Parenting
Have airlines finally decided to bring back some kindness? We can certainly replace your furrowed brow with a smile and maybe even a sigh of relief, as it appears that humanity is making a comeback in the world of air travel.
Take, for instance, a recent incident where a Delta flight bound for Atlanta was stuck on the runway in Tennessee due to bad weather. The pilot, showing some real initiative, ordered pizza for all the passengers on board. And guess what? This brilliant idea spread like wildfire, with other Delta flights facing similar delays also delighting passengers with the magic of free pizza. Smart move!
But pizza is just a quick fix for being stranded. What truly warms the heart is the incredible response from JetBlue when a mother reached out for assistance. She was traveling with her 11-year-old son, who has autism and struggles with sensory overload. The chaos of loud noises, crowds, and overwhelming smells can be very distressing for him. Most airlines typically aren’t accommodating when it comes to pre-boarding for older children, but JetBlue surprised her.
When she booked her tickets, she was thrilled to find an option to include information about her son’s special needs—something she had never encountered before. Just to be safe, she called the airline, and they arranged seats away from the bathroom and provided “silent boarding.” A gate agent escorted them to the plane ahead of regular pre-boarding, easing her son’s stress. Once on board, they got him settled with noise-canceling headphones, and the flight attendants were exceptionally attentive. The mother later penned a heartfelt letter to the airline that quickly went viral.
And here’s a tearjerker for you, courtesy of Southwest Airlines, which always seems to go above and beyond. A woman named Lisa was about to board a flight from Chicago to Columbus when airline staff informed her to call her husband (who was already aware she had turned off her phone). He broke the devastating news that their son was in a coma in Denver. Southwest staff swiftly rebooked her on a direct flight to Denver at no charge, set her up in a private waiting area, rerouted her luggage, let her board first, and even provided a packed lunch for her journey. They even followed up to check on her son’s condition. Thankfully, he is slowly recovering.
I remember when airlines used to show this kind of compassion. Back in 1991, when my grandmother passed away, I flew American Airlines and received what they called a “compassion ticket.” The ticket agent was incredibly gentle and understanding, which is a far cry from my experience two years ago when my mother was ill. I had to scramble for a same-day ticket, and their suggestion to possibly refund the fare with a death certificate was less than comforting.
It’s refreshing to see some airlines remembering that we are customers, not prisoners, and that a little kindness can go a long way. It makes for loyal customers, that’s for sure.
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In summary, recent stories reveal that some airlines are rekindling their commitment to customer service, showing that a little kindness goes a long way in the skies.