Delta Airlines Mixes Up Two Kids Flying Alone

(CBS)  Mix-ups sometimes happen. But one airline mistake landed two children in each other's destination.

Kieren Kershaw, 9, was one of those kids. He's now safe and sound with his grandparents near Boston.

However, Delta Airlines sent him on a kind of side-trip when they got him mixed up with another 9-year-old -- a girl.

On Tuesday, Kieren was flying alone from Spokane, and both kids had stopovers in Minneapolis. The mix-up sent the girl to Boston, and Kieren to Cleveland.

Kieren told CBS News, "Where she was I was supposed to be at, and where I was, she was supposed to be there. I was just shocked that they would really drop me off right there."

Delta eventually got both kids to where they belonged -- a few hours late.

For more on Kieren's story, click on the video below.

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[emalea253]

It amazes me to see how many people are blaming the parents and not the airlines. As evidenced by this nine-year old boy, he was not afraid, and he handled the situation in a very mature manner.

I would not advocate that every child travel alone. Children do need to be well prepared, i.e., @dreamsbvw's comment. But if the child can demonstrate to his parent that he is a competent flyer, give him the opportunity. Accidents happen EVERYWHERE. You can't always protect your children, but you can teach them to be safe and hope that they will remember everything you have taught them.

[magnumdr]

I would like to know what kind of parent would let their child fly in an airplane alone. It seems kind of stupid to let this happen in this kind of scary social setting, with all of the child perverts and more out there amoung us.

[OlneyFalcon]

You are either misinformed or uninformed... Don't know which is worse when deciding to opine on issues about which you "know" nothing...

[leasterbunny]

hmmm allow me to comment on this. Guess why I am even on this site? im trying to prepare myself and my daughter for a first time flight she will take in one week. My idea? No. As of a divorce that was finalized 2 weeks ago, i am being forced by the courts to fly her every couple of months to her dad who lives in a different state. Can i do anything about it? Nothing. If I do not abide by the rules, I am in contempt and he would have grounds to prove i am being an unfit parent. She is 7 years old and has never been on a plane. I am unable to fly because of an anxiety disorder. I am petrified of flying so you must be able to imagine what this ordeal is doing to me. Don't sugggest that i get on the plane with her or suggest i drive the 3 days across the states. He divorced me and took the house, money, everything. I am being forced to cooperate. Theres nothing I can do. So for all of you people out there commenting negatively, had you thought of this scenario?

[tamik211]

My daughter regularly flies alone in the U.S. There is lots of extra paperwork involved, plus an extra 'babysitting fee' of $75 - $150 each way. I am required to arrive at the gate early with her, and she is the first to board, with the other children flying alone. Paperwork is required at the other end, as well, with someone meeting her at the gate. The kids are all seated together in one section reserved for them, but usually get no additional services - sometimes other kids are given a dvd player to use, but I always send one with my daughter. They are not 'babysat', we pay to ensure their safety in seating arrangements (read between the lines, here), and to ensure they disembark where they are supposed to. They are always the first to board, and the last to disembark.

We pay a large fee for the service. This is just to answer questions raised by some, here. My daughter is well-traveled, as these kids most likely are. She has visited 19 countries, so far. How many U.S. citizens can say the same? I asked her how she would feel in this situation, and she said it wouldn't be any big deal at all, just funny, and fun! She would just feel badly for whoever had to wait around extra hours at the airport for her late arrival. She LOVES to travel, and is well-seasoned. This scenario is much more likely to happen to a novice adult traveler, though it might some day, who knows. Blaming the parents just shows complete ignorance, however, in my opinion. Are the naysayers really with their children 24/7? No (poison) tv (WE absolutely DON'T have), no school, no outside world? Hand held 24/7? Yeah, right! Gotta love the rampant judgementalism in this country - NOT!

I DO hope the airline at least put these kids in first class, returned the minor traveling alone fee, plus paid for the airport parking fees.

Aside from that, life is an adventure, for us at least! And this was a great adventure for these kids! No harm done, flights are often hours late, anyways! It's a great story they'll have the rest of their lives.

[mari1963]

Stupid parents! Thank God both of these children are okay. I wonder what the parents would have said if they were hurt or lost? They would have blamed someone else for their stupidity in sending them alone in the freaking first place !!!! Stupid parents !!!!!!

[stevex47]

I was lucky enough to be sent on planes nice and young too.

I HOPED they would lose me. I loved flying and just wanted the ride to go on forever. I still do, ha.

