US

Family Kicked Off Plane for Too Many Kids – Tried to Fit Six People in Three Seats

Family Tries to Fly Six People in Three Seats | Fickes | US Airways

The holiday travel plans for a Charlotte family were derailed by U.S. Airways employees who objected to their attempt to fit six people in three seats on a crowded plane to Chicago right before Christmas.

“I felt we were discriminated against because we had too many children in their eyes,” mother Kathy Fickes told ABC 7.

Family Tries to Fly Six People in Three Seats | Fickes | US Airways

The Fickes have four young children: a 3-year-old, an 8-month-old and 20-month-old twins. Parents Jason and Kathy tell ABC that they followed the directions when buying three tickets on the U.S. Airways website, entering two adults and one child above 2 years old. The option for infants or kids under 2 is not included unless you look at a different part of the website and click again for a further explanation. The Fickes say they did not see that.

Come the day of the flight, all six Fickes made it past security and boarding with just three tickets, and did not have any trouble until they tried to seat one of each of the three youngest children on the laps of each parent and the 3-year-old.

Before take-off a flight attendent noticed the situation, and informed the family that due to FAA regulations only four oxygen masks are in each row and someone would need to move seats. After moving seats, the Fickes tell NewsChannel 36 that the flight crew was still not satisfied:

“This time, Fickes claimed the woman told them another adult needed to hold one of their children. A stranger, sitting one row behind the family, offered to hold the child. The couple said this briefly satisfied the attendant, but then the crew decided that would not work either.

The Fickes say a first class passenger even offered to purchase an extra ticket for them, which was once again initially accepted then declined by the flight crew.

After holding up the plane for 40 to 50 minutes, the Fickes say they were asked to leave.

“We kept on trying to comply,” Jason Fickes told NewsChannel 36. “I don’t think they ever really gave us a clear reason.”

A spokesman for the airline defended the crew’s decision, telling ABC 7 that safety regulations require one adult per lap child, as oppose to the Fickes’ attempt to fly three lap children with only two adults.
ABC 7 video on the Fickes’ holiday travel fiasco:

Comments (176)

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  • pissedlizard
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:07pm

    “I felt we were being discriminated against for having too many kids”

    SERIOUSLY? How about “I admit it, I committed fraud when buying three tickets for six people”???

    Jeez-when is this “I feel discriminated” crap ever going to end? And it is so prevalent in society today who did not read that line and think -“black person”. I did. I admit it. Anyone else for a dose of the truth?

    And blacks, before you get all pissy, you brought it on yourself for crying discrimination every time someone farts.

    Report Post »  
    • Doctor Nordo
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:37pm

      You sure do seem to jump to a lot of unsupported conclusions based on the small amount of information provided. Isn’t it just a TINY BIT possible that it was an honest mistake. After all, there must have been some sort of confusion all around if the kids were able to make it through security and onto the plane without a boarding pass.

      Have you never made a mistake or had a brain fart? Oh, of course not. Typical Blazer, always ready to assume the worst of people.

      Report Post » Doctor Nordo  
    • turkey13
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:38pm

      What a joke – everyone knows white people can’t be discriminated against. They will have to call 1-800-SUE-Them.

      Report Post »  
    • Doctor Nordo
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 11:06pm

      Just to see what they might have experienced when booking tickets, I just went through nearly all of the US Airways ticket booking on their website. Went all the way up to the payment section before I stopped.

      I can certainly see how they missed the section for children under 2. I was specifically looking for it and I still never found it.

      Report Post » Doctor Nordo  
    • Tear Em Up
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 11:06pm

      How is that different from democrats trying to fit six votes on one ballot?…

      http://traffic.libsyn.com/mikeleeandterrymartin/Number_96_Dec._30th._2011.mp3

      Report Post » Tear Em Up  
    • bullcrapbuster
      Posted on January 2, 2012 at 2:29am

      Yep, play the discrimination card. In “poor me” America there are plenty of options.

      Report Post » bullcrapbuster  
    • GETLIFE
      Posted on January 2, 2012 at 4:43am

      Well, people with children under two– avoid US Airways, because if you do have problems, their training leads them to be outrageously suspicious of any proposed solutions….We are ALL out to get them apparently.

      Report Post » GETLIFE  
    • TomFerrari
      Posted on January 2, 2012 at 6:17am

      Sounds more like they had too few seats or tickets.
      However, once someone offered to buy the extra ticket(s), I fail to see the problem.
      As always the captain has the final say in aircraft/passenger situations. He may simply have decided there were too many irregularities after three attempts to rectify the situation.
      Yes, I would prefer to have seen it resolved better, but, with tight schedules, holiday crowds, delays, etc., I can see how this could happen.

