It was only last month that Southwest Airlines kicked off an autistic three-year-old for not wearing a mask. Over the weekend, Southwest kicked off a two-year-old for the same reason. His mother claims he was eating. I claim enough is enough…
Southwest Kicks Off Two-Year-Old For Not Wearing Mask
The incident occurred on a flight from Fort Myers (RSW) to Chicago (MDW) on Saturday.
Two-year-old Hayes boarded the flight and was eating a snack prior to the flight. On “multiple” occasions flight attendants told Hayes that the mask must remain on. His mother, Jodi Degyansky, insisted that he was eating. Flight attendants pushed back and said that he was “eating” only as an excuse not to wear a mask.
The flight eventually pushed back from the gate but returned after Hayes was “caught” again with his mask off.
Upon returning to the gate, Hayes and his mother were escorted off the flight. Southwest offered to rebook them on a later flight, but there were no direct connections available, so they booked on American Airlines instead at a cost of $600.
To complicate matters, Southwest did not enforce its mask policy on the way out, according to , Degyansky. She pleads for mercy:
“We are trying to get used to it, but he’s two.”
In fact, he just turned two a couple weeks ago.
Southwest Defends Child Mask Policy
Southwest, for its part, claims to be investigating the incident, but insists its policy is clearly-communized:
“If a Customer is unable to wear a face covering for any reason, Southwest regrets that we are unable to transport the individual. In those cases, we will issue a full refund and hope to welcome the Customer onboard in the future, if public health guidance regarding face coverings changes. Caring for others with our Southwest Hearts is at the center of everything we do, which is especially important during this pandemic. We appreciate the ongoing support and spirit of cooperation among our Customers and Employees as we collectively take care of each other while striving to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
This is its boilerplate response to any mask questions.
I Now View The Policy As Indefensible
Southwest clearly conveys its expectations. Even if an exception was made on the outbound flight, it does not mean an exception had to be offered on the return flight. Furthermore, Southwest Airlines is clearly within its legal rights to require customers to wear a mask, even as young as two years old.
But that doesn’t mean it is the right policy. As I study how other governments who have more successfully attacked COVID-19 than the USA treat masking children, I am increasingly convinced it is cruel and unreasonable to throw toddlers off flights for being unable to keep a mask on.
Look at other airlines around the world: young children don’t have to wear a mask. On Lufthansa, children under six are exempt. On British Airways, children under 11 are exempt. In fact, UK Department of Health strongly discourages face coverings for children under the age of three for health and safety reasons. On Cathay Pacific, children under six are exempt. On Emirates, children under six are exempt.
My assessment of this flight was that the kid probably couldn’t keep a mask on. The whole “he’s eating” thing is indeed just an excuse to keep the mask off.
But for goodness sakes, does the rest of the world have wunderkinds that don’t get sick? Or must we constantly conduct cost-benefit analysis to gauge risk? Perhaps asking very young children to keep on masks is simply not necessary in an environment with downward airflow and HEPA filters (and on Southwest, open middle seats)?
CONCLUSION
Masks can be helpful tools in the fight against the spread of any virus. But when we let rules overrule common sense, we wind up with headline after headline about two-year-olds being thrown off flight in the Untied States (and Canada). I think it’s time to be more lenient.
Do you think it is time to update the child mask policy at Southwest and other airlines?
My daughter turns 2 in a few months. We purchased award tickets before the mask requirement for toddlers but can’t get refunded without penalty. She will be a similar age as this toddler (2 years and 2 weeks) when we fly. There is no chance she can maintain a mask for more than a few minutes. We decided to take the risk of getting thrown off the flight rather than pay the cancellation fees (which the airlines is claiming would be a voluntary cancellation).
Which airline?
I really enjoy the blog except for the recent trend of stories about children.
They don’t choose to fly. Understand you have opinions as a parent but I’m not interested in these stories.
Your other topics including trip reports, airports, airlines and frequent flyer programs are much more interesting.
