you make the call

Danzig · #1 01-23-2007, 02:31 PM

read this, and i agree with the company! what do you think?

AirTran Backs Decision to Boot Family From Plane After Toddler's Tantrum

Tuesday , January 23, 2007

ORLANDO, Fla. — AirTran Airways on Tuesday defended its decision to remove a Massachusetts couple from a flight after their crying 3-year-old daughter refused to take her seat before takeoff.

AirTran officials said they followed Federal Aviation Administration rules that children age 2 and above must have their own seat and be wearing a seat belt upon takeoff.

"The flight was already delayed 15 minutes and in fairness to the other 112 passengers on the plane, the crew made an operational decision to remove the family," AirTran spokeswoman Judy Graham-Weaver said.

Julie and Gerry Kulesza, who were headed home to Boston on Jan. 14 from Fort Myers, said they just needed a little more time to calm their daughter, Elly.

"We weren't given an opportunity to hold her, console her or anything," Julie Kulesza said in a telephone interview Tuesday.

The Kuleszas said they told a flight attendant they had paid for their daughter's seat, but asked whether she could sit in her mother's lap. The request was denied.

She was removed because "she was climbing under the seat and hitting the parents and wouldn't get in her seat" during boarding, Graham-Weaver said.

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.

SniperSB23 · #2 01-23-2007, 02:35 PM

I agree. I'm sure the 112 other passengers not only appreciated being able to take off but also enjoyed their flight a lot more without a 3yo throwing a tantrum the whole time. Teach your kids some discipline if you want to take them on public transportation.

Danzig · #3 01-23-2007, 02:42 PM

exactly so!

i just wish people would teach their kids enough manners so i can enjoy a meal at a restaurant...

hoovesupsideyourhead · #4 01-23-2007, 02:47 PM

im down with it...i always get the screaming kid flight..argggggggggg

SentToStud · #5 01-23-2007, 03:03 PM

let the kid fly. then throw the parents off the plane at 15,000 feet.

Cajungator26 · #6 01-23-2007, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig188

exactly so!

i just wish people would teach their kids enough manners so i can enjoy a meal at a restaurant...

I wish it was that easy, Deb...

I can tell you this much... when Daniel starts to have a meltdown (he's 3), I take him outside. I'm not afraid to give him a spanking... it's the only thing that works with him when he gets out of control.

Danzig · #7 01-23-2007, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

I wish it was that easy, Deb...

I can tell you this much... when Daniel starts to have a meltdown (he's 3), I take him outside. I'm not afraid to give him a spanking... it's the only thing that works with him when he gets out of control.

hey, don't get me wrong--LITTLE kids are one thing--i'm talking well beyond toddler age! kids running laps thru the restaurant--or leaning over the back of the seat staring at you--then when they sit down (after being told for the 743rd time) they start kicking the seat bottom--i hate booths!

GPK · #8 01-23-2007, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

I wish it was that easy, Deb...

I can tell you this much... when Daniel starts to have a meltdown (he's 3), I take him outside. I'm not afraid to give him a spanking... it's the only thing that works with him when he gets out of control.

*note to self.....act up for spanking*

Cajungator26 · #9 01-23-2007, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T3B

*note to self.....act up for spanking*

Too funny! LOL LOL

Don't make me bring out the belt, Kevin!

dr. fager · #10 01-23-2007, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

Too funny! LOL LOL

Don't make me bring out the belt, Kevin!

I got a cattle prod you can borrow for him....

GPK · #11 01-23-2007, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

Too funny! LOL LOL

Don't make me bring out the belt, Kevin!

GPK · #12 01-23-2007, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dr. fager

I got a cattle prod you can borrow for him....

hey now...you dipping into our conversation????

Cajungator26 · #13 01-23-2007, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dr. fager

I got a cattle prod you can borrow for him....

Hmmm... I'm thinking he needs to be hot branded.

skippy3481 · #14 01-23-2007, 04:22 PM

Sounds kinky, i want in...

