A SoCal family was kicked off an overbooked Delta flight because they refused to give up a seat held by their young son. The family says they originally bought the seat for their 18-year-old son but then decided to send him home on an earlier flight so that he could use the seat for his younger child who was placed in a car seat.
One airline employee told them that under FAA regulations, 2-year-old children are not supposed to have their own seats at all and are supposed to sit in parents' laps for the duration of the flight. That statement isn't even true! This is what you'll find on the FAA website regarding flying with children: "Did you know that the safest place for your child on an airplane is in a government-approved child safety restraint system (CRS) or device, not on your lap? Your arms aren't capable of holding your child securely, especially during unexpected turbulence." What the airline employee told the family even contradicts what is on their own website: "For kids under the age of two, we recommend you purchase a seat on the aircraft and use an approved child safety seat."
The family was lied to about FAA regulations and now according to Delta this had nothing to do with overbooking! So then why was a family with two infants kicked off a flight at midnight? They were forced to find a hotel and pay 2,000$ for a new flight.
I can't wait to see how this story develops and what Delta has to say.
Of course the family filmed the encounter with airport staff and posted it on YouTube. See the original video and news coverage below.
#RIPDelta
xox Producer Anna