A duplicate of E-Mail to FlyFrontier:
Atmosphere team pushed us to break FAA’s onboard regulations
12/22/06
During our current journey back again to Austin, Texas, from Boise, identification, the Frontier JetExpress’ team pushed us to break FAA’s onboard rules, place our child infant at risk, and broke our right useful of the paid for seat by making us to possess our 2-year old infant journey on my panel in the place of on their own chair. The trip was Frontier Airlines 4272, on Friday. Dec. 18.
Since our child infant has ended 24 months old, understanding the airlines’ needs and also the FAA’s rules, we dutifully bought a solution for him for the visit to Boise, identification. And in the place of carrying around his child child car seat around we chose to spend the near to $80 for CARES, the FAA-licensed Child Funnel System (from www.kidsflysafe.com).
After my spouse and that I viewed the educational DVD and browse the useful graphic brochure (just one notice-measurement card collapsed in two, just like a guide) incorporated with the CARES funnel, we thought fairly pleased with it and companion of its purpose, its simplicity of use (it surely requires significantly less than a few moments to setup), and of the secure journey it’d offer our child. Then we simply ensured the chair projects we'd for that 3 people were okay to permit its use about the plane. We decided we were entirely conformity using the utilization restrictions checklist, including not being placed within an exit line.
We finished our go Boise without event, utilizing the CARES utilize on both journey sections (Austin-Colorado, Colorado-Boise), having our child safely and cheerfully secured in their own chair for the whole length of both routes. We also had no issues about the last section of our return trip, from Denver to Austin. It had been certainly excellent lacking to carry around an automobile fit through the airports, safety checkpoints, and down the thin plane shelves.
However, our headache began as soon as we got up to speed our return trip section from Boise to Colorado. Having been one of the primary to panel (following a handful of individuals on wheelchairs), we got to the chairs, 16A, 16B, and 16D (about the CRJ-700 aircraft, there’s no 16C chair. But there’s two chairs on each aspect of the department, therefore the outstanding chair was 16E), and rapidly setup the CARES. The moment I began to set it-up, the flight attendant (she was in the very back of the plane, experiencing guests because they boarded) explained, “You can’t use that; atleast not for take-off”. To that we responded, when I finished the setup, “Oh, it’s okay, this really is FAA approved”. Having confirmed the funnel didn't influence or intervene by any means using the holder behind (it exposed, shut, and secured okay), I continued to consider my chair. – “I’ll need to check up on that”, she stated, when I proceeded to band within our child. At that time some of the guests sitting behind us were getting their chairs and also the flight attendant was about the telephone asking/reporting on the “problem having a child harness”.
A couple of minutes later the airplane was nearly complete. She subsequently headed towards the entrance, to consult/check concerning the CARES, and returned tome stating “I’m sorry however, you can't use that harness”. – “Yes I will. It's FAA accepted. Please read this FAA notice”, I informed her when I passed her the CARES brochure, which illustrates in a framed estimate: “FAA ACCEPTED PRIOR TO 14 CFR 21.305 (n)”. That will be followed closely by “The post might be continued panel an airplane and mounted from the traveler based on revised running guidelines under Name ….”.
She read it and read through the remaining of the brochure. – “I don’t know. I’ve never seen one of these simple harnesses. I’ll be in a second”. And she went back again to the leading, brochure at hand. Returning following a couple of minutes, she explained: “Sir, I'm likely to need to request you as well as your child to maneuver towards the last strip, where your toddler’s funnel won’t hinder the holder behind”. By this time I'm astonished that she’s however uncertain concerning the FAA’s utilization acceptance and, much more, than no body at the front end is obvious both. And so I stated, “But the funnel isn't interfering at all”, which she examined by reducing and shutting the holder back-up. Plus I requested the woman sitting behind if she believed it had been interfering. – “Not at all”, was her response. Nevertheless the clerk insisted we proceed to the rear, stating in a very clear tone (ensuring guests regional might notice), “Sir, the chief has suggested he can't start taxiing before you proceed to the back”. I suppose she meant for me to feel compelled by meaning all was prepared for that airplane to remove which everyone was waiting on me. Nevertheless, going for a rapid look towards the back I recognized that there have been no chairs about the right-side (no chairs N/E, but Merely A/W). Hence, shifting towards the back intended our household could be divided; anything neither I or my spouse desired to do. And so I stated, “Please, I do want to keep in touch with the chief. I’m sorry, however the CARES is FAA accepted. Plus shifting back there indicates we’d be divided. I purchased the seats nicely ahead of time and selected these chairs actively for all of US to become together”. Right now I’m questioning, may be the CARES authorized or not? Exactly why is it okay within the back and never below? How contradicting and puzzling this type of person
She darted towards the entrance and alongside come another flight attendant. He arrived, keeping his procedures guide, that was available to a area and explained “Sir, you CAn't use that child control. Therefore we’re requesting to please go down and maintain your child in your lap”.incredible! I had been totally dumbfounded. I couldn't think my ears. –“But my child has ended 24 months old, I taken care of his airplane solution, and utilizing the CARES funnel may be the best method for him to visit. Please I would like to talk to the captain”, I mentioned. –“No, these harnesses aren’t allowed”, he explained, as he was today searching the CARES brochure. And also the feminine flight attendant (the one which started out this entire point) chimed in again, “Sorry Friend, I’ve never noticed some of those. You can’t use it”. At this time, Frontier’s entrance clerk, Ron*, found join the dialogue. –“It is okay. We applied it yesterday on our method below with no event; with this flight, same section, and same plane. All of the flight attendants were okay with it. They actually offered our child his apple juice and everything”, I told all of them. However the entrance agent simply asked me again to conform, “Please Friend, take away the funnel and maintain your child in your lap”.