GPK · #15 01-23-2007, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skippy3481

Sounds kinky, i want in...

no way dude...get your married ass outta here for I tell your wife

Samarta · #16 01-23-2007, 06:36 PM

Much to my dismay, I'm gonna stay out of the branding conversation and address the 3 year old. You know what, I think it's bs....If the airlines don't want screaming kids then set an age requirement. Now I've flown what I would consider a huge amount of miles and there have been times when I was miserable because of a kid or the "Oh dear" of the person beside me, but the way I look at it is we all have bad days, you just deal with it. Worst flight I was ever on. You couldn't dream this one up. I was on a flight from LA to Tokyo with a stop in Anchorage and Seoul. From LA to Anchorage it was a piece of cake, plenty of room, lots of peace and quiet and then we picked up in Anchorage. The plane was 4 seats, isle, 10 seats, isle, 4 seats. I was in the middle of the 10 seat section and it just so happened that the airline messed up or those were the only seats available but I had a family of 8 or 9 with 4 to my left and the other 4 or 5 to my right. The didn't speak english, which is usually not a big deal unless you are the middle man between all their peanut and snack trading. It was so bad it was funny. I tried to get them to switch seats and they said no. I tried to get another seat on the plane and it was full after the Anchorage pick up. 12 hours of passing peanuts, magazines, or whatever else was catching their attention at the time. I think back and still laugh about it.

brianwspencer · #17 01-23-2007, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samarta

You know what, I think it's bs....If the airlines don't want screaming kids then set an age requirement.

But if a 40 year old man refused to take his seat before takeoff and was climbing underneath the seats -- and then his friend asked the flight attendant if the 40 year old man could sit on his lap.....

.....do you think they would have let the 40 year old man remain on the flight? Or more importantly, would you call that "bs" too?

It was pretty clear that they didn't get kicked off because the kid was annoying, but because the kid was not playing by the rules. The kid sits in the assigned seat during takeoff or they don't fly, I do it, you do it, everyone does it.

Rules are rules, and these days when it comes to air travel, you either follow them or...you rent a car.

Danzig · #18 01-23-2007, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samarta

Much to my dismay, I'm gonna stay out of the branding conversation and address the 3 year old. You know what, I think it's bs....If the airlines don't want screaming kids then set an age requirement. Now I've flown what I would consider a huge amount of miles and there have been times when I was miserable because of a kid or the "Oh dear" of the person beside me, but the way I look at it is we all have bad days, you just deal with it. Worst flight I was ever on. You couldn't dream this one up. I was on a flight from LA to Tokyo with a stop in Anchorage and Seoul. From LA to Anchorage it was a piece of cake, plenty of room, lots of peace and quiet and then we picked up in Anchorage. The plane was 4 seats, isle, 10 seats, isle, 4 seats. I was in the middle of the 10 seat section and it just so happened that the airline messed up or those were the only seats available but I had a family of 8 or 9 with 4 to my left and the other 4 or 5 to my right. The didn't speak english, which is usually not a big deal unless you are the middle man between all their peanut and snack trading. It was so bad it was funny. I tried to get them to switch seats and they said no. I tried to get another seat on the plane and it was full after the Anchorage pick up. 12 hours of passing peanuts, magazines, or whatever else was catching their attention at the time. I think back and still laugh about it.

the risk of having screaming kids is one thing....FAA Rules and regs regarding take-off is another. you have to be in your seat and belted--they delayed for 15 minutes while the little darling slapped mommy and daddy around and played hide and seek. why should over 100 others be kept waiting while junior has a fit? they did the right thing, it's the same that would be done about any unruly passenger-regardless of age.

can't wait til she's 15....

The Bid · #19 01-23-2007, 07:25 PM

I would rather sit next to a screaming child on a flight as opposed to a fat woman.

Kids dont bother me nearly as much as sloppy pigs, or stinky grown ups.

Danzig · #20 01-23-2007, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bid

I would rather sit next to a screaming child on a flight as opposed to a fat woman.

Kids dont bother me nearly as much as sloppy pigs, or stinky grown ups.

my daughter had a band concert. we get there a bit early, and choose sits in the middle of nowhere. a heavy-set woman came and flopped down right in front of us--apparently she didn't have time to shower beforehand, so she doused herself liberally with perfume.
i had to move. too much cologne gives me a raging headache.