Respectfully,
Grant
Appreciate the feedback Grant. What I can promise you is that in any given day you will have at least three other articles to choose from. 😉
Southwest is drinking the Koolaid with all the rest of the idiotic US airlines. Seriously rethinking my LUV for SW and the credit card I have with them. It is time to move beyond acting retarded and grow up, Southwest! Sure, they have the right to require it but that doesn’t mean they should. The science is clear: Covid virus particles are not kept out by face masks. Even the CDC recognizes this. The only idiots who don’t are the airlines, the big box stores, and a few stupid governors. Oh, and Democrats.
Southwest should stand out from the crowd like they have historically: they should be the only airline that is not requiring masks.
No. Let the airlines err on the side of caution. Flying is not a human right. Staying alive and well as much as any individual can given the current chaotic responses to the pandemic is more important than the comfort of parents with small children who are likely to have a problem with the mask. Children can get and are getting dreadfully sick with a unique and devastating set of symptoms once they are infected. Can they be asumptomayic, too? I don’t know; science may not know either, yet. You want to test that? Why? Common sense is not the rule here. One mans common sense is another mans foolishness! Stay home with your young child and adhere to the rules of the business or organization taking risks of their own to provide the public with a service. So. No, I do not think the airlines should change their policies until they are satisfied with the data and the mass testing needed to show that it is safe or safer for all of their employees and all of their customers enclosed for hours in an inescapable space. I prefer the greatest good for the greatest number, which means I may not be able to do absolutely everything I want to do all the darn time either. None of us exists for the comfort of others. We have a social responsibility that when it conflicts with our personal needs or desires ought to defer. That’s called personal responsibility, something parents can begin teaching toddlers — by example.
I fully agree. If these guidelines were not well posted I’d differ but they are. Parents take the risk because SW offers the cheapest flights around. This parent and others know if their child can wear a mask or not. Matthew, you do. Would you risk the flight knowing the rules SW clearly state. No. Probably not. These parent know well beforehand what’s likely to happen.
I support SW for following thru on their guidelines and not waivering back and forth.
As Matthew stated in his article, the age of two has been arbitrarily made up by the CDC. And as some left wing koolaid drinker pointed out, the data is not out to verify at what age children should wear masks. So why two? Because that is the age at which SIDS drops off nearly completely. This helps with lawsuits for deaths blamed for masks. Not a function of proven lung development, or any other health reason.
Requiring humans that cannot control their emotions, cannot logically make decisions, and hate anything near or on their face, to wear a mask for 10-12 hours straight is ridiculous.
As far as requiring a mask, are we going to start requiring vaccination records after one is available?
I am very rarely one to come to the defense of children on airplanes, but I agree this is indefensible. I support mask wearing 100%, but I just don’t see how anybody can get upset about a two-year-old not wearing one. Wouldn’t a parent and a screaming child be permitted to visit the lav even if the seatbelt sign was on? I certainly hope so. Rules may be rules, but I think reasonable empathy should always apply.
Six does seem like a more reasonable age to me.
People carry germs, adults and children alike. Safety precautions should be enforced for all or none. It may sound cruel but if someone, anyone can’t conform to established rules for the increased safety of all then perhaps they should not be allowed in a social, higher risk setting. Kids will be kids, I get that but all it takes is one little spreader to potentially infect many. I’m certainly not a paranoid germaphobe but does little Madison/Savannah/Brooklyn/Cody/Bentley/Jaxon REALLY need to visit Grandma or Disney THAT badly in the current situation?
I agree and respect Southwest for sticking to their guns. When you start making exceptions then you get all kinds of crazy people asking for exceptions.
I cld not imagine trying to keep a mask on a child under age of 3. I fly southwest several times a yr and most recently last month. Before they worry about a 2 yr old they shld enforce the no bandanna as a mask rule and tell there staff that the masks are only effective if they fully cover their mouth and nose! I am a Healthcare worker and I was more concerned with the seeing the SW staff touch everything with there gloves on then take gloves off and touching the same surfaces that they just contaminated with dirty gloves. I’ll take a unmasked child up to 10yrs old over cross contamination with dirty gloves. They shld rethink their battles and re-educate on infection control.
