AirTran Airways backs decision to boot parents, toddler for temper tantrum
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.
--I'd say that was a good call. If they can't simmer a three-year-old down in fifteen minutes, how much more of everyone else's time should they be given?
Quote: 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.
You`d have thought they`d fly with the airline just once more for free tix to anywhere?? 2 sides to every arguement for sure, but at first glance you`d have to give the airline the nod in this case.
Last edited by Johnny_Revolver; 01-23-2007 at 08:42 PM.
What is all the fuss about. They did what the regulations said to do. Also, in this rare case, the regulations actually coincide with common sense. Good call by the air crew. Airline was more than fair on reimbursement.
The way those folks are whining, they must be Democrats.
Not necessarily. I'm a Democrat, and my kids would never have dreamed of pulling that little stunt in public. I never had to say anything; they just knew they'd die if they tried it.
