A positive story about the airlines

We hear so much these days about how bad air travel is - canceled flights, long security waits, rising prices, layoffs.

I wanted to show my personal thanks to the employees of American Airlines/American Eagle, as well as the crew and guests who were on Flight 4076 on Aug. 1 from Cincinnati to O'Hare.

Three days before our departing flight from O'Hare, my father, a retired AA pilot, was able to obtain a tour of O'Hare through American Eagle in order to prepare my autistic daughter for her first airline flight.

I was traveling home with my two young daughters after a visit to their grandparents outside of Cincinnati. The flight to Cincinnati was uneventful.

When we were due to return home, flights were canceled and delayed, gates were changed multiple times, and the wait was really difficult for my children.

Upon arriving in O'Hare, there was no gate immediately available and the additional wait proved too much for my daughter with autism. She experienced a full-blown violent and loud tantrum on the plane with no possibility of escaping the situation while the plane waited for a gate.

I did not receive any evil looks. No one told me to control my child, as I was doing the best I could. Once we had a gate, everyone aboard the plane waited for my daughters and I to exit the aircraft before they themselves got up.

I received kind words and a warm hug from the flight attendant on my way out. Another passenger from the flight offered to watch my children so that I could go to the restroom. Yet another woman rubbed my back on the way to baggage claim and told me how sorry she was.

Although what started as a truly terrible experience for us upon landing, the compassion, understanding and sympathy from strangers - both passengers and crew of American Eagle - showed me that humanity and care for others truly exists in trying times. I am deeply thankful for this.

Kristina Milashus

Prospect Heights