Air Tran gives 3 year old the boot

[jimcav]

Im looking forward to all you coksmooches actually having kids, and controlling them at the exact moment they need to be controlled. WOW, what a bunch of smacktards.

I already do homeboy and I make sure that I live up to my responsibilities as a dad. My kids act up at times and when they do they are dealt with appropriately. I've been around the block a few times son so spare me the lecture.

 

[FLYLOW22]

It's amazing what a Benadryl can do for the airline industry and this issue.

 

[mac36]

I had a mother and her 3 year old son removed from a flight a few years back.

The kid was totally out of control, wouldn't stay seated and was screaming louder than I knew a child could.

We gave her 5 mins at the end of the runway in MKE to settle the kid down and she wouldn't do what was necessary to keep the kid seated.

Back to the gate and off they went to a round of applause from the pax.

Had almost the identical thing happen about three Thanksgivings ago, the Monday before Thanksgiving actually.

Taxiing out in CLT, the call bell rings and FA advised I had a kid fleeing his Mom in the cabin and he was eluding her successfully to that point. I stopped the aircraft and told the FA to advise me when they were seated.

It is relevent to mention that this women was traveling with a total of three kids. The seating arrangement she had selected was, Mom on right side of aisle, three kids on left. Now I raised three kids, when one is acting nuts, that was the last way any parent with a brain would sit.

Anyway, a rather frazzled FA called back to advise me all parties were in their seats. Just as we prepared to take the runway, another call bell.

The kid was loose again ! When my cabin crew frantically told this idiot Mom that she had to get in her seat that we were taking off, this idiot Mom wheeled around and told my crew to "GO DO THEIR F'ing JOB AND SHE'D DO HERS."

I told my crew to inform her that the Capt says that Mom's job is to control her kid, otherwise I'd take them back to the terminal and let them off.

Her response? She told the entire aircraft that "THERE IS NO F'ing WAY SHE'S GETTING OFF THIS AIRPLANE".

That did it. I told tower, already aware I was dealing with something in the cabin, I needed to return to the gate. Was asked if I needed priority handling, and I replied no. Someone in an aircraft behind me chimes in "OH, TAKE THE PRIORITY". Tower thinks I've changed my mind and tells aircraft on short final to "GO AROUND !!!!!!!"

I'm getting pretty pissed by now. Had family removed at the gate to wild applause. Personally apologized to those remaining on board in full view of the passengers and received an ovation of my own.

My crew received three unsolicited FULL PAGE statements from passengers stating what they witnessed.

So............

1) Bravo to the Air Tran crew !!!!

2) My youngest kid, a son, is 20 years old and is 6'-2". If I want him to sit down, I can seat him. It would keep my very busy, would probably injure me, but he would sit. This lady couldn't control a 3 year old.

3) If your kid runs the show, DRIVE !!!!!

 

[humveedriver]

An aggressive move for Midwest and now this, looks like we aren't "under the radar" anymore. I read the article and it sounds like the right thing happened whether the parents understand it or not. Little Susy or Bobby is having a grumpy moment on the plane, and after a brief consolement sits for 10 minutes in the seat. After 10 mins (maybe he/she missed their nap, with travel time intruding on their normal schedule), and unbuckles the seatbelt during takeoff. This would be bad if the aircraft had to high speed abort. I understand that these things rarley happen in day to day ops, but don't we get paid to think of these things, even if it means the passenger takes a later flight? They got their money back, and I am assuming they rode a different carrier home. If not they got some free tickets for their kid having a fit. Thats better than your kid having a fit and you get nothing now isn't it.

 

[Phaedrus]

They should've received a great big bag full o' nothing..

 

[PCL_128]

"The father said his family would never fly AirTran again."

Ohhh, there's a big loss. I bet Joe is really disappointed that he lost the business of these happy travelers.

 

[jimcav]

"The father said his family would never fly AirTran again."

Ohhh, there's a big loss. I bet Joe is really disappointed that he lost the business of these happy travelers.

When people say I'll never fly this airline again what they should say is I'll never book a trip on Priceline again. All they care about is the cheapest fare.

 

[TV9Driver]

The local news (channel 5) here in STL runs the story about the family tonight in a rather negative light and names AirTran as the airline. YET, they don't even mention that AirTran has announced new service to STL today. Seems rather suspicious. I think AAnother AAirline's PR dept. is working the press..... or i'm just totally paranoid..

 

[JediNein]

And now California has a bill to ban the spanking of kids, in addition to their zillion child abuse laws (basically if you look at your own kid wrong, that's child abuse in this state).

Discipline is not abuse. Zero discipline IS abuse.

Trying to reason with a 3 year old is a lot like trying to argue with a pilot, after awhile, you realize it's just a game for them.

 

[STL717]

The Orlando-based carrier reimbursed the family $595.80, the cost of the three tickets, and the Kuleszas flew home the next day.
They also were offered three roundtrip tickets anywhere the airline flies, Graham-Weaver said.
The father said his family would never fly AirTran again.

Why not just reward the bad behavior.

The crew was right to remove the family.

 

[B190Captain]

"The father said his family would never fly AirTran again"

Yea, not until the next time he wants to fly to see Grandma in Florida. He paid $595.80 for three roundtrip tickets all the way across the country (north/south). Right now the cheapest nonstop flights to RSW from BOS and back is $453 per person.

See you next year Mr. Kulesza.

They will never fly AirTran again? Well I guess they will have to find ANOTHER CARRIER TO KICK THEM OFF THE PLANE if the same happens again.

 

[AC560]

To bad there wasn't an FFDO or a Sky Marshall on the flight, he could have taken care of the little terrorist.

 

[FlyAirtran]

MSN is doing a vote on whether or not they should have removed the kid from the plane. So far 69% say "hell yes!" (112885 responses).

You can vote too.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16773793/

 

[jetexas]

Actually 91% said yes.
The other 9% have likely never been on an airplane!

 

[FlyAirtran]

I stand corrected. There are 2 yes votes.