No doubt United staff over-reacted and need sensitivity training to those with disabilities, but I'm not sure the family did everything they could on the front end to prevent this situation.

She didn't eat her hot dinner during the layover? Bag it up for later on the plane just in case.
She likes salty snacks, such as chips? Why didn't the parents' arsenal of preferred snacks contain potato chips?

In clicking around and reading mom's FB page, she seems to be a pretty active advocate and wow wouldn't some media attention be swell?

Signed,
Social Worker for individuals who have autism and other disabilities

If the kid can't behave on a flight, then she shouldn't be flying. I don't understand why the whole world has to bend over backwards for kids with mental disorders or behavioral issues.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would have been the big deal if the fight attendent gave her some hot food from first class? Is that really such a big deal? Did they really need to divert a plane over this request?

The teen was given the hot food accommodation. They were escorted off due to the potential for disruptive behavior while in flight. There was a flight safety concern.

But any person has a potential for disruptive behavior. If this is the case, then the mom does have basis for a lawsuit--her child was discriminated against due to her autism. There was no actual disruptive behavior.

Using your logic, it's OK to say there is a bomb on the plane, and when there is not, cry discrimination because "no actual bomb was found"

There was an easy way to prevent this, either feed your kid before you get on the plane, or fly first class. If they would have done either, there would be no story. Instead, she demanded special treatment (regardless of what it was) and caused a lot of people to put up with a hassle because "It's all about her"

If YOUR kid has special requirements, YOU should handle them, not demand that everyone else make an exception.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The mother paid for the food. She wasn't asking for it for free. The child never got upset, according to the article I read.

Since most people are cranky and self-focused on airplanes to begin with, the fact that almost all the other passengers sided with the family is significant.

Doesn't matter if the other passengers sided with the mom.

The mom violated safety rules by stating that her daughter might be a potential threat and capable of hurting people if she didn't get some hot food from first class.

They got booted off for that and rightly so.

There's a safety rule that if you anticipate a safety problem you shouldn't tell the flight attendant? Are you sure about that.

There were 2 people (the girl's parents) between the girl and any other passenger. Yes, it's possible the girl would have scratched her own parents. Yes, that's something to be avoided, but it's different from a "potential threat". Otherwise, almost every 2 year old on a plane would be considered a "potential threat'.

There is a big difference between a 2 year old tantrum and a teenage tantrum.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would have been the big deal if the fight attendent gave her some hot food from first class? Is that really such a big deal? Did they really need to divert a plane over this request?

The teen was given the hot food accommodation. They were escorted off due to the potential for disruptive behavior while in flight. There was a flight safety concern.

But any person has a potential for disruptive behavior. If this is the case, then the mom does have basis for a lawsuit--her child was discriminated against due to her autism. There was no actual disruptive behavior.

I don't understand exactly why in the world they needed to divert the plane. I wasn't there, so I don't have all the facts but from what I've read and what I've heard on the radio, the parents asked to pay for a hot meal from first class, because first class was the only section that got hot food. Then they asked for the food to be warmed.

Why can't people act like civil human beings and help people out? Just because you have power and can do something, doesn't mean you should. How hard is it just to heat up the food? I remember when I was no longer breast feeding and would ask for my daughter's formula bottle to be warmed in the microwave or if we could put it in hot water (that comes out of the coffee machine). 99% of the time a FA would say sure, no problem. But 1% of the time there was always someone with an attitude, and would say no. Why?

I've been on flights with disruptive children (once had police meet us at the gate at Dulles over just really rowdy kids who were throwing m&ms everywhere and the parents wouldn't control them), i've had screaming babies, I've seen drunk passengers, i've seen twice someone get up during the take off at National because they were freaking out over panic attacks (a big no no), I've seen really loud and obnoxious people, I've even seen someone light a cigarette in the middle of coach. But never has the plane been diverted.

I would be so pissed as a fellow passenger to have my travel planes disrupted over this. It seems what started off as a slight attitude from the FA and probably frustration with the parents escalated. We've all been there, SN or not, where someone is customer service just is being unreasonable and you get upset, probably more than normal. IMO the fault lies with the airine, the situation could have been handled much better.

Anonymous wrote:What would have been the big deal if the fight attendent gave her some hot food from first class? Is that really such a big deal? Did they really need to divert a plane over this request?

The teen was given the hot food accommodation. They were escorted off due to the potential for disruptive behavior while in flight. There was a flight safety concern.

Anonymous wrote:http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/family-kicked-flight-after-daughter-autism-deemed-disruption-n356811

my favorite part of the story - b/c THAT makes all the difference in the world

lol

bottom line - Your kid was being a pain in the ass.

The woman, Dr. Donna Beegle of Tigard, Oregon — a prominent advocate for anti-poverty programs who frequently consults with state and federal government agencies — was returning home with her family from a trip to Walt Disney World last week when her daughter Juliette became agitated because she was hungry during a layover in Houston, Beegle said.

What would have been the big deal if the fight attendent gave her some hot food from first class? Is that really such a big deal? Did they really need to divert a plane over this request?

Anonymous wrote:I am sorry, but I would rather a teenager not have a melt down in mid air. Especially one who scratches people...or worse. Its not like I can get up and walk away.

I agree, I don't know why the flight attendant was being such an ass.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The mother paid for the food. She wasn't asking for it for free. The child never got upset, according to the article I read.

Since most people are cranky and self-focused on airplanes to begin with, the fact that almost all the other passengers sided with the family is significant.

Doesn't matter if the other passengers sided with the mom.

The mom violated safety rules by stating that her daughter might be a potential threat and capable of hurting people if she didn't get some hot food from first class.

They got booted off for that and rightly so.

This makes no sense to me. The mom was explaining the reason behind her request.

Anonymous wrote:I am sorry, but I would rather a teenager not have a melt down in mid air. Especially one who scratches people...or worse. Its not like I can get up and walk away.

And she didn't. Sooooo.....?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The mother paid for the food. She wasn't asking for it for free. The child never got upset, according to the article I read.

Since most people are cranky and self-focused on airplanes to begin with, the fact that almost all the other passengers sided with the family is significant.

Doesn't matter if the other passengers sided with the mom.

The mom violated safety rules by stating that her daughter might be a potential threat and capable of hurting people if she didn't get some hot food from first class.

They got booted off for that and rightly so.

There's a safety rule that if you anticipate a safety problem you shouldn't tell the flight attendant? Are you sure about that.

There were 2 people (the girl's parents) between the girl and any other passenger. Yes, it's possible the girl would have scratched her own parents. Yes, that's something to be avoided, but it's different from a "potential threat". Otherwise, almost every 2 year old on a plane would be considered a "potential threat'.

Anonymous wrote:The mother paid for the food. She wasn't asking for it for free. The child never got upset, according to the article I read.

Since most people are cranky and self-focused on airplanes to begin with, the fact that almost all the other passengers sided with the family is significant.

Doesn't matter if the other passengers sided with the mom.

The mom violated safety rules by stating that her daughter might be a potential threat and capable of hurting people if she didn't get some hot food from first class.

They got booted off for that and rightly so.