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Home  >  Southwest Airlines  >  Southwest Airlines Flight Attendant Encourages Mother To Glue Mask On Face Of Two-Year-Old, Offers Glue Stick
Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines Flight Attendant Encourages Mother To Glue Mask On Face Of Two-Year-Old, Offers Glue Stick

Matthew Klint Posted onAugust 17, 2021August 17, 2021 26 Comments

Now we’ve seen it all…a Southwest Airlines flight attendant actually instructed a mother to use glue to secure a mask on the face of her two-year-old, at least according to the horrified mother. She even said she had a glue stick available. Why not just offer a stapler?

Southwest Airlines Flight Attendant Suggests Glue To Secure Mask On Two-Year-Old, Offers Glue Stick

Masks are annoying, but they buy us time…proper masks help to slow the spread of the virus, which keeps hospital beds open and gives us a greater chance to vaccinate more people.

But every decision we make in life boils down to a risk-benefit analysis and I’ve long denounced the militant manner in which Southwest Airlines has enforced the federal mask mandate for two-year-old children.

(In Southwest’s defense, it claims it is just enforcing the rules, though I think there is some legal wiggle room…)

Children are a low risk and asking every two-year-old to keep on that mask is simply unreasonable…but let’s not beat a dead horse.

Today’s twist occurred on a Southwest Airlines flight from Orlando (MCO) to Norfolk, Virginia (ORF). On August 12th, Ali Cleek and her husband were traveling with their four-year-old and two-year-old. While Creek did not have any trouble keeping a mask on Drew, their two-year-old, on the outbound journey, she would not keep her mask above his nose for the return.

On Instagram, Creek noted:

“Drew is a thumb sucker and her only way she biologically knows how to soothe herself is by sucking her thumb which is damn near impossible with a mask.”

When Drew would not keep her mask on, two flight attendants stood over her with one advising Creek to “glue it to her face” and even offering a glue stick!

While that may seem like dry sarcasm, Creek suggested  that the flight attendant was being serious and could not care less that both mother and child were crying.

Creek’s story has made headlines and she now has confirmed that Southwest called her and offered her an apology, saying it would counsel the flight crew.

Officially, however, Southwest only released this statement:

“The federal mask mandate for travelers has been in effect since February 2, 2021 and requires all passengers over the age of two to wear a mask at all times throughout the travel journey. We appreciate the ongoing cooperation among our customers as we work, collectively, to follow the federal mandate and support the comfort and wellbeing of all who travel with us during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“As a note, customers are reminded of the federal mask mandate multiple times prior to travel. Southwest provides reminders during the booking process on our website; in pre-trip emails sent to customers prior to departure; and as a part of a customer’s Health Declaration Form that must be acknowledged during the check-in process on the Southwest app, Southwest.com, Southwest’s mobile website, and airport kiosks.”

Sounds like nothing will change.

CONCLUSION

Whether in Kabul or Orlando, a little compassion goes a long way. Sometimes there are greater concerns than wearing a mask, which does nothing to diminish the importance of masks. Families should not be forced to drive because their two-year-olds cannot keep a mask on. Furthermore, flight attendants (of all people) should realize how difficult it is to travel with young children and pour on the empathy, not the sarcasm and threats in difficult situations.

(H/T: View From The Wing)

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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26 Comments

  1. Santastico Reply
    August 17, 2021 at 3:56 pm

    This mother should thank Dino Joe for this stupid mask mandate.

    • UA-NYC Reply
      August 17, 2021 at 5:33 pm

      Better to thank the anti-vaxxers and their right wing news sources/governors fanning the flames

      • Santastico Reply
        August 17, 2021 at 5:57 pm

        Darwin would tale care of those anti-vaxxers but the puppet in the basement is too weak to make that decision so he makes us vaccinated people to pay the price by wearing stupid masks that don’t do anything.

        • Aaron Reply
          August 19, 2021 at 3:08 am

          As if you are vaccinated.

