So, my daughter has to fly frequently to Atlanta to visit her dad, unaccompanied. Really, its not rocket science, but Delta has alarming similarities to a facist government. And by the way, my daughter is super genius, and could totally probably fly the plane in an emergency situation, so its not like she could not handle flying without the unaccompanied minor thing, but BAAL and I do it b/c we are rule followers.
Case in point:
Last night, I took Dbot to the airport. I get there. They give me a really evil look when they pulled up her ticket and said "This ticket is not for an unaccompanied minor". *btw, BAAL had totally filled out the ticket as an unaccompanied minor when he purchased the ticket*
Me: "Okay"
So we fill out the paperwork, and I made up an address for BAAL, Drake's dad, b/c I did not remember exactly where he lived offhand. It took all of my self control to not write "666 Bendover Drive". I read the small print. Apparently, if its the last flight of the day, they can, with no other reason, refuse to take the child on the flight and if the child misbehaves, they can hold them until a parent comes to "retrieve them". I have no idea what that would entail.
I pay the fiddy dollah, b/c it costs and extra fiddy dollah each way for the unaccompanied minor.
Guy behind gate *scowling at Dbot*: "So, are you sure there is 50 dollars for the return?" (like she's a toaster).
Me: "Yes"
Guy behind gate to Dbot: "Put this unaccompanied minor button visibly on the outside of your clothing" (yellow star?)
When Dbot's flight arrived in Atlanta, BAAL waited patiently. Waited. Waited. After the gate closed, he consulted with a ticket agent who had no idea where our child was. Apparently, Dbot had been moved to a "special unaccompanied minor holding area". Finally, she was retrieved. The worst part? B/c of these shennanigans, DBot missed a burrito from Willy's.
I think Delta gets away with this shite because most parents that are estranged hate each other and just blame Delta's ineptitude on the other parent somehow.