KRISTA IS FINALLY HOME!!!

Krista is finally home. Here is the entire ordeal, you can read it here first before it is published in the major newspapers ;o).

Detail of events for Alaska Airlines:

Due to the eruption of Mt. Redoubt Alaska Airlines was cancelling and diverting flights. Our daughter was scheduled to come in on Thursday March 26th, 2009, but due to an eruption the flight was cancelled and she was rebooked for Saturday March 28th, 2009.

March 28th, 2009 Called Alaska Airlines hotline to confirm that our 14 year old daughter who was flying on a regular ticket would be allowed to board the plane in Chicago, due to a Posting on the Alaska Air web site stating the following:

“Flights in and out of Anchorage and intra-Alaska may experience delays or cancellations due to the eruption of Mount Redoubt. Also, until further notice, Alaska Airlines is not accepting unaccompanied minors or pets traveling to or from Anchorage or Fairbanks, Alaska and cargo shipments may also be delayed or canceled.”

The agent that we spoke to asked if she was flying on an “unaccompanied minor ticket” we stated no she was not but she was a minor and no adult would be flying with her. The agent assured us there would be no problem. We then contacted her mother and grandmother in Chicago and told them to proceed to the airport as Alaska said that they would allow her to fly. Once the Mother and Grandmother arrived at the Airport the Agents issued her tickets with no warnings and issue her Mother and Grandmother passes so they could escort her to the gate. Once at the Gate Alaska Airlines made an announcement that there was a possibility that the plane may be diverted to Fairbanks, Alaska and if you didn’t want to go there or could not afford a rental car or a hotel in Fairbanks do not board the plane. Her Mother and Grandmother at the point contacted my husband, her father, and confirmed that we would be able to pick up our daughter in Fairbanks if needed, we confirmed that we would gladly pick her up in Fairbanks if the plane had to divert there. They boarded our 14 year old on the plane along with 3 other minors and left Chicago O’Hare Airport.

Midway through the flight there was another eruption and instead of flying to Fairbanks they diverted to Seattle. The fact of the matter was there was no reason to divert to Seattle as Fairbanks was clear of the ash path and Alaska Air would’ve been able to fly around the Ash cloud and land in Fairbanks, but they chose to divert to Seattle where there were already thousands of stranded travelers from earlier diverted flights. Seattle was not mentioned in Chicago as a possible diversion city, or we would not have allowed our 14 year old to board the plane. Once we were aware that the plane was diverting to Seattle we immediately got on the phone and called Alaska and informed them of the situation, they informed us at that time of the 3 other minors also aboard the plane with out Adult supervision/guardians and where given a direct line to a special agent who would assist us with getting her booked home. We contacted the special agent and asked what would be done with our daughter and were informed that we had a few choices: 1) We could immediately send her back to Chicago. 2) We could leave her with a gate agent and they would put her along with the other 3 minors up in a hotel and then “try” and get them out to Anchorage or Fairbanks the next morning. Or 3) If we had family in the area they could come and get her, she would still remain on priority status and they would get her to Anchorage or Fairbanks along with the other 3 minors on the very next plane.

This did not happen. What happened was her Aunt and Uncle came and retrieved her from the airport. We contacted our special agent and started getting her rebooked and informed the Agent that she was with her Aunt and Uncle. It took the agent several days and several tries to get her booked. We where told to have her to the airport by 4am, no later than 5am or they would give up her seat on the 6am flight on the Monday am jet. Her Aunt got up at 3:00am to get them to ready and to the airport by 4am. They arrived at the airport at 4am to check in and were told by the gate agent that they would not accept her, as she was an unaccompanied minor. Her Aunt explained what we had been told and explained the situation the agent still refused. Her Aunt then called her father who called Alaska explaining the situation and what we had been told by Alaska Airlines that she was priority and that they were to allow her on the plane. He went through several agents and supervisors. They then told us that because we had a relative come and pick her up that Alaska Airlines was no longer responsible for her but if we would like to pay to have her Aunt fly up with her and then fly back they would sell us a reduced rate ticket, or if we wanted to pay to have either her father or I fly down and fly back up with her they would sell us a reduced rate ticket. This was an outrage!!! If we didn’t do this or find another adult who would accept responsibility for her then she would have to either stay in Seattle or go back to Chicago. Fortunately for us we knew of a co-worker who was also stranded in Seattle and had been since Thursday of the prior week, we contacted him, he agreed to go, and was overjoyed to be getting on an earlier plane, as he was not booked out until Wednesday, and they rebooked them on the 9am flight out of Seattle. What happened to the other 3 minors who had no family you ask? They were kept with a gate agent, a stranger to them, in Seattle at a hotel, and they were given priority and booked out on a flight Sunday night back into anchorage, but because we choose to have her stay with family Alaska refused at that point to take responsibility for their actions and failed to make good on their promises and we almost had to pay extra just to get her home.