Posted on 01/22/2007 10:51:57 AM PST by MotleyGirl70
Meet Elly Kulesza, Terror Toddler.
In her finer moments—mainly when she’s on land — 3-year-old Elly is an adorable and sweet-mannered child, a blue-eyed charmer who likes to dance and harbors a particular fondness for Thomas the Tank Engine.
“She’s a typical 3-year-old,” said her mother, Julie Kulesza of 7 Primrose St. in Worcester. “She has her moments like all 3-year-olds, but she’s not like one of those ‘Nanny 911’ children you see on TV.”
Elly’s dad, Gerald Kulesza, is a full-time EMT in Boston who also attends nursing school full time, and he did so well last semester that Elly’s mom surprised her husband with a trip to Florida to visit his parents, who live in Bonita Springs. So on Jan. 11, the family flew from Logan Airport to Fort Meyers on AirTran Airways, and even though it was Elly’s first plane trip she behaved like a dream and spent most of the flight coloring in her coloring book and watching movies on a portable DVD player.
“She was great,” her mom remembered. “When we made our descent into Florida we could see the water and she shouted, ‘Look, mommy, there’s the beach where we go swimming,’ and everyone laughed.”
Yes, it was a heartwarming moment for all concerned, and the trip was great, too. The family swam and went sightseeing, and on Jan 14 they drove back to the airport for the return trip home. They checked their luggage — a suitcase and a car seat. As they waited for their flight to be called, Elly contentedly munched on a bag of Cheetos and watched out the window as the planes took off and landed.
Then came … The Boarding. Suddenly and without warning, angelic little Elly morphed into every parents’ nightmare.
Her mom thinks it may have been because of the ear surgery Elly underwent earlier this month, and perhaps her memory of the discomfort and ear pressure she endured during the plane’s descent into Florida. For whatever reason, when they got on the plane, Elly started to cry and wouldn’t stop. Nor would she sit down — she plopped herself down on the floor in front of her seat and proceeded to throw a temper tantrum.
“I was trying to console her and the stewardess came over and said, ‘Did you buy that seat for her?’ remembers Ms. Kulesza, 31, who is four months pregnant. “I said yes, and she told me my daughter needs to sit in it. I told her I was trying.”
Moments later, an AirTran Airways employee armed with a walkie-talkie addressed Mr. Kulesza.
“Sir, you need to get her under control,” she said.
“We’re trying,” Mr. Kulesza noted.
The passengers, meanwhile, were quite understanding and one of them offered the toddler a lollipop, which she rejected. Then the walkie-talkie woman returned to the Kuleszas’ aisle and displayed the raw tact and diplomacy of Donald Trump.
“Sir, you need to get off the plane,” she announced.
“What?” a stunned Mr. Kulesza asked. “Are you serious?”
“Sir, you need to get off the plane now.”
They got off the plane, while their luggage and car seat flew on to Boston. In the terminal they were directed to an AirTran supervisor, who told the couple that the stewardess was uncomfortable “because you have an unruly child who struck a woman on board.”
Mr. Kulesza was incredulous. “That was her mother,” he explained. “She hit her on the arm. Lady, this is a 3-year-old child we’re talking about.”
“Sir, we don’t differentiate between 3 and 33,” the AirTran supervisor replied. Mr. Kulesza said the woman proceeded to lecture him about child discipline, and how she would never tolerate her children behaving in such a manner, at which point Mr. Kulesza said, “You really need to stop talking now.”
The couple were also told that, since they had been ejected from the plane, they were banned from flying with AirTran for 24 hours. So they were forced to return to Bonita Springs for the night, and Mr. Kulesza missed a 16-hour work shift, and the next day they returned to the airport and can surely be forgiven if they fed their daughter enough Children’s Benadryl to fell a stallion. I exaggerate, perhaps, but it’s certainly what I would have done. In any case, Elly slept through the return flight home.
