knit-in

From the story, it appears that American Airlines have the right policies in place, and the parents did what they could, including rehearsal runs facilitated by airlines, but untrained, insensitive agents laid good plans to waste. Very unfortunate.

https://www.newsweek.com/family-prev...sm-was-1155027

ESpen36

IMHO, it is very nice of AA to offer the free "test flight" / "trial run" opportunity for families with autistic children. I cannot even start to imagine the challenges that those parents must face, both in private and in many public places, on a routine basis.

FlyingEgghead

This part, if true, sounds particularly bad:

hipquest

I read about this family's situation. From what I've read and my personal experience with a close family member with Autism I can't condemn AA for the call that was made. Trust me when I say that you do not want to sit near my brother-in-law on any flight. The odd noises, rocking, jerky movements, inappropriate comments and outbursts wouldn't be tolerated by passengers in such close quarters. The difference in age would be the reason. He's 54 (6'4" and a bit heavy) not 5, so, no cuteness factor but he is Autistic. My husband and I would never put him in a situation that prevents him from being "him", that includes a no air travel policy. Road trips, they are a trip

I am deeply empathetic to families who have Autistic family members BUT this comment really struck me, "I’m thinking now that my older boys," Heather said of her decision to split up, "I don't want them to resent Milo, ever, that we can't do stuff."
Guess what Momma, sometimes, for a multitude of reasons, all your kids cannot do the same things.

donotblink

This story makes me feel so sad.

knit-in

This is no way "a call that AA made". This is badly trained agents. AA policy is not that you shouldn't have to sit with a person with disability.

Guess what, sometimes, for a multitude of reasons you have to share space with someone who for no fault of their's, makes you feel uncomfortable.

hipquest

@knit-in May I ask what experience you have with the needs of a person with Autism? I don't believe Isaid I had an issue or was uncomfortable, I live with an adult that has Autism. Our family has gone out of its way to make sure the experiences of the world are as accessible to him as we can make them, while not expecting him to be anything other than he is. Will he be flying, no. If you'd like to be his escort on a plane ride please PM me, we'd love to take him to the West Coast.

beachmouse

Just because someone is disabled doesn't mean I have to sit next to them and be molested. I had a fight last Christmas where I ended up seated next to a twitchy grabby guy who was either disabled or in an altered state on a 100% full flight and I spent the whole darn(and fortunately short) flight blocking him with one of my arms, not just in the name of protecting arm rest space but out of concern he was going to make a grab for my crotch or chest.

In the end, the reason for the inappropriate behavior doesn't matter as much as the behavior itself and the consequences of that behavior.

knit-in

I have experience with people with autism-- of a variety of ages. It did not take a lot of interactions to realize that the problem lay with me, not with them, when I felt uncomfortable with their behavior. If you think it is ok to be dismissive of your brother-in-law as someone who is less deserving of the facilities and privileges that the world offers, then that is on you. Do not feel that the larger social environment expects you to, or that you are doing it for them.

If you are embarrassed of his condition, that reflects on you more than on society.

DCP2016

What's with the gate dragons AA hires? I have had wonderful experiences with AA flight attendants, pilots, ground crew workers, maintenance personnel, and corporate personnel, but they don't seem to use these same hiring standards on the people they hire to be ticket/gate agents. Wonder why.

knit-in

You are just as likely to find a seat mate who is socially inept or even challenged, on any mode of transportation. How you deal with it is your prerogative.

That they should not be allowed at all is a matter of policy. American Airlines disagrees with discriminating against autistic passengers on their flights. They have programs in place to make it easier for them to take their flights. And justifiably so.

donotblink

Beyond discrimination, I'm pretty sure this is an ADA Violation.

mvoight

I understand why the child who had the melt down didn't fly, but I don't see why this prevented AA from flying one of the parents and the other children, as one parent was going to take the disruptive child home.

ryan182

ADA does not apply to airlines, the Air Carrier Access Act does.

Resonant Programmer