Jetstar passengers have hit back at the family who claimed they were denied flying because of their toddler's tantrum — saying the family deserves a "life ban" from the airline after such "disgusting behaviour" towards staff.
Sydney woman Laura Kimber recently lashed out at Jetstar, claiming her family was left stranded on Hamilton Island last week because of her son's behaviour on the flight from Sydney. Ms Kimber alleged the airline had then refused to carry them back to Sydney over the two-year-old's meltdown.
Instead, the family had to fly back on a different airline two days later at their own expense of about $6000, she said.
However, today a passenger who was waiting at the same boarding gate has come forward calling out the family's story as "complete rubbish".
Jetstar passenger Sophia Kreutzer who witnessed the ordeal said the family "repeatedly swore" at the female staff member to the point that a male staff member and airport security had to come to assist her.
"What a load of c--- this family is claiming. These people were absolutely disgusting, I mean disgusting towards the staff," Ms Kreutzer said.
"I have never heard such foul and abusive language come out of someones mouth in public and all in front of their own children."
She went on to describe the family's behaviour as "embarrassing" and that they even claimed they were being denied boarding because their child had autism and a disability.
The Kimber family at Hamilton Island airport. Photo: Supplied.
"They continued to act like absolute clowns, yelling and screaming," she said.
"The airport staff did a brilliant job handling such such disgusting and disgruntled behaviour," she said, adding "who knows what they would have been like 30,000 feet in the air".
"They didn't just deserve a 24-hour ban but a life ban."
Another person wrote on Facebook that their friend had also witnessed the incident and agreed with Ms Kreutzer's account, calling out the "publicity stunt from the parents because things didn't go in their favour".
A Jetstar spokeswoman told 9Honey today the group of travellers were refused boarding and advised they would be able to travel on the next available flight due to the disruptive behaviour of adult passengers.
"Thousands of infants and children fly with us every day and we do not ban a passenger from flying due to a child’s behaviour, and we have not done so in this case," the spokeswoman said.
"Safety of our passengers and crew is our number one priority and Jetstar does not tolerate any disruptive or anti-social behaviour."
A routine review of the incident had concluded the passengers would not be banned from future flights with the airline, she said.
Ms Kimber told Nine her family was denied a flight home due to her son's tantrum on the flight up to Hamilton island.
She alleged airline staff had "tried to change their story", initially insisting the refusal was due to the two-year-old's meltdown but then saying it was because of the parents reaction to their son's behaviour.
Speaking with Kidspot, Ms Kimber said the family had been "very upset" and were "arguing at the gate".
"I said 'you can’t refuse a flight because of a two-year-old'," she added.
Her son Matteo had been "overtired and cranky" and caused a scene when the plane was about to land. "I was wrestling him, I did everything I could," she explained.
"I was told by a crew member to get him off the floor because the plane was landing and if I didn’t they would have to circle the plane because of me."
"I thought the staff mustn’t have children because everyone with a child, knows the 'terrible twos' is a real thing."
The mother-of-two said she was eventually able to put an end to her child's five-minute meltdown, wrestling him into the chair with the aid of an extendable seat belt.
When the family got off the plane, a baggage handler informed them the plane's captain had made a complaint, warning "don't be surprised if you get refused your flight home", she said.
However, it was not until they went to fly home 10 days later that they found out they were being refused entry to the return flight, she said.
When they went to board they were taken aside and told "you won’t be flying today because of the behaviour of your son", she said.
Instead, the family were offered a full refund or a flight two days later. However, Ms Kimber said the delay had cost the family $6,000 for which they had not yet been fully compensated.