      Report Post » TomFerrari  
    • greggor
      Posted on January 2, 2012 at 6:20am

      @DRNORDO..
      Typical response, from a troll who always assumes the worst in us “Blazers”. This was no mistake.. in order to save money, this woman intentionally mislead the airline into believing she only needed 3 seats. Why didn’t she ask the people in reservations?
      For her to add the discrimination claim is only adding insult to injury. And for you to say the things that you said.. well.. it only shows an ignorance which can not be explained.

      Report Post »  
    • 000degrees
      Posted on January 2, 2012 at 7:44am

      Lizard nails it….right out of the gate too!

      Report Post »  
    • Bluefish49
      Posted on January 2, 2012 at 7:45am

      I have mixed feelings here….someone should have said something to them when checking in to begin with where they within the age/weight rules for adults to hold a child in their laps? These stories never seem to be researched enough. Either way it looks like there’s plenty of blame for all parties.

      Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on January 2, 2012 at 8:07am

      Honest mistake? How about using some common sense. An adult with a lap child, which I’ve always understood to be AN INFANT under the age of one. 20-month old twins don’t count, that’s almost 2 (for those of you who can’t do the math, that’s 4 months away from being two) and unless they are disabled, they are toddlers. You try to keep a toddler in your lap for a whole flight.My husband and I and our then 10 year old disabled child flew with my then 18 month old from Hawaii and it was HE!!. We were constantly switching adults for the 18 month old because he got heavy. I’d say 2 adults for every child over the age of one. And to try to get away with a 3 year old holding one of the children? Ridiculous.

      Report Post »  
    • Quiata
      Posted on January 2, 2012 at 8:08am

      @Doctor Nordo: It’s a SAFETY issue. Too many people (as in SIX) piled in a single row is a COMPLETE hazard in an emergency situation. Unrestrained children become projectiles in a crash; in an evacuation, movement seriously impeded, to their own detriment and that of other passengers. The flight crew acted prudently (which by the way, is their JOB, given the intangibles not able to be outlined in the ticket-booking section of a website!)

      Report Post »  
    • Quiata
      Posted on January 2, 2012 at 8:21am

      Oh, and Doctor Nordo, your quote, “Have you never made a mistake or had a brain fart? Oh, of course not. Typical Blazer, always ready to assume the worst of people.” Hmmm… Do you know the meaning of the word ‘irony’?

      Report Post »  
    • txbigfoot
      Posted on January 2, 2012 at 10:04am

      lol@Doctor Nordo..typical liberal seeing nothing wrong with violating safety standards or the law. I bet you support the OWS too. This was not a brain fart but similar to saying ohh.. yes my child is young enough for the free food or cheaper food at a buffet due to age. Always a cheat.

      Report Post » txbigfoot  
    • jnobfan
      Posted on January 2, 2012 at 10:42am

      1. They should have been stopped at the TSA checkin.
      2. They should have been stopped when presenting their boarding passes at the gate.

      I feel sorry for the passengers who were detained from leaving because of screwups not the cheap family.

      Report Post »  
    • corbecket
      Posted on January 2, 2012 at 11:29am

      “As always the captain has the final say in aircraft/passenger situations.”

      No! This is……wildly false. As a retired US Airways pilot, the Captain does NOT have the final say on seating matters. He can refuse to leave the gate for something that is clearly unsafe and illegal, but he can’t make special rules to allow an abomination like this to continue.

      The Captain may say no, but he cannot say yes to an unsafe situation (if you are following my reasoning).

      Report Post » corbecket  
    • Elucidate
      Posted on January 2, 2012 at 12:41pm

      QUIATA has it right. Even if a person offered to buy a ticket, that doesn’t satisfy the 1 parent per lap child. And if a 3rd party offered to lap the child, just think if something happened to that child? The parents would blame that person and the airline. These rules are made up because we are a litigious society, but not without reason. There are a lot of unethical business operations that prioritize the dollar of the person.

      Report Post » Elucidate  
    • Doctor Nordo
      Posted on January 2, 2012 at 2:32pm

      LMAO you morons are so wrong on so many levels. First of all, I’m absolutel not a liberal and I do not suport OWS. Nice ad hominem though. Also it’s not a safety issue for 6 people to be in three seats. It actually says so in the article! The safety issue is for a child to be in a child’s lap. If it had been 3 adults and 3 kids instead of 2 adults and 4 kids there would have been no issue.

      And no, there is no irony here. I do not automatically assume the worst in people. I tend to give people (like the family this story is about) the benefit of the doubt. But the moron OP (along with all of you other nitwits) absolutely did assume the worst about this family – that they were only looking to cheat the airline. I do think that they went a little far in throwing the “discimination card”, but I can understand how their frustration might have led them to use such language.

