We are angry moms about to wage "battle" against USAIRWAYS for removed 6 of our minor children off a flight on 12/27/07, due to the fact that the plane was overweight (too much fuel in the wings!), no one else would volunteer to get bumped, and some of our kids happened to be the last 6 to board so they were "chosen" by the gate supervisor to de-board. (As far as we know, only one attempt was made by the gate supervisor, Sunday Brockington, to get volunteers. When that failed, she took the kids off the plane!) They were all under the age of 18.
These kids do not have the smarts to speak for themselves and state that they are without adult supervision, nor would they at their age, embarrass themselves by doing so... They were re-booked on a flight at 8pm... They were taken off their flight at 1pm... So they were left to themselves at the airport for 7 hours, 9 since the flight was delayed until 9:30pm.
We know the rules for unaccompanied minors, however, You do NOT take 6 KIDS... Funny, no adults were asked to de-plane... Off an airplane and THEN leave them to themselves for 9 hours until the next flight, no matter if a 50 fee was paid or not for their "supervision". They expected, as did we expect them, to board their flight and be taken to their destination... Which IS USAIRWAYS responsibility... Not only did they fail to deliver them, they hand picked them off their flight, with obvious disregard to the fact that they are young teens.
They created confusion, fear, anxiety and huge transportation problems on both ends of the itinerary. When you start leaving kids stranded, forced off their ticketed flight... Where no adults were asked to leave... And making them wait in an airport 9
hours... Sorry, but the public will not respond in kind no matter what "rules" are listed. IT is the ACTIONS of gate supervisor who obviously figured the kids can more easily be taken advantage of. And she did just that with these kids.
Yes, they were given vouchers for another round trip flight, which, if they were required to sign for, may not even BE legal as they are MINORS. They were told by the gate supervisor, SUNDAY BROCKINTON, NOT to leave the area, yet when one of us spoke to her and asked her if she in fact told them that, (since the mom wanted to come get them and the child said they couldn't leave) she said, Oh, I was just joking!!! Ok... So she's now just JOKING by telling the minor not to leave, how would the child know she was joking? She obviously was NOT joking, but may have realized what she did was causing a lot of trouble and was trying to cover herself.
These were kids travelling for the first time, alone, to a youth conference. This whole incident threw every part of this trip into a major breakdown, from the pick up on the other end, to the luggage retrieval, caused major anxiety and undue stress for us as the parents, as well as the exhausted kids who were sitting in an airport alone for 9 hours.
USAIRWAYS should be held accountable for their poor choice in this situation, yet they chose to respond with a standard letter, see below You;d think common sense would kick in... Why in the world would you remove ONLY teens with no obvious adult chaparone, off a flight? No adults were taken off that flight... None would volunteer... Sounds like they were taking advantage of young, inexperienced, naive kids. We will fight back. Can we count you you for help?
Usairway response to my complaint letter
Dear
Thank you for contacting Customer Relations at US Airways. We appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns.
I do not show that any of the passengers paid the $50 fee charged for unaccompanied travel.
Please refer to following policy regarding unaccompanied minors which is available on our website.
Children under 5 may not travel without parent or legal guardian.
Children 5-14 may travel unaccompanied on non-stop flights for an additional $50 fee each way.US Airways assistance is required.
Children 15-17 may travel unaccompanied on non-stop and connecting flights without US Airways assistance.
Children 15-17 who require US Airways assistance may travel unaccompanied on non-stop flights only. There is an additional $50 fee each way. Uniformed employees provide assistance for children traveling
alone from the point of departure to their final destination.
Personnel are not qualified to provide certain types of medical assistance, and are not permitted to administer or dispense medication. Please take these points into consideration if the child requires specialized care.
If an unaccompanied minor is traveling on a flight operated by one of our Star Alliance or codeshare partners, you must contact the carrier directly for their policies on unaccompanied minors.
When a young adult traveling alone checks in on the day of departure, a notation will be added in our computer system which will alert other US Airways personnel of the young adult's presence on the flight. This
notation will aid US Airways personnel in providing assistance to the young adult in the event of an irregularity.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to reply. We know that you have many choices and we thank you for choosing US Airways!
Sincerely,
US Airways Customer Relations
Corporate OfficeW
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