The incident has sparked varied responses from those who heard the story. While many people — mostly parents — sympathize with the Kuleszas, others are less inclined. For example, when I related the tale to an unnamed colleague and asked if he had ever heard of an airline bouncing a child from a flight he said, “No, but I’m all for it. Couldn’t they have checked her with the baggage?”
This colleague, as it happens, has no kids.
AirTran, meanwhile, has apparently had a change of heart. After the airline received a phone call Thursday from yours truly, an AirTran customer service rep called the Kuleszas, apologized profusely for the incident and refunded them the $595 cost of their tickets.
“We do believe the situation could have been handled differently,” said AirTran spokeswoman Judy Graham-Weaver. “We will use this case as a means to train our agents on dealing with this type of situation on our flights … While there are FAA regulations that mandate all passengers have to be securely fastened in their seat belts before a plane can depart, we need to work with our customers in situations like this to help them — and that is what we will focus on.”
Ms. Kulesza is appreciative of the response, but believes she could have calmed her daughter down, if given the chance.
“It wasn’t like she had a bomb strapped to her waist,” she noted.
AirTran also extended another offer to the Kuleszas — free airline tickets to the destination of their choosing. The offer has been declined.
“I said I appreciated it, but I told them not to bother,” Ms. Kulesza said. “We won’t ever be flying with that airline again.”
Crying on planes I can deal with (that's why, in part, I wear headphones). However...why can't people keep their kids from kicking the back of my seat?! Grrrrr
Oh and sorry I didn't memorize the little girls name
CD,s and headphones don't work well when one is trying to sleep ....
Oh, you're a mind reader.
Interpreting motives... We all have to do that when deciding if someone is credible. I don't see flight attendants just picking this family to hassle without cause. You have to assume that to believe this mother.
Your version seems more of a stretch to me.
Why I always try to get the seat in front of the exit row.
Oh and BTW ... shame on YOU for expecting me and forcing me to put up with YOUR kids
Good idea.
... the stewardess was uncomfortable “because you have an unruly child who struck a woman on board.”
Mr. Kulesza was incredulous. “That was her mother,” ...
“Sir, we don’t differentiate between 3 and 33,” the AirTran supervisor replied.
You don't think the airline personnel overreacted, a tad?
My kids are grown adults with children of their own. I just stated that they never once caused any trouble on a plane. They always were exceptionally well-behaved children, and are fine young adults.
SHAME ON ME? FOR WHAT?
I would NOT bring an adult on an airplane that had such a problem that they affected the peace of others. Getting sick whether it is an adult of child has NOTHING to do with what I am talking about ... do try to stay on topic.
Good.
Where were these policies when I was flying 5k+ miles a week?
This, imo, is the most relevant part of the article, particularly since the child was well behaved on the flight down. Yes, sometimes kids scream on planes because they're brats with lousy parents, but, more often than not, the issue is ear-related.
I always bring a box of child-sized Ear-Planes when I fly just in case there are any kids on the flight who develop any problems. If you've got a kid with ear infection issues, they're a Godsend. And, for the record, I'll take a screaming child over some of the rude businesspeople I've sat next to any day of the week.
Shame on you then for expecting anyone to put up with someone elses small child
ROTFL - Babies do much worse than merely fart. Only their parents find them tolerable to be around when they do. That says more for the strength of the parental bond than it does the pleasantness of the baby. :~)
Wear what you will, and I'll bring my kids. Oh but you should buy new clothes if they are uncomfortable. The sports coat carries passports, travelers checks and other papers, is great in a knife fight, and much needed at a good restaurant. I can go to Europe for two weeks in a medium sized suitcase, partially because I wear the coat instead of packing it.
They had to make a determination about whether this situation was likely to get better or worse as the flight progressed. They were there, I wasn't.
I never said not to bring the kids!
I dress rather nicely when the occasion calls for it.
I just figure flying isn't the same as going out to dinner, so I choose comfort. Although wearing it does save luggage space, I'll give you that.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.