re: Delta Airlines to United - Hold My Beer

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The dad thinks just because he paid for the seat he can put any person in it he wants. That is not how it works.

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Why?

He was told it was fine by the employees at the gate.

They were essentially trying to use two seats for the one purchased ticket for their older kid. The parents are dumb and/or entitled twats, like most airplane passengers these days.

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I have a hard time believing there weren't other passengers on the flight that could have been bought off. Why go after a family?

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Not at all defending them, but I don't think this was exactly the same as United where they needed to kick people off. The son that the ticket was originally for did not show up for the flight (because he got on an earlier flight) so in Delta's eyes, the seat is now open and able to be sold.

The blurry line is that FAA requirements vs. Delta policy are different. One says babies must be held in lap. The other says they must have a seat with a child seat. The issue, though, is that nothing was in said baby's name so the seat was essentially vacant. Dad was pissed (understandably) because he paid for the seat (since empty seat was his son's). But think of it this way: Had that been a random passenger's seat who didn't show up, would Dad have the right to put baby there? No. So in the airline's eyes, he doesn't have the right to do it when his son didn't show up either. Tickets belong to the person whose name is on them - not the person who paid for them.

EDIT: I think the rule is beyond stupid.

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The father even gave up towards then end and said they'd have the kid in their laps, but the FA decided to be vindictive.

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exactly. Unfortunately a company the size of delta cannot control all employees.

I would have thought compassion/customer service training would have been immediately required on all major airlines after the last incident, but I guess not.

There is no reason to be vindictive when you are a company this size. Make people comfortable, get them where they need to be, and make all attempts to prevent confrontations. Just mind boggling this lady handled it this way.

They were making up some shite about faa regulations for kids 2 and under.

I'm browsing and don't see anywhere where the FAA says kids 2 and under must fly in the parents lap. Pretty sure that would be very dangerous.

That was Delta's mistake here.

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How did they know that that was not the child? Couldn't they just say this that child? How would the airline prove it wasn't?

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You're asking how they knew an adult passenger originally booked on flight B was moved to flight A in their records?

I also forgot Rule 1 with the wife....apologies

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Where was he? And what was he sitting in?

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Earlier flight. He was 18.

I am guessing the dad traded in for a newer model.

Why would they?

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I'm browsing and don't see anywhere where the FAA says kids 2 and under must fly in the parents lap. Pretty sure that would be very dangerous.

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True. Kids 2 and under CAN fly in a parents lap, but it's not required. I know for a fact that they are allowed to sit in car seats, my sister did this multiple times flying to and from NYC.