      God, you people are so friggin’ dumb. Makes me embarassed to be a conservative sometimes.

      Report Post » Doctor Nordo  
    • Doctor Nordo
      Posted on January 2, 2012 at 2:36pm

      A clarification – had 3 of the people been adults and only 3 children, they only would have been able to all fit in the same row if you define row as the entire span of 6 seats (since there are only 4 masks per 3 seats). However this would not have been an issue since the flight crew is free to move people around at their leisure.

      Report Post » Doctor Nordo  
    • Bryancpe
      Posted on January 2, 2012 at 4:37pm

      A little common sense would have prevented this issue. To further the situation she then claims discrimination.She could have called the airline to make sure it would be okay at which time they would have explained to her the safety issues and how they could be accommodated.

      Report Post » Bryancpe  
    • Jaimo
      Posted on January 2, 2012 at 6:21pm

      Seriously, I agree with you in that what parent in their right mind would think it’s ok for a 3 year old to hold onto an infant on a plane. These people are stupid, maybe too stupid to have the 4 kids they have already. If you can’t afford the tickets, stay the heck home.

      Report Post »  
    • katarya
      Posted on January 2, 2012 at 7:30pm

      sadly this is not discrimination, I mean what parent takes that many tiny kids and tries to hold them…what if there were turbulance? I have two kids, never did I hold them on my lap, we got a seat and believe it or not you can get a discount for buying a seat for an infant/small child if the flight is not full. I see this as irresponsible, because if they had held them and one got hurt because of turbulance the airline would be sued….ugh stupid people

      Report Post »  
    • Constantine Ivanov
      Posted on January 2, 2012 at 11:30pm

      “…Honest mistake,” Doctor Nordo says. Hmmmm.
      What about brain, Doctor? Impaired?
      Or some common sense… Or elementary math: 3 sits – 6 people….hmmmm.
      Or 4 kids are not individuals?
      With such defenders of so-called “honest mistakes” as you are, Dr. Nerdo, we have Eric Holder in the Justice Department and you know who in the WH…

      Report Post » Constantine Ivanov  
    • Quiata
      Posted on January 3, 2012 at 7:04am

      @Doctor Nordo, er, Irony….You did it again, buddy: “God, you people are so friggin’ dumb. Makes me embarassed to be a conservative sometimes.” Now you’re just trying to save what little face you have left.

      Report Post »  
    • Quiata
      Posted on January 3, 2012 at 7:11am

      Oh, and Doctor Irony, it IS a safety issue, which is exactly why the flight crew (who, incidentally, were there working and you were not) made the decisions they did. Clearly, you need training to recognize what constitutes a potentially dangerous situation in a packed holiday airline cabin.

      Report Post »  
    • wadajada
      Posted on January 3, 2012 at 11:14am

      What part of the article did you not understand….you only need to buy tickets for children older than 2???? If the adult behind them offered to hold the 3rd lap child what was the problem. I think the airline just had a issue with the family????

      Report Post »  
    • Dranix
      Posted on January 8, 2012 at 9:10am

      Just so you know: airlines consider infants to be children under 2. If you have a child under two you are not required to buy a ticket. You have an option to if you don’t want to hold them the whole time. That being said they would have needed 3 adults because a lap child must be held by an adult (not 2 children to one adult). So to all of you calling “fraud” maybe you should inform yourselves better.

      Report Post »  
    • Dranix
      Posted on January 8, 2012 at 9:18am

      One other thought. I have traveled with infants before. First my daughter starting at 3 months and then my son also starting at three months. My children are well behaved and while yes they can get heavy (flew with my daughter at 3 months, 15 months, 2 years, and 3 years old and once with both when my son was 3 months) it is entirely possible to keep a child still and happy on a flight across the country if you know what you are doing and yes most of the time I flew with them alone (hubby was deployed a lot).

      Report Post »  
  • qpwillie
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:57pm

    Why didn‘t they put one on the other’s shoulders and put an adult size overcoat on them like the Little Rascals used to do? It worked for them.

    Report Post » qpwillie  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 11:23pm

      They woulda been fine if they just stuck the twins in the overhead bin, and tucked the 8month old secureley under the seat in front of them…. Shhese

      Report Post »  
  • frank
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:56pm

    That is why when I fly, I only have a lump on my lap.

    Report Post »  
    • Caniac Steve
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 11:39pm

      Missing a lonk is like folks who make out employment apps and don’t read ALL the directions FIRST…but hey..I’d fly unless I absolutly have to..and even then…i hate to fly..and have only done so 2 times since TSA took over touching peoples junk

      Report Post » Caniac Steve  
  • watashbuddyfriend
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:25pm

    Common sense by the traveler must com into play!