      • Uncle Freddy Reply
        August 22, 2021 at 2:17 pm

        Excuse me but “thank the anti-vaxxers for fanning the flames”? You creatures are so sick and disturbed I can’t wait until you are burning in hell which will be soon if you took that kill shot. According to the “vaxx” manufacturers the only thing the shot is meant to do is “help manage symptoms” should you get COVID (fake disease, never isolated). That means you can still get it, you can still spread it and in fact now your body is a toxin manufacturing plant since your body has been recoded to produce spike proteins that shed to others. You have become a walking mass murderer and you received the mark of the beast. Have fun in hell!!!

  2. Marcus Reply
    August 17, 2021 at 4:10 pm

    These masker flight attendants should be facing time at correctional facilities for their abuse of the public’s goodwill and trust. Lock these FAs up.

  3. Jeff Reply
    August 17, 2021 at 4:21 pm

    Mask mandate has been extended till Jan 18th 2022. She can stock up on glue sticks now.

  4. CJ Reply
    August 17, 2021 at 4:55 pm

    “Children are a low risk and asking every two-year-old to keep on that mask is simply unreasonable…but let’s not beat a dead horse.”

    Our country is so fortunate to have so many expert virologists who never studied the subject in college, including the late Scott Apley.

    While I don’t condone what occurred on the SW flight, I do believe that adults have a responsibility to ensure that their families can conform to the current masking requirements before stepping on a plane, restaurant, etc. I know that the school district that I live in has asked parents to practice masking requirements and related with their children in case masks are required this school year.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      August 17, 2021 at 5:40 pm

      My son, four years old, wears a mask to kindergarten every day. He flies just fine with a mask. But he’s twice the age of a two year old…it just isn’t right for a two year old to be forced to wear a mask. We’re not talking about school age children.

      • Santastico Reply
        August 17, 2021 at 6:35 pm

        Think about your son. He doesn’t know his friends faces. That happened last year. Still happening again. Do you think it is a good way for him to make friends and develop social skills? Spoke with a top executive of a large talent search firm today. He was talking about how the mask and Zoom generation of workers will never have the ability to “read” a room during a meeting, to “read” face expressions which are very important for leadership. I feel bad for the generations that will come out of this madness.

        • Josh Reply
          August 17, 2021 at 8:16 pm

          You are totally right. The masks are detrimental to this generation both the young and the new people in the workforce.

        • Aaron Reply
          August 18, 2021 at 6:36 am

          They will survive. Plus many of the are allowed to take their masks outside, so they can see each other’s faces just fine.

      • KJG Reply
        August 17, 2021 at 10:56 pm

        I don’t know where you are getting your “facts” from but pediatric Covid cases are currently spiking in the US. There were 121,000 new cases last week and kids are dying from Covid. They are also walking around asymptomatic and transmitting it to others. Do you think covid will just say oh shucks it’s a toddler they can’t keep their mask up so I won’t invade or infect others?

        • Matthew Klint Reply
          August 17, 2021 at 11:08 pm

          First, I’m talking about children under four years old. They may spread it like adults (that’s unclear but conceivable), but they certainly do not contract it at the same rates as adults, according to most studies up to this point. But it really goes beyond COVID-19 risk.

          Second, why not force babies to wear masks from birth? The answer is because it does not work. It is dangerous and inhumane, even if it *would* protect others. It’s a cost-benefit analysis and I’m saying the arbitrary cut-off line should be a year or two older…

          • JBM
            August 18, 2021 at 9:28 am

            Actually, the reason we don’t have babies mask up is because of the way they breathe. It is unsafe to do so until later in development when the pyriform aperture has developed and the maxillary nasal angle has widened. This happens at 6 months old, but someone on high decided the threshold should be 2 years old. Nowhere in the calculus of the rule did anyone consider how reasonable it is to get a child to keep a mask on. Not considering that was a mistake, I think.