On the surface, it seems easy to say that kids should be exempt, but where do we draw the line? Two? Four? Six? Then there will be parents who lie about ages, claim their child is developmentally younger, make claims that their child can’t wear it for one reason or another. What about children who appear to have the sniffles or a cough (and let’s all admit they are far less sanitary than adults in that area).
The only good policy is one that is uniform, consistent, and agreed to in advance, such as this policy is.
I agree with two things you said. I agree that enough is enough. And I agree that the child shouldn’t have been kicked off. I also believe that “enough is enough” for young toddlers to be allowed on planes right now. And likewise, I believe it is unreasonable that the two year old was kicked off because it was unreasonable that he was allowed on.
That was a sarcastic answer. But snarky, sarcasm aside, you have two young kids. Even if you can keep Augustines’ mask on, do you really think that he should be allowed to spread jerks the way that many two or three year olds do? Maybe your son can fly safely, but Airlines don’t know that.
It’s time for a bright line rule banning children under a reasonable age to fly during the pandemic, period. I don’t know what that age should be, but it should be an age old enough where he or she can not only wear a mask safely, but keep jerks away from other passengers. FAs shouldn’t be put in this position I agree with that. Mothers shouldn’t be in the position to make excuses for the child breaking the rules. And children shouldn’t be in the uncomfortable, maybe even unsafe, position of wearing a mask during the whole flight. And fellow passengers shouldn’t be in the position of flying with someone who doesn’t know how to keep their mask on or keep their jerks to themselves. It’s far from a perfect solution, but the alternative has been proven to be deadly.
Germs***substitute any reference to jerks for germs please.
Alan, I don’t dismiss your point, but what about essential events? Should families with young children be told they cannot attend funerals or visit loved ones on deathbeds until there is a vaccine, unless they are willing to drive across the country or buy three rows of seats? Doesn’t driving statistically put them at even higher risk of death?
Driving, from a general safety standpoint, does present a higher risk of death. But that’s not true when we talk about the COVID-19 world, or at least I don’t think so. Much more importantly, it doesn’t present nearly the same opportunities for them to pass it on, even if they stop for gas and food regularly. If they can’t do this, then yes, they might have to leave the kids at home when saying goodbye to loved ones, though it breaks my heart to say this. I’d love to find another way, and would love to hear any thoughts you might have.
And, to be clear, I’m not saying that we as regular adults shouldn’t fly. I’ve flown before, and I’d be comfortable flying any day. Heck, I’m sitting at a coffee shop (outdoors) as I say this, I’m totally in favor of reopening the economy and getting back to our lives SAFELY!
What 2 year old is gonna remember a Gramma or Grampa, who just passed away, that they have to get on a plane to see – what, maybe twice a year if that??
I usually agree with you Matthew but not about masks on children who can’t keep them on while flying. We just had a five year old Dallas boy die of the virus. They are not exempt from it.
Just curious, what sort of co-morbidities did the five-year-old have?
All these people say a child doesn’t need to fly. What about a 2 year old who hasn’t seen their daddy almost half a year due to serving this great country, in the military. We finally have a chance to fly and see my husband, his father, but I can’t, because my son who is 26 months old will not keep his mask on the whole flight. My 26 month old doesn’t understand why his father is not here and just wants to go see his father. Driving across the country is not an option, because I don’t feel safe traveling in a car that far with small children alone. Not because of
COVID, because of all the crazy ass shit that happens. I do not have someone to leave my children with to go see him alone. All my family and friends lives out of state. And honestly if people are that concerned about the virus, maybe they shouldn’t fly. It can go both ways. Other countries don’t have this limitations on face masks for kids 2 and over. I would be willing to do COVID testing, rapid test on my son before flight. Make them arrive few extra hours early to do a COVID swab, then if negative, they don’t have to wear mask. They are always better alternatives, and always a way to find a good compromise that suits everyone. Airlines are losing a lot of money and lay-off workers. More families would be willing to fly, if the rules on you d children weren’t so bad
Totally agree with your article . I have four kids , one is two all the others are fine mask wearing but 7 and older and wear all day at school every day. By four, they understand logic more and reasoning . I also view telling children they must place something over their face without them understanding as abusive , we wouldn’t let a parent hold a blanket over a child’s face but it’s ok to force a mask ? I have six flight credits from May and am afraid they will expire as we won’t force the smallest to wear .