    Report Post »  
    • Cosmos102
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:33pm

      Yes, they should have known this would happen. I’m surprised they seem to be so surprised and offended.

      Report Post » Cosmos102  
    • dealer@678
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:52pm

      White people actually breed like illegal mexicans. Go figure

       
  • knighttemplar999
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:15pm

    It’s time for airlines to ban children. Get a station wagon and drive, all you folks with filthy, snotty, stinky little brats crying and complaining and running around. They are not cute, they are not wanted by other adults.

    Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:19pm

      Cute… when Quiet or Asleep… but Ditto!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • Old_Bones
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:23pm

      Actually adults understand childern. It’s full grown childern who mind younger ones.

      Report Post » Old_Bones  
    • MarianF
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:28pm

      I would say by some adult feel that way. Don’t make a blanket statement. I am from a large family. Though I have no children of my own when I travel I suck it up and try to be helpful if I can. I know how hard it is to have people annoyed with you for paying to use the same space as theirs.

      Report Post » MarianF  
    • TXPilot
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:31pm

      I’ve always said, this problem could be solved with one rule. One human being per seat, no matter what their size. If you need to install a car seat to make it work, then do it. As a pilot, I have never agreed with the rules that allow parents to bring small children onto a flight and hold them in their lap. What begins as a cute, small human being, tragically becomes a human ping pong ball during an emergency or turbulence. I know its convenient and cheaper to have your kid in your lap, but parents, think about the fact, that in certain situation, your child can be subjected to g-forces that will literally rip them from your arms and send them sailing into whatever obstacles they encounter in the cabin.

      Report Post » TXPilot  
    • A Conservatarian
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 11:27pm

      TXPilot… lol at the human ping pong ball analogy!

      Report Post » A Conservatarian  
    • ArmedPrincess
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 11:49pm

      @KnightTemplar999

      Why don’t you mind your own business, and go back to drinking that eastern star dew, or whatever you modern templars do. I would highly recommend not insulting someone elses family. Some might get a little bent out of shape at the utter cowardice of those with so little spine they take their anger out on children. The absolute pettiness of it is amazing.

      @Every other anti-child poster

      I don’t know how anyone can have a problem with a child. I really don’t understand what happened to the honor of our species, it used to be women and children first. Now it’s screw everyone else I have to get mine. It is a sad commentary on modern day society. And this was during Christmas no less, when we are supposed to be celebrating the birth of another child a few thousand years ago.

      Report Post » ArmedPrincess  
    • bolsen00
      Posted on January 2, 2012 at 12:43am

      Are you stupid? Are you even human? Didn’t you read the whole thing? Many other adults stepped in to help them. Even to the point of buying them another ticket. Obviously not all adults share your opinion. You were a child once too…now I’m sorry you were born. Although, I think you can use your own common sense to realize how hypocritical you just sounded. I know sometimes children on flights are annoying, but there is nothing wrong with children in general.

      Report Post »  
    • MetalPatriot
      Posted on January 2, 2012 at 2:08am

      @knighttemplar

      It‘s true as far as nobody enjoys a child’s behavoir on a plane. Their ears hurt, they get tired, cranky, scream, etc. Oh wait, that was me! lol! Seriously, before we had a daughter, i was angry on every flight. Angry that the parents didn’t do more to take care of their kids. That’s truly the crux of the matter.

      @Txpilot

      Ya, who thought a baby on a 3yr old’s lap was a good idea? Unbelievable. i don’t care that the info was hard to find online. We’re “low income” and yet paid for a seat to put a child safety seat in. Well, to be fair, we waited until she was 2 to travel. We all have our own version of “money is tight”, but these folks were just pushing it.

      @Princess

      i’ll try to not make this into a personal attack. When somebody doesn’t have children or theirs are grown & gone, it’s dreadful to hear the screams if their ears hurt or are tired or misbehaving, whatever. I genuinely think that most people are ok with kids…it’s the parents that are too dumb or selfish or immature to MANAGE the children.

      Hey, we traveled for 15 yrs without our own child & dreaded seeing kids on planes for the above reasons. We waited until our was 2…and dreaded it. lol! Seriously, if you just can’t see that being in an expensive & confined space for over 5 hours with parents that don’t handle the situtation, you may need to re-evaluate who has the perception issue.

      my .02 cents

      Report Post » MetalPatriot  
    • ArmedPrincess
      Posted on January 2, 2012 at 3:41am

      @MetalPatriot

      Thank you for your two cents, I was responding to the following quoted text:

      “It’s time for airlines to ban children. Get a station wagon and drive, all you folks with filthy, snotty, stinky little brats crying and complaining and running around.”

