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Delta Requires Two Seats for Conjoined Twins
In this week's version of bizarre news, Delta is requiring that a mother traveling with conjoined infant twins purchase two seats instead of one. As the Arizona Republic reports, Mandy Bailey spoke with Delta ticketing agents before departure and they couldn't figure out how many seats to sell her. After a brief period of evil-doing and cat-stroking, Delta replied that since the kids would need two oxygen masks they need extra seats. Then they told Bailey (I'm not making this up) to "call the Red Cross" for help paying for the other ticket.I suppose I can see the concern with not having enough oxygen masks for conjoined twins. But what do mono-infants sitting in their parents' laps do when the oxygen masks drop? In that case there is still only going to be one mask falling from the ceiling: for the adult.
In the end, Delta is put in a hard place because they're trying to cope with nonexistant standards on conjoined lap infants against the simple human problem of a mother getting her girls out to see family in Maryland. Despite the defensive stance that any corporate entity has to take in this day and age, in this case I think they're being a little conservative with their policies.
Filed under: Airlines, Transportation
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Shelley N Feb 9th 2008 1:53PM
Ridiculous! I can't believe they would stake their reputation and the chance for this to come to public attention! Doesn't this mother have enough to worry about and stares to shun? Does Delta not upcharge enough on flights that they have to pick on conjoined twins? How ironic I put a family on a flight this morning and last minute, they charged for an extra diaper bag, cause the lady has two in diapers!!! (And this was still within her limits according to their websites! DELTA--> You are NOT serving your Customers well! When you want a federal loan to bail you out, count on my voice opposing it!!!
Jesse Oct 5th 2007 6:35PM
There are certain seats on all aircraft that have two oxygen masks for passengers travelling with an infant in lap.
Teresa Oct 9th 2007 1:19AM
I was stunned when I read this article. Shame on Delta!!! I flew on Delta a few days ago and was not impressed with their staff. Not very friendly. All they gave passengers to drink was a bottle of warm water!! After reading this article about what Delta did to Mandy and her twins, I will never fly Delta again.
Melissa Oct 25th 2007 5:14AM
Actually, for each row of three there are four masks. So, the airlines fears that the second and third seat would be taken by an adult and not empty are founded in that there would not be enough airbags for five in that row. Honestly, I am not sure she could hold the babies conjoined and contain them to the width of her seat, so she should have to order two seats. A single mother with twins, not conjoined, needs to order two seats as well, if not desiring three.