Soooo grandma’s dying, and family would like to say goodbye…but they have a two year old…oh well, looks like grandma dies alone… maybe you shouldn’t fly of you’re so afraid of children…. yl
I usually go out of my way to avoid Southwest Airlines due to the convoluted boarding process and lack of upgrades, but this policy will make me explicitly seek them out and fly them more often. Kids spread Covid just as much as adults — in fact, some studies have shown that infected children’s viral load and level of contagiousness is significantly higher than adults. Southwest’s policy is very clear. If a parent has a child who cannot follow the policy, then they should obtain a refund and not fly on Southwest.
Good point.
Karen spoke, enough said.
But seriously, reading the reactions of some of these militant masketeers makes me wonder how they ever leave their house, even pre-covid.
Not a single one of them has a rational argument for why countries all over the world, most of them doing much better than the US in suppressing Covid, manage to let young kids fly without these grotesque spectacles,
The tone of the responses is of religious fanatics, with uncompromising devotion to the cause as a path to redemption. Enough. Why should kids be banned from flying because of your paranoia? Get a tranquilizer, or stay home.
I mean when and where will common sense prevail. I am fully supportive of mask mandates on those who are old enough to understand the need for them. Two and three year olds do not understand and unless you forcibly make them wear one it is just not feasible to demand it. It actually borders on abuse to suggest parents do this. Would it not make more sense to just let a very young child sit quietly in their seat as opposed to screaming and crying while being forced to wear a mask. After all wouldn’t more droplets of saliva get circulated into the airspace when a child is doing this.
I really find it hard to believe that the men and women who are enforcing these rules don’t have enough sense to realize this. It’s difficult enough for families to keep some type of normalcy in their children’s lives during this pandemic without adding such a ridiculous mandate about masks amongst the very young. It’s really ludicrous that people that claim to be doing what’s best for all don’t see this. Let’s all hope for a better solution until more people are vaccinated. Airlines are an essential business to all of us and I would like to see more solutions put in place than problems.
How does the enlightened world manage to make more reasonable exceptions while keep people from dropping dead in the streets?
Matthew, what does that question exactly mean? I don’t really know what you’re referring to here.
I was referring to this paragraph in my story:
Got it. And you’re not wrong. But that doesn’t mean that those airlines are doing the right thing. Maybe the UK is right and it’s unsafe, but that also means that it’s unsafe for the rest of the world to have those children on airplanes. I’m very comfortable flying on Southwest or another U.S. carrier, but I tend to agree with Tay that the rest of the world is behaving unreasonably toward children.
Maybe what needs to happen if children ABSOLUTELY need to fly is this. The child should pay the price for three rows of seating, every single seat that would be sold in those rows. Then, the child should not have to wear a mask, but should be allowed to fly only with people who live in their household in those three rows, enabling a full row in front of, and behind, the toddler to limit the germ spread. It’s not a good solution, but this is a deadly virus that we can’t take lightly, especially with those who might spread it the most. Or, dedicate the last 6 rows of economy to families, with a family pricing only, allowing two families and their children to fly on each flight.
I like your last solution, though I suppose the lavatories might create an issue.
