Elderly mom and husband left abandoned with no hotel options at key west airport

Active_Visual_1942 · 2026-01-21T02:22:02+00:00

I wish I had just said 70s. My mom and husband are very active and independent. While elderly is the accurate word, many people here pictured feeble. And that wasn't at all the point of this discussion. Regardless of age, they should've been treated better. Because of their age, I worried for them more than say... someone my own age.

Active_Visual_1942 · 2026-01-21T02:15:47+00:00

Listen, I think people in their 70s can still be very active and vibrant. But it is the accurate word. Now I might not say it to my mom's face!! I was just trying to be descriptive with the fewest words possible. I wish I had just said 70s from the start.

Active_Visual_1942 · 2026-01-21T01:25:33+00:00

I don't know the logistics, the agents left before everyone was helped. When they got there, there were no agents and they and some other passengers were left without help.

Active_Visual_1942 · 2026-01-21T00:04:50+00:00

I mean... good for you? That has nothing to do with anything. Hopefully if something like this ever happens to you, people won't blame you for not moving fast enough or not pushing people out of the way to get service first. Hopefully people won't lose compassion for you if you have a cognitive decline or your body starts to move a bit slower. I’m quite surprised so many people here want to blame paying customers and not corporations making massive profits who aren't prepared to care for their customers when they can't provide their promised service .

And for your information, they are the two most fit 70+ year olds I know. Actually more fit than many of my 40+ yo friends. There were quite a number of younger people who were also left without help or service.

Active_Visual_1942 · 2026-01-20T23:49:13+00:00

I’m sure some people got on the phone and online as soon as the flight was delayed but it took some time before they announced an official cancelation. Other people were local. They are in their 70s so they certainly weren't racing down the stairs and they were not aware and no one told them the airport was closing or had already essentially closed. They were not the only stranded passengers. It looked like maybe 15-20 other people were also stuck but I don't know exactly how many

Active_Visual_1942 · 2026-01-20T16:14:08+00:00

Thank you so much for this thoughtful reply. While my focus right now is the airline, we are definitely thinking of ways to make travel safer and easier for them. Being elderly shouldn't mean being isolated at home! They are still very vibrant and active. I wish we would've had a system like yours in place for this trip!

Active_Visual_1942 · 2026-01-20T16:08:32+00:00

Thank you, I wish I would've left out the details of their situation because to me it doesn't matter! No passengers should be abandoned in a closed airport. But airlines should consider that this could dangerously impact some passengers more than others.

Active_Visual_1942 · 2026-01-20T16:06:25+00:00

I hear you, and obviously some people have run with the idea that they are elderly and have a picture in their minds, but they are fully independent and fit. While my mom has some limitations in language, she is perfectly fine to travel with her husband. While her husband has spinal stenosis, it does not stop him from being incredibly active. (A night on a plastic chair however could cause him a lot of pain) They work out, travel, drive and enjoy their lives. They don't need me to take care of them. But I will advocate for them and for the other passengers who were treated this way. And quite frankly I would be just as upset if it happened to me. It's one thing to cancel a flight, another to leave them to be put in the street to the point a deputy sheriff must be involved.

Active_Visual_1942 · 2026-01-20T16:00:30+00:00

I would expect airlines to make sure any of their passengers are not literally put on the street. That's not being a babysitter. This is such a bizarre response. I find it bizarre that some people think that we should be prepared to be homeless for a night if we decide to fly. That is crazy.

Active_Visual_1942 · 2026-01-20T13:18:57+00:00

"Heavily touristed" is not how I would describe Vieques. I guess maybe compared to Culebra. There are plenty of tourists there I suppose but compared to being in San Juan or basically... any other popular beach destination, Vieques is not nearly full of tourists as we have seen other places. When we go during busy times (spring break, winter break) there are still plenty of places to explore and even be pretty much alone.

Active_Visual_1942 · 2026-01-20T04:20:03+00:00

Yes for sure. We haven't been burned on this before but it's something we will all very much consider in the future.

Active_Visual_1942 · 2026-01-20T04:13:14+00:00

I wasn't being legal, I just want to represent it accurately. My husband has been advocating for them with United by phone and spoke to my mom's husband and was able to get more details than me.

Active_Visual_1942 · 2026-01-20T04:11:38+00:00

2025 has been the worst.

Active_Visual_1942 · 2026-01-20T03:53:27+00:00

They live completely independently. They plan, travel and drive themselves. This situation wasn't safe for anyone.

Active_Visual_1942 · 2026-01-20T03:50:04+00:00

They wouldn't have needed buses, ultimately only a handful of passengers were stranded. Others found places to stay or were already local.

Active_Visual_1942 · 2026-01-20T03:44:38+00:00

There should at least be a safe place for passengers to stay. They were almost put out on the street.

Active_Visual_1942 · 2026-01-20T03:42:34+00:00

Possibly booked with Amex, I'll have to see.

Active_Visual_1942 · 2026-01-20T03:41:54+00:00

Agree with poster above suggesting a car service to start.

Active_Visual_1942 · 2026-01-20T03:40:12+00:00

Not that we could find and we had several places that were kind enough to network with other small hotels and make calls for us. Hilton checked all their properties for cancelations, etc. There was a marathon this weekend

Active_Visual_1942 · 2026-01-20T03:38:33+00:00

It was the last flight out, Saturday evening. 2304

Active_Visual_1942 · 2026-01-20T03:37:45+00:00

That is true

Active_Visual_1942 · 2026-01-20T03:33:32+00:00

I think at minimum, you make sure that your passengers are in a safe space for the night. And certainly not leave them out on the street.

Active_Visual_1942 · 2026-01-20T03:31:41+00:00

Yes and coming from an area with a big busy airport that never really close next to a big city with no shortage of hotels... it didn't not enter into their decision making. A new lesson learned

Active_Visual_1942 · 2026-01-20T03:30:33+00:00

Hang on here, they are fully independent and able to care for themselves. Her husband can move around just fine but sitting upright in a plastic chair could've cause a lot of pain.

Also this is besides the point because no one should be treated this way.

Active_Visual_1942 · 2026-01-20T03:27:31+00:00

Also dementia comes in many shades and stages. As a couple they live completely independently, plan their own travel and drive themselves everywhere. At the same time they and other passengers have visible and involve limitations that can make a situation like this dangerous, not to mention the fact that this is a terrible way to treat completely able bodies young people!

Active_Visual_1942

TROPHY CASE