Let me start off by saying, I’m not a person who rants about the pitfalls of corporate America and big business. Being a working mom of two, I’m too busy to write angry letters or wait on hold for nine million hours to speak to a supervisor. Not that I’m complacent. I simply stop patronizing businesses that are tyrants. After the most horrific travel experience I’ve ever had, I had to share this story. Parents, read, learn from my mistakes and let’s UNITE!
Last week I took a trip with my two children (Jude 2 and Giana 5 years) from Seattle to Columbus. It was my first time flying with the two kids by myself and granted, I was a little nervous, but was ready to brave it in order to see my family. The airline told me that because our flight was full, they could not seat us together. I told them that was fine. I would happily sip on a cup of joe and read my paperback (The Hunger Games… People… Amazing, but that’s a whole other blog) while other passengers supervise my 2 and 5 year old. They would have six very unhappy passengers, and I won’t be one of them. That seemed to get their ear, and we were switched to be next to each other.
What I thought our plane trip was going to be like.
I thought that was the end of our worries. After our second flight, after a nine-hour travel day we arrived in Ohio. Considering I needed a sherpa to help us with our carry on bags, we let all the passengers off the plane ahead of us. I sent 5-year old Giana to the door and told her to wait for Jude and me. The flight attendant all but pushed her out on to the noisy dark tarmac and told her to “hurry before they close the doors.” I told this woman she was obviously terrified and to “back off.” I thought that was it. We’re here, with my family, the worst is over. I had no idea how much worse it could get until our return flight.
On the day of our return (2/28), our flight was canceled. I immediately called and was booked on a flight through Denver the next day. It wasn’t until I saw the confirmation email that I realized the agent had booked me on MARCH 29, rather than February 29. Ahh, that pesky leap year. Again I called the airline. I held and I held until a human admitted it was a computer error and rescheduled me for the following day. Again, they could not reserve seats together for us.
My children and I got to the airport, begged passengers to switch seats with us so we could sit together, and were told that our original plane had been given to the D.C. crew, and that our flight was now waiting on repairs. I knew we would miss our connection and the gate agent told me that we would be put on top priority for standby in Denver. I asked him what would happen if we didn’t get on the next flight, and he said we would be rolled over to the following flights and that there were 4 other flights to Seattle that day.
What he neglected to tell me was that 3 of them stopped in San Francisco and we could be kicked off the plane there if there wasn’t room for us. I didn’t find that out until I was already in Denver. I would have stayed another day in Columbus if I knew there was a chance that I would be stranded in the Denver airport with my two small children, limited diapers, and a two year-old with explosive diarrhea for TEN AND A HALF HOURS!
When I finally realized that we weren’t getting on the first standby flight to Seattle. I went back to customer service where I had previously been told that I would be provided a hotel room. Only then did I find out that our luggage had been sent on. With limited diapers and no extra clothes, we had no choice but to rally until the 9:45 flight. By the time we got home we had been up for 22 hours. Did I mention my children are 2 and 5? You can imagine what a nightmare that was.
Giana demonstrating how we are going to fly next time (if there is a next time) - by private plane!
A list of my saving graces:
- My daughter (who can be semi-challenging) was amazing. She stepped up and was an incredible helper.
- The book Shiny Dinah. I read it a million times and that train never let me down
- Our portable DVD player is awesome, as is Yo Gabba Gabba, The Wiggles and various Disney friends.
- There was a New Belgian Brewery in Terminal 2. Kids got dinner, Mama got a beer.
- The Family Bathroom. We spent so much time in there, I should have set up a cot and put the kids to bed.
List of things I learned:
- Pack a million and twelve diapers, 9 gazillion wipes and 90 changes of clothes.
- When you realize there is a possibility you can be stranded, have the airline pull your luggage while you wait.
- Call the airline you’re flying. Ask if they are kid-friendly and what that means to them.
- Two words… Road trip.
Here is a New York Times article on this very subject. I know I’m not the only parent that has gone through something like this. I understand airlines are businesses that cater to several different types of customers. I get it. What I don’t get is, why offer a service to parents and then leave us in the dust? Have one family-friendly flight a day. That way, passengers who don’t want kicking and screaming can choose a different flight and parents can commiserate, even help each other. Those could be the flights with the nice flight attendants who actually like children and everyone would be happy.
The solution: Studio3Airlines. Kindermusik classes on board. Flight attendants who give hugs and will snuggle your baby while you run to the small bathroom, guaranteed parent/toddler seating and thematic musical lessons to every city you fly to. BRILLIANT!
-posted by Miss Steph, who has become one with the Denver Airport.
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