A mother from North Carolina is raising concerns after an unsettling experience involving her unaccompanied 11-year-old daughter during a recent flight with American Airlines. She claims the airline lost track of her daughter and failed to communicate properly throughout the ordeal. The mother, Lisa Thompson, was scheduled to pick up her daughter, Emma, at the Charlotte-Douglas airport at 8:50 p.m. However, due to a diversion to Columbia, South Carolina, Emma arrived late without any notification to her family.
Frustration Over Lack of Communication
In a post shared on her Facebook, Thompson expressed her frustration, stating, “Losing your luggage is one thing, but losing track of my 11-year-old daughter at 1:30 a.m. is beyond unacceptable!” Initially informed that the flight was delayed due to weather conditions, she soon received multiple frantic texts from Emma, indicating that the flight had been cancelled and she was being removed from the plane.
Thompson detailed that the airline diverted Emma’s flight without notifying her parents, and they only learned about the situation through their daughter’s messages. “We were told the flight would eventually reach Charlotte, but after hours of uncertainty, I had to drive to Columbia, desperately trying to get information from American Airlines,” she recounted.
Confusion and Miscommunication
Upon reaching a representative, Thompson was informed that Emma was still en route to Charlotte, a claim she later learned was false. After a harrowing hour of confusion, she finally established contact with Emma, who was still on the plane, contrary to what the airline had reported.
American Airlines later stated that the flight was delayed and subsequently cancelled due to mechanical issues, claiming they had arranged for Emma to contact her mother and that she was waiting in a designated area with an agent. Thompson vehemently disputes this, stating, “The most distressing part was not knowing who was responsible for taking her off the plane or where she was.”
Warning to Other Parents
She emphasizes that parents should be aware that paying extra for unaccompanied minor services does not guarantee safety or proper supervision. “This experience shows a significant failure in their system. Parents are spending up to $300 under the impression that their children are in safe hands, but that trust might be misplaced,” she remarked.
It’s crucial for parents to understand that while delays and cancellations are part of air travel, losing track of a child entrusted to an airline is simply unacceptable. This incident serves as a stark reminder that even systems meant to protect children can sometimes lead to anxiety for parents.
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Conclusion
In summary, a North Carolina mother expressed her outrage after her daughter was lost during a flight with American Airlines, highlighting the failures in communication and care for unaccompanied minors. She warns other parents that the additional fees for these services do not guarantee safety.