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AirTran Kicks Family Off Of Plane!!!
By KWiz | January 24, 2007
I vaguely remember what is was like before I gave birth to my daughter almost 3 years ago. One thing I distinctly remember is how I responded when I heard screaming babies and misbehaving toddlers in grocery stores, malls, restaurants, movies… Some of my thoughts included:
- “Why can’t she control her kids?”
- “Doesn’t she realize she’s the adult in the family?”
- “Surely that kid is going to grow up with no self-control.”
- “I know what I’d do to that child if she were mine.”
Until I had my own…
I can recall a recent grocery store visit in which my daughter wanted to push the cart. I was in a hurry, so of course I quietly but matter-of-factly said, “No, you need to get in the cart for now. You can push the cart later.” Indeed, the best way for her to respond would have been for her to say, “Okay, mommy.” BUT, we’re talking about a 2-year old. This 2-year old begins to cry, not in a quiet sort of way that would have been bearable to me. She screams loudly so the entire grocery store would feel her pain. (Of course, no one can relate to this, can they?)
Well, how about this…
Parents Gerald, Julie, and their 3-year old Elly Kulesza were on an AirTran flight preparing to depart out of Florida to go home to Boston when Elly became “unmanageable.” She began crying and would not stop. She sat down on the floor of the plane and threw a temper tantrum. Her parents could not console her. Julie believes it may have happened because she recently had had some ear surgery and was remembering some discomfort she may have felt on the flight into Florida. After some time, an AirTran employee approaches Mr. Kulesza, saying,
“Sir, you need to get off the plane.”
The family eventually left the plane. They missed their flight and were banned from flying AirTran for 24 hours. They eventually made it home and seems that the situation was resolved between AirTran and the family. The Kulesza’s vowed to never fly AirTrain again. Read the entire story here.
Nevertheless, that could have happened to any one who is traveling with a toddler, whether parent, sibling, aunt, uncle, anybody! In fact, last March, my daughter flew for the first time when we went to visit my mother in Milwaukee. She was not yet 2 years old, so I didn’t have to buy her a separate ticket, and she sat on my lap. She was quite active, but the passengers around us didn’t seem to mind.
It was slightly different on the way back to Atlanta. A woman sitting next to me had a Nintendo gadget (I’m not all that familiar with them, which is why I call it a “gadget”). My daughter loves small electronic devices, so she proceeded to move toward it in an effort to lay hold of it. The woman said, “Hold on, let me fix it for you so you can play with it.” She was so incredibly gracious, and I was so appreciative. And I needed to be. She lost her pacifier in Milwaukee, and she had become very cranky because of it. I eventually found it, but after a couple of days of being without it, she didn’t believe it was hers. So I didn’t have a way to really calm her during the flight (she didn’t blow a gasket, thank God!).
In addition she had had lots of Ritz crackers and apple juice that day, so after a period of time on the flight, she vomited without warning! Again, the woman sitting next to me was helpful, even giving me encouragement by saying, “You really are handling your daughter very well.” She was a veteran – she had adult children (reading that – “adult children” – is funny!). She oughta have known; she was an “expert.” Been there – done that.
I was so grateful. I’m sure some passengers around me felt their peace was disturbed, but others were helpful. One passenger quickly gave me one of those “throw up bags” because I was sort of in a daze as to what was going on.
Interestingly, this was an AirTran flight.
In my mind, AirTran did this family a tremendous disservice. It seems we are always in a rush to get somewhere (I myself included). We don’t want to be inconvenienced (I myself included). We must have everything go perfectly (yes, I can relate). And when things don’t go as planned, let’s eliminate the source of the problem.
AirTran did exactly that. It seems the real source of the problem in that situation was the inability of the AirTran employees to practice a little empathy. They lacked the ability to be creative and to attempt to help this family through a crisis. But of course, it was none of their business and not their responsibility. We have someplace to go! We have people to see! Who cares what your needs are? And who cares that you bought tickets anyway?
AirTran’s slogan is, “Go. There’s nothing stopping you.”
Yeah, right.
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Topics: Just Everyday Life | 12 Comments »
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January 24th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
“Nevertheless, that could have happened to any one who is traveling with a toddler, whether parent, sibling, aunt, uncle, anybody! ”
Nevertheless, it mostly doesn’t.