      I am always happy to have a civilized debate, but if like the neanderthal above you are going to go off on kids being kids, then you will get a fight out of me. I have children ranging in ages from 6 to 1, most have flown around the world & back with me. They did not run around the plane, scream, or do anything other than what they were told. They know what is expected out of them, and listen to their mother.

      I would never submit my children to the TSA pervert of the week, so since they started their new invasive searches I have quit flying all together.

      I see your point that some parents don’t control their kids. The simple truth is life isn’t fun sometimes. If you are going to seal yourself in a tube with 80 or more other people for a long amount of time you know what your possibly getting into. You take the five hour headache and get on with it. If not and you are so much better than charter a private flight. I have caught far more colds from adults on planes, than encountered that bad of a child. In fact I can’t even think of an instance in which a kid has been that far out of control, & I have probably flown more than any five people on this board combined.

      Report Post » ArmedPrincess  
    • corbecket
      Posted on January 2, 2012 at 12:58pm

      @bolsenoo

      “I know sometimes children on flights are annoying, but there is nothing wrong with children in general.”

      As a retired airline pilot, and a father of two minor children (still in the house and travelling with us), I can authoritatively, and professionally state, that while there may be nothing wrong “with children in general”, there is plenty wrong with them in particular. Especially on an airplane.

      No need for thanks on this matter. My professional rulings are free! ;-)

      Report Post » corbecket  
  • Old_Bones
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:13pm

    Seem like a lot of the commenters here don’t have children or are mentally still children. My twins sat on my wifes and my lap to more places prior to turning 3 than most Americans go in a life time. Kids 2 and under fly free. These people may have pushed the envelope for attempting to put a younger child in a 3 old year ticketed passengers lap. But after another adult passenger offered to hold the other little one, it should have been, problem solved. The flight crew acted in a cruel. selfish, and bigoted way. I’d like the entire flight crew staked out nude on the tarmac and spit upon for a fortnight!

    Old_Bones  
    • callmechristina
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:32pm

      @old_bones….wow i hope you don’t make any decisions that others find fault with..pretty harsh!… the attendants were totally right in this situation. let’s say the plane had an emergency and landed in a body of water. there’s no way two adults can properly and safely care for FOUR small children in a situation like that. And the stranger who holds the extra child are in no way obligated to take care of that child should a problem arise (as a mother, i would not want to put a stranger in that position)

      Report Post »  
    • hahawaitwhat
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:47pm

      You really want flight attendants to be treated that way? They have families too! Would you put your child on 3 year’s lap in the car? NO! Then why on a plane? Would you hand your child over to a stranger and let them sit on their lap for a few hours? Really? And you want to spit on the fight attendants? How about spitting on stupid, low life, selfish parents who are more concerned about saving a few bucks over their children’s safety? Flight attendants walk a fine line of safety and customer service…please kept that in mind when flying or you could just drive.

      Report Post »  
    • merd01
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:29pm

      @HaHa:

      Your comment is truly the first one that fully understands this situation. It is the selfish parents, who were willing to allow one of their children to be placed in the hands of a COMPLETE STRANGER (c’mon, Blazers–who amongst you would approve of this in ANY OTHER situation??) for even just a few minutes, who are at fault here. Heaven forbid that the child in the stranger’s lap would have been even slightly injured. Lawsuits for everyone–the stranger, the airline, the flight crew, etc.

      Report Post » merd01  
    • Female
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:36pm

      I agree old bones, between the person volunteering to hold the child or the person in first class willing to pay for an extra ticket the problem should have been resolved…..due to the fact it was accepted then declined…I would agree there is some kind of problem with potential discrimination. However, possibly higher then the flight crew and probably in the area of ticket management.

      For Pete‘s and passenger’s sake, anybody who has or ever had two toddlers (never mind 4 w2 being twins) knows momma who probably booked the flight; made an honest, post-partumn I can’t believe we can afford to visit grandma (really visiting Chicago in the winter) for the holidays mistake! I would never tackle airports w/2 children (have 8) never mind 4. so. to this momma bump her up to 1st class as a holiday treat, and get some points w/all those OWS protestors for ruining the flight of the 1%.

      Peace on earth and goodwill to man!

      Report Post »  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 11:29pm

      Til the find out the passenger willing to hold one of the kids is a rabid pedophile… No thanks, one human being per seat sold… They shoulda bought six seats..

      Report Post »  
    • corbecket
      Posted on January 2, 2012 at 1:58pm

      @old_bones

      “But after another adult passenger offered to hold the other little one, it should have been, problem solved.”

      Nope. This is an unacceptable/dangerous solution. This is not the child’s parent. It takes more than simply a random, and willing adult to solve the problem.

