Family thrown off flight b/c toddler wouldn’t wear a mask!

↑ nchr ↓

Wed, Aug 19 2020, 11:11 pm

QueensMama wrote:

The mom was trying her best. If a child wont wear a mask, what's she supposed to do? Handcuff her?

No - you humor the stewardess and don't make a scene or quote the rules. It's not like someone was watching them constantly. If the requirement was for older children then when the stewardess isn't looking you don't have to feel bad about no mask since it's not required by the policy.

Where I was, it was mandatory for all ages so I just played around with my baby until we left which was about an hour. The people around me joked about it too. It was a nice comical experience and my baby was laughing.

↑ nchr ↓

Wed, Aug 19 2020, 11:13 pm

zohar wrote:

This is literally what the mother did. She was not being obnoxious.

Maybe I read a different report but I heard she was quoting company policy and arguing about it. She didn't put the mask on the kid and ask her to wear it. The family was traveling appropriately and I think the flight attendant was clearly unreasonable but it's better to just go along with it then make your opinion (against the request) known.

↑ QueensMama ↓

Wed, Aug 19 2020, 11:14 pm

nchr wrote:

The mom was acting extremely courteous and deferential, according to the witnesses. She only argued once they insisted she leave.

Please dont blame the victim.

↑ nchr ↓

Wed, Aug 19 2020, 11:15 pm

zohar wrote:

For those who are wondering why she didn't just put the mask on when the flight attendant was walking by, it seems that the flight attendant was upset that the toddler wasn't keeping it on and pulling it off. In one of the videos she seems to be asking the mother of she can assure her that the child will keep it on, and the mother responds she'll do her best, but realistically.... After that they are asked to get off.

So I read a different report. I don't trust the video clips because I know from experience peopoe pick an choose. I think regardless that most ppl will .
agree the flight attendant was unreasonable.

↑ nchr ↓

Wed, Aug 19 2020, 11:17 pm

QueensMama wrote:

The mom was acting extremely courteous and deferential, according to the witnesses. She only argued once they insisted she leave.

Please dont blame the victim.

She's not a victim - extreme word usage here. I'm not blaming her. The flight attendant will be fired but we all need to learn how to deal with these situations and pacify the other side. They'll get a settlement and move on. The next person should just be prepared to deal with morons since it happens all the time.

↑ newcomer ↓

Wed, Aug 19 2020, 11:18 pm

southernbubby wrote:

I hope that this family wins a giant lawsuit. The flight attendants were out of line. The website clearly said that babies and small children were exempt. These flight attendants don't know anything about babies. What 2 year old will keep a mask on for a three hour flight?

Depending on the actual timing of the policy change, they may or may not win this lawsuit.

↑ MiracleMama ↓

Wed, Aug 19 2020, 11:21 pm

nchr wrote:

I really strongly disagree. We have to pick our battles and sometimes it's the right time to take a stand and other times it's better to just humor someone and move on with your day. But in this situation? The absurdity of the request should not be swept under the rug. Firstly, the policy at that time was no mask necessary for the 2 year old. So they should never have been bothered by the flight attendant. And in any case, the idea that this can be expected of a 2 year old? Crazy. The kid is sitting with the mother and siblings. Nobody else is going to be close. 2 years olds are not getting infected or spreading the virus. No part of this request is reasonable and it's really just not okay in my book. Not to mention, what is it teaching the other kids to show we will just trick the flight attendant and pretend we will comply? Sometimes it's fine to be dishonest?

Last edited by MiracleMama on Wed, Aug 19 2020, 11:23 pm; edited 1 time in total

↑ QueensMama ↓

Wed, Aug 19 2020, 11:22 pm

Many situations cannot be fixed with "pacifying." The mom is a victim. Try traveling alone with six kids and getting thrown off a plane.

I had an obnoxious flight attendant insist I stow my hand luggage under the plane because the plane "ran out of room", despite the fact that I was traveling with a baby and needed the diapers, formula etc. No amount of pacifying and reasonable discussion got me anywhere.

Eventually another flight attendant intervened and allowed the luggage on. Lo and behold, there was room.

↑ zohar ↓

Wed, Aug 19 2020, 11:22 pm

nchr wrote:

This is great advice for an adult, but have you met a two year old?

↑ nchr ↓

Wed, Aug 19 2020, 11:24 pm

MiracleMama wrote:

I agree it's unreasonable. I just think it's better left to a letter post flight rather than making an unreasonable flight attendant worked up even more. I'm not the type to do it, but people should write letters to Jet Blue regarding how unreasonable this was. There is just no way I'd voice that opinion publicly or to the flight attendant etc.

↑ QueensMama ↓

Wed, Aug 19 2020, 11:25 pm

nchr wrote:

So you'd meekly walk off the plane without saying a word when ordered off?

↑ nchr ↓

Wed, Aug 19 2020, 11:26 pm

zohar wrote:

This is great advice for an adult, but have you met a two year old?

Yes I just had a personal story with my 10 month old needing to be masked for around 1 hour - it was a comical experience but didn't think of discussing it with anyone there (who probably agreed it was difficult). It's the adults who pacify the situation. But I don't know this particular 2 year old so maybe the child would have screamed or had a more difficult tims.

Last edited by nchr on Wed, Aug 19 2020, 11:30 pm; edited 2 times in total

↑ nchr ↓

Wed, Aug 19 2020, 11:29 pm

QueensMama wrote:

I can relate to this story because I've been there and since I'm usually late for my flights end up with luggage going under. I never thought about trying my case with the flight attendant. I just figured it a consequence of my being late and I usually take diapers in my laptop bag.
But you're probably right to advocate for yourself, your bag and your child. I jsut try to avoid that.

↑ QueensMama ↓

Wed, Aug 19 2020, 11:31 pm

nchr wrote:

Yes definitely or have the kid with the mask.

You dont seem to understand the sequence of events. The child would not wear a mask despite the mom's best efforts. You would just walk off, six kids in tow? And then what, try your luck on the next flight?

↑ zohar ↓

Wed, Aug 19 2020, 11:32 pm

nchr wrote:

My 3 year old rips it off as I'm putting it on. And he would have a full blown temper tantrum if I'd try to keep it on him. I would literally need to tie his hands to do what you are suggesting. I think this is pretty typical of a toddler.
He had an appointment with his opthalmologist where he was officially supposed to wear a mask. I got him to wear it for about 90 second intervals under his nose by pretending he was pirate. But that was the first time he needed to wear a mask. Since then, he doesn't let it get near his face.

↑ QueensMama ↓

Wed, Aug 19 2020, 11:33 pm

nchr wrote:

I was not late. And there was no case to try. If just taking abusive behavior works for you, then okay. Don't judge others who wont do the same.

↑ zohar

Wed, Aug 19 2020, 11:33 pm

QueensMama wrote:

Exactly, also, pay attention to the other passengers. Usually, in these scenarios, they get what's going on and they stood up for this family. Good for them.