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Unaccompanied minor told to drink coffee by Northwest Airlines employee - gets sick
We'll file this one under "lawsuit in the making". When Payton Parkerson was on her way to see her mother, she was flying as an unaccompanied minor - something she'd done several times before. This trip would turn out to be quite different.During a layover in Detroit, she mentioned to the Northwest Airlines employee accompanying her that she was tired. Instead of providing a listening ear or a friendly smile, the employee told her to go and get herself a cup of coffee.
Now, millions of people grab a cup of joe at the Airport Starbucks every day, but Payton is 8. That's right - this 8 year old who was being assisted by Northwest Airlines (their service costs $100) was told to go get some coffee, and pay for it herself.
Of course, with that much caffeine in her system, Payton got sick, and threw up twice on her flight. Thankfully a pediatrician was on board, and was able to take care of the poor kid.
Northwest Airlines issued the following statement: "We are continuing our investigation as the story you have provided us doesn't match our records".
No idea what that means, but as with all stories, there may be a different side to this one.
Gallery: More horrible travel accidents from around the globe
Filed under: News
Reader Comments (Page 9 of 9)
Granny May 9th 2009 5:58PM
I have a different point of view...what if the child did not want to make the trip and visitation? What if that was the real reason for the upset stomach? What if parents are just stupid not to live close enough so that the kid does not have to travel a distance alone to fulfill court order? Really should this not be a matter about money and what an airline employee might have or might not have done but about the real well being of the child?????? Think about it...........
ALLYE May 9th 2009 10:24PM
AT LEAST THE PERSON WHO WAS PAID TO ACCOMPANY HER STAYED WITH HER, I PAID THE $100 AND THE PERSON LEFT MY GRANDAUGHTER ALONE......NORTHWEST NEVER EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED IT WHEN I COMPLAINED..HIS EXCUSE WAS HE HAD TO TAKE SOMEONE IN A WHEELCHAIR TO ANOTHER GATE LEAVING MY 13 YEAR OLD GRANDAUGHTER ALONE...I WONDERED IF THAT PERSON PAID THE $100 TOO
Robert Hutchinson Jun 4th 2009 12:52PM
These horrific events would never have occurred on an Asian airline such as JAL, Thai Air, Air Pacific or Cathay Pacific. Even Virgin Air of the U.K. has far higher standards of quality. The service on American airline providers has become increasingly terrible since the 1980's. I fly over 30 flights a year and dread having to board an American serviced plane. It has become a cattle moving industry rather then the distinguished service industry it once was. Perhaps someday an airline will come along with elevated standards again and raise the bar. Till then, MOO!
Barbara Jun 17th 2009 5:41PM
As Gigi said, most unaccompanied minors are forced into that situation by the fr*gg*ng ignorant judges in divorce proceedings. My kids were lucky, while their father had legal access to them once a month, he only wanted them twice (over Christmas holidays of course) during the 10 years they were forced to visit him. They had to fly unaccompanied because with my lousy job as a waitress there was no way I could afford a ticket to accompany them, or a motel room while they were visiting him, not to mention I'd have been fired for even ASKING for the time off. They too flew SouthWest and while it's generally an excellent airline, there was still a mix up on one of our two occasions where they had to land in Dallas while en route to Atlanta (I've never figured this one out) from Chicago. The kids got confused and were trying to get off the plane (there were supposed to be no stops),,, it was a mess. I still to this day have no idea what exactly happened, but all three kids wound up in Atlanta eventually and basically I was the only totally terrified one. My ex thought I was being ridiculous for worrying about 11, 9 and 6 year olds traveling alone,,, but then again, he thinks seatbelts are for sissies and helmets while riding bicycles are stupid and that 'everyone can swim, why wear a floatation jacket?' on a boat. Yeah, sure,,, children flying alone is just DANDY.
Isis Jun 17th 2009 7:24PM
i started drinking coffee at about 11 or 12 it never made me sick. the point is the airline shouldn't have let her go off by herself to get coffee. I've often been on airplanes by my self even when i was 6 and i was never allowed to go off by myself. The child probably got air sick flights esspically in detroit (i've flown there often) are bumpy because of strong gusts of wind.