I must've missed the story about Virgin Airlines asking a man to move seats, it was probably when I flew to Sydney with Tiger for the first time a few weeks back, so my comment will be a little off topic.
They have pricing options for everything now, jumping the queue, extra baggage other than carry-on, meals etc.
It was a great flight, the staff were friendly and professional and I was seated in 1A so I was last on and first off
The only thing I did not like was the single mum and her 2 kids seated behind me.
The kid spent the entire flight punching and kicking the back of my seat, putting the tray down, and back up, again and again the whole flight.
I may have thought about throwing him out at 10.5 k's above sea level but unfortunately that would've been impolite and discourteous, not to mention dangerous and illegal.
Kids on flights should be banned or pay double and the people sitting near them should get a discount.
No adult would be allowed to do that (ruin someone elses flight) and get away with it.
And mothers, control your kids on the flight, noone wants to have to tell you how to do your job as a parent so do it properly.
'Hey little man, Can you fly? Wanna find out if you can?'
But of course we're not allowed to say or think things like that are we?

Hmm yes.

Like the boy who got comments on his report..
"Could do better. He's trying"

and then

"Trying still"

and finally
"Really, really trying"

It has long been known that fathers are an essential part of a a child's life, not just as a second parent to help economically but for the different types of parenting they bring to a child.
Many studies have found that children without a father in their life do worse. Girls come into puberty earlier, get pregnant earlier, tend to have disastrous relationships with men. In other words they spen their lives looking for their father in other men.
Boys have equally bad outcomes, in terms of suicide, criminal activity, mental health problems, academic achievements etc.
Mothers and fathers are not interchangeable, they bring different approaches in parenting to a child as shown in studies.
If children were meant to be raised without fathers the human race wouldn't have evolved to make a men essential for reproduction.
And for Allan, with your negative association of fathers with abuse. I suggest you do some research. Far more children are killed and abused by their mothers, than by their fathers.
If only for the sake of our sons, we need to return fathers to their place of r spect and love in the family.

http://www.theallianceforec.org/library.php?c=5&news=77

//If children were meant to be raised without fathers the human race wouldn't have evolved to make a men essential for reproduction.//

If joeys were meant to be raised without fathers the kangaroo race wouldn't have evolved to make bucks essential for reproduction.

Oh hang on... roos do sexually reproduce, and joeys are raised exclusively by does. Bugger.

Animals have been sexually reproducing since long before we climbed down from the trees in Africa. Sexual reproduction evolved as a way of mixing up genes to ensure genetically diverse populations, which is a distinct advantage. In a lot of species - roos for example - males aren't involved in rearing their young at all. In some species - turtles for example - the mothers don't either: the young are left to fend for themselves

Armchair, and also a little off topic. I remember well my first flight accompanied by my Father. We had taken a flight south, in an old DC3 to reconnect with my Mum.

He had had his fill of the little rebel I'd become, aged 14. And wanted to hand me back.

We hugged the coastline, so the pilot wouldn't get lost? And flew at around a thousand feet, just so we could bump heads with every air pocket ever created? I knew why they are called birds, given this one managed to flap its wings?

Anyhow, the green eyed green faced hostess with the mostest, duly arrived, asking if I would, opps, like a sango? To which I replied, na, just chuck em in the vomit bag, it'll save time!

Eventually we touched down, I climbed out, and did my best impersonation of a pope kissing the ground, with heartfelt reverence!

Whereapon Biggles, our pilot walked on by saying, I say old chap, good old Terra firma, jolly good show, what?

To which I replied, yes, more firmer less terror!

Even a green gilled dad, who was really my biological uncle, managed a smile, with that one.

I tried to make up for my dad's shortcomings, by being the best dad I was capable of being, and regard the same as a whole of life commitment!
Cheers, Alan B.

In Africa they have child soldiers who kidnap girls and babies bring up the young adults in back packs.