Do you agree that this airline made the right choice?
By shywolf
@shywolf (4514)
United States
January 24, 2007 4:19pm CST
AirTran Airways ordered the removal of a faimly from one of their flights recently, because the family's three year old daughter was crying and would not take her seat. Airline rules state that all passengers above the age of two must have their own seat and be wearing a seat belt before the plane can take off.
Anyway, the flight had already been delayed for fifteen minutes, and the crew had to make a decision about what to do. In fairness to the other over 100 passengers waiting, they decided that it was best to remove the family from the plane.
I can understand their decision. And, to be fair, the airline did reimburse the family their money _and_ they were also offered three round-trip tickets anywhere the airline flies. I think that this is more than fair, how about you?
However, regardless, the father in the family said that they are never going to use this airline again. I feel that that is a bit harsh. The airline crew were only following the rules, and they could not delay the flight all day!
Do you agree with what the airline did? What would you have done if you had been in their place, or in the family's place?
You can read the full story here:
http://www.davesdaily.com/out.php?id=23877&url=http%3A%2F%2Fapnews.myway.com%2Farticle%2F20070123%2FD8MR4NTO1.html
34 people like this
94 responses
@hitzphillygirl (1235)
• United States
24 Jan 07
Rules are rules. The parents should have forced their daughter to sit down.
5 people like this
@nikitadoshi (33)
• United States
25 Jan 07
The airlines is absolutely right!It's one thing if it was an infant but a 3 yr old and 5 yr old can be taught the rules.The parents ain't going anywhere ..they'll be sure to use the free tickets!
2 people like this
@5berries (120)
• United States
25 Jan 07
I agree. I have 3 children 5 and under and I always get comments on how well behave they are in public. That is because I tell them before hand what is expected of them and how it effects others if they don't follow the rules. I wouldn't have been angry at the airline, I would have spanked them, which I save for special occasions such as this, and strapped them in the seat. If children aren't taught this behavior is unacceptable, how will they ever correct themselves?
2 people like this
@jmcafam (2890)
• United States
24 Jan 07
I was wondering what happend. I had heard that a child had gotten her family kicked off the plane but did not get to see the story, fell asleep. I think the airline was fair. It may not have seemed that way to the parent but it was. They were rembrust and given tickets. I mean I can see the side of the parent being upset because they did not get on the flight. Rules are rules.
5 people like this
@brokentia (10389)
• United States
25 Jan 07
No offense against the family, but the article says that the child was hitting, kicking, and under their seats. This is a little bit much for a 3 year old to act this way. But if the child was very tired, I can also understand.
To top it off, the airline was not very giving in the manner that they asked that they allow the mother to hold and console the child. Had they allowed this instead of insisting that the child be put in the seat, then maybe the Airline and the parents would not be in the Orlando newspaper today.
But in fairness...I think the family was very well compensated.
The received their money back and then received three round trip tickets for future use. Of course, I doubt that the child is going to go on an another plane anytime soon. And if the Super Nanny got a hold of that child, the child would have been left screaming anyways. ha ha
3 people like this
@rsmith512 (1561)
• United States
1 Feb 07
Ha! I agree.
A three year old should not be acting like that, but it might have just been easier to let the mother or father hold the child until they settled down and were able to get the child into an own seat.
But, I guess rules are rules! :D
1 person likes this
@wmg2006 (5381)
• United States
25 Jan 07
I heard this story on CNN this morning. I would have to agree with the airline these days. Any disturbances like that is just setting the flight up for danger. I have been on flights where there were unruly children and no one could do anything but accept the inconveniences. Everyone on that flight paid for their flight, the crew has more than one or two people to be liable for and they did the right thing. Today the pilots and crew have to be much more careful with disturbances than before. I would be a thankful passenger if they had done that for me.
3 people like this
@Suffering (58)
• United States
25 Jan 07
I seen the story on CNN . Airline set the right example for others .
After all there are many passengers who travels each day and face such situations
So it was a good job
@sunnypub (2128)
• United States
25 Jan 07
I wouldn't take my child on an airplane unless we had already discussed the rules and I knew that she would behave or atleast that I could control her. I think the airlines did exactly what they had to and should have done.
My daughter just went on her first flight a few months ago and was well behaved. Int he end she didn't really like it and really has no wanting to fly again but it was an experience for her.
I love the idea that was mentioned in an earlier post about having a specific section for families.
4 people like this
@medooley (1873)
• United States
25 Jan 07
We need more parents like you in this world. People who tell their children how they expect them to act, and disipline them when they do not act that way.... Good for you sunnypub!
Tell your daughter to try flying again when she gets older... my job depends on it. LOL
2 people like this
@AskAlly (3625)
• Canada
24 Jan 07
I agree with the airline. I think the other 100 passenger agreed as well. A 15 minute delay can cause you to miss a conection in another city. Plus, could you imagine having to listen to that screaming for hours!
If I were the parents I would wait a few years before taking that child anywhere again.
I think the airline was fair in their dealings with that particular family
@loujac3 (1188)
• United States
25 Jan 07
I agree with the airline.
The safety rules require that all passengers be in their seat and seat belted.