[tamik211]

Lol! I asked my frequent flier daughter what she would think if the same scenario happened to her - she said she would LOVE it, but just feel badly for whoever was waiting on her. Too bad most Americans don't give their kids this adventure trait - all four of mine have it, and none of them will EVER be stuck in a cubicle! Good for your parents, the world is a wonderland, life is an adventure. Too bad it's too short to see it all. But I'll die trying to!

[Kauaiguy]

Why is it that people expect the airlines to BABYSIT their kids? When you purchased the ticket, did you pay the normal fare or was a baby sitting charge included?

[scaryoldlady]

There is actually an extra fee, that is pretty hefty, that you pay the airline for underage children to fly with assistance.

[Wondering53]

There is no way I'd put my 9 yr old son on a plane alone!

[msay3]

At least they (the kids) didn't arrive dead like the cargo full of dogs that they let die while sitting on the tarmac for three hours in the broiling sun....Remember that one, folks?

[x0xBrookersx0x]

ugh really?? :(:( that's disgusting. poor puppies

[RoboBlogger]

MRE's any one? In Asia you would hear no complaint's.

[OhPinYun]

Anyone who puts a child on an airplane or in a sail boat without being accompanied by an adult that the child feels safe with, is guilty of child neglect.

[hockeymom441]

Agree.
Airlines try...but mistakes will happen.
They could simply start to ban children flying alone... then the parents would really complain.

[tamik211]

AND! Anyone who sends their kids to preschool? School? Sports? Church activities? A friends house? Sports practice? A sleepover? A movie with friends? Just what is your point? I'm sure you MUST accompany your child (children) on at least these activities, no doubt, right? You are THERE every second - well, good for you! Why, on earth would this post this nonsense??? 'Cause ANY 'good' parent accompanies their child in EVERY moment of their life, right??? Like you? NEVER let them out of your sight! NEVER! If you do, you are a BAD PARENT! Because only total STRANGERS hurt your kids, right? Lol! I hope you're not a 'neglectful parent' like me. My kids travel, a lot! But, they don't have a tv. In MY world, parents that have a t.v. and feed their kids JUNK, and don't have healthy daily habits are not only NEGLECTFUL, but complete and utter idiots. I'm sure you're perfect, though. High achieving family in every way, to be so be able to be so judgemental. NEWSFLASH! Your IGNORANCE IS GLARING!

[Dreamsbvw]

Okay the families have some responsibility here as well. I do not think there is ANYTHING wrong with have a child fly alone, provided the child is mature enough to do so. Here are some things to keep in mind.

1) The child needs to know where they are going. Not just to grandma's...but the actual city where they are flying to. Grandma is picking me up in Boston.

2) Teach them about gates and the flight info that is posted on the gates.

3) The child needs to NOT be afraid to ask questions. "Excuse me. I am going to Boston and the city named here is Toledo. That is not right. Can you verify this is my gate?"

But ultimately the airline needs to take a much more care. They charge a fee ($100 on US Airways each way) to fly with an unaccompanied child. Maybe only send your children on NON-Stop flights.

My children fly cross country all the time, sometimes non-stop, sometimes with a layover, I prefer non-stop, but they have to call me at the layover when they are at the gate and give me the info on the board.

Anyway...there are my 2 cents. I am so glad everything worked out for these two children and hope they have an awesome visit with their families!

[rinnie25]

Have you ever heard of predators? Who is in those airport bathrooms? Who is sitting next to your child on the plane and what inappropriate things might they say, do, watch or read. What if the plane were to go down who would be there with your baby? Flight attendants don't give a rat's a$# about someone else's child. There leaving their own at home all the time. Any parent who does this to their kid is a self-absorbed moron. There is no circumstance in which this is necessary. Would you send $2 million cold cash on a plane with a flight attendant in charge of it, aren't are kids worth more than that? Dreamsbvw save your 2 cents for your kids, you obviously don't care about them.

[sarahann67]

Dream you are totally right and I could not agree more.

Rinnie though, has this happened for you?
I wouldnt think so. So do not judge. The flight attendants are getting paid for watching over your child if you paid the unaccompanied minor's fee, and hopefully if that happened your child would be mature enough to tell the flight attendant and something WOULD be done. It is HIGHLY unlikely that a plane would go down, and if so even if you were there what could you do? Stop the plane from falling? Sure you could calm them down but what good really is that? 1,000's of people do it each day and it turns out fine. With security and everything else these days its almost impossible for anything like that to happen.
And dont be so rude to Dream. She does what hundreds of thousands of parents do but she makes sure her kids are doing it right.