Please take a moment to respond to the poll I have posted. I think the questions are pretty to the point and your responses will be appreciated and helpful. Thanks! I had some trouble posting the poll- not sure I know how to do it correctly- I coul,dn't figure out how to make it a yes or no type of poll. I am off in search of a moderator to help me set this up. Thanks for your patience!
Posting a poll re: overnight bumping of teens
- Thread starter Jeanne434
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Frozenfingers
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Jeanne434 I read "the string" and found it incredulous. I never would have thought that there were so many nasty people in one place. You brought an issue to our attention and didn't deserve the treatment you received.
We need to protect our children, and we as a nation have defined child as anyone under 17 years, 364 days. But do we need to regulate/ legislate the airlines not to bump kids? Probably. The real problem is overbooking, as you know. Without it, this is a mute issue.. either you have a ticket (seat) or you don't! So until the airlines come up with another way of filling their less popular flights, we need a way to protect unaccompanited children (minors).
I wish you well..
We need to protect our children, and we as a nation have defined child as anyone under 17 years, 364 days. But do we need to regulate/ legislate the airlines not to bump kids? Probably. The real problem is overbooking, as you know. Without it, this is a mute issue.. either you have a ticket (seat) or you don't! So until the airlines come up with another way of filling their less popular flights, we need a way to protect unaccompanited children (minors).
I wish you well..
FrozenFingers.
The airlines will provide an escort service for minors traveling alone. However, you must request it and PAY for it. Otherwise the airline assumes that you believe your child is old enough to deal with travel. If you get your wish and there is legislature, the airlines will just require that you pay the escort fee for all minors. They won't mind. Money in their pocket and out of yours.
The airlines will provide an escort service for minors traveling alone. However, you must request it and PAY for it. Otherwise the airline assumes that you believe your child is old enough to deal with travel. If you get your wish and there is legislature, the airlines will just require that you pay the escort fee for all minors. They won't mind. Money in their pocket and out of yours.
GoldenOldie
DIS Veteran
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How can you vote on a poll with ten rhetorical questions? 
You forgot a very important one though:
If you have a teen flying alone, would you feel comfortable booking her on the last flight of the day to her destination?
You forgot a very important one though:
If you have a teen flying alone, would you feel comfortable booking her on the last flight of the day to her destination?
Frozenfingers
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CarolA: ??
I don't disagree with you that the service is available. and if I had to send my DD15 by herself on other than a non stop, I would use the service for my peace of mind.
ALL children need protection, But, NOT ALL children need escorts.
I DO disagree that the industry should be allowed to involuntarily OR voluntarily remove children from flights. Regardless of what the industry policy says.. a child is anyone under 18, period, black and white. A minor is still a child and deserves societies protection. When the 18th birthday comes, THEN throw them to the wolves!
If God decides to close an airport, or the wings fall off the plane, or something happens that prohibits the entire planeload of passengers from continuing on.. that is another matter. But still, the children should take priority and be first out on the next available craft. If an overnight is required.. I don't have a problem paying $40 to insure the safety of my kids.. but I would expect an appropriate caregiver and an approprate ratio of chilren:caregivers. I would also expect the caregivers to be screened and licensed by the appropriate authorities.
I really don't believe this is a big problem and happening daily. However, if it is happening at all, it is happeneng too frequently. I don't believe the airlines have or will police themselves so we need to do it for them. Maybe just starting to prosecute a few for child endagerment, or contributing to delinquencey , child abandonment, or any fitting existing statues would send a message and the industry would regulate itself.. Utopian, I know....... It would be a lot easier just to have congress ammend FAA regs and include "no children bumping" on the list of "shall nots".
That is my opinion, and I would hope you respect it. Have a good day.
I don't disagree with you that the service is available. and if I had to send my DD15 by herself on other than a non stop, I would use the service for my peace of mind.
ALL children need protection, But, NOT ALL children need escorts.
I DO disagree that the industry should be allowed to involuntarily OR voluntarily remove children from flights. Regardless of what the industry policy says.. a child is anyone under 18, period, black and white. A minor is still a child and deserves societies protection. When the 18th birthday comes, THEN throw them to the wolves!
If God decides to close an airport, or the wings fall off the plane, or something happens that prohibits the entire planeload of passengers from continuing on.. that is another matter. But still, the children should take priority and be first out on the next available craft. If an overnight is required.. I don't have a problem paying $40 to insure the safety of my kids.. but I would expect an appropriate caregiver and an approprate ratio of chilren:caregivers. I would also expect the caregivers to be screened and licensed by the appropriate authorities.
