Southwest Airlines Leaves Family Stranded

blondboinsd · #1 07-07-2008, 11:18 PM

SEATAC, Wash. -- A woman with two disabled children said her family was left stranded by Southwest Airlines on their way to Seattle.

Wendy Slaughter was traveling with her four children and her five-months pregnant sister Friday on a Southwest Airlines flight from Detroit to Seattle.

One of Slaughter’s children has autism and she also has a daughter with cerebral palsy.

When the family landed in Phoenix they were met at the gate by police officers, detained and told they were too disruptive to get on their connecting flight to Seattle, Slaughter said.

Slaughter said they were left stranded at the Phoenix airport with no money and no lodging.

This was the first flight for the children. Slaughter admitted the children were loud and kept getting up and walking around the plane.

“The children were out of control on the flight you know, they were restless, excited and worked up and they are kids,” said Slaughter.

The family said flight attendants asked them to quiet the children twice, but they didn’t expect to be booted off the flight

“I am furious about it. I can’t believe they could do something like that and then leave us completely stranded with no money no way to get anywhere,” Slaughter said.

Southwest Airlines spokeswoman Christi Day told KIRO-7:

"They were being disruptive and unruly on the plane, and for the safety of our customers and the flight crew, we decided to not allow them to travel on to Seattle at that time. Typically if it's a threatening behavior, it's not safe to travel 30,000 feet in the air in a contained environment."

The family said police officers bought them food and Motel 6 donated a hotel room for the night.

The children’s grandmother said she had to pay $2,000 to book last-minute tickets on Alaska Airlines. They said they didn’t have any problems on that three-hour flight.

The family said they want Southwest Airlines to compensate them and give a public apology.

While I do not think the family should be compensated, the above mentioned conditions are both very hard to control, with a bit of experience with Autism I can really say it's a very tuff disease, what does everyone think?

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Wagner · #2 07-08-2008, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blondboinsd

SEATAC, Wash. -- A woman with two disabled children said her family was left stranded by Southwest Airlines on their way to Seattle.

Wendy Slaughter was traveling with her four children and her five-months pregnant sister Friday on a Southwest Airlines flight from Detroit to Seattle.

One of Slaughter’s children has autism and she also has a daughter with cerebral palsy.

When the family landed in Phoenix they were met at the gate by police officers, detained and told they were too disruptive to get on their connecting flight to Seattle, Slaughter said.

Slaughter said they were left stranded at the Phoenix airport with no money and no lodging.

This was the first flight for the children. Slaughter admitted the children were loud and kept getting up and walking around the plane.

“The children were out of control on the flight you know, they were restless, excited and worked up and they are kids,” said Slaughter.

The family said flight attendants asked them to quiet the children twice, but they didn’t expect to be booted off the flight

“I am furious about it. I can’t believe they could do something like that and then leave us completely stranded with no money no way to get anywhere,” Slaughter said.

Southwest Airlines spokeswoman Christi Day told KIRO-7:

"They were being disruptive and unruly on the plane, and for the safety of our customers and the flight crew, we decided to not allow them to travel on to Seattle at that time. Typically if it's a threatening behavior, it's not safe to travel 30,000 feet in the air in a contained environment."

The family said police officers bought them food and Motel 6 donated a hotel room for the night.

The children’s grandmother said she had to pay $2,000 to book last-minute tickets on Alaska Airlines. They said they didn’t have any problems on that three-hour flight.

The family said they want Southwest Airlines to compensate them and give a public apology.

While I do not think the family should be compensated, the above mentioned conditions are both very hard to control, with a bit of experience with Autism I can really say it's a very tuff disease, what does everyone think?

So ah that said, kick them off the plane. Flight is a luxury not a necessity. If she can't control her kids...for whatever reason she'd like to cop-out on, then she should have taken a flight path with multiple layovers. She deserves nothing IMO.

Krimson X · #3 07-08-2008, 09:57 AM

Crap parent? One child was autistic, another had cerebral palsy. I've flown by myself with my normal, healthy children ages 2 and 4... that was a chore in itself. And believe me, I've seen my share of unruly kids on planes before. I doubt they were refused continued service to their final destination.

Flying is a luxury?

Wagner · #4 07-08-2008, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krimson X

Crap parent? One child was autistic, another had cerebral palsy. I've flown by myself with my normal, healthy children ages 2 and 4... that was a chore in itself. And believe me, I've seen my share of unruly kids on planes before. I doubt they were refused continued service to their final destination.

Flying is a luxury?

Yes, flying is a luxury and you are expected to act accordingly. Did you forget about the 3 other kids she had with her? I seriously doubt the child with palsy was acting unruly.

And yes CRAP PARENT....I have seen plenty of children, the majority in fact, act accordingly on a plane.

mrkbbd · #5 07-08-2008, 10:38 AM

I agree with the luxury point, and you have to remember that there are 200 other people on the plane that paid for a ticket and they are being consistently disturbed. This may sound horrible but if you know your kid is going to be a problem, give it something to sleep through the flight.

Krimson X · #6 07-08-2008, 10:51 AM

Let me correct myself...Flying Soutwest Airlines is a luxury?

Pass the peanuts and the ginger ale!

Have you ever been on a SW flight to Las Vegas. Most unruly flight I've ever been on, and there were no kids in sight. But a trip to Las Vegas...I guess it is to be expected.

I guess if they were THAT unruly then yes. However I do not suggest leaving them stranded in a strange city or calling the mother a crap parent under these circunstances.

Wagner · #7 07-08-2008, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krimson X

Let me correct myself...Flying Soutwest Airlines is a luxury?

Have you ever been on a SW flight to Las Vegas. Most unruly flight I've ever been on, and there were no kids in sight. But a trip to Las Vegas...I guess it is to be expected.

I guess if they were THAT unruly then yes. However I do not suggest leaving them stranded in a strange city or calling the mother a crap parent under these circunstances.

The claim of "that is how kids act" equates to crap parent.

Krimson X · #8 07-08-2008, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wagner

The claim of "that is how kids act" equates to crap parent.

ok.

Quicksilver · #9 07-08-2008, 10:56 AM

By the parents own admission..........

"This was the first flight for the children. Slaughter admitted the children were loud and kept getting up and walking around the plane.

“The children were out of control on the flight you know, they were restless, excited and worked up and they are kids,” said Slaughter."

Nuff said.

Wagner · #10 07-08-2008, 10:58 AM

thank you

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