Edmonton couple misses flight because of diaper trouble...

[NBC]

It is the price you pay for traveling with small children.

[pylon]

Ok, how about this scenario. I am coming back from Vegas with a buddy. They start the boarding calls for the plane. I tap my buddy on the shoulder and say... "Hey, check this out"I do the courtesy double shoulder check, I raise my knee, pump my elbow, and instead of unleashing what would have been an awesome 2 pitcher, 4 am trip to IHOP fart, I shart myself in the international terminal. Should I expect the airplane to wait for me as I have to find a way to creatively dispose of my gaunch, build a pair of paper towel underwear and do the wipe of shame? I wouldn't expect the plane to wait, and frankly, I would deserve to have some sort of monetary sanctions imposed.

Authors note: not based on a true story

[NBC]

^ Oh dear.

[NBC]

Originally Posted by fotze

Ya I resent those tits who start pushing through security because they are late. Fah q. I wish airlines did this more. 200 people wait 10 minutes or 2 people wait 12 hours. The math favors making the 2 people wait, especially when considering connecting flights. I have 2 kids and no one, especially strangers, owes me anything because I blew a load in my wife. Having kids does not make you special.

Fotze, you just might be the single coolest person here on CP. I can honestly say that this is the first time I have ever heard a parent express an opinion this circumspect. The vast majority of parents DO believe that having kids makes you special and that they deserve special considerations from society in general.

"I have 2 kids and no one, especially strangers, owes me anything because I blew a load in my wife. Having kids does not make you special."

This a pure gold.

You just made my day. Thanks.

[evman150]

A child named Levi, from Edmonton.

lol.

[drewboy12]

This couple is obviously ######ed for evening complaining about this situation. First off pre boarding for people with children/first class etc. is normally atleast 30 mins prior to departure. Getting through security with 20 minutes until departure is pushing it even for someone without children.

Las Vegas Airport behind security is quite a walk to any departing gate. pushing a stroller, adds time. This is so stupid that the media is taking swing of this because an airline did not delay a flight because a selfish family showed up late to their flight.

The cost factored into delaying one flight, is a lot less then the $1000 reimbursed to the idiot parents, but non the less, this family should have never complained in the first place. Show up on time, be ready for the flight.

Ya sure accidents happen with children, be prepared, have supplies to last more then the night. you never know when a flight will be canceled and you have no way home for a few days... With kids you should be over prepared. I have zero sympathy for these parents. Im an avid flyer, usually once a week, and hell ive seen parents changing a diaper before their flight in the corner of the airport behind a chair beside their departing gate. Get er done quick, and bored your flight.

[The Goon]

I'm not sure if I'm getting it wrong, but the 20 minute thing seems like an irrelevant detail. They were there, at the gate, before boarding. The timing of the son's accident would have been the issue had they been at the gate two hours early.

[billybob123]

Originally Posted by The Goon

They were there, at the gate, before boarding.

But they weren't. The original story has the father at the gate, telling the agent "my wife is coming in 5 minutes".

I would have changed the kid on the plane. Explain the situation to the flight attendant and I'm sure he/she would not complain you're 'holding' the plane while you change the kid in the lav.

Good on Alaska for giving them the money. These people are possibly 'lowest fare flyers' and may never give Alaska back the $1000 in airfare; however everyone reading the story will now think twice about Alaska. Where else can you get advertising exposure like this for $1000? Smart airline.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Russic

Sorry, but if my kid destroys his pants while boarding a plane I'm not going to give 2 damns about the comfort of the other passengers. Change him on the plane ... not fun but better than missing. We don't know why they cut it so close, but I certainly wouldn't try to board a flight leaving only 20 minutes.

I totally agree. I will change my kid on my lap if I need to avoid missing the flight. (disclaimer: I would probably make the wife do it if it was really bad)

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by fotze

I have 2 kids and no one, especially strangers, owes me anything because I blew a load in my wife.

I didn't know you have twins, dude!

[DropIt]

Isn't there a changing table on the plane? I'm sure they could have fired off a diaper change before the plane took off

[Clarkey]

These 2 knuckleheads created a blog called "Alaska Airlines Hates Families".

[topfiverecords]

If the airline only gave away one of the seats why didn't wife and kid get on the flight so only the guy had to book a new flight home?

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by billybob123

These people are possibly 'lowest fare flyers' and may never give Alaska back the $1000 in airfare;

They definitely are, why else would they take a connecting flight through Seattle instead of the Westjet direct to Edmonton that they ended up purchasing after?

In the first year of my daughters life we flew about 10 times (damn spoiled kids these days!). Always made sure we were very early to the gate, and would be very aware of what point the boarding process was at. We always try to board right at the end, as 'Littletime' gets all fussy before the plane actually starts moving, so we like to try and be courteous to others by getting on right before things get moving. So if she blew a diaper right before that moment we would wait and do a quick ninja change in the lavatory onboard.

Heck I've seen grown adults use the lav before the plane leaves the gate, there is no way a flight crew won't let you do a quick baby change in that situation.

We also had her blow a diaper on us right near the end of the long customs line in Vancouver, did we whine and complain? Heck no, trooped through it and got past customs and then dealt with that stinker.

Buncha' amateurs those two were.

[theonlywhiteout]

I have to say I agree with the airlines but I do sympathize with the parents. They should have been given the next flight for free. What does it matter they showed up 20 mins before the flight? The baby crapped itself when it crapped itself. If they showed up 3 hours before the flight and the baby craps hardcore 10 mins before take off, what difference does the last 2 hours 50 mins make?

Let the plane take off and give the parents seats on the next flight. Jeez.

[Clarkey]

They were probably acting whiny and entitled and that didn't help their cause with the flight attendant. If you are nervy enough to create a website that proclaims "Alaska Airlines Hates Families" to try to get your way, then you probably don't have the social graces to calmly and politely ask for a few extra minutes given the situation. People are usually pretty helpful if you approach them with respect.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by fotze

It was a two part time release capsule load.

Actually, that would make you special and not in a water on the brain like you-know-who way.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by theonlywhiteout

Let the plane take off and give the parents seats on the next flight. Jeez.

The next flight back to Edmonton with Alaska Airlines might not be until the next day and they were so tapped out when it came to baby supplies that they had to be back that night. Hence paying a grand for the next flight on WestJet.

[Jimmy Stang]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the scheduled departure time is actually when the plane is leaving the ground. So 20 minutes is actually cutting it really close when you factor closing the plane up, pushing back, and taxiing. Even though 20 minutes sounds like a lot, they could have been literally closing the door and along comes this family who are already late and the expect the staff to hold the plane up even longer.

I'm not saying that the airline couldn't have shown a little more understanding as there were probably other options available (changing the baby on the plane, etc.), but the 20 minutes thing is probably a lot closer to the doors being shut than it sounds like.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the scheduled departure time is actually when the plane is leaving the ground. So 20 minutes is actually cutting it really close when you factor closing the plane up, pushing back, and taxiing. Even though 20 minutes sounds like a lot, they could have been literally closing the door and along comes this family who are already late and the expect the staff to hold the plane up even longer.

I'm not saying that the airline couldn't have shown a little more understanding as there were probably other options available (changing the baby on the plane, etc.), but the 20 minutes thing is probably a lot closer to the doors being shut than it sounds like.

Not to mention that this isn't happening at some tiny airport. It's a huge airport with a flight on to another major airport. Delaying the plane for a minute to wait for them could actually delay the flight a lot longer potentially costing other people a chance to make their connections.

But I guess that's what happens when people have kids first, probably while living common law, and then get married.