The parents are responsible for seeing that the child is seat belted and if the child resists then off the plane they all go. The parents will learn to teach the child better. I do not tolerate screaming children that act out. I did not allow it with my children and they always behaved on the airplanes. Now, if a child is in pain from the pressure in the cabin on their ears, that is a different matter. Giving a child a bottle or chewing gum or something to cause continuous swallowing will help the problem. I used to give my children dimeatapp liquid before a flight to help with the ear problem.
The issue is really about the seat belts and that is a requirement. No belt, no trip on the airplane! I don't think that free tickets should have been given, just arrangements to get them on another flight when the child had been dealt with properly. Personally, I would not want that family on the flight again just because they do not disapline their children. That child will grow up to be rude, obnoxious and self-centered. Imagine having to sit next to a child like that for an entire flight...........No way!
2 people like this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
30 Jan 07
I would have done the same and removed as it was obvious that the Parents where not going to get the Child to sit down and you can not make a whole Plane wait for one Person
As for the Father he is in the wrong
The Crew waited long enough for them to try and calm the Child and they didn't now personally I would have put the little one on my Lap and put her in the Seatbelt with me which I am sure no one would have minded as long as it was safe
A 3 year old is not that big so why didn't they do that
@medooley (1873)
• United States
25 Jan 07
Yes they did the right thing. They rules are there for peoples safety. And for the father to say that he will never fly again on the AirTran, well I really doubt that AirTran cares. Just think of all of the unhappy customers they would have had if the plane was delayed so much that other people on the plane missed their flight. And it is not limited to just the people on their flight. A plane coming in at a different time than it was supposed to can have a domino effect on all other planes coming to an airport.
If you can't get your child to sit down in a sit with a seat belt on for 15 mintues while the plane is taking off, perhaps you shouldn't be flying in the first place.
3 people like this
@sunsational (253)
• United States
25 Jan 07
I was on a flight from Orlando to Pittsburgh, we were delayed almost 45 minutes due to a brat. It is a simular situation, The mom and dad had 5 kids, and the youngest boy refused to sit and they tried resoning with the child. The stewardest told them that they had to get the kid in the seat. (the kid was about 5 years old) because she could not tell the piolet it safe to take off. But insteaad just putting the kid in the seat and strapping him in they just kept reasoning with the kid. To be honest. I wish they had done something like what air tran did. this kid dirupted everyone's flight and the guy next to me would been on an hour layover in pittsburgh, but because the brat, he was running to catch his next plane.
3 people like this
@5berries (120)
• United States
25 Jan 07
Here is where spanking comes in handy. If your child at that age is to self absorbed to notice that he is disrupting everone around him, then it's time for a good spanking and being physically put in your seat.
Children at this age should have already learned that the world does not revolve around them.
1 person likes this
@jasonsian (231)
• Malaysia
25 Jan 07
I agree with what the airline crews did. If you are a passenger in the plane, I don't think you will want to waste time just for a small matter like this. But I totally don't agree with the father. The airline is doing what they need to do. They already had given him compensation while it is his fault unable to handle his own daughter. It's totally fair of what the airline crews did.
2 people like this
@candygurl093 (201)
• United States
25 Jan 07
I also think it is fair because there is nothing else you can do if she won't stop crying. But i think it was fair to give them back their money and give them round trip tickets to anywhere
3 people like this
@superchook (1786)
• Australia
25 Jan 07
I think the airline did the right thing, it would have been a safety issue with them. When planes take off and land everyone has to have seatbelts on. Could you imagine what it would be like for the other passengers if the child carried on the whole time during the flight. My husband hopped on a plane and a child was carrying on, the flight attendants told the family that they would have to take them off if the child didn't stop. Luckily for that family they were able to get their child to settle down. It sounds like the airline was more than fair on the family that you were talking about.
2 people like this
@lauriefnp (5111)
• United States
25 Jan 07
I do agree with what the airline did, and I think that they were more than fair in their compensation to this family. If they choose not to use AirTran again, that's up to them. Hopefully they will realize after they cool off that the airline had no choice. It would have been unfair to delay the other passengers, not to mention disrupt the departure and arrival schedules at 2 airports, just because of one 3 year old who could not be disciplined by her parents. I cannot imagine how this child could have been so out of control that her parents couldn't convince her to sit in a seat in between them for a matter of minutes. These rules are enforced for the safety of all passengers, and not to cause hard feelings. The father of this family would surely be the first one to sue the airline if the plane had taken off without his daughter being seated and belted properly and she had been hurt.
2 people like this
@aileen2008 (838)
• Philippines
25 Jan 07
Company rules and regulations are actually for customers' protection. If you can not abide by the rule, Im sorry but you cant ride the plane. The family should have read and understand first the airline rules before patronizing it. If they were not able to follow it the airlines has the right to deny their flight. If they have been reimbursed then there's no more issue about it. Next time they shuld read and understand fully airline rules.
2 people like this
@chaygylmommy (2470)
• United States
25 Jan 07
absolutly, they should have been kicked off. The little girl should have taken a seat. I mean, it is the rules and it's a safety issue. What would the father do, if they went ahead and took off and the kid got hurt? I bet that would have pissed him off. LOL I think they should feel lucky they got free tickets for another time. The airline did not have to do that when they obviously broke the rules.
2 people like this