The studies indicate that children might carry higher viral loads, that does not necessarily make them more contagious. My kids have been back in school for almost two months now, and there hasn’t been a single case of Covid, not one, despite students 10 and under not being required to wear masks. If children were more contagious, do you think that would be the case? I would add that my husband and I had Covid back in August, and neither of our children developed symptoms, despite being in the same house with us. We treated with high dose IV ozone, high dose vitamin C, and nebulized glutathione and were better in a week. If hospitals would actually think outside of their abysmal “standard of care” box and if people would take a little responsibility for their own health, then fewer people would be having such negative outcomes. Have you seen the study indicating that vitamin D virtually eliminates the chance of being admitted to the ICU with complications from Covid? Perhaps instead of worrying about whether a two year old is wearing a mask, maybe other passengers should be loading up on their vitamin D before flying.
I would add, the question isn’t if you’re going to get it but when? So if one is planning on flying and is that worried about a two year old sneezing, then maybe that person shouldn’t be flying in the first place.
Anyone, regardless of his or her age, can infect others with covid-19, even if this person may be asymptomatic. Be considerable of others onboard (especially those who are vulnerable) and learn to become a better human being. Do your part and let’s MAGA together!
The question remains is this about being a better human being or about fear mongering? Does throwing children off airplanes MAGA or does it make America even more of a pathetic basket case compared to nations which rightly (and more effectively) take the virus seriously yet balance other rights as well?
It is a fantastic question. One that I’ve been thinking about. I really believe that the former is true. There is simply no way for a toddler to safely blend in on the plane, and also, they can’t really choose to be placed in that kind of environment. They’re so young and vulnerable, it really isn’t fair to force them to either wear a mask on the plane or to be exposed, and ultimately expose others, to COVID when they really don’t know enough to make informed decisions. That isn’t about fear at all. It’s about doing what is right.
I completely agree. But it’s also not fair to expose the elderly on airplanes. They are more vulnerable. Along with toddlers, we should also ban anyone over 65 years old from flying.
I think elderly is different. That one is about fear. The difference is that most people who are elderly do have the ability to make informed decisions (not all) so they should be allowed to take the risk. That isn’t true with children.
This incident is not about fear mongering but about a child who didn’t comply with the policy. Now i get you can’t get mad at the kids who are 2 and won’t wear a mask. But at that point the parents shouldn’t bring him/her on the plane. It’s not a god given right to go on vacation.
The policy is definitely more strict than other countries. But the US airlines have decided to be more protective of the vulnerable instead of being more accommodating to the general flying population. While it probably seems egregious to all the mommies and daddies out there to throw the family off the plane. But if you let one family slide every family will want an exception. Then people with 4 years olds will want one. Then someone will want their emotional support donkey to not have to wear one. For a situation like this where half the county thinks Covid is a hoax I think the airlines have to go all or nothing…..or there’s no way to manage it.
Your point is reasonable…but you mention vacation. Would your viewpoint be any different if the trip was non-discretionary? It also seems you view U.S. mask policy as sort of retributive for the poor handling of COVID-19 early on.
And again, I go back to the other airlines I mentioned in my story (and there are many more). Is there a material difference in actual safety between flying, say, BA or AA to London? Would European and Asian governments really put their children and citizens at unnecessary risk if it is so important to wear a mask?
Sans a dying relative the family can drive or Amtrak. If it’s overseas fly those airlines you mention.
As far as other countries, it will be years before we know who was ultimately right and wrong….or more likely more right and less right. But what foreign airlines are doing has zero impact on the US policies and whether flyers need to follow them. I honestly think the airlines are being mask nazis because being overly aggressive is the only way to obtain compliance. Half the country thinks Covid is an overblown cold. Do we think most people would comply without the threat of being disboarded and banned? (Spoiler…the answer is NO).
But the truth is, as insane as it sounds we need to make a 24 month old child wear a mask as they can spread Covid as easily as you or me.
The whole situation sucks from all angles. I can’t wait until we can get back to complaining about kids being in First Class instead of them not wearing masks!
