounge or restaurant where you can have an enjoyable time as others are as well, by hopefully outpricing those with less manners. And then you are often considered a snob.
Manners and politeness are really all it takes. But I'm preaching (more like lamenting) to the choir here...

I can certainly understand that one... I remember I actually had an interview in a Terminal. During my Interview 2 very Loud and obnoxious kids took balled up wads of paper and running past us and throwing them at me... Parents were sitting watching them and didn't say a word... I wanted to strangle them both... Somehow I survived that and actually got the Job however.

Some parents will let their kids do anything and not call them down. Many do not seem to care and that is a lot of the problem.

Started flying for business back in '60's. Fun to fly... about 5 years later I got to fly in business class. Sat behind lady & small child. At 5000 ft child decided to make a "deposit" Lady simply turned air nozzle away and toward me. She could not change child's clothes ...or child. After 15 minutes I went back to std coach seat. Hate smell and flies. Over the years things got worse. I wonder if the kid still flies ... think I smelled him several times. I hate flying, especially airports. Civility is almost non-existent.

Sorry, but I was brought up with some sort of dignity and I'll be damned if I put up with rude manners, vulgarity and maniacal children. I speak my word and loudly at that! It has worked every single time.

As a long time (now retired) airline employee, my exposure to airline lounges has been limited. The very best experience was in 1983, at the tender age of 28, when I won a round trip on BA on Concorde. The lounges at both IAD and LHR were pristine. I thought I was in heaven.

My next lounge opportunity was ten years later at NRT in a very crowded Cathay Pacific lounge on my way on my way from Japan to the old Hong Kong airport. What I didn't know was a typhoon was passing by Hong Kong and a 747 had overrun runway 13 and had messed things up a bit. Ignorance is bliss.

Getting to the point you may as well stay in the gatehouse.

I remember the old "presidents club" that continental had..members only..clean and classy..dont know if it is that way now.."admirals club"i was told no longer accepts amex entry..must have paid membeship..amex opened its own version of lounges for first class/business at some airports..the paid memberships are expensive for these airline clubs,and for airlines offering "premium" lounges for first class and business only travellers,they should restrict children,as airports and airlines would not want to hire "babysitters" for a different room,nor be responsible for possible accidents or children getting lost!!

The problem is that "no" doesn't mean no any longer, in many situations. My dad just had to give me "the look" and I'd behave 90% of the time. I once misbehaved in a restaurant, and my mom took me outside and made me eat my meal in the car while the rest of the family enjoyed the restaurant. There were consequences to my actions. That was over 50 years ago, and I can still remember what I ate.

this is a sore point with me - ranks up there with screaming LAP babies in business class

I am at a loss to understand why the airlines don't have a written CODE OF CONDUCT for everyone - children and pax who act worse than children. It should be written and clear so no one will claim that their are being discriminated against .

maybe a limited dress code too - like No Bare Feet!!

Everyone is spot on. It was not this way in the 50s or 60s. Men dressed like men, white shirts and narrow black ties, women dressed like ladies, dresses, hats and gloves. Children were seen and not heard. Now, no matter where you go, it's hard to tell the men from the women, and an airport lounge is just like a trip to Walmart on a rainy Saturday.

At one time, I could relax at a Residence Inn after a day on the road. Now, wit Millennial families and entitlements, it's like a feeding frenzy on Shark Week.

These behaviors and acceptance of is what happens when a society has had “tolerance” shoved down their throats for years.
I applaud Mr. Buxton.