Children lost at airport overnight
The lawsuit alleges that American Airlines “lied” to the mother and “lost her children.”
The passengers are suing American Airlines for “recklessness” and “negligence.” She claims the airline lost her two children overnight at the airport without food or water, or did not tell her for hours what happened to her children.
According to the complaint filed Oct. 31, Amber Vencil took her two minor sons on an American Airlines flight from Missouri to Syracuse, New York, on July 30, 2022, with a layover in Charlotte. That’s what it means. The two were supposed to be visiting their father’s family. .
At the airline’s request, Mr. Vencil purchased the airline’s unaccompanied minor chaperone service for $150 to assist the 14-year-old and 12-year-old in their travels.
by American Airlines websiteThis service includes early boarding, a children’s lounge, and airport escort until an authorized adult picks you up.
In the event of a delay or cancellation, the airline said it will call the adult to arrange an alternative flight or “arrange accommodations if your child needs to stay overnight if you are unable to make a connection.” . Food and supervision. We will contact you if this occurs,” the website states.
When the children’s connecting flight was canceled, the lawsuit says nothing happened to the family.
“There is no room for error for the children,” Elizabeth Eilender, an attorney with Jaroslawicz & Jarosz PLLC, who is representing Vencil, told USA TODAY. “We can replace luggage and golf clubs, but we can’t replace children.”
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The lawsuit alleges that American Airlines “lied” to Vencil about its policy promises and “lost his children.” Eilender said he had not heard back from the airline as of Wednesday afternoon.
American Airlines said in a statement to USA TODAY: “The safety and comfort of our customers, including unaccompanied minors, is our top priority, and we are committed to providing a positive experience for everyone who travels with us. I am working hard to do so.” “We are in direct contact with Ms. Vencil to discuss the details of the lawsuit.”
After the flight was canceled, Vencil’s partner and the children’s father, Ted, received a call from the airline saying he would put the minors on a flight the next morning, according to the complaint. According to the complaint, Vencil said she received an email on July 31 with conflicting information about a 5:21 p.m. flight.
Bensil said he called the airline, but there was no answer.
“It was very scary for the kids, but it was just as scary for Amber and her partner Ted,” Eilender said. “They were desperately trying to locate the boys.”
Vencil eventually contacted Charlotte Airport officials (not affiliated with American Airlines) and tracked down the children in the airport’s “lost children’s room,” according to the complaint.
The minors were denied food and water the night before and spent the night on a couch in a “freezing” room.
Vencil’s children boarded a plane to Syracuse, and their father arrived safely to pick them up.
The mother emailed American Airlines’ board of directors about the incident, but the only response from the airline’s customer representatives was an apology and a promise to refund only the unaccompanied minor’s chaperone fee. .
“She was hoping they would call her and interview the boys and figure out what happened so it wouldn’t happen again,” Eilender said.
The mother said the lawsuit would force American Airlines to “take responsibility” for providing such a service and failing to follow its policies, and that the company’s internal processes for how this service is handled. I would like to see a thorough investigation.
“It is unconscionable for American Airlines to provide chaperoning services for unaccompanied minors and then lose the child,” Eilender said.
Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. Please contact kwong@usatoday.com..