A couple travelling with their baby faced a shocking ordeal on their journey from Panama to Austin via Copa Airlines. The incident has raised serious questions about the airline’s service standards and treatment of passengers.
Smooth Start, Troubled Return
The family was travelling in business class. Their outbound flight went smoothly. However, the return trip from Panama turned stressful, especially during boarding at the departure gate.
Baby Missing from Reservation
To their surprise, the baby was missing from the Copa Airlines reservation. Normally, infants in arms are added for free or with a small fee. But the Copa gate agent insisted otherwise.
Forced to Pay $800
The agent told the parents that the only way for the baby to fly was by purchasing a separate ticket for $800. The wife was forced to pay the amount with her credit card.
United Airlines Steps In
When they landed in Austin, a United Airlines agent identified the error. To ease the family’s distress, the agent offered a complimentary middle seat for the baby, correcting Copa’s mistake.
Unnecessary and Exploitative Action
The incident shows that Copa’s handling of the situation was both avoidable and exploitative. Instead of resolving the error, the airline created unnecessary financial and emotional stress for the family.