      Never, ever, assume that a passenger will do the right thing when an emergency happens. If you have to pull an evacuation, will Joe Blow in 13A make sure that this unrelated child gets off the aircraft safely? If you only assume this, then you are not responsible enough to make decisions on airline safety.

      As an example, a real emergency occurred requiring a prebriefing of the passengers prior to landing. There was a possibility that an evacuation would be necessary, so two able-bodied male adults at the exit row regarding their duties. They would pull the exit windows, and go down the slides first. They were told that they must hold the bottom of the slide once they reached the ground. That’s all they had to do, and that’s why you pick adult, able-bodied folks for the exit row.

      So what did they do when they reached the bottom of the slide? That’s right! They hit the ground in a dead sprint and didn’t even look back. Two Jesse Owens clones running away from the aircraft. The tape exists. Do you suppose they would have thought twice about a child that wasn’t their own? You know the answer.

      The rules for airlines are written in blood, and some of it is children’s.

      Report Post » corbecket  
  • Jennifer_D
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:08pm

    Re: “This time, Fickes claimed the woman told them another adult needed to hold one of their children. A stranger, sitting one row behind the family, offered to hold the child. The couple said this briefly satisfied the attendant, but then the crew decided that would not work either.

    Did anyone really think the above would work for an extended period of time? Children aren’t going to want to be held by strangers for any length of time. These were young children; not really able to understand the concept of sitting still independently on the flight for their own safety. Would have been best to bring more adult family members along or travel by car.

    Report Post » Jennifer_D  
  • JohnHW
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 8:56pm

    It is time that airlines have CHILD SEATS. This would have prevented the airlines from any discrimination and the parents would have been able to purchase the appropriate number of seats. This would also remove the flight crew from using their rather stupid minds (as shown in this case). I have one grandchild under 1, two under three and one who is almost 10. I have fitted a child seat backwards in one of my Cessna’s, put in two booster seats in the back row, and their mother occupies the seat opposite the youngest child. No problems. I don’t know why the “smart” people at the FAA and all the airlines can’t figure this out.

    Report Post » JohnHW  
    • jzs
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:08pm

      I think they’re unclear on the concept. The rules are in place to protect their children (and the airline’s liability). Stuff happens on an airplane, like turbulence and rough landings. It doesn’t do anyone any good when an infant goes flying through the air when those things happen.

      Report Post » jzs  
    • jcannon98188
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:34pm

      It is technically the parent’s fault, not the airlines. When they clicked “Yes, I agree with the Terms and conditions of the Contact of Carriage” or whatever the check box says, then they legally have just signed a contract stating that they will follow all the rules. Every single Airline’s Contract of Carriage CLEARLY states that you may only have 1 infant per row in an airplane. In addition, infants can ONLY be held by Adults, not children. They failed to follow the rules, and had to pay the price.

      Report Post »  
    • chips1
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:05pm

      You have to buy the ticket before you can see what restrictions are in it. Pelosie’s rules for Americans.

      Report Post »  
    • NightWriter
      Posted on January 2, 2012 at 3:47pm

      Had the ‘stranger’ taken one of the kids to sit on their lap, that would STILL have left 5 people with 4 airmasks. But… remember the ADULTS who were injured in-flight during heavy turbulence?

      No! Kids are not allowed to ride on their parent’s laps in cars – why should a plane be any different?… it’s just not safe.

      When we had two grandchildren, ages 2 and 4, I or their Grampa would fly with them.They each had their own seat. The ticket for the 2 yr. old was discounted, though I don’t know why… she used the same seat as an adult…lol

      When the third grandchild arrived, the TSA had already started up their nonsense. Traveling with three small ones on a plane just didn’t seem practical…

      SO…I traded in my sports car for a mini-van and I NOW DRIVE hither and yon – all over the West to pick up and deliver FOUR grands for visits – as a bonus – it’s less expensive to drive, so I have more $ to spend on side trips and other goodies ; ).

      Sure, it takes a little longer, but we get to chat and see the sights, and… there are no ‘diaper gropes’ in the airport….

      This was certainly NOT discrimination – it was a safety issue (common sense as well)

      AND.. I, for one, am getting really tired of everything action being labled as discriminatory.

      Report Post »  
  • Smokey_Bojangles
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 8:54pm

    Next time you try to cheat an airline,just check your kids in with the baggage.

    Report Post » Smokey_Bojangles  
  • Hickory
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 8:44pm

    Face it, they were trying to rip off the airline. You are busted………. get off the plane.

    Report Post » Hickory  
  • beckwill
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 8:22pm

    Solution: Don the Islam garb. No flight attendant in the friendly skies would even think about approaching you.

    Report Post »  
  • LANE131
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 8:00pm

    POINTBREAK your not a idiot, your funny, best line in the whole story.

