AA flight attendants forgot to escort unaccompanied minor in MIA
Jul 6, 2022, 11:39 am
#76
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If the girl removed her lanyard around her neck with her UM information pouch, she could easily walk past a flight attendant who didn't realize she was supposed to be staying put until the gate agent came on to take custody.
There will likely be some tightening of procedures for UMs, but I'm just not buying what this woman is selling... Would love for ex-husband to give his side: "Geez Karen, you already knew I had her in my car when AA called you and now you go out and make a tiktok"
I'll also point out that the video doesn't just make AA look bad, It also makes her ex-husband look bad for not tracking the flight information to be there early since the flight was early.
There will likely be some tightening of procedures for UMs, but I'm just not buying what this woman is selling... Would love for ex-husband to give his side: "Geez Karen, you already knew I had her in my car when AA called you and now you go out and make a tiktok"
I'll also point out that the video doesn't just make AA look bad, It also makes her ex-husband look bad for not tracking the flight information to be there early since the flight was early.
Jul 6, 2022, 11:54 am
#77
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I would have had more sympathy for the mother if this was 1990, but a 12-year-old with a cell phone was unreachable for an hour? The most likely way that happens is if the 12-year-old wanted to cause drama. The average kid has her phone glued to her hands, and airports have no shortage of power outlets.
Jul 6, 2022, 12:58 pm
#78
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Clearly, it is AA's fault. AA should refund the UM fee and give additional compensation and, importantly, a sincere verbal apology to the parents.
However, stuff happens. If a kid is flying UM, then the Parents should instruct the child on what to do. Approach a FA or Pilot and say I am an UM and need to be accompanied. Otherwise, if you find your self alone in the airport, immediately approach a uniformed airline gate agent and/or a uniformed police officer. If the child is unable to do this, then you should NOT send them unaccompanied.
However, stuff happens. If a kid is flying UM, then the Parents should instruct the child on what to do. Approach a FA or Pilot and say I am an UM and need to be accompanied. Otherwise, if you find your self alone in the airport, immediately approach a uniformed airline gate agent and/or a uniformed police officer. If the child is unable to do this, then you should NOT send them unaccompanied.
Jul 6, 2022, 1:03 pm
#79
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Jul 6, 2022, 1:11 pm
#80
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Yes we're only getting her side of the story and she looks like a Karen dying for social media attention. That being said, my understanding is that an UM is to be attended at all times (other than when on the plane) until turned over to an approved guardian. It doesn't seem like was the case. I'm also trying to understand how 2 FAs forgot they had an UM onboard. Or in their defense did they turn them over to a GA that lost the girl in transit.
Jul 6, 2022, 2:08 pm
#81
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Yes we're only getting her side of the story and she looks like a Karen dying for social media attention. That being said, my understanding is that an UM is to be attended at all times (other than when on the plane) until turned over to an approved guardian. It doesn't seem like was the case. I'm also trying to understand how 2 FAs forgot they had an UM onboard. Or in their defense did they turn them over to a GA that lost the girl in transit.
I really don't understand this "let's blame the 12 year old, they should know better" stuff that has permeated this thread. The mother being dramatic really doesn't factor into the main issue of a kid being improperly handled.
Jul 6, 2022, 2:15 pm
#82
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Yes we're only getting her side of the story and she looks like a Karen dying for social media attention. That being said, my understanding is that an UM is to be attended at all times (other than when on the plane) until turned over to an approved guardian. It doesn't seem like was the case.
I'm also trying to understand how 2 FAs forgot they had an UM onboard. Or in their defense did they turn them over to a GA that lost the girl in transit.
Jul 6, 2022, 2:43 pm
#83
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CHA-MIA is Saturday only.
While things are being corrected: Republic Flight Attendants Forgot to Escort Unaccompanied Minor in MIA
I should just drop out of this, but it's Flyer Talk and I can't help myself. So much could have been done better by all or most people involved.
Jul 6, 2022, 3:01 pm
#84
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That's the thing: The kid was on the plane. Was an FA supposed to block the kid from the aisle after the doors opened?
There's no evidence either of these happened. The most likely scenario is the kid just walked off the plane of her own accord. Didn't the mother say the kid got the usual "buh-bye" as the kid deplaned with the rest of the pax?
There's no evidence either of these happened. The most likely scenario is the kid just walked off the plane of her own accord. Didn't the mother say the kid got the usual "buh-bye" as the kid deplaned with the rest of the pax?
And maybe that happened and AA (or in this case Envoy) didn't/couldn't couldn't have gotten someone to the one entrance back into the terminal to wait for the UM. Or if the flight came into the terminal (gates E53 or E55) by then the UM was into the terminal and hard to find in a very busy MIA airport.
Jul 6, 2022, 3:04 pm
#85
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What doesn't make any sense? How do you know none of that happened? The kid had a cell phone but apparently went incommunicado for up to an hour, if the mother's account is accurate.
Jul 6, 2022, 4:30 pm
#86
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If the receiving father had managed to get to the gate early enough to meet the arriving flight, this situation likely may not have even been known by the parents.
People who are involved in such situations should pay attention to actual flight times and also consider a very real possibility of flights arriving ahead of the originally scheduled time.
And the child should have been educated on remaining in the seat on arrival unless and until escorted off by appropriate airline or airport personnel.
The airline should also do a better job.
But kids of this age and their parents do have it easier in these situations nowadays than back when cell phones weren’t as widely used by kids as they are nowadays.
People who are involved in such situations should pay attention to actual flight times and also consider a very real possibility of flights arriving ahead of the originally scheduled time.
And the child should have been educated on remaining in the seat on arrival unless and until escorted off by appropriate airline or airport personnel.
The airline should also do a better job.
But kids of this age and their parents do have it easier in these situations nowadays than back when cell phones weren’t as widely used by kids as they are nowadays.