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A Florida mother has alleged that American Airlines “lost” her two small children and confined them in a jail-like room overnight without access to basic necessities such as food, water, blankets, or pillows after their flight was cancelled.
Amber Vencill initiated a legal case in New York, alleging that the airline displayed recklessness, carelessness, and negligence towards her sons and violated their policies while the boys were in their custody.
According to David Jaroslawicz, the attorney representing Ms Vencill, the most troubling aspect was that they were at an airport and could have been transported to any location.
According to him, the boys are currently afraid of flying because they fear being “lost or left behind.”
“He mentioned that they were at an airport surrounded by various nuts,” she shared.
On July 30th, 2022, Ms. Vencill’s two sons, aged 10 and 12, were traveling without adult supervision on a flight from Missouri to Syracuse, New York. Their journey included a layover in Charlotte, North Carolina.
According to the lawsuit obtained by the outlet, two boys known as J.V. and R.V. were on their way to meet Ms. Vencill’s partner, known only as Ted, and other family members in New York. However, their connecting flight in North Carolina was repeatedly delayed and ultimately cancelled.
Reportedly, American Airlines contacted Ted, who was designated to collect the children upon their arrival in Syracuse, and informed him that the children would be taking a flight the following day at approximately 9am.
However, Ms. Vencill was uncertain about which flight her sons would be placed on due to conflicting information from the airline. In an email received at 11:30pm on July 30th, they were informed that they would be traveling again at approximately 5pm the following day.
According to Insider, Ted was informed that the two boys would have a comfortable room for unaccompanied minors with beds and a private bathroom.
However, according to the lawsuit, the boys were supposedly abandoned in a room for lost children which was extremely cold and comparable to a prison cell.
An airport employee provided food and drinks to two children.
The two kids supposedly stayed on a couch with the lights on in the room for the entire duration while they waited for their next flight.
According to the lawsuit, Ms. Vencill attempted to contact the airline while her sons were at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, but was unsuccessful in reaching them using the given phone number.
The concerned mother was able to communicate with a friendly airport employee who helped her reach her sons.
According to her son, they had not consumed any food or drink since the previous evening, including the usual pretzels or snacks provided by the airline.
The employee is being sued for allegedly providing food and drinks to the two boys.
The American Airlines website states that in addition to the ticket price, there is a $150 surcharge for unaccompanied children.
The website mentions that children will be accompanied to and from the gates. Additionally, there is an area called the “unaccompanied minor lounge” where children can wait and engage in games while waiting for a connecting flight.
“If, by chance, your child is required to stay overnight due to a missed connection, we will provide overnight lodging, meals, and supervision. We will notify you if this situation arises,” states the website.
According to Ms. Vencill’s lawsuit, she eventually reached out to a customer service representative from American Airlines who apologized and reimbursed her the $150 fee for her child traveling alone.
According to Insider, the lawsuit stated that the defendant’s response to their failures was particularly offensive. Rather than taking responsibility, they only provided a insincere apology and a refund. This essentially conveyed to the plaintiff, “we’re sorry we lost your children, but here is your money back.”
How can the unaccompanied minor service be improved or avoided in the future?
The legal action is also alleging that American Airlines failed to conduct an inquiry into the incident and is requesting an undisclosed sum for compensation.
According to a statement from American Airlines to The Independent, the company is committed to ensuring the safety and comfort of all customers, including unaccompanied minors, and strives to provide a positive travel experience for all.
“We have directly contacted Ms. Vencill and are currently reviewing the details of the lawsuit,” the airline stated.
Source: independent.co.uk
