AirTran Airways Right to Remove Family

Have you heard the old adage about the “terrible twos”? How difficult and irrational the little toddlers can be? Well my experience (I have a four and six- year- old) was not too bad with a two- year- old but very challenging with a three- year- old.

Apparently, a family returning home to Boston from Ft. Myers was removed from an AirTran Airways flight because their three year old was well… acting like a three- year- old. This child was kicking and screaming, hitting her parents and utterly unwilling to sit in her seat. After 15 minutes of this tantrum, she and her family were asked by the crew to get off the plane (they were given their money back and vouchers for a future free flight).

Let’s be clear about this: AirTran was fully within their rights to remove this family. The pilot is not allowed to move the aircraft if everyone over 2- years- old isn’t safely buckled in their own seat.

My own opinion is that parents, even parents of a defiant three-year-old, need to comply with the law. It seems like many parents these days want someone else to discipline their children. I know it wouldn’t have been easy to get that little girl to sit down. My little girl has a defiant streak too and we often bump heads. But I am the mom and I win these battles particularly when there is a plane load of people who also need to make connections and/ or get home.

I took an MSNBC poll asking about the harshness of AirTran’s response to this incident and a large majority (62%) agreed with my take on this issue. Let’s hope that parents get some nerve to actually parent their children.

Comments

Happy New Years to my neighbors out at Akron/Canton. Continue the tremendous work you do at your airport. Most airports are jealous of how well you have grown in just a 10 year span, and will continue growing in the future. I have flown it 10+ times in the last couple years, and will continue using it.

Right now my coalition of Airport Supporters are trying to help out the struggling Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport. They have done a successful job with flights to Orlando aboard Allegiant Air (ALGT-Nasdaq), but they have not done much since then.

YNG needs to look at how well CAK has done over the years and perhaps take some tips from you guys. You run a very successful operation and should be commended for IT! You earn my award for the best airport in Ohio and the best operation of any government funded operation in the region.

GOOD LUCK IN 2007!

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