Boy, 9, forgotten at Chicago Airport

[Flashback]

Boy, 9, forgotten at Chicago airport - Travel - News - msnbc.com

A nine-year-old boy was forgotten in a Chicago airport waiting room Saturday for nearly eight hours after an airline representative failed to put him on a connecting flight, the Ottawa Citizen reported.

Julien Reid was headed home to Ottawa on a United flight after visiting his dad in San Francisco, a trip he makes about six times a year.

He left San Francisco at 6 a.m. and arrived at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport at 11 a.m. He was supposed to catch a connecting flight from Chicago to Ottawa at 1:50 p.m., which would have put him in Ottawa at about 4:45 p.m.

 

[samh004]

I’m not a fan on LOTFAP’s sue for everything approach, but in this case, I think it’s deserving!

What a screw up. Even worse, their child minding practices have been exposed… they might need to rethink how they look after kids.

 

[simongr]

What would you sue for? What damages would apply?

 

[samh004]

What would you sue for? What damages would apply?

I wouldn’t sue for anything, it’s not my kid, but I’m sure the lawyers there could think of something wrong with the way things were handled

 

[Bundy Bear]

Boy, 9, forgotten at Chicago airport - Travel - News - msnbc.com

Surprised the kid waited a few hours before asking about his connecting flight, its not as though he is new to flying having done the trip 6 times already.

One of the parents should have done the traveling themselves, if only to pick up the frequent flyer miles.

 

[simongr]

I’m not a fan on LOTFAP’s sue for everything approach, but in this case, I think it’s deserving!

I wouldn’t sue for anything, it’s not my kid, but I’m sure the lawyers there could think of something wrong with the way things were handled

Hence I am a little confused. Your first post is "Sue!" but the second "I wouldnt sue but am sure they could find something"

 

[Must...Fly!]

Anyone else think of Home Alone when they saw this?

It's even in Chicago too

 

[Flashback]

Anyone else think of Home Alone when they saw this?

It's even in Chicago too

Was the first thought that came to mind!

 

[samh004]

Hence I am a little confused. Your first post is "Sue!" but the second "I wouldnt sue but am sure they could find something"

I don’t know what Americans sue for these days, but I would think sending your child as a UM on connecting flights, and then your child being bumped, or just forgotten about, and also having special dietary requirements, but then being given maccas, would amount to some reason to sue.

I said I’m not a fan of it, but I don’t think the airline should get away with such a stuff-up (for lack of a much better word) scott-free. They need media attention and a change t practices, that generally happens when someone sues and is stubborn about it.

And I meant I wouldn’t sue as my name is Sam and I don’t have a child. If I was Canadian/American and it was my child, then perhaps I’d consult a lawyer. But your specific question was what I’d sue for… well I’m not sure, I’m not a lawyer and have no knowledge of that area of the law. Anything I could say I was suing for would just be me speaking out of my…

 

[Siegfried]

Basically, the airline has a duty of care to the UM. Failing to put him on the correct flight would be a breach of that duty. The resultant "mental distress" to the child and / or parent would be the basis on which damages would be assessed. Probably a better chance of success in US than if something similar happened here in Aus.