Isn’t it fair to question whether your opinion would be different if you didn’t have a 2 year old who can’t keep a mask on? Flying is a privilege, not a right. The parent knew the deal when they bought the ticket. Rules are rules
“Rules are rules” is too simple a way to look at the situation. Children enjoy many rights, exceptions, and obligations that adults do not have and vice versa. That is the nature of being a child and lacking the physical and mental faculties to be fully cognizant and exercise obligations commensurate with that knowledge level.
While I don’t dispute that airlines are free to insist that young children wear masks, I question the relative risk versus making them discretionary (1:4,300 risk of contracting COVID-19 on a full two-hour flight, 1:7,700 on a two-hour flight with blocked middle seats). I also think removing a screaming child from an airplane because he cannot keep his mask on exposes more people to germs and potential virus than letting a young child sit without a mask on. In that sense, I do believe fear plays a role in this.
I still believe the USA is culpable for botching the initial response to the virus:
https://liveandletsfly.com/demand-travel-accountability/
But at this point, I see the risk of children not masking as de minimis compared to the weekly dramas of planes returning to the gate over tiny children not wearing a mask.
Long-term, I hope masks can be avoided all together by rapid and reliable pre-flight testing.
The exception made for children in this case is that they are not required to wear masks if they are under 2 years old.
Indeed, an arbitrary exception.
So your exception should put the public at risk? Wrong.
No travel is essential, period. Flying by air is not a God-given right, no matter the reason. It is a privilege. Southwest’s policy is reasonable and I applaud the consistency. If the travel is considered necessary, there are other airline options (if they are willing to look the other way.) No exception to the policy is worth endangering others. If you can’t control your kids, perhaps you should think twice about bringing them in the first place. Or drive a car until this pandemic is behind us.
I am flying ultra-longhaul with my daughter twice in the next few months. First, when she will be 23 months old and a second time when she will be 26 months old. I’m extremely worried that the 26 month old will not keep her mask on for a 16 hour flight followed by a 3 hour flight? These are necessary flights so the choice of taking the flights when she’s older is not possible.
It is the responsibility of the parent to ensure the child’s compliance with regulations and policies (such as mask-wearing policies) necessary for the safe operation of the aircraft. If these flights are necessary and cannot be delayed, unless public health guidance changes, your only available option is to ensure that she wears her mask at all times during the flight unless she is actually eating or drinking.
I have an intellectually disabled 9 year old who also won’t keep mask on, although she will wear a shield. We’re essentially shut out of society until she’s vaccinated AND mask policies are rescinded. I’m fearful that they’ll stick around for a while even after we have a vaccine.
The examples of dying realitives as a reason air travel may be essential are valid, but even more valid is a kid traveling for specialized medical treatment. That’s a real thing and kids like my daughter would just be unable to go under the mask policies because they’re considered too dangerous to be in society. We need a way to make actual exceptions to the policy as soon as possible. I’m hopeful a vaccine will be here before too long though so it may wind up being moot.
There is absolutely no published science that says it is OK for a six year old to wear a mask versus a two year old. These different national or airline policies are all arbitrary. The other airlines are not better informed than the U.S. ones. Frankly, the more strict policy seems appropriate given the validated scientific studies saying that small children readily spread Covid-2.
When my father was dying, the hospital would not let anyone under 12 into the ICU. You can say that’s arbitrary since they didn’t evaluate the maturity of each child who would like to visit and say a last goodbye, but you have to abide by their rules that they have determined are appropriate. We cannot have individual rules.
Lunacy…
My 2 year old wears a mask more correctly and happily then most adults on the rare occasions we take her places she needs one. However she’s 2 so who knows when she’ll flip to refusing/screaming plus Southwest removing the direct flights to where we were going to go for vacation soon made us cancel our trip.
It’s unfortunate so many Americans have botched the handling of covid this long that we can’t have nice things now.
