Mum flies into rage at refund for lost kid

THE mum of a boy who went “missing” during a diverted Virgin flight said she was left disappointed by the airline’s response – an offer of a refund.

Katie Meredith instead wants major changes to the airline’s unaccompanied minor policies after her nineyear-old son spent a night in the Melbourne Airport.

“It was a joke, he isn’t a lost piece of baggage,” Ms Meredith said. “Changes need to be made.”

Ms Meredith was left distraught last Thursday when her son’s Brisbane to Sydney flight was diverted to Melbourne. The airline failed to call Ms Meredith directly about her son John’s whereabouts that evening.

His nominated guardian, John’s grandmother, was contacted but was not told he would be staying the night in an airport.

He stayed in a “storage room”, where he made a fort with two other minors.

Ms Meredith said she was only put into contact with her son the next morning.

She called for major changes to Virgin’s policies on unaccompanied minors.

“All I wanted was a direct phone line for parents of minors to use. Any number to call would be great and I would like parents to be notified what is happening with their children and be in contact with someone,” she said.

Virgin Airlines contacted Ms Meredith twice yesterday after the Bulletin published the story. Ms Meredith said PR officers phoned in the morning to say they were looking into the matter. A customer service officer later called to say the policies had changed and both parents and the guardian would be notified in the instance of a diversion.

Ms Meredith said the customer service officer then disputed her version of events and offered to refund the cost of the flight, and the $55 unaccompanied minor fee.

“They clearly didn’t understand the severity of what happened,” she said.

“They were unable to let me know where my child was and then they turn around, argue with me and fail to change. I won’t be flying with them again.”