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.
That mum can really f off, i would compensate them with reasonable level then ban them flying from my airline forever
Our dogs drink more alcohol than this kid did by knocking over our wine or beers occasionally!
Put them on the no fly list. Accidents happen and this kid is not the first to taste (not drink) alcohol. Airline should put them on notice they will ignore all requests for medical testing and evaluations.
Mistakes like this should not have been made. Common sense tells a person not to serve a three year old any alcoholic beverages … come on crew … get it together.
Another bunch of ambulance chasers trying to extract cash for a minor mistake
Just another example of overreacting, entitled helicopter parents out to make a statement in their boring ordinary lives. Oh and probably out to increase their existing wealth by expecting compensation.
Monitor to make sure the flight attendant is not fired by the airline. Put the family on a no fly list, they are in humane humans.
Money grab by the parents
Something very wong about this story!
They, the parents, found their opportunity to make some good money and nothing will stop them until the price is right.
I grew up in a country where children drink alcohol with parental permission. Like on Passover.
This is just extortion. Cathay screwed up but offered to fix it. The wongs are nuts for wanting more.
Also having read other comments no Cathay doesn’t need to show or prove anything. The FA made a mistake. It was fixed. Patents got a generous offer.
Enough whining. Nobody was hurt. Parents won.
The parents are obviously trying to go for big bucks!!! Disgusting and greedy
Good luck with a Chinese/ Hongkonese mom! She is looking for a private airplane as compensation!
Sounds like Mommy and Daddy are looking for an easy payout!
This is absolutely ridiculous. Giving them 1st class upgrades is too much compensation. A simple apology is enough, maybe a refund for the kid’s ticket. The Wong family is absolutely wrong for doing what they are doing going to multiple doctors trying to find one that will help them sue for millions.
The kid probably spit it out., as most children hate the taste of alcohol. Greedy money hungry parents. They need to chill. Psychological medical assessment needs to be performed on the Mother. I agree, “no fly list” for them.
My youngest brother accidentally threw back a glass of Vodka thinking it was water at around the same age. Knocked the wind out of him. As far as mental damage is concerned he was in a PhD program when he decided to go to medical school instead. Practiced medicine for thirty plus years.
Milk it for all you can, that kids going to need life long care from being an alcoholic from the time there five.
Why the airline caved in is beyond me, kid should’ve been given a set of pencils and a model plane at best.
This mother is a bitch. Just unfortunate for Cathay to handle this kind of passenger despite all necessary actions taken. It’s not a major mistake. For God’s sake, it’s just a sip. Her action is exaggerated. I don’t condone such extreme actions taken by this stupid woman. One sip and now she is taking long term neuro development sequelae ? Is she nuts? A good doctor will disagree with her theory and tell her to fxxx off.
They’re out to try to make quick cash. A sip off alcohol isn’t going to do a darn thing to that kid and if they are able to find a physician willing to say otherwise then I’m embarrassed for my field.
Another Karen moment. People like this make flying ( and life in general) a misery for everyone in their path.
This is insane.
No, it shouldn’t have happened, but it did (apparently), apologies were made, compensation was offered.
Heck, my Mom said I liked beer when I was two years old! One sip of alcohol isn’t going to kill this kid, but these overreacting parents just might one day!
gotta love the comment from the French doctor.
I had to laugh when I read the Dr. attending was French. One sip of wine is not going to harm, intoxicate, or turn kid into an alcoholic. The parents are way overreacting looking for a payday. Granted the kid shouldn’t have been served, but damn the parents are going overboard in their demands.
Oh golly.
Hope the parents (con-artists?) enjoyed their son’s water more the he their wine. Cathay, you have addressed the issue, have apologized- now withdraw your financial offer. Period!!
Clear attempt to blackmail CZ over an error. They’ve done more than enough for these greedy parents. Shut it down and ban them from flying Cathay.
The parents just want money
Just trying it on a mistake was made get over it
Grifters
I think it would be better to settle it in a judicial court, if one of the parties considers the incident is so serious that is beyond many people’s imagination.
They just want to make a fast buck.
It can happen to you too some day, make a mistake , someone can sue you and ruin your life
Let it go
Only used Cathay Pacific once and it was not a good experience they lost my luggage for two weeks and despite giving them pictures they got me to travel to the airport which was a 3 hour travel to find out it was not my luggage then when it was mine all the cases was damaged to make things worse they never gave any compensation so I never used them again customer service very poor
I’m probably going to play devil’s advocate here, but on both sides.
Cathay’s entire management needs to get to the bottom of such a mistake, get it resolved and ensure this never happens again. That’s accountability.
The parents needs to realise that mistakes could happen at anytime. Yes, no doubt your child was exposed to alcohol by accident but it could also be a good thing as it helps with two things.
One, it may and very well could discourage the child from developing a taste for alcohol till past teen-hood, eliminate the possibility and temptation of experimenting with alcohol due to peer pressure when the child is coming-of-age.
Two, it’s also important to remember that a little wine does not necessarily mean developmental delays or problems could occur. I’m not a trained pediatric practitioner nor attended any medical school. But a doctor that was a passenger, not employed by the airline, did access the child and was completely fine.
However, I am a trained preschool teacher and a Christian. I have attended churches that allows baptised children under the age of 4 , under the supervision of the pastoral staff and parents, to partake in Holy Communion and the baptismal wine is alcohol.
It’s not like the child was given hard liquor, like whiskey or bourbon, etc…
With that said, again yes, a mistake was made. Don’t make a mole hill into a volcano.
“ 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”
From one sip of wine???
FFS Wong!
Alcohol us a natural product, no harm was done. That money grubbing shrew should be given a cab chit to f all the way off. PS: I thought brats were not permitted in business class.
I really hope that no doctor will go along with this. The fact that they are actively trying to find one that will tells me that every doctor they have been to has told them it’s not a big deal. Accident happen. I would ban these lunatics from ever flying again. That mom can go f herself. Stupid woman