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AIBU?

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Original poster

20 year old daughter having to spend night at JFK airport.

285 replies

DaughterStranded · 27/05/2024 21:43

Not an AIBU, but posting for traffic as really worried.
20 year old DD has arrived at JFK airport to find connecting flight to South Carolina cancelled due to signalling issues. The next connecting flight will go 7am tomorrow morning. There are no earlier flights to any nearby airports available.
DD has decided to spend the night at JFK airport. I am worried she will fall asleep and get robbed of her phone/money. Anyone else had this situation to deal with? Any advice or tips anyone?

OP posts:
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9
ShrubRose · 28/05/2024 13:49

DaughterStranded · 28/05/2024 09:34

@N4ish If she was travelling with someone, I would have been happy for DD to rough it and sleep in the airport overnight as they would have been able to look out for each other and take it in turns to sleep and watch each other's bags. However, as DD travelling alone, the risk of falling asleep and having her valuables stolen is too great for my liking. I also didn't want her jumping in taxis and going round NYC on her own.
I am all for building DC resilience, but we all have to decide what level of risk we are comfortable with.
I have recently retired after working 40+ years. To me, the point of all that hard work was to build up sufficient financial reserves to dig myself or my family out of a hole if necessary. In my eyes, this was one such situation where I felt that the expense was worth it for peace of mind.

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Agree completely.

Yes, it might have been OK. And yes, it might possibly have contributed in some small way to building DD's resilience. But some things are just not worth worrying about, and to my mind, that includes allowing a young woman to sleep alone on a chair in a big-city airport.

Ncadviceforthebag · 28/05/2024 13:47

DaughterStranded · 28/05/2024 09:34

@N4ish If she was travelling with someone, I would have been happy for DD to rough it and sleep in the airport overnight as they would have been able to look out for each other and take it in turns to sleep and watch each other's bags. However, as DD travelling alone, the risk of falling asleep and having her valuables stolen is too great for my liking. I also didn't want her jumping in taxis and going round NYC on her own.
I am all for building DC resilience, but we all have to decide what level of risk we are comfortable with.
I have recently retired after working 40+ years. To me, the point of all that hard work was to build up sufficient financial reserves to dig myself or my family out of a hole if necessary. In my eyes, this was one such situation where I felt that the expense was worth it for peace of mind.

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My parents would have been like that PP and I wish they were more like you! And I will be to my own children.

AllyCart · 28/05/2024 13:41

DaughterStranded · 28/05/2024 13:38

@AllyCart Not good 😕

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Yep. It's a different world with regard to compensation/assistance, unfortunately.

Was interested to read up-thread that it's apparently changed/changing, though. I haven't heard about that and not yet seen anything about it from corporate travel co's, etc.

existentialpain · 28/05/2024 13:40

Jesus Christ. It's certainly isn't a crime to worry and care about a young adult being stranded at an airport! I would have felt very vulnerable in that situation at 20 and my mum would have been worried about me and absolutely paid for a hotel if needed.

Why so much vitrol for caring ? Honestly think this sort of thing must hit a raw nerve with people who didn't have that sort ot support from a parent.

Glad you were able to help your DD, op

Original poster
DaughterStranded · 28/05/2024 13:38

AllyCart · 28/05/2024 13:35

Just to add, I work in the US multiple times per year and have had many delays/cancellations.

Even if you're booked with someone like Virgin Atlantic if there's a connecting flight to get you to your Virgin flight, which you've actually booked through VA but it's with a codeshare partner (eg Delta), you're getting sod all if the connection gets cancelled and screws up your other flights.

It's not the UK/EU.

@AllyCart Not good 😕

OP posts:
AllyCart · 28/05/2024 13:35

Just to add, I work in the US multiple times per year and have had many delays/cancellations.

Even if you're booked with someone like Virgin Atlantic if there's a connecting flight to get you to your Virgin flight, which you've actually booked through VA but it's with a codeshare partner (eg Delta), you're getting sod all if the connection gets cancelled and screws up your other flights.

It's not the UK/EU.

flyinghen · 28/05/2024 13:35

AllyCart · 28/05/2024 13:31

the airline will provide her with accommodation and transport and also meal vouchers.

Thats completely airline dependent when it's the US. And Jetblue is the Ryanair of the USA.

Ah right, I was flying with American Airlines. That's rubbish OP. I've just had a look through and seen people saying you've got a hotel for her? What a great mum!

AllyCart · 28/05/2024 13:31

the airline will provide her with accommodation and transport and also meal vouchers.

Thats completely airline dependent when it's the US. And Jetblue is the Ryanair of the USA.

Original poster
DaughterStranded · 28/05/2024 13:31

flyinghen · 28/05/2024 13:26

I had this situation but in Chicago, the airline will provide her with accommodation and transport and also meal vouchers. If she's refusing to accept that then that's her choice, shes a grown adult. I know that's not easy to hear and I'd be worried. Perhaps she's thinking that the flight being so early she would struggle to get back and sleep etc so she'd rather just stay there. Maybe she's planning on staying awake? What time is it there now?

@flyinghen She asked airline Jetblue for assistance and they refused. They said it was signalling issues caused by factors outside their control and that they weren't obliged to offer help in this situation.

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Erdinger · 28/05/2024 13:29

Okeydokedeva · 28/05/2024 13:26

At tat age I slept overnight with a friend at the airport in Bangkok and we were fine. It’s all part of the adventure.

