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Mama could have taken the first available flight with the little one rather than them trying for the entire family together.

DING-DING-DING!! That is the right answer.

Years ago we were on the verge of getting stuck in the Atlanta because of an ice storm. The contingency plan was for Momma to go out with the baby and I would stay behind with the older two. If space was available take the middle child. If space was still available take the oldest. Then and only then would I get on the plane.

The DW go on the last flight home with the two youngest. Just before the door closed they found two more seats and the entire family got home late that night.

Point is, you have to plan and adjust fire as needed.

These folks had no plan. If they did they would have stayed home and had a staycation. We had to do that one summer. We didn't have the money to send them all to camp so the DW had what she called Camp-What-a-Momma. Every day for a week she did something fun with the kids. Parks, crafts, museums, marshmallow roasts in the yard. They had a blast.

Now my question is this, what were they doing in Utah. I'm sure it's a lovely state, but why Utah?

1. They are Mormon and wanted to go for some religious reason. Fine. I thought the Mormons take care of their own. They couldn't call someone to marshal resources?

2. They were visiting friends or family in the area. They couldn't get back to their house to to stay overnight and get some food?

3. They just wanted a vacation. Well I want a pony. Doesn't mean I get one.

The thing most non-industry buddy-pass flyers don't understand is that the non-rev system is tiered with some airlines. So just because they've been stuck there for 6 days does not mean they will ever get any closer to the top of the list. At the airline I used to work for, it was NR-5, NR-6, NR-7 and NR-8. Within each category, the traveler is selected by the company seniority. NR-5 were traveling on company business. NR-6 were the retirees (this has since changed). NR-7 were active employees. NR-8 were buddy passes. So if you are an NR-8 and your friend's seniority number is August 2011, you are pretty much at the bottom of the NR-8 list. And even if you've been there waiting for a flight every day for a month, anybody who is a NR-7 and shows up is always going to be ahead of you.

And Salt Lake is horrible to pass ride out of... so many employee commuters live there and everyone has a huge family with 6 children.