Delta: Get off this flight or you’re going to jail and your kids will be taken away

joseephuss

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http://www.marketwatch.com/story/de...l-and-your-kids-will-be-taken-away-2017-05-04

Delta: Get off this flight or you’re going to jail and your kids will be taken away

No huge bunnies died, no doctor was roughed up and no fists were flying, but the airline industry is faced with another PR fire after a family of four, including two babies, were kicked off a Delta red-eye flight from Maui to Los Angeles.

Essentially, the father, Brian Schear, explains that he put his teenage son on an earlier flight so that his 2-year-old could have a seat to himself.

“I bought the seat,” he said. “You’re saying you’re going to give that away to someone else when I paid for that seat? That’s not right.”

But the agent wasn’t having it, and then took everything she presumably learned about de-escalating such a situation and tossed it out the exit door by telling Schear that, if he didn’t comply, he would go to jail and his kids would be taken away.


Still, Schear remained remarkably calm the whole time and didn’t budge as the tension ratcheted up. At one point, the agent seemed to resort to a lie to convince the family to leave, claiming that, according to FAA regulations, the boy wasn’t allowed to sit in the seat by himself and could only fly if in the lap of a parent.

Of course, any parent who flies knows this to be completely untrue. In fact, the FAA states that children are safer in car seats, and says on its site that “Your arms aren’t capable of holding your child securely, especially during unexpected turbulence.”
 

yimyammer

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wat!?!?!!

I don't understand why this happened. Did the flight attendant kick them off after they were already in their seats?
 

Jammer

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I bet there is more to the story. I fly frequently and I see all the time how selfish other passengers are. There are almost a BILLION people who fly in the US each year and this kind of stuff happens so infrequently that it's news when it does.
 

LittleBoyBlue

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I bet there is more to the story. I fly frequently and I see all the time how selfish other passengers are. There are almost a BILLION people who fly in the US each year and this kind of stuff happens so infrequently that it's news when it does.


Yeah it's safe to say.... just common sense that people are lookin for this now.

It's a "hot trend"
 

JD_KaPow

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I obviously don't know what happened, but it sure sounds like this is one possibility:
They had 3 tickets, so the 2-year-old and the baby would be lap children.
Then they changed the teenager's flight to an earlier one (not buying a new ticket, just switching his flight).
Then, they still wanted to use their original seat for their 2-year-old. Except that wasn't their seat anymore, because they'd swapped it for a seat on the earlier flight.
If that's what happened, then they're idiots. (Which doesn't excuse bad behavior on the part of the Delta employees).
 

diefree666

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"You can go to jail and your kids taken away'

Love how some here are trying to ignore that or excuse that.
 

joseephuss

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I obviously don't know what happened, but it sure sounds like this is one possibility:
They had 3 tickets, so the 2-year-old and the baby would be lap children.
Then they changed the teenager's flight to an earlier one (not buying a new ticket, just switching his flight).
Then, they still wanted to use their original seat for their 2-year-old. Except that wasn't their seat anymore, because they'd swapped it for a seat on the earlier flight.
If that's what happened, then they're idiots. (Which doesn't excuse bad behavior on the part of the Delta employees).

I don't think they changed their teenager's flight. The way it was described on the radio is they bought a new ticket on an earlier flight for their teenager, but kept the original ticket as well.
 

Tabascocat

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Is Delta the airlines that is going to remove 2 inches from each row and make the legroom even smaller or is that American? Guess it doesn't matter, they all are heading in that direction anyways :(

Oh, and did I hear that one woman right......that a 2yo can't sit in his own seat and has to be on a lap?? Last time I checked, car seats were required(and recommended) for a child at that age because the normal seat-belt does not work for them.

Straight from the FAA website: for children between 22-44 lbs

Did you know that the safest place for your child on an airplane is in a government-approved child safety restraint system (CRS) or device, not on your lap? Your arms aren't capable of holding your child securely, especially during unexpected turbulence.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) strongly urges you to secure your child in a CRS or device for the duration of your flight. It's the smart and right thing to do so that everyone in your family arrives safely at your destination. The FAA is giving you the information you need to make informed decisions about your family's travel plans.
A CRS is a hard-backed child safety seat that is approved by the government for use in both motor vehicles and aircraft.

Sounds like Delta wanted to make an extra buck to me but what do I know......:laugh:
 

yimyammer

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I don't think they changed their teenager's flight. The way it was described on the radio is they bought a new ticket on an earlier flight for their teenager, but kept the original ticket as well.

Thats what I heard but the family failed to change the name on the seat to the child they wanted to sit there. Hardly seems worth all the drama when the airline could have easily made the correction before they got on the plane, which makes me wonder how they got on the plane in the first place with the unresolved issue
 

JD_KaPow

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I don't think they changed their teenager's flight. The way it was described on the radio is they bought a new ticket on an earlier flight for their teenager, but kept the original ticket as well.
Thats what I heard but the family failed to change the name on the seat to the child they wanted to sit there. Hardly seems worth all the drama when the airline could have easily made the correction before they got on the plane, which makes me wonder how they got on the plane in the first place with the unresolved issue
Yeah, in that case it's pretty terrible.
 

TheKey

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I don't think they changed their teenager's flight. The way it was described on the radio is they bought a new ticket on an earlier flight for their teenager, but kept the original ticket as well.
Tickets are non-transferable. It must match exactly the name when you buy it. I knew this would happen after United. People are looking to start trouble so they can get a payday too.
 

joseephuss

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Tickets are non-transferable. It must match exactly the name when you buy it. I knew this would happen after United. People are looking to start trouble so they can get a payday too.

I believe you can transfer them for a fee. Even so this should have occurred at check in or at the gate, not after they were already boarded. And even if Delta was 100% in the right in policy the actions of the flight attendant were in the wrong. She spouted off misinformation and nonsense and poorly represented the airline. There is no reason to think this is acceptable on the part of Delta.

Sure some people may be out looking for a payday, but if the airlines handle things the right way they won't put themselves in position to have to pay out.
 

JoeKing

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Too much hostility at the airlines these days. I'm glad I don't need to fly anywhere. I recommend a legalized weed smoking room before all passengers get on board, similar to the smoking lounge at ATL. Just chill everyone and enjoy the friendly skies.
 

Tabascocat

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Too much hostility at the airlines these days. I'm glad I don't need to fly anywhere. I recommend a legalized weed smoking room before all passengers get on board, similar to the smoking lounge at ATL. Just chill everyone and enjoy the friendly skies.

Ativan and a shot of Jack at the skybar before boarding :D
 

CyberB0b

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This needs to end. Compliance with crew member instructions is required by federal law. These people need to be prosecuted, or there will be safety of flight issues going forward and the lack of respect for flight crews is disturbing.
 

diefree666

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This needs to end. Compliance with crew member instructions is required by federal law. These people need to be prosecuted, or there will be safety of flight issues going forward and the lack of respect for flight crews is disturbing.

Yeah telling someone he is going to jail and will lose his kids over a seat is just OK with you.
 

Ranching

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Theres a lot bigger problems on this earth than this. Just saying. I just saw a seven year old, on TV, in Africa that weighs twenty pounds because of malnourishment. The millions that these people will get from a lawsuit can save a lot of kids around they world. OK, I'm jumping off the soapbox. Don't like it, PM me. Salud!
 
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