My three-year-old has learned to wear a mask. Thus, this isn’t even a personal issue for me. But to your last point, I think that is a non-sequitur. Forcing a two-year-old to wear to mask when they are far less likely to spread the virus because the Administration screwed up the initial COVID-19 response is a logical disconnect.
My kids are two and three. When we go to the store and similar places, they will wear masks. Sometimes they can keep them on for a long period of time, but then other times they only last for two seconds. Traveling is hard for anyone, so expecting tired, young children to keep masks on for an entire flight is unfair. We have chosen not to fly anywhere, but some people with young children need to fly places. There has to be a balance between taking precautions and making exceptions for those who have difficulty wearing masks.
SouthWorst
Change your heart sign
Humanize a little
LOL…. how true. I have always felt SWA (once they worked their way up to a “major” airline) became a power-tripping wannabe. They are soooooo inflexible in so many ways. Stop being policemen, psychologists and social workers just because you’re wearing that Home Depot or Walmart uniform no less. They have no problem (unprofessionally) singing and dancing in the aisles, making lame jokes etc., but they’re going to offload or divert a flight because of a two-year-old not wearing a face mask ? I do believe the parent should make every effort to have the child keep it on (ie., don’t give the kid snacks every 30 seconds), but realistically, who couldn’t have guessed that many small children are just going to rip it off every chance they get. Good grief, this country has become a case of jack-booted prison guards on every flight !
The policy is clearly written. People shouldn’t even be traveling with kids during a pandemic anyways.
Nobody other than medical workers should be allowed to travel now. Stay home, stay safe, flatten the curve.
Matthew – check out MIS-C by the CDC.gov for more information on its relation to COVID-19 and children.
I have in the past. Scary stuff. Was that the cause of death?
Is there even one instance of a super-spreading event on a flight? It is stupid to make a fuss over children wearing masks while ignoring all of the adults who handle them in a manner that renders them completely useless for their alleged purpose. I’ll gladly sit next to anyone on a plane who is not visibly sick, masked or not, unless he is wearing BLM paraphernalia.
This same situation just happened to my two year old and I this past Sunday on southwest. I am sickened.. we were at the gate about to walk on the plane and I get told my daughter needs to keep her mask on or I can’t board… I was respectful and said “of course, I will do my best to keep it on, no problem.” I was now nervous and basically fighting my two year old to keep her mask on right at the gate so we could get on. She is now on the floor crying saying “no mommy, no mask!!” While everyone in line boards in front of me. I was in tears seeing my daughter like this, forcing her to wear a mask, trying to hold it on her face, bribing her.. doing everything I could.. I was in tears as 5 southwest employees just watched and stared at me and my daughter. As a mother, and a pediatric nurse… this is not right. She just learned how to use a potty.. but learning the concept of wearing a mask covering your nose and mouth, making you feel constricted for three hours… these two year olds do not comprehend the situation going on in the world right now. As adults we can’t stand them.. what does a child think?? The age of two is entirely unreasonable to have this policy on flights… 5 minutes after they slammed the doors on me (10 minutes early) my daughter had her mask on .. she said “mommy ready for the plane now.” The mommies need time to work with their babies, and I’m sure if I was able to sit in my seat on the plane I could have talked with her while she was calm and she would of put her mask on… not in the chaos at the gate with bags and boarding passes and id’s and a stroller… not possible.. making her go through that was ridiculous and I feel like a shitty mother.. fighting her for reasons that aren’t right. They are too young. This policy has to change. And to the people that say us with children should not fly and don’t need to… Sometimes we just have to for certain reasons that don’t have to be explained! I was left in dc, with my bags on the departed plane and was forced to buy another ticket with American Airlines… 600$ later that gave me the same exact problem… I don’t even know how I made it back home.. that day was like a blur and I am so sickened how these airline employees are handing this with their nasty tones with people and no respect or compassion. Power trip I guess…
I love and care for everyone’s health and well-being.. but this is unreal. The kid has been on this earth for two years for god sake. They don’t understand.