kellio33

[QUOTE=crosscountrytravlr;21162938]After speaking with a customer relations specialist- I found out that the reason for the move was airbags in the bulkhead. [QUOTE]

Were you flying INTL or domestic US Airways?

Pretty sure that US does not have airbags on their planes. I may be wrong but I've never seen it on any of their planes.

rjque

[QUOTE=kellio33;21165127][QUOTE=crosscountrytravlr;21162938]After speaking with a customer relations specialist- I found out that the reason for the move was airbags in the bulkhead. Some of the 321s have them:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/archive/t-946481.html

Montacute

What a miscarriage of justice that your screaming, uncontrollable kid got kicked off the plane rather than for everyone else to be inconvenienced waiting to see if you could control him ever.

Where can I sign a petition in support of US Airways in this case?

Doc Savage

You accepted the option to refund your ticket price. It is fairly unlikely the will sell you new seats at some discounted price, but if you call customer relations it might possibly happen.

User Name

At least the thread managed 17 posts before we got one of these...

Ducati

It's obvious who has never raised children.

Ducati

Because you were there? Or believe FAs are incapable of acting like idiots? Which is it?

crosscountrytravlr

I wrote "grabbed at" which was exactly what happened. Someone grabbed his carseat, which he was strapped into. The intent was to move him, not harm him- either way it is distressing to a young child. Perhaps you feel that US Airways can do no wrong, which seems to be the stance of their customer relations department as well. I had an awful experience that I would like to tell others about and get advice from others about.

MR_MAMA

Whether they should have removed the child or not, you left the airport without getting reaccomadated, that was your mistake. You could have called when you returned home, but seems like you chose to wait until the next day. That is not the fault of the airline, it was your choice to not be reaccomadated, so they sold you a walk up ticket which is what you were.

Going to the media is ridiculous, not sure what you wish to accomplish with that. Write a non emotional letter to the customer service, just state facts. The FA would have had to write this up, so if you were removed simply because your child was crying then it will be stated in the report. They might offer a refund and you might have the option to dispute the charge with your CC.

theddo

As far as I understood she was offered - and accepted - a full refund before departing the airport. As such I really don't understand what more can be requested since they already gave the money back (which I'm guessing is one way to go). Being moved to another flight would have been a better idea, the concept of expensive walk up tickets have been known for years.

But you live and you learn, and the OP has probably learnt that by know.

Also I cannot emphasise how important I think a non-emotional letter is. I sometimes get to read complaint letters for work and if "and then I started crying" is a part of it I toss it out. Your feelings isn't what they care about. They care about what happened and what their staff did.

Things like "grabbed at" are also unnecessary. When I read it I get the impression she attempted to help you get reaccommodated fast enough.

Badenoch

Your experience was horrible. Here's my advice, you should boycott US Airways and strongly encourage other parents in your situation to do the same.

There are two benefits. The first is you will never again have to endure such outrageous behavior and I will reduce the chances of being on a US Airways flight with a squalling toddler whose parent can't or won't control. Everybody wins.

rjque

Now I really don't understand. Are you saying that they were trying to help you move the car seat? "Grabbed at" the car seat is not descriptive enough to tell us what happened here, and I still don't understand why the child cried because of this.

In any event, put me in the camp as skeptical that you were thrown off because of the crying. It takes longer to throw someone off than to reseat in an empty seat, and crying children are not against the rules. I'd be interested in hearing the airline's reason for throwing you off.

BeatCal

1. If there are non family members in the row, car seats cannot block that passenger. If you have two kids, you can do aisle and window with you in the middle.

2. Bulk heads are ok for car seats (and preferred location) - unless their are air bags. Not the reservation agents error - perhaps OP should have checked

3. FAs were definitely in error as they waited until all boarded. They should have fixed the problem when OP boarded - they can alter "reserved seats". Sounds like they did not want to piss off another passenger by taking their seat

4. Calling reservations for rebooking. They have no power. Their supervisor could have possibly if it was documented in the computer. OP totally in error in not arranging flight before she left the airport. If she did not like the gate agent, she could have gone to ticket agent or customer service agent

The only "leg" she has to argue is "3" She will probably win with that. If US Air does not help, would go to ombudsman at Travel and Leisure.

Eclipsepearl

If you have two kids, you can do aisle and window with you in the middle.


Not true. No car seat can block even a family member. I can give you the docs when I'm not running out the door.

Car seats aren't supposed to go on the aisle. I have heard that certain seats on certain airlines are allowed but can't confirm this.

CDTraveler

Back in the days when my son needed a car seat, we were once told to put it in the middle seat, between the parents. IIRC correctly, that was on AA. I'm not claiming that was the rule, or what should have happened, but one FA told us to do it. We ignored her and placed it by the window, which the other FA (and past experience) had told us to do.

There are folks in the airline industry who make up their own rules as they go along.