And furthermore, it got press because the family are obviously a bunch of self-centered, publicity seeking boobs who’s self esteem was more important than the plans of everyone else on the aircraft.
They got a refund and an offer of free tix turned down. I’ll bet AirTran is sooooo disappointed. And their sympathy ploy backfired. Next…..
January 24th, 2007 at 11:17 pm
I feel for this family, really I do. It could happen to any of us, and for many of us, it has.
HOWEVER, on a plane, it’s unacceptable. A person of any age who, for any reason, refuses to sit down and buckle up so the plane can take off, shouldn’t be allowed to disrupt an entire airport, for that’s what happens when one plane is delayed for whatever reason. A child melting down in the aisles, kicking and screaming and refusing to obey her parents or the other authority figures on the plane, has no business on that plane.
Usually, I’m sorry. This time, I’m not.
Behavior: Unacceptable. Get them off the plane. No child should have that much authority.
January 25th, 2007 at 12:02 am
I agree that the behavior is unacceptable. Nevertheless, I also believe that if given a few minutes to calm the child down, the child may have done so.
On the other hand, if the parents let the child rule “as a rule” and not an exception, then yes, that is a problem. And I know for me, I “believe” (just based on how my child responds to discipline) my child would have calmed down, but I can’t say I know how she would have responded if she was actually responding to some ailment (as some of the reports have suggested).
Just a little to think about…Thanks for commenting!
January 25th, 2007 at 2:34 am
Just how long should the other paying customers and the rest of the air traffic behind them have had to wait for this family to calm their child down? Yes, children are going to have tantrums. The issue here is not that she was crying and being fussy. The issue is that this child was not in a seat, which violates FAA laws. I, too, read that the child had some sort of ear surgery earlier in the month or something along those lines. The parents should have had the sense to leave her home or not go. Her ailments do not grant permission to break laws. I am 100% behind the airline on this one.
January 25th, 2007 at 9:30 am
Point taken. Interestingly, however, if the airline believed what they did was the right thing, why did they give in to the family? Sure, public relations had much to do with it; I understand that. And it may have had everything to do with it. Nevertheless, it could have been an opportunity to explain exactly what you said, Dominique – that you are a paying customer, as is everyone on that plane, and that the child was not in her seat, violating FAA regulations. In addition, it could’ve been an opportunity to inform the public about what to look for when flying with an infant, toddler, or preschooler. Granted the immediate context does not leave room for teachable moments…Thank you for commenting!
January 25th, 2007 at 11:54 pm
Go Airtran!!!! Parents need to have more control over their kids. If the kids can’t mind, they can pack up the car and drive. Listen to their own kid cry for 13 hours.
February 8th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
I am a veteran mother: kids’ temper tantrums are a sign of poor parenting. Children can and should be taught at an early age that uncontrolled fits of anger are unacceptable, period. Toddlers screaming, kicking, and fighting with parents are behaviours never seen in less ‘developed’ cultures. Why would a child want to do this? Because we unconsciously tell them they can, by allowing them to go through the process, and not prevent it through positive reinforcement. We are raising a self-indulgent generation – not a good trait in this new millenium – by teaching them early that it is OK to scream when you are frustrated. Don’t tell me they are only babies: by 3 they have become amazingly sensitive to their parents’ boundaries.
February 16th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
From the Chicago Tribune
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.
Yeah, it sure sounds like they are great parents. You should always allow your kids to hit you. That will teach them discipline!!
These pompous Bostonians got exactly what they deserved. I can hear their annoying accents now. Never mind the rights of the other 112 people on board, we should worry about the 3 year old. Take a car next time so I don’t have to listen to it.
March 4th, 2007 at 2:14 am
As a parent of a five year old, I would not consider myself any kind of veteran. At the same time, I had my daughter when I was 22 and still in college completing a dual-degree undergraduate program. I know that on so many levels, I was still too young when I had her…But I also think that you could be 40 and still not be prepared for all that it means to be a parent.
As a human being, I also know that there are times when situations become overwhelming, regardless of age. If there was a history of illness, it may not have even been the illness, but rather the trauma surrounding that entire incident that triggered the panic response.