Chances are my brain is rushing, in surprise using the crew’s prejudice, comprehending that I had been correct, and attempting to choose how to proceed. Fast ideas were blinking: “I might remain my floor; I understand I’m right. Subsequently they’ll possibly wind up tossing all of US from the airplane. That’ll be considered a large picture, having a lot of shame. Once on the floor they’ll discover we were correct, apologize, and place us on another airplane. That appears like a large trouble for all of US, specifically for the infant [who now's sitting easily, cheerfully searching the plane’s security card, and searching for once in some time to determine all of the people only above him]. Plus we’ll enter Austin significantly later, if, today. But in the end is stated and completed that’ll train them a lesson…”.
The occurrence having been happening for around 20 units, I had been discovering it exceptionally challenging to maintain my composure and my leveled words. Our heart is beating constantly. Our blood pressure, through the top. Our tension level, through the top. Therefore is most likely my glucose-degree (I’m pre-diabetic). Plus my beloved pregnant spouse, really stressed-out right now, had requested me, over the last meantime we were alone to “please be nice”, having a resigned appearance on her encounter that intended, please surrender, place a finish for this.
Therefore with much reluctance I stated, “We purchased a solution for the boy to adhere to FAA legislation. If you should be not likely to allow him utilize his chair, I'd like one to provide me a complete reimbursement for his airplane ticket. I'd like an email from you that states so”. The entrance clerk type of wavered (concerning the reimbursement component, that's) and walked back. Then your male flight attendant extended his procedures guide and confirmed me a featured notice about infant harnesses not being permitted for remove, landing, Etc.-But it known Infant B’air’s jacket particularly, which is really a different software (employed for babies just, who SHOULD travel on a grownup panel). And so I stated, “That is just a different software. Your guide doesn’t state the CARES funnel isn't permitted. Sorry to inform you, but you're not upto-day. This really is an FAA-accepted funnel and also the legislation is the fact that my child maintain their own seat”. And below arrived the head of the hill of prejudice: He responded, “We are current. The FAA suggests it, but it's the airline’s attention whether we permit it or not” (!). And so I insisted, “You are likely to return the solution? ” at this time Ralph, Frontier’s entrance clerk, stated, “I’ll look after you. Please sign in with Frontier’s Customer Support whenever you reach Denver”. So that as he noticed that I began to unstrap my infant, he went down. And so I stuffed the CARES funnel, kept my child on my panel, my spouse shifted to his currently vacant chair, everybody went their method and we began taxiing. Here we went, with 3 compensated chairs but just permitted to use 2. Therefore weird. Actually, the good older guy sitting behind my spouse, who along side all of the guests around us observed everything, type of booed the flight attendants, simply because they'd their method with such baseless reasons. [Furthermore, our child had performed shortly with him once we wandered round the waiting place just before boarding].
I had been so upset emotionally and cleared actually in the entire occurrence that I wound up consuming all of the treats we stuffed for the child (saltines, graham cookies, baby peas, etc.) throughout the trip. As we arrived, we chose to delay to p-airplane last, therefore we're able to request additional information about our reimbursement. Whilst the two older partners behind us handed by, all of them wanted us nicely and best of luck with this state, supportive around. Once we waited quickly away from airplane, we requested the chief to get a notice from him of how they pushed us to adhere to their demand, he covered us off, stating “Sorry, it’s not as much as us. Whatever we provide you with won’t assist you to significantly. Simply sign in with Frontier’s CS.”
But that’s not the finish of the tale. There’s more. As it happens the Client Service Table people couldn’t treatment less! By that after all they confirmed not really a touch of an attempt or purpose to create things right. I told the very first man I spoke to, “Hi, I’m below to obtain a reimbursement for just one of my routes. Did a door clerk from Boise contact you about this? ”. – “No. As well as for that kind of demand you have to keep in touch with her”, showing an other woman. Though really supportive and pleasant, the moment I completed requesting her exactly the same issue, she passed me a company card and explained “you have to contact Customer Relationships. Sorry, but our fingers are tied”. You’ve got to be joking me! (I thought). What? What type of laugh is that this (I had been still considering). Therefore feeling just like a totally deflated tire (truly, the pitiful customer support I had been receiving felt just like a large strike that cleared any leftover atmosphere I'd in me), I stated, “Wow, after such severe stress we were simply patients of, we still need to spend our time-on the telephone, on-hold, etc”. –
“Sorry. What exactly happened”, she said (about the airplane, she intended). Then I described in one single expression: “they didn’t allow my child lay on his paid for-chair; they didn’t I would like to make use of the CARES utilize on him. And so they made me maintain him on my panel, that will be obviously against FAA legislation and places him at needless risk”. She was totally surprised, a manifestation of unbelief in her experience. – “My. I don’t understand what’s wrong together. I don’t understand why they did that. All of us, all attendants, have been through particular instruction about that new child control. I’m so sorry. But provide them with a call”, she said aiming towards the business-card. “Tell them what happened. They’ll send you some types. But you've an extremely powerful event, therefore I’m certain they’ll return you. Additionally send them a contact to ensure they get your complaint”. Which was that
Of course if you believe it can’t worsen, delay. It may. I named the toll free amount, repeatedly, also it was usually hectic! Then I attempted their direct-dial amount (on my cent). You know what? It rang, and rang, and rang... No solution! I am talking about, we’re referring to 1 P.M., on the weekday. Whatever. I chose to simply
Article this on the internet to allow others beware. And I’ll post-it towards the FAA also. Perhaps they’ll create the flight determine what the rules are.
A troubled parent.
Jcl
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