    Report Post »  
    • GeorgieJo
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 8:07pm

      OCTO-MOMMY gets a TV show
      Do the Math.

      Liberalism is truly a disease.

      Report Post »  
  • Girl Named Sue
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 8:00pm

    Blaze: Your headline is poorly written.

    Report Post »  
    • JediKnight
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 8:08pm

      Poorly is an understatement. I’ve seen some bad headlines at The Blaze, but this is getting really bad.

      Report Post »  
    • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:46pm

      True healine from our local paper:

      Agency helps abuse families.

      A story about agencies helping abuse victims.

      Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
  • jespasinthru
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 7:56pm

    When those parents finally do get all of their babies on an airliner, I hope they remember the chewing gum. Small children have to chew gum when flying, because the cabin pressure messes with their inner ears and causes them intense pain. That’s why you always hear fussy, crying babies on airplanes. For little kids, chewing gum is like a continuous yawn that relieves the pressure and the pain. If you don’t believe me, look it up.

    Report Post » jespasinthru  
  • ADNIL
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 7:45pm

    I don’t get it. In a CAR you have to have the child STRAPPED and SECURELY BELTED into an approved child SAFETY SEAT but in a plane you can hold one on your LAP???? Someone please explain that one to me.

    Report Post »  
    • Quagaar Warrior
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 7:55pm

      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      A seatbelt won’t help at all when you hit the ground at 500 mph.
      Anyone who where’s a seatbelt in a crash like that gets sliced in half on impact.
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

      Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 7:58pm

      Yes .. and now even booster seats for older kids .. in a car ..but at how many thousand feet .. no problem just put them on your lap?… Sorry I would never do that .. I thought perhaps they were trying to strap two into a seat .. that I might be able to understand but holding on a lap?

      Report Post »  
    • JediKnight
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 8:17pm

      The FAA allows parents to hold a small child in their lap. Is it entirely safe? Probably not. However, getting a child safety seat into an airline seat would be nearly impossible. Child safety seats just aren’t small enough. So the only alternative is to hold your child.

      @Quagaar: If the plane hits the ground at 500 MPH, more than likely no one will survive (the plane will more than likely be destroyed on impact). A seatbelt cutting you in half is going to be the last of your worries at that speed.

      Report Post »  
    • booger71
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 11:32pm

      Hitting the ground is not the worry. Ever been on a flight that hit unexpected turbulence.? I had my seat belt on, but the ones that did not, had some pretty nasty cuts from cracking their heads on the ceiling. The Captain always has the last word in these situations, not the flight attendants/.

      Report Post » booger71  
  • Mr.Fitnah
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 7:40pm

    I doubt anyone one really wanted then to drop by .

    Report Post » Mr.Fitnah  
  • Quagaar Warrior
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 7:32pm

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    It’s just not fair. Air Haiti lets you stuff all the sacrificial goats and chickens you can into their plane!
    Where’s the justice?
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Report Post »  
  • homekeeper
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 7:21pm

    Obviously this family lacked proper planning for their children. I can’t imagine why they would put responsibility on a 3 year child to hold a sibling throughout an entire flight in the first place.

    Report Post »  
    • JediKnight
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 8:19pm

      Holding a child on the airplane is typically only needed during takeoff and landing. Similar to the seatbelt requirement. Have you never noticed that once the plane hits cruising altitude, the seatbelt light goes off and people unfasten their belts?

      Report Post »  
    • Female
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:50pm

      Aisle–Daddy w/twin1–3yrold w/twin2–mommy w/infant–aisle DONE 3 SEATS!

      I have 8 children total. I wouldn’t want to go on planes w/more than one infant nursing but I can see it done properly w/minimal interference w/other passengers. While on planes, I choose to be nice and entertaining to small children because my heart just goes out to the weary travelers and the exhaustion of small children.

      Perhaps, on the “Glory Train” I will get bumped to 1st class. (Probably not after bragging. LOLOLOL)

      Report Post »  
  • Abraham Young
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 7:08pm

    Rules are rules, and the fear of litigation has taken the place of common sense and good samaritan gestures. This is what you get with bureaucratic power mongering government overseers and regulations – a Road to Serfdom.

    Report Post »  
  • abbygirl1994
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 7:07pm

    I tell you the airlines all suck.. they had a very nice person offer to help and these so called airline people even poopooed that… Of course I quit flying when they started their groping and xraying.. If you wanna get to the other side of the country.. rent a car.. I wouldn’t give the airlines a crying dime!

    Report Post » abbygirl1994  
    • 1776freedomofspeech
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 7:14pm

      Unfortunately some of us must fly, but I agree with you. I don’t fly if I can avoid it. I don’t enjoy being treated like a criminal. Didn’t use to be that way. Back when profiling was OK.