Oh yeah with a friend ? 20 years ago. Not the same

Original poster
DaughterStranded · 28/05/2024 13:29

Okeydokedeva · 28/05/2024 13:26

At tat age I slept overnight with a friend at the airport in Bangkok and we were fine. It’s all part of the adventure.

@Okeydokedeva If DD had been with a friend, I wouldn't have booked a hotel though. It was precisely because she was alone that there was a risk of falling asleep and getting all her valuables stolen, or god knows what else. If she had a friend with her, they could easily have looked out for each other and taken it in turns to sleep at the airport. It would have been a completely different situation.

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flyinghen · 28/05/2024 13:26

I had this situation but in Chicago, the airline will provide her with accommodation and transport and also meal vouchers. If she's refusing to accept that then that's her choice, shes a grown adult. I know that's not easy to hear and I'd be worried. Perhaps she's thinking that the flight being so early she would struggle to get back and sleep etc so she'd rather just stay there. Maybe she's planning on staying awake? What time is it there now?

Okeydokedeva · 28/05/2024 13:26

At tat age I slept overnight with a friend at the airport in Bangkok and we were fine. It’s all part of the adventure.

Original poster
DaughterStranded · 28/05/2024 13:24

TorturedPoetsDepartmentAnthology · 28/05/2024 13:22

That’s not the same - not even close!

@DaughterStranded you sound like a lovely mum and the hotel looks amazing. I was looking it up and I’m quite envious.

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Thank you! I am really jealous too now I have looked at the TWA hotel details. I must go there myself one day!

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TorturedPoetsDepartmentAnthology · 28/05/2024 13:22

backaftera2yearbreak · 28/05/2024 12:03

My 15 year old son was running around New York in his own when we were there a few months ago 🙄. You sound hysterical.

That’s not the same - not even close!

@DaughterStranded you sound like a lovely mum and the hotel looks amazing. I was looking it up and I’m quite envious.

Original poster
DaughterStranded · 28/05/2024 13:18

AliceOlive · 28/05/2024 13:15

Also I checked and the flat rate from all 3 airports to Manhattan is now $70. So just going in and out would be $140.

@AliceOlive Crikey! That's loads of money in itself!

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Original poster
DaughterStranded · 28/05/2024 13:17

AliceOlive · 28/05/2024 13:11

I was also glad you found her something that didn’t require leaving the airport. I had a cab driver make me very uncomfortable on a ride from a hotel near LaGuardia to Manhattan. I was at a hotel near there for a conference and never felt like I could even go outside. (It’s like any airport, where everything nearby seems to be paved completely over and buildings are very spread out and no one walks so feels deserted.)

Edited

@AliceOlive Sorry to hear you had a worrying experience. I am sure that 99.9% of cab drivers are fine, but it's always a worry that the one you get won't be. It does feel so vulnerable to be a solo female passenger in a taxi if the driver seems suspect.

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AliceOlive · 28/05/2024 13:15

Also I checked and the flat rate from all 3 airports to Manhattan is now $70. So just going in and out would be $140.

Original poster
DaughterStranded · 28/05/2024 13:13

Outwiththenorm · 28/05/2024 13:09

Good work mum. I had an awful experience in JFK when I was 20 and flight delayed. A woman who seemed to have severe mental illness latched on to me, talking at me about really disturbing topics, following me into the toilet and waiting for me to come out, chatting constantly, even when I tried to escape by talking on the pay phone to my parents. I was too young / inexperienced to know how to tell her to go away. I finally got to go through security and get away from her after 3 hours 😩

@Outwiththenorm Crikey! That must have been a disturbing experience!

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AliceOlive · 28/05/2024 13:11

I was also glad you found her something that didn’t require leaving the airport. I had a cab driver make me very uncomfortable on a ride from a hotel near LaGuardia to Manhattan. I was at a hotel near there for a conference and never felt like I could even go outside. (It’s like any airport, where everything nearby seems to be paved completely over and buildings are very spread out and no one walks so feels deserted.)

Original poster
DaughterStranded · 28/05/2024 13:11

AliceOlive · 28/05/2024 13:08

I’d still try to claim it even if it looks like they won’t pay. Sometime you can get a voucher for travel or something else.

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@AliceOlive She is definitely going to try and claim as I don't think my travel insurance will pay out if airline hasn't refused to help in writing. Always worth a go as you say, in case they do offer something!

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Outwiththenorm · 28/05/2024 13:09

Good work mum. I had an awful experience in JFK when I was 20 and flight delayed. A woman who seemed to have severe mental illness latched on to me, talking at me about really disturbing topics, following me into the toilet and waiting for me to come out, chatting constantly, even when I tried to escape by talking on the pay phone to my parents. I was too young / inexperienced to know how to tell her to go away. I finally got to go through security and get away from her after 3 hours 😩

AliceOlive · 28/05/2024 13:08

DaughterStranded · 28/05/2024 13:03

@AliceOlive Thank you for this info! I am going to read it now!

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I’d still try to claim it even if it looks like they won’t pay. Sometime you can get a voucher for travel or something else.

catchthebeat · 28/05/2024 13:07

Sorry but I think you need to let her deal with this.
She's 20, not 16. She's probably mentally mature enough to find a solution on her own.

Original poster
DaughterStranded · 28/05/2024 13:03

AliceOlive · 28/05/2024 13:02

Here is the JetBlue policy:

https://www.jetblue.com/customer-assurance/customer-service-plan

They compensate $200 for >12 hour delay caused by a “controllable irregularity.”

@AliceOlive Thank you for this info! I am going to read it now!

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