“ Passengers who were stranded were given a hotel voucher. However, because the students are either 17 or 18 years old, they are too young to get a room, so they had to spend the night at the airport.”
Well, there was a way (parents’ credit card works well) but let’s say no hotel wanted them. Poor airport personnel who had to endure these “kids” all night long.
Many hotels will not book a room for anyone under the age of 18, and in some places, you have to be 21. But yes, I agree, I can only imagine their behavior after that, while staying in the airport all night.
I’m very puzzled… it sounds like a group of 30 HS students was supposed to fly to the Bahamas - and all by themselves -? What kind of parents would let their teen go on this type of a trip?!
Ones that do not own helicopters?
I’m perplexed. Why is American rescheduling these folks who defied the rules at all.
Those ‘kids’ should have been put on the next flight home, charged to the credit card with which the original flight was booked. Then they should be put on a no-fly list for 5 years. Kids who are so irresponsible as to do this should not have been on a non chaperoned trip. If I lost an expensive hotel room night or missed a cruise, I’d sue one of the little punks’ parents in small claims court.
Well, probably not a flight home if they won’t wear masks. Hitchhike? Bus? (Though I think buses still require masks too?)
I hope they are on a no-fly list just like adults who refuse to follow the rules should be.
Maybe make their parents/guardians come and fetch these entitled brats. If they need hotels, parents can pay that too.
It’s just so frustrating when flights are canceled or sent back to the departure airport because of passengers who are misbehaving. All those other people with plans spoiled for something stupid like that! It’s just one more thing to worry about in addition to bad weather, mechanical problems etc. Too bad they couldn’t just drop the kids off and take off again.
If my vacation was postponed from these entitled brats I would gotten a name or two and probably stalked their parents on facebook and sent a non too kind message on messenger. If either of my kids ever had behaved this way, the consequences would have been harsh. Though I am so surprised that with this large a group and not all of them 18 that there was no parent chaperones. Most Senior trips had a few parents also go. How did they get a hotel in the Bahamas ?
That’s what I was wondering. My daughter went on a short cruise after she graduated, with about eight friends. One or two of the kids were still only 17, with late summer birthdays. The cruise required an adult travel with them since they were not all 18. Ended up two different parents went along, which TBH, made me relieved even tho my D had just turned 18.
Alas, a quick google search shows you only have to be 18 to get a hotel room in the Bahamas. With all-inclusive resorts that allow 18 y/os to book rooms and a drinking age of only 18, I can see how this would be a popular choice for seniors. Imagine what the behavior of this group of kids would be like once they got to the Bahamas!
My D and her friends went to Vegas (from LA) when a bunch of them all turned 21. One or more parents tagged along and got them a nice suite they all shared. They had a nice time. I was glad there were one or more parents along, just in case any snags arose (tho none did).
We never let our kids go off on a large group of unchaperoned kids together to another country. When they were that age and traveling in a large group, there were always adult chaperones.
Group dynamics can embolden some bad behavior.
I think that’s the best solution TBH. And if it gets press other kids might think twice before doing something similar.
The parents ARE responsible for minor children—including misbehavior.
This sounds like a non-school-sanctioned trip taking place after graduation. So the school would have no involvement at all. It would be no different than my wife and I booking a trip with our travel agent. It’s all on the parents who let their kids go unescorted.
Wonder if it’s really more congested or just seems that way after 15+ months of no one visiting.
I just made reservations for our family to spend 11 days in Feb in St Thomas. It was our third choice for location, but the only one that easily worked out for everyone with inexpensive flights and being able to score beachfront accommodations. It didn’t help that Dr son’s time off is over President’s Day weekend, I’m sure, but a lot of people have been reserving places that are even remotely good and not so pricey. I’ve watched some I thought we’d stay at disappear.
Normally I make our Feb reservations after our August Anniversary trip… and sometimes I’ve made Spring Break reservations as late as Nov. My guess is people are really itching to travel.
Now we have St Thomas in our prayers to survive hurricane season! (All islands and areas TBH, but bonus points for that one having had to make reservations so early.)
Since we’re not taking our usual month off down south, H and I will discuss if just the two of us want to go somewhere else in Jan or March - or other days in Feb.
I would love to go back to Virgin Gorda and a beautiful resort called The Bitter End Yacht Club. But they are still rebuilding from being totally destroyed in Hurricane Maria (?). I keep tabs on their rebuilding but it is slow.
BVI was also on my list to consider, but right now, not knowing for sure what Covid will do, USVI won out - plus it was less expensive. If BVI is open in Feb we might take a ferry to an island or two to explore some.