Mother & baby Kicked off Plane!

[stacy6552]

Bye bye Continental.

 

[Princess Stitch]

OK, lets not jump to conclusions here. First, I never read anywhere in the articles that the FA thought the toddler was posing a threat to the plane...can someone tell me where they said that? For all you know the kid was screaming at the top of his lungs which would have made it impossible to do the pre-flight security speech and I'm sure they need to do that before they take off. Also, it's very possible that the mom who was probably cranky after the delay did threaten the FA.

I'm not saying either party was correct in their ultimate actions, but since we only have one half of the story from a lady who may very well by lying as to not make herself look bad I will reserve judgment for now. Once we hear from the flight attendant or get an eyewitness account from the person in the seat beside her I'm sure things will make more sense.

 

[NemoMOm]

Well, I emailed the company. You can call and send a letter as well. I don't normally do this kind of thing but since I travel ALOT with my toddler and it could happen to anyone I thought I should

 

[eliza61]

Anybody remember the old United airlines commercial?
"Fly the friendly skys" Maybe we need to start a new campaign about air travel, 2007 syle? Some thing catchy

 

[michelle11727]

Hi
I am a flight attendant for Continental Airlines and felt I had to chime in on this one. Please do not send your emails to Continental we are only a partner with express jet as is Delta and a few others. I am also a mother and can not believe what this crazy flight attendant did and said to her. I am pretty sure she will lose her job over this one. I am still waiting to hear from the pilots on this one they have the final say to eject a passenger. The flight attendant must have told them some story...
Just remember the next time you fly any airline for that matter we are just regular people like you doing our jobs and keeping you safe. And yes delays and cancellations suck as much for us as they do for you. We have families to go home to as well.

 

[mericletwins]

The first time we flew with our daughter lots of people (friends and relatives) insisted we give her bendryl. Well, guess what? Bendryl makes her hyper and she was a monster on the plane. That was the last time I let anyone talk me into giving my children medicine I didn't think they needed. To even suggest it is irresponsible unless you are a medical professional.

I do suggest this to people that are nervous about flying with babies/toddlers and I don't feel that I am irresponsible. I make sure that I tell them to try it out well before your vacation to see what reaction the child has to Benadryl, because it can make some children hyper instead of sleepy. I am just repeating what our ped said to us before we flew with our twins at 9 months. He suggested both Benadryl and Tylenol about 1/2 hour before the plane was to take off. I have to say it worked like a charm for us, though I know that it wouldn't for everyone, hence the trial run before the trip.

As far as this news story, I may be a bit cynical, but I think that there is probably a lot more to this story than what the woman is saying. I can't really believe her version of events.

 

[Schmeck]

I am so outraged! I am going to write to the airline and let them know that as a mother of a toddler I would be too nervous after this episode to fly with them!

After hearing just one half of the story, and from only one news source, you're going to write the airline? What if the mother did threaten the flight attendant - and you've given the airline your name, address, etc. You want to be on a dnf list?

 

[Schmeck]

Well, I emailed the company. You can call and send a letter as well. I don't normally do this kind of thing but since I travel ALOT with my toddler and it could happen to anyone I thought I should

ditto, above...

 

[iltb]

The short clip I saw on Headline News stated the other passengers took up for the mom on the plane. I never saw anything about a claim of a security issue with the baby, just that the flight attendant told the mom "it's not funny anymore, you need to shut the kid up" during her seatbelt/safety demonstration. And went on to tell the mom to give her child baby benadryl.
For me, it would have turned into a security issue, because I'd have been inclined to smack the FA. It would have taken a LOT of self control on my part to remain calm after that. It sounds to me like she is just one of those people who has no patience or understanding with children.

 

[all4fun]

OK, lets not jump to conclusions here. First, I never read anywhere in the articles that the FA thought the toddler was posing a threat to the plane...can someone tell me where they said that? For all you know the kid was screaming at the top of his lungs which would have made it impossible to do the pre-flight security speech and I'm sure they need to do that before they take off. Also, it's very possible that the mom who was probably cranky after the delay did threaten the FA.

I'm not saying either party was correct in their ultimate actions, but since we only have one half of the story from a lady who may very well by lying as to not make herself look bad I will reserve judgment for now. Once we hear from the flight attendant or get an eyewitness account from the person in the seat beside her I'm sure things will make more sense.

I hyperlinked an article in my prev post but here's the full link
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=070712_1__ATLAN42637&breadcrumb=Breaking News

Here's the last paragraph

The young mother said she later learned the flight attendant told the pilot that Penland had threatened her. Penland said that never happened.

A fellow passenger told WSB none of the other passengers had problems with Garren and that Penland never threatened the flight attendant.

So apparently another passenger is corroberating (sp?) her story.

 

[Punky's Mama]

Well I didn't write the article, just saying what it says. But there are holes in it. Like, just why did the pilot turn the plane around? The flight attendant had the problem with the baby, it was her misjudgment, but surely she doesn't fly the plane. all that has to be cleared through the pilot, flight control, etc. also, she states she was dumped at the airport without any supplies. did they give her her checked luggage? also, the Yahoo article shows her at her home in Oklahoma, how did she get back? did the airline fly her back, did she buy another ticket? I would like to see more details, too, but the whole article as written sounds crazy!

also, what airline employee would suggest/demand that a parent give their child any type of medicine? they're way too paranoid about a lawsuit, used to long ago airlines would give asprin, tylenol, etc, won't do that anymore for fear of reacrtions, lawsuits, etc.

