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Editor: James T. Crouse
Profession: Aviation Accident Attorney

Category: Airline Travel

And we get upset when our luggage is lost . . . what if it was our child? Just ask a Yuma, Arizona couple and they can certainly tell you. On Saturday, a fourteen year old boy was put on a plane in Yuma to spend the summer in Billings, Montana. All was thought to be going well until his parents received a call from him in the Salt Lake City Airport - he was lost and didn't know where to go - that was when it was learned the airlines had not fulfilled their "unaccompanied minor" promise to have a flight attendant or customer service representative escort the minor child onto and off the plane and to his next flight. . . for an extra $100 fee.

His parents aren't concerned about the $100, but they are very upset the airlines failed to keep track of their son, they are so grateful this incident did not end up in an "Amber Alert". They are also grateful their son was old enough to have a cell phone and was therefore able to call home - when he did his father told him to find someone in a uniform and give them the phone. It turned out the person he saw was a lady who worked for the airlines and was "wonderful" - she calmed the boy down, got him something to eat, and not only escorted him to the correct gate for his flight to Billings, but waited with him until he boarded the plane.

Obviously not all Skywest employees are so inclined. When the father went to Yuma to speak with the airlines, no one would talk with him. When he called Delta's corporate office, he was told it was probably his son's fault because he left the plane before someone could get him. Well, he had on a badge that identified him as an unaccompanied minor - why didn't the attendants who always stand at the door when you exit the plane stop him? Frieda's even seen the attendants go to the child while still in his/her seat and instruct them not to leave the plane - they actually hand off the child to someone who comes on board to get them.

So what happened in this case? Lack of communication, obviously. Negilence, possibly. Rudeness, definitely.

As for the airline's PR, someone from Skywest finally called the family, apologized, and refunded the unaccompanied minor charge. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. . .