I really don't believe this is a big problem and happening daily. However, if it is happening at all, it is happeneng too frequently. I don't believe the airlines have or will police themselves so we need to do it for them. Maybe just starting to prosecute a few for child endagerment, or contributing to delinquencey , child abandonment, or any fitting existing statues would send a message and the industry would regulate itself.. Utopian, I know....... It would be a lot easier just to have congress ammend FAA regs and include "no children bumping" on the list of "shall nots".
That is my opinion, and I would hope you respect it. Have a good day.
Reflection
DIS Veteran
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I agree that overbooking is a proble. However, I don't see what a regulation (law) would accomplish. The airlines do have a way to protect unaccompanied minors--parents request and pay a fee for the airline staff to monitor their child.
OK so under 18 is a child. Make them pay the escort fee to ensure their safety. You want it both ways, you don't want to pay the extra fees but you want the airline to "babysit" your child. Sorry that won't work. Personally I think the system now is fine. If you are worried about the safety or maturity of your 17 year old, pay the fees, if not take your chances. The airline has NO way of knowing how old the passanger is unless they have either gotten a senior citizen discount or been registered as an unescorted child.
Personally I flew alone under 18 and I know a lot of airline employee kids who did also. They got bumped routinely and dealt with it.
If you get what you want your underage minor will be charged more, I can guarntee it. The airlines are losing TOO much money to pass up that opportunity for money making.
Personally I flew alone under 18 and I know a lot of airline employee kids who did also. They got bumped routinely and dealt with it.
If you get what you want your underage minor will be charged more, I can guarntee it. The airlines are losing TOO much money to pass up that opportunity for money making.
Frozenfingers
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For some reason, we are not communicating...
Are you saying that parents who for one reason or another allow their children under 18 to travel alone MUST purchase an escort fee and that will guarentee the kid is not bumped? A kind of insurance?
If so, THAT is wrong! and you are right, the airlines will jump all over that.. (in fact, upon refection I am surprized they don't have bump insurance for everyone,, that could be a gold mine! It would be unethical as Heck, but would fit right in with the mores of today's corporate America!)
What I am saying is an airline should not be allowed to bump anyone under 18 under any circumstances, whether they volunteer or not! One shouldn't have to pay for an escort to guarentee that. Do we need a law over this point? We shouldn't, but if it appears that the airlines won't take the social responsibility upon themselves, then yes, we do need this change!
If the kids must be housed overnight through no fault of the airline (overbooking is definately NOT a reason here).. should the airlines foot the bill? NO, of course not, but they should be prepared with a contingency plan .. and no. the stews, ticket agents, luggage handlers etc should NOT be included in the plan.
As far as the airlines not knowing the ages of the passengers.. I strongly disagree with you. I register all our DOB's whenever I purchase a ticket, verify with photo ID when check in, verify again when I go thru security, and verify again when boarding. I MAY be stretching it here.. but I would think that with all the times I (and my kids) need to verify our identity.. the airline should have a good idea of who is on board, and how old they are. I personally have never seen the manifest firsthand, but I do beieve that has all the passengers demographics on it. That would include their ages.
In my minds eye, there is no way the airline employee doesn't know or have access to information about a person she/he is bumping off a flight. and it shouldn't be anyone under 18.. or leave someone under 18 on board unattended. Pretty simple concept actually......
Are you saying that parents who for one reason or another allow their children under 18 to travel alone MUST purchase an escort fee and that will guarentee the kid is not bumped? A kind of insurance?
If so, THAT is wrong! and you are right, the airlines will jump all over that.. (in fact, upon refection I am surprized they don't have bump insurance for everyone,, that could be a gold mine! It would be unethical as Heck, but would fit right in with the mores of today's corporate America!)
What I am saying is an airline should not be allowed to bump anyone under 18 under any circumstances, whether they volunteer or not! One shouldn't have to pay for an escort to guarentee that. Do we need a law over this point? We shouldn't, but if it appears that the airlines won't take the social responsibility upon themselves, then yes, we do need this change!
If the kids must be housed overnight through no fault of the airline (overbooking is definately NOT a reason here).. should the airlines foot the bill? NO, of course not, but they should be prepared with a contingency plan .. and no. the stews, ticket agents, luggage handlers etc should NOT be included in the plan.
As far as the airlines not knowing the ages of the passengers.. I strongly disagree with you. I register all our DOB's whenever I purchase a ticket, verify with photo ID when check in, verify again when I go thru security, and verify again when boarding. I MAY be stretching it here.. but I would think that with all the times I (and my kids) need to verify our identity.. the airline should have a good idea of who is on board, and how old they are. I personally have never seen the manifest firsthand, but I do beieve that has all the passengers demographics on it. That would include their ages.
In my minds eye, there is no way the airline employee doesn't know or have access to information about a person she/he is bumping off a flight. and it shouldn't be anyone under 18.. or leave someone under 18 on board unattended. Pretty simple concept actually......
