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California Teen With Down Syndrome Not Allowed to Fly First Class

The boy's parents have reportedly flown with their son without any problems at least 30 times.

A Southern California family says they were denied entry onto an American Airlines flight from Newark, New Jersey back to their Porterville home, near Bakersfield, because their son has Down Syndrome, according to an article on the Huffington Post.

The Vanderhorst family had decided to splurge on first-class plane tickets for the first time, but on Sunday while the family was waiting to board the flight an American Airlines representative allegedly pulled them aside and said the pilot thought their 16-year-old son Bede was a "flight risk."

Joan and Robert Vanderhorst had reportedly flown without issue with their son at least 30 times, the Huffington Post reported.

Click here to read the full story on the Huffington Post.

 

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Bren May 19, 2013 at 06:49 pm
I see that I meant to type "...that connect us to the past," but I accidentally typedRead More "...and connect us to the past." I think my meaning came through, though. Yes, the world does not need another national chain retail store or restaurant, which is surely what they're planning to put in there.
CP May 19, 2013 at 02:22 pm
Yes Bren, agree with you....good point.....really what it seems to come down to is money vs. theRead More good of the community and richness of traditions. And all despite the Master Plan for that site in San Mateo that seems to require an ice skating rink or similar recreational facility AT THAT SITE, and all despite the fact the Ice Chalet would like to continue operations there. The Developer has made it difficult to impossible for any ice rink to operate there (tricky it seems)....so they can get a cookie cutter retail outlet in ? .....very, very sad for the youth of the community.
Bren May 17, 2013 at 10:09 am
I think the issue is much larger than whether children will experience stress. That ice rink is aRead More local institution, dating back at least to when Fashion Island was there. It's terrible for communities to lose so many landmarks and connect us to the past.
Anita Reimann April 29, 2013 at 11:43 am
Dear Ari, Thank you for your service to our community. It's wonderful that you are already making aRead More difference.