And how much does a child under the age of two weigh? Or is it a case of YOU can't be bothered carrying your own offspring a few hundred yards? Perhaps if some of these "parents" took less hand baggage and duty free on board they might have more hands free to look after their children.
You state you dont have children so you really dont understand the ammount of crap that absolutely does need to be carried with you as a parent with a baby or young child. Extra Duty free? You must be joking!! So you put the buggy in the luggage system and it doesnt arrive or is damaged - a buggy is a REQUIREMENT for a small child, not an option, you wouldnt put your laptop at the mercy of the T5s baggage system would you? A car seat is also a LEGAL REQUIREMENT, and often these are a part of the buggy, but at least these can now be hired (usually at an extortionate rate!) if you get a hire car and it all goes wrong in the baggage system....
You may be thinking "so why fly at all then, its your choice"....
.....And this is the choice we made as a family following the security clampdowns in the UK a couple of years ago. Its never easy to travel with a baby/child, but at least BA staff used to be very good at helping you out. Im sure they are still as helpfull as ever, however, the whole handbaggage/liquids restrictions have just pushed it such that we have chosen not to fly to the UK anymore as a family. Car & ferry/tunnel is way easier.
At least our shorthaul trips back to family in blighty can be driven and we used to fly it as a couple, I really feel for those parents that need to fly intercontinental, especially if alone.
SD..