Flight attendants served a three-year-old boy sitting in business class wine instead of water on Cathay Pacific flight 255 from Hong Kong to London a couple of weeks ago. The child’s mother complained online after she found the airline’s response insufficient, and sharing concerns about her child’s long-term health from drinking alcohol so young. But the boy took only one sip, complaining to his mother that it was “too sour.”
His mom tasted the drink, realized it was wine, and flag down cabin crew – who immediately apologized, took the glass and brought back actual water. The woman escalated this to the purser, and the cockpit got Medlink involved for advice. They also sought passengers onboard with medical training, and a French doctor consulted – who said, look, five year old kids in France drink all the time and one sip is no big deal.
The boy has shown no immediate symptoms, but Wong and her husband are currently arranging comprehensive medical assessments with pediatric specialists seeking one who will support a claim for delayed neurological, developmental, and physiological effects.
Credit: Mother’s Post on RedNote
After the flight Cathay Pacific apologized and offered:
- a refund of the child’s ticket
- three upgrade vouchers to move to first class
- reimbursement for medical treatment
They also insist that they’re reinforcing crew training to prevent similar incidents in the future. However the mother is still not satisfied, claiming that the carrier should provide more of an explanation for how such a mistake happened (‘the flight attendant made a mistake’?) and accuses them of attempting to avoid responsibility. She feels that:
- the flight attendant should be following up directly to apologize
- the airline should provide concrete proof that new safeguards have been implemented
Credit: Mother’s Post on RedNote
As a result, she has filed formal complaints with Hong Kong’s Civil Aviation Department, the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office, the Consumer Council, and the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
Meanwhile, cabin crew forums discussing the issue argue that declining service standards and insufficient training for new flight attendants rapidly hired to support the carrier’s expansion are likely to blame. In this case, properly-trained crew might have marked the beverage to avoid delivering the wrong drink to the wrong passenger.
What a crock of horseshit for someone to escalate a irrelevant situation of a child having a sip of wine , it happens in real life at homes everyday.
This airline must ban these from airlines for creating public nuisances and make it public to other airlines to also ban them. What a waste of time and money to be spent of crazy people just looking for attention and easy mo ey
Has anyone checked to see if the mother actually gave the child the wine on purpose specifically to file a lawsuit?
My Brother at 6 months old drank my mother’s Xmas present from my Dad – A bottle of Channel No 5 – 59 years ago, kids and very healthy life style…I think the kid after taking a sip of wine will be ok.
Parents – Are you serious
“The boy has shown no immediate symptoms, but Wong and her husband are currently arranging comprehensive medical assessments with pediatric specialists seeking one who will support a claim for delayed neurological, developmental, and physiological effects.”
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They’re gold diggers, and are doctor shopping, looking for what that will commit fraud.
The parents should not be sitting separately with their son in the first instance as the child is only 3 years old. Either mum or dad should be sitting with their son to look after him during the long haul flight. If they did, this should not have happened. Even it goes to the court, there is no pre-test and pro-test to prove the sip of alcohol consumed by the child was attributed to the damage of his brain after the once off consumption of alcohol. Think about what you want to achieve at the end of the day.
I remember my father giving my baby sister a sip of wine when she was a little over one year old, it made her brave enough to walk. Actually, we were on a trip and my mom came back to find her running in the hotel hallway. A few days later, she took her first (unintoxicated) steps. She’s now in her 40s. My mother let us have a bit of alcohol when we were kids. One sip will not and did not harm this child. This is only an attempt at a money grab.
Oh please, come on you fkng money-grabbing parents. Your kid is fine. Everyone knows you’re using this as a potential opportunity to make some free cash. The airline’s compensation offer was more than you deserve. Idiots!
Why is a 3 year old in business class? I feeling like the mom is scamming the airline. They always serve wine in business class all the time so why would you not check for your baby? I was pregnant and they tried to give me wine, but they didnt know. My responsibility is to take of my baby not the flight attendant.
Nothing but an attempt to collect big time settlement from the airline. These people should be placed on the No Fly List!
There is no shame to their game!