            (Feel free to review the initials on this paper, it’s my research on this part of development.)

            https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/fullarticle/2276787

  5. isaac Reply
    August 17, 2021 at 8:51 pm

    I agree its a DUMB law, but as long as its the law then either put up or drive or stay home. I think having to wait at a red light at 3am when there isnt a car coming in either direction is DUMB. If I stop and then proceed thru that red light and theres a cop hiding and sees me , you better believe Im getting a tkt, but it doesnt make sense, it doesnt have to its the law , go thru a red light if caught you will get a ticket. Ive yet to read a law that says that it only applys when there is on coming traffic in either direction

    So should the age be raised to say 6,7,8 or 9 YEP, but till it is dont fly if you arent 100% sure your child will remain masked for the duration of the travels = from entering the terminal till exiting the terminal where they arrive

    • Santastico Reply
      August 17, 2021 at 9:39 pm

      The dumb rule of waiting at a red light at 3am has been changing and where I live most of the lights blink yellow after a certain hour. That is similar to making masks optional for vaccinated people.

      • Aaron Reply
        August 18, 2021 at 6:37 am

        You are comparing apples to cell phones. Not the best comparison to be making.

  6. LatinB!tch Reply
    August 17, 2021 at 10:11 pm

    She needs the best attorney and sue Southwest and get those stupid flight attendants fired and a banned from all airlines.

  7. Caleb Reply
    August 18, 2021 at 9:36 am

    Where’s the personal responsibility for the parents? The mom: 1) knows the kids sucks her thumb, 2) should recognize that will pose an issue wearing a mask on a flight, 3) rethink flying if this is a potential issue. I’m not going to debate the reasoning for a 2 year to wear a mask (it’s dumb, they are way too young to understand) but the mom surely knew this was a requirement. Then why fly? I highly doubt that a 2 year old was flying for essential business or health needs. It looks like about an 11 hour drive between Norfolk and Orlando – a long day, sure, but doable if it’s that critical to travel. I struggle to understand why parents continue to put their kids in bad situations. Flying isn’t a right – it’s a privilege.

  8. Bruce Reply
    August 18, 2021 at 1:02 pm

    If a parent cannot instruct their two yr old to shut up and do as their told? This parent needs counselling and patenting skills taught. Its been 2 yrs. what has this parent been doing all this time?

  9. Crazy Old Man Reply
    August 18, 2021 at 1:19 pm

    Maybe it is just me or the time we have all endured. I was/am part of one of the vaccine trials. So I have been doing my patriotic duty for just about 10 months. As a country we have failed miserably at combatting this issue for the dumbest of reasons. I am tired of those with their fake exceptions. I understand that it is tough for a 2 year old or a 50 year old to to wear a mask for a long period of time. But that is where we are at people. Plan appropriately. Based on my bad attitude today I would have helped the FA glue that mask on, then I would duct tape his/her feet to the seat to avoid the complimentary back massage. Oh, and no seat switching if you cannot plan period. You family unit will be split over 10 rows of the plane. And one more, if you can’t lift it check it at the counter. Wow I need time away, lets book a flight…

  10. Mary Reply
    August 18, 2021 at 2:59 pm

    I stepped away and couldn’t not respond. I am so impressed with all of the experts on this post, from incorrect information on pediatric risks ( ICU beds are filling up in pediatric hospitals) , masks, and public health. Even if you don’t know what you are talking about, you have to fill up the space. So, blah, blah blah.

    I will continue to engage in safe practices. If that include a mask, so be it. You mind your business, and I will mind mine.

    • Santastico Reply
      August 18, 2021 at 3:55 pm

      Exactly. You are free to wear a mask and I am free to not wear one. You mind your business and I mind mine. BTW, are you one of those drivers that drive alone in your own car wearing a mask? Who knows, Covid may hit your windshield so better be protected, right?

      • Mary Reply
        August 18, 2021 at 6:04 pm

        So you need to get personal, and nasty? So adult of you. So intelligent.

  11. emercycrite Reply
    August 19, 2021 at 4:31 am

    Lols

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