Oh I know you didn't write the article... I was just saying that after reading the actual article on-line it seemed a little fishy. I agree with you, there are a few holes in the story. I would be interested to see an interview with the woman and find out exactly what happened. If this all turns out to be true, I will be so nervous to fly with my DD, what if she is having an off day? Traveling is never easy for anyone, let alone a child. I don't want to be kicked off a plane just because my DD annoys someone?

 

[Stimpy]

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3374063

Having watched the video of the child...who was acting like a pretty normal toddler....I think there may be more to the story. It looked like he was a lap baby and the mom admitted that he was acting on the plane like he was acting on GMA. Maybe...again I don't know the story...the FA thought the mom wouldn't be able to keep the toddler under control during take-off when he needed to be safely restrained. She really couldn't hold him still for the interview, is it possible she couldn't do it during take-off?

I'm not saying the FA was right, I don't know, I wasn't there. I would also be furious if someone suggested I drug my child. I'm just thinking there is a little more to this.
__________________

 

[Punky's Mama]

Thank you for sharing the link to the interview, after watching this I tend to believe what the mom and the witnesses say. I think the stewardess got her self in a situation where she was wrong and made up the story to the pilot to save face, I think it was all an ego thing for the stewardess just like the mom said.

I know that traveling with a child is not easy for parents and can annoy alot of passengers, but none the less it just is a fact of life. Making it harder for parents is not going to stop us from traveling with our children. I know as a parent I try to make it as easy as possible for those around me, but is it to much to ask for simple human kindness?

 

[laughinplace199]

We usually make our own from powder but use Tetra Packed Cartons while travelling or out and about for conveniance and also so that the milk in the bottles doesn't go off.

Presumably therefore we can carry as many Unopened Tetra packed cartons through security as we like?

Bear in mind our flight will be 9 hours.

I am traveling with 4 6oz unopened bottles of ready to drink formula in my carryon (for a 3 hr flight). In addition, I bring an unopened can of powder and a couple of empty bottles, just in case we have a very long delay.

Here is a link to the TSA's website re: traveling with infants


http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/formula.shtm

 

[Ally_DeVille]

Re the toddler; the baby had fallen asleep almost immediately after leaving the gate; they kicked off a mom and a sleeping baby.

Given how this story is a hot one on the online news sites; the airline had better start doing some damage control real quick!

It makes me nervous, I fly A LOT with my toddler; I certainly don't want to get booted from a plane because the baby is waving "bye bye" and saying it. We are flying cross-country in September for a family reunion in Disneyland; guess I had best plan on bringing extra distractions with us.

 

[cats mom]

After watching the video I can understand how the childs' behavior could have been a concern. He's cute as can be, but he was one squirmy little guy! Mom couldn't control him in that short little interview. That could be a real safety issue on a plane, especially if he was a lap baby (although I don't know if that's been confirmed)

I do think the benadryl thing is being blown out of proportion a bit. It didn't sound to me like the FA actually told the mom to drug her son, I think she made a snyde comment out of frustration with the situation. Absolutely inappropriate, but different than it's being portrayed by some people.

That said, I'll buy that the FA was having a bad day or whatever and let things escalate to a point where she felt she couldn't back down. Bad choice IMO. I'm guessing that little display of authority could end up costing her plenty.

 

[ujpest_doza]

I am traveling with 4 6oz unopened bottles of ready to drink formula in my carryon (for a 3 hr flight). In addition, I bring an unopened can of powder and a couple of empty bottles, just in case we have a very long delay.

Here is a link to the TSA's website re: traveling with infants


http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/formula.shtm

Excellent ,thank you.

I notice it says you can bring Gel Filled teethers, do you know if you can bring your baby bottles in a cooler with a gel filled blue ice block to keep them fresh? I asked this of my local airport in England and they said no the blue ice blocks were no longer allowed, but then again they also make you open and taste baby formula and jars of baby food here in England.

 

[Lady V]

Well I didn't write the article, just saying what it says. But there are holes in it. Like, just why did the pilot turn the plane around? The flight attendant had the problem with the baby, it was her misjudgment, but surely she doesn't fly the plane. all that has to be cleared through the pilot, flight control, etc. also, she states she was dumped at the airport without any supplies. did they give her her checked luggage? also, the Yahoo article shows her at her home in Oklahoma, how did she get back? did the airline fly her back, did she buy another ticket? I would like to see more details, too, but the whole article as written sounds crazy!

also, what airline employee would suggest/demand that a parent give their child any type of medicine? they're way too paranoid about a lawsuit, used to long ago airlines would give asprin, tylenol, etc, won't do that anymore for fear of reacrtions, lawsuits, etc.

you know, a lot of what is posted online has holes in it....

 

[yrdlyprincess]

I just can't believe it if this is true, I can't believe the FA, and I am worried about when we go, I have a good idea that ms DS will have a tantrum I think that hopefully people will understand that this is my childrens 1st time flying & that we need to be a little patient, because look I'm an adult & I'm a freakin about flying!

 

[Mkrop]

But in fairness to the mom, she could not contol him in the GMA interview because she was trying to talk with Daine Sawyer. My guess would be if he was that squirmy and he was her only thing to take care of she could have distracted him with toys and talked to him. She couldnt exactly do all that on national tv and she seemed nervous.