Southwest kicks mom, cranky kid off flight

Benzgirl · #1 10-31-2009, 11:00 AM

Oh, how I've wished this has happened on so many of my flights.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33555007/?gt1=43001

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Kids will be kids, but one cranky 2-year-old was acting too much his age for a Southwest Airlines flight crew who kicked him off a plane getting ready to leave for San Jose.

Pamela Root says she was confident her son Adam's screams of “Go! Plane! Go!” and “I want Daddy!” would subside once the plane took off Monday in Amarillo, Texas.

But she says the plane taxied back to the gate and the pair was escorted off.

The 38-year-old stay-at-home mom wants an apology and compensation for the portable crib and diapers she had to buy for the extra night away from home.

Southwest spokeswoman Marilee McInnis says removing a crying child from a flight is unusual, but crews have leeway to resolve situations.
McInnis says the airline is looking into the incident.

annabella · #2 10-31-2009, 11:41 AM

Southwest is not the most family-friendly airline in the first place; I don't know that they even let families with young children preboard anymore. I know traveling with kids can be really difficult.... but I've been thrown up on without receipt of apology or even acknowledgement.So haha.

Psi U MC Vito · #3 10-31-2009, 12:15 PM

Ok I can kind of understand the diapers, but she also wants them to pay for a crib? WTF?

APhiAnna · #4 10-31-2009, 12:31 PM

This is one of those situations where I absolutely doubt that she is telling us the full truth. If she is indeed an innocent victim then that is one thing, and I am sorry for her. But after sitting on plenty of Southwest flights myself with screaming toddlers, I am guessing it was her reluctance to even deal with her child or possibly rudeness/aggression towards the stewardesses/passengers that caused them to kick her off. But now she has a platform of the "innocent mom" and is running with it.

annabella · #5 10-31-2009, 02:36 PM

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...e/6695359.html

She got an apology and $300 travel voucher. Which is really nothing to SWA; don't you get more than that if you're bumped from an overbooked flight?

Also it's not really a question of sympathy for the mom anymore—the kid was screaming loudly enough that other passengers couldn't hear the safety announcements.

Benzgirl · #6 10-31-2009, 03:10 PM

I was on a 4 hour flight a couple of months ago. A couple got on with their 3 children (one toddler, a pre-schooler and a kid about 7), with 5 middle seats assigned to them. Obviously, they didn't plan for this flight because there are ways to avoid middle seats. The family also did not pre-board like they could have.

After the father held up the flight until they could get a group of seats together, the kids screamed the entire way. The crew kept shoving free drinks to the passengers around them.

Contrast this to the dad who got on with his 5 kids and 5 DVD players. This family took up the entire back row of the plane and nobody hear a peep from those kids. Someone was prepared!

texas*princess · #7 10-31-2009, 03:26 PM

OMG I seriously detest people who can't control their own kids

knight_shadow · #8 10-31-2009, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texas*princess

OMG I seriously detest people who can't control their own kids

This, too.

agzg · #9 10-31-2009, 03:56 PM

Frankly, good for southwest. I've been on plenty of flights with kids and it's become apparent to me that the children who are a bother to other passengers are a direct product of unprepared or just plain stupid parents.

I'm sick of being uncomfortable because of other people's kids, either on L trains, planes, or anywhere else!

33girl · #10 10-31-2009, 04:29 PM

This.

CutiePie2000 · #11 10-31-2009, 04:46 PM

The kid was probably jacked on some sugary cookies or drinks too. I like a treat as much as the next gal, but I definitely notice a behavior change in my nephews, about 45 minutes to an hour after they've had candy or chocolates. They turn into little hellions. Thankfully, they play soccer and get regular exercise.

It's too bad that Southwest caved and gave the lady what she wanted, but I guess you gotta do what you gotta do to preserve a good image.

KSUViolet06 · #12 10-31-2009, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agzg

I'm sick of being uncomfortable because of other people's kids, either on L trains, planes, or anywhere else!

This.

swanqween · #13 10-31-2009, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texas*princess

OMG I seriously detest people who can't control their own kids

Ohh I agree!!! Once I was in a mall and a child was running around haphazard, ran *into* me and fell down. The mother had the audacity to get up in my face and yell at me 'why did I knock down her kid'? Seriously!?!?!

What really bugs me is when parent(s) will bring a small fussy child into a LATE evening non G or PG movie & refuse to leave when the child cries, etc.

texas*princess · #14 10-31-2009, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swanqween

Ohh I agree!!! Once I was in a mall and a child was running around haphazard, ran *into* me and fell down. The mother had the audacity to get up in my face and yell at me 'why did I knock down her kid'? Seriously!?!?!

What really bugs me is when parent(s) will bring a small fussy child into a LATE evening non G or PG movie & refuse to leave when the child cries, etc.

Arrrggh! Get a babysitter!! Or better yet, wait till it comes out On Demand. Geez.

And I HATE IT when kids are running around in public places and almost ram into people who are minding their own business and their parents can't be found.

Put a leash on 'em or leave em home!!! hahaha (That is only partly serious. I know there are well-behaved kids out there that don't need the child leash or to be left at home)

dreamseeker · #15 10-31-2009, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texas*princess

OMG I seriously detest people who can't control their own kids

amen. makes me wanna punch the parent in the face. idc whether they're spank or anti-spank, but if they're not into spanking their kids they need to find away to ensure that they're well behaved in public.