JetBlue Temporarily Loses a Child
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A woman paid $100 for JetBlue to safely escort her five-year-old son from the Dominican Republic to JFK airport in NYC. But her boy was sent to Boston, in exchange for another boy who landed in JFK., according to The New York Times. JetBlue issued a statement:
"On August 17, two unaccompanied children of the same age traveling separately from Santiago, Dominican Republic - one to New York JFK and one to Boston - each boarded a flight to the incorrect destination. Upon learning of the error, our teams in JFK and Boston immediately took steps to assist the children in reaching their correct destinations. While the children were always under the care and supervision of JetBlue crew members, we realize this situation was distressing for their families."
The JetBlue representative also said, "We are also reviewing the incident with our leadership and Santiago airport team to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future." The company refunded the child's ticket and gave the family $2100 is vouchers for future flights.
On a webpage, Families in Flight, JetBlue gives parents tips for traveling with children, including a page with pick-up and drop-off requirements for "kids flying solo."
Discussion Starters:
- How did JetBlue handle the situation? Consider the statement and compensation. Should the company have said or done something differently?
- Since this writing, we haven't heard anything about the other boy, which may start a new round of news stories. What, if anything, should JetBlue say at that time? The company should be preparing for it.