You're right we're not communicating.
There is no way to guarantee a passanger won't be bumped (overbooking, weather, mechanical). The extra fee guarantees that airline employees will make sure the child is supervised under ALL circumstances. Either the child needs supervision or doesn't. It's the parents job to determine if the supervision is needed AND PAY FOR IT IF IT IS. The cause of the schedule disruption is irrelevent to the childs needs. If the child isn't mature enough to handle disruptions the parent should pay the fee. BTW involuntary bumping is done by fare status and time of checkin. The concerned parent could purchase a full fare ticket to reduce the changes of bumping.
ELIMINATING THE POSSIBILITY OF overbooking bumping does nothing to safeguard the child. Paying for an escort would help the child who was forced to take the connecting flight through the Atlanta airport.
I don't know how you make your reservation. When I book an airline ticket online I am not asked for age or date of birth. Before computers I used to call the 800 number and was also never asked for age or DOB. People looking at photo id are doing it for identification purposes (name and picture). The security people are certainly not checking age.
SORRY I SEE NO REASON to give preferential bumping status based on age.
There is no way to guarantee a passanger won't be bumped (overbooking, weather, mechanical). The extra fee guarantees that airline employees will make sure the child is supervised under ALL circumstances. Either the child needs supervision or doesn't. It's the parents job to determine if the supervision is needed AND PAY FOR IT IF IT IS. The cause of the schedule disruption is irrelevent to the childs needs. If the child isn't mature enough to handle disruptions the parent should pay the fee. BTW involuntary bumping is done by fare status and time of checkin. The concerned parent could purchase a full fare ticket to reduce the changes of bumping.
ELIMINATING THE POSSIBILITY OF overbooking bumping does nothing to safeguard the child. Paying for an escort would help the child who was forced to take the connecting flight through the Atlanta airport.
I don't know how you make your reservation. When I book an airline ticket online I am not asked for age or date of birth. Before computers I used to call the 800 number and was also never asked for age or DOB. People looking at photo id are doing it for identification purposes (name and picture). The security people are certainly not checking age.
SORRY I SEE NO REASON to give preferential bumping status based on age.
I have seen a manifest and guess what YOUR AGE is not on it UNLESS you are an unaccompied minor.
When you bought your ticket did your airline ask for your age? If not, they don't have it. They don't commit that ID to memory!
Some posters seem to think the airline should assume responsiblity for thier child.
Since this has become a debate on passing LAW to allow the parents not to "worry" about thier child, I think it should be moved to the debate board. It has NOTHING to do with actually getting to WDW. I have asked several times what the point of this poll is and now I wonder what the OP plans to do with it.
When you bought your ticket did your airline ask for your age? If not, they don't have it. They don't commit that ID to memory!
Some posters seem to think the airline should assume responsiblity for thier child.
Since this has become a debate on passing LAW to allow the parents not to "worry" about thier child, I think it should be moved to the debate board. It has NOTHING to do with actually getting to WDW. I have asked several times what the point of this poll is and now I wonder what the OP plans to do with it.
sgtdisney
DIS Veteran
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- Apr 28, 2001
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Maybe what the airlines should do is prohibit anyone under the age of 18 from traveling alone without a parent or guardian? That seems like it would solve all the issues brought up by the OP. If the airlines get pressured as the OP is suggesting that is what we will end up seeing.
My take on it is this.. If you want your unaccompanied minor child to be afforded special benefits over and above what anyone else flying on the same fare is getting, you had better be willing to pay for it.
My take on it is this.. If you want your unaccompanied minor child to be afforded special benefits over and above what anyone else flying on the same fare is getting, you had better be willing to pay for it.
Kitster
Crazy about Stitch
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I have only two questions.....
Why were flight arrangements made by the parents if they did not think their teenage daughter could handle the everyday annoyances of airline travel? Why did she not fly home with them on the same plane?
Why were flight arrangements made by the parents if they did not think their teenage daughter could handle the everyday annoyances of airline travel? Why did she not fly home with them on the same plane?
Kister,
You have very valid questions. This story gets stranger all the time.
The OP indicated the minor was left UNESCORTED in a hotel room overnight. Now we learn that a family member was with the minor. So.... what else have we not learned.
I am going to say what I have been biting back since day 1 of this mess.
The MOM feels guilty and is looking for someone to BLAME this on so that she won't feel guilty about allowing the child to travel alone!
You have very valid questions. This story gets stranger all the time.
The OP indicated the minor was left UNESCORTED in a hotel room overnight. Now we learn that a family member was with the minor. So.... what else have we not learned.
I am going to say what I have been biting back since day 1 of this mess.
The MOM feels guilty and is looking for someone to BLAME this on so that she won't feel guilty about allowing the child to travel alone!
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