A Texas mother faced a distressing situation when she was forced to jeopardize two weeks’ worth of pumped breastmilk due to Delta Airlines employees being unfamiliar with TSA regulations. Sarah Thompson had meticulously planned her travel, reaching out to Delta in advance to ensure she adhered to the proper guidelines for transporting frozen breastmilk. Despite her preparation, her experience turned into a chaotic ordeal at Newark International Airport.
Planning Ahead
In her open letter shared on social media, Thompson recounted that she contacted Delta one week prior to her flight to clarify how to safely transport her breastmilk. She was advised to use a cooler with dry ice, ensuring it contained no more than 5.5 pounds of dry ice and was properly labeled. Thompson made a special trip to purchase the cooler and gathered the necessary labeling materials. On the day of her flight, she even sourced dry ice from a local vendor to keep her milk frozen.
The Ticket Counter Ordeal
Upon arriving at the ticket counter, however, she was hit with an unexpected $150 fee to check her cooler, as she had already checked two bags. Confusion ensued as the ticket agent showed a lack of knowledge about handling coolers with dry ice and appeared irritated by her situation. Despite Thompson’s attempts to explain her preparations, the agents were unhelpful and dismissive. They claimed she needed a specific sticker for the dry ice labeling, despite her previous instructions to simply use tape and markers. After struggling to find a solution, she was ultimately advised to dispose of the dry ice in an airport restroom and board her flight with her cooler of breastmilk, leaving her to worry about the safety of her precious supply during the eight-hour journey.
Highlighting a Training Gap
This incident highlights a concerning gap in airline staff training regarding TSA regulations. The Transportation Security Administration allows for exceptions for formula and breastmilk, permitting quantities over 3.4 ounces without needing to fit in a quart-sized bag. Ice packs and dry ice are also acceptable for keeping these items cool. Unfortunately, Thompson’s experience underscored the importance of clear communication and proper training among airline employees.
Aftermath and Reflection
Although Delta has since apologized to Thompson and offered her a $150 voucher, she expressed that more needs to be done to improve travel experiences for breastfeeding mothers. Fortunately, most of her breastmilk survived the journey, but the ordeal left her feeling frustrated.
Further Reading
For anyone interested in further reading on fertility and pregnancy, resources like this one and this site provide valuable insights, while this page offers comprehensive information on reproductive health.
Conclusion
In summary, Sarah Thompson’s experience with Delta Airlines serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of airline staff being well-informed on TSA guidelines, particularly for traveling mothers.