On some levels, I say that it is true that a child allowed to cry and carry on is a sign of negative or ill-effective parenting approaches. But at the same time, if there is some residual trauma that an individual is feeling, that parent could have the soul of Mother Teresa and still not be able to fully be there for the child on all the levels that the child needs you.
I could say that if it were my child, I would have allowed them to cry and carry on while I physically picked her up and put her in the seat…I’m hoping that I have enough tricks in an activity pack to at least help her become more distracted, or even just let her cry in her favorite toy…But I really don’t know…
A lot of people make the comment of “pack the kid up and go in a car so that no one else has to be bothered.” I recognize that comment…But at the same time, let’s also leave this one individual story alone here for just one moment and look at the implications of the “bigger picture,” here.
This scenario now leads to a greater issue of people being potentially segregated or discriminated against because they chose to have families instead of dogs they could leave at the kennels. It’s becoming more and more clear in our society that children are becoming more of an inconvenience than a blessing. Everywhere I look, I’m seeing more and more children’s parks being replaced with dog runs…And then I hear people complain because children don’t show any kind of courtesy or respect.
Well, coming from a parent’s perspective, I do know that children learn from example. If we hit and humiliate a child, that child will only learn to hit and humiliate. If we show absolutely no compassion, empathy, or understanding towards them, then they will never learn to cultivate their own compassion, empathy, or understanding.
Ultimately, however, in a world where there is such callous behavior going on from every kind of spectrum and perspective, then that leaves the potential for parents like myself to be discriminated against, simply because I have a child. Look at history books…Look back at America, even, during WWII. I’m sure that you all have heard that Americans were sympathetic to the Jewish plight of the Holocaust, but how sympathetic could we be if there were signs on the beaches that said, “No Jews or Dogs Allowed?” I truly do not want to live in a society that has signs posted on transportation outlets saying “No Animals or Children Allowed.”
That kind of behavior would have really crushed my mother, as well. When I was born, I had a heart condition that required a great deal of attention if I was going to make it past infancy and maybe even possibly live past the age of four. My condition required a great deal of specialists’ care, and most of these specialists were in other states, like Illinois (my family is from New Mexico…And I’m hoping you realize that it’s been a state since 1912 and is nestled just east of Arizona, west of Texas and south of Colorado), and if my family had to drive to get me to a specialist, my chances of survival would have been very slim. I also know that there were times when they were flying when I had other issues going on, like ear infections and what have you.
I can assure you that I was not any kind of joy to travel with, even though I was too young to remember. But my mother always spoke of kind-hearted people who helped her cope and also helped me to get from one destination to another at least in one piece.
Now…If this one airline can kick a family off for an “annoying” child, that leaves a huge implication out there to all other families who may not have the option to drive, as my family really didn’t have the option. I really do not feel as though we should be discriminating against families or children, as it leaves the door too wide open for us to forget that children are human beings with a lack of experience, and we are there to teach them through our own experiences.
I may have been young when I had my child, but I still feel as though my youth has allowed me to maintain some aspect of what it means to want to be happy and grow up in a safe and healthy environment. Our environment has been poisoned by too many people needing too many things right now (thank you, microwave/cell phone generation). We are too connected through electronics that we have forgotten that people have souls.
And if this is really what our society has boiled down to, when we really can’t find ways to accommodate or help other people in a post 9-11 world or any other kind of world, then maybe we should really look at ourselves and realize that the terrorists have won.
March 4th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
“And if this is really what our society has boiled down to, when we really can’t find ways to accommodate or help other people in a post 9-11 world or any other kind of world, then maybe we should really look at ourselves and realize that the terrorists have won.” I see – disallowing a child to throw a tantrum on a plane proves we are just the sort of people the terrorists think we are (or could become, given the appropriate mode of attack): and the terrorists aimed to make us into uncaring people, yes? and they are jumping for joy as we speak because they (who are they, anyway??) can see we have lost our patience for badly behaved children? what kind of drivel is this? it’s exactly the kind of nonsense that makes America an embarrassment to the world.
March 4th, 2007 at 11:31 pm
Ananda, thank you for your thoughtful comment. I appreciate it; certainly it goes against the grain of most of the comments which appear here, especially “ca’s.” It’s amazing how much people miss the spirit of what a person says, thereby missing the meaning overall. Thank you again.
March 21st, 2008 at 11:11 am
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