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A 16-year-old teenager was traveling alone from Tampa International Airport (TPA) to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) on December 22nd. A Frontier Airlines gate agent accidentally boarded him on the flight to San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) versus the Ohio flight he should have been on.
Logan Lose, 16, was flying for the first time on his own to see his mother in Cleveland. His correct flight was departing at the same time and out of the same gate as the one he got on. The boy texted his father upon landing. Logan’s father, Ryan Lose, told NBC Nightly News:
I could feel the fear in the text messages. I could feel how scared he was. My heart pretty much sank at that point because there was nothing I could do.”
Frontier put Logan on a flight to Cleveland the next day and he made it to see his mom on December 23rd. Unlike most US carriers that have procedures for unaccompanied minors, Frontier allows children ages 15 and older to fly alone without having to pay extra or use an airline program to tend to them.
This is not the only incident of a child being sent to the wrong destination. Earlier this week, I wrote about a six-year-old boy who was sent to the wrong Florida airport by Spirit Airlines (more here). The carrier has since terminated the gate agent that made the mistake (more here). I wonder if Frontier will follow and fire this agent.
Anthony’s Take: I have no idea how this has happened again. There should be manifests and passenger counts. The gate agent here, like the Spirit Airlines one, made a mistake, but this could have been a bad one for this teen. Hopefully, other gate agents take a moment to double check in the future.
(Image Credit: NBC News.)
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1 comment
The teen got to the gate prior to the 7:59 pm San Juan departure. His flight was the 10:15 pm to Cleveland. He asked if “the flight was boarding” (hey kid, chill out for 2 hours!). The gate agent, in a rush, said yes and inspected his carryon. The teen claimed he showed the agent his boarding pass but was told “ok” while the agent was busy seeing if the bag was compliant.
The mother was there and phoned her ex-husband telling him that the teen was boarding. Shortly afterwards, the teen’s smart 9 year old brother in Cleveland deducted that he’s on the wrong flight, headed to San Juan. Dad calls the teen but he has turned off his phone but not yet taken off.
The airline contacts the captain in flight, who says he will look after the kid.
The teen needs to learn some sense from gis younger half brother. Don’t be one track minded and think your flight is the only one using the gate and is leaving more than 2 hours early.
Info from CNN