      Report Post » 1776freedomofspeech  
  • PointBreak
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 7:07pm

    Maybe they could just rent a pickup truck and throw all their kids in the back and drive to where they’re going.

    Report Post »  
  • FierceMomma77
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 7:06pm

    The parents are idiots. I wouldn’t be stupid enough to try to place a baby on a three year old and call that safe. How hard is it to think to yourself, “Hm. There isn’t an option for that, just to be safe, I’m going to call and verify my options.” When making reservations for a hotel that only allowed four to a room (we have three children 7, 8 and a 22mo old) I called and asked and was told it was fine, because they have accommodations for babies and that it referred to adults most of the time. See? How hard was that? Use your deductive skills people. Don‘t just assume and then ruin everyone’s trip by trying to scoot by on a technicality you should have further researched.

    Report Post » FierceMomma77  
    • SFsuper49er
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 8:01pm

      Exactly ! Prepare to avoid problems and embarrassment . It’s what smart people do

      Report Post »  
    • JediKnight
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 8:25pm

      LOL. My parents regularly got one room for themselves and 6 kids. We ranged in age from 16 or 17 down to a few months old. They had no problem squeezing us all into one room and they saved a ton of money in the process.

      From the story, the airline does sound like they just wanted them off the plane. It was a crowded flight and yet they let them move around? I don’t think so. Someone offered to hold a child and the airline ends up saying no? Why? Someone in first class offers to buy them a seat (I thought it was crowded?) and they say no to that too? I’ve been on crowded flights. Usually, when they say it’s crowded, they mean there is no room and no extra seats. Sounds to me like they had both and just wanted to make a stink (the airline I mean).

      Report Post »  
    • angelcat
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:27pm

      But you have common sense.

      Report Post »  
  • angelcat
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 7:03pm

    If one of those children had been injured as the result of the seating, I would guess the parents would have sued the airline and/or the airline would have come under severe criticism or punishment by the FAA. This was a no win situation for the airline. They are made to look like grinches if they meticulously follow the rules (though I‘m not sure why the adult who offered to hold the child wasn’t allowed to do so) and they are made to look as though they did not take appropriate safety measure if one of the children was injured in any way.

    Report Post »  
    • 1776freedomofspeech
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 7:16pm

      You can bet they would sue.

      Report Post » 1776freedomofspeech  
    • Female
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:59pm

      4 children. hmmm. I doubt they would sue! People who go above the national average on this; varely sue. And wouldn’t the parents be dead in the plane crash along with their children, so, who is to sue…the chicagan grandmother?. Just sounds like your argument is a bit illogical. Are they suing for strap burn for placing too many children in one seat or what?

      Report Post »  
    • angelcat
      Posted on January 2, 2012 at 12:25am

      Female, it doesn’t take a crash for a child to fall off a lap if there is turbulence or be hit by a bag falling our of a bin. Hopefully they would have enough sense not to sue, but there seem to be many people these days who sue even though you are the last people you would expect to do so.

      Report Post »  
  • barber2
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 7:03pm

    The Democrats must be proud: these people are playing the Discrimination Card because they had 6 people and only 3 tickets. Discrimination ?? Bet they are also Obama Democrats who believe in that Bad Math 99% and 1% baloney the Democrats are trying to foist on the public !

    Report Post »  
  • SingerGuy
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 7:00pm

    I‘m not sure I understand why the First Class passenger buying the extra ticket didn’t satisfy the airline, or for that matter the kind person in the row behind them offering to hold the child. It seems like both of those solutions satisfied the rules of the airline.

    Report Post » SingerGuy  
    • TreeTrimmerJim
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 7:59pm

      From the story it appears there is no satisfactory solution. Three tickets covers the parents and child greater than 2 years old. According to the flight crew children under 2 can not travel by their airline.

      The apparent arrangement would be an under 2 with each parent. But the airline does not have a seating scheme for the over 2 year old who holds a purchased for over 2 year old child ticket. So that child is to sit where? In the parent’s lap? Then where do the under 2 children sit?

      The problem points out that the airline does not have what your car has, a child seat. Even if you pay for one.

      Report Post » TreeTrimmerJim  
    • BroncosRock
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 8:00pm

      The reason the person in the row behind them could not hold the child is because if the person touch the kid wrong, the airline company would have gotten sued for allowing the person to hold the child.

      Report Post »  
    • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 8:35pm

      I can’t figure that out either.

      It seems like the Waitresses, er, Flight attendants just didn’t want them on the flight. Maybe if they had just checked on of the kids in as baggage, and put one in the overhead bin they could have flown.
      Next time they need to wear burkas, then they wouldn’t have been messed with.

      Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
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