I can afford expensive plane tickets, but what about millions of other moms?

Calling on airports to prioritize families with young children, Hoang My was heartbroken when she encountered comments like: Why didn't she buy a high-priced ticket to get priority?

Runner-up Hoang My and her little daughter. She wondered: "Can't we prioritize women and children for such simple things?" - Photo: FBNV

Runner-up Hoang My told Tuoi Tre Online : "There are comments that really hurt me, they ask why I don't buy a higher priced ticket to get priority? For me or someone who can afford it, spending that amount of money is simple, but what about millions of other mothers?"

"I think a mother and a small child do not need to have a SkyPriority card to be given priority. It is a humane act of society and does not necessarily have to be bought with money" - Hoang My expressed her opinion.

Hoang My is not alone, many mothers speak up

Hoang My often travels by plane and has a SkyPriority card (usually including priority rights reserved for first-class and business-class passengers). This time, because the card expired, she had the first "feelingless" experience as described.

But Hoang My believes that every experience is necessary and valuable. Because of this experience, she realized that for a long time, many mothers and families have had to struggle when taking their children far away by plane without priority or support.

She wondered: "Can't we give priority to women and children for such simple things? For a long time, it seems that many people rarely speak up to demand these basic rights and often silently endure."

Hoang My said she was speaking out for millions of other mothers, not just for herself. After posting the open letter, she plans to ask her friends and acquaintances in Vietnam to update her on whether there have been any positive changes.

Hoang My believes that prioritizing and supporting mothers and children should come from the heart and kindness - Photo: FBNV

In the comments on Hoang My's personal page, many mothers recounted their experiences when their children were sick, fussy, irritable, or tired and hungry because of long flights... but still had to stand in long lines at the airport to get through all the steps, and when they asked for priority, they received cold responses. They encountered questions like: "Why do we need priority?".

There was a family that went with both parents and a small child, but only the mother and child were given priority while the father still had to wait in line. The mother and child got out first but had to wait another 50 minutes for the father. The mother asked, is the priority meaningless?

A mother told a story about flying when she was 7 months pregnant, her belly was very big but she was still asked to get a "pregnancy certificate" to get priority.

Hoang My carries her baby on the streets of the Netherlands - Photo: FBNV

A mother said that when she returned home with her 3 young children from Russia to China, she was called to do the procedures in advance and helped carry her belongings everywhere, but when she arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, there was no such thing.

There are also mothers who share good experiences, being given priority at Noi Bai airport when pregnant and traveling with small children. There is a comment saying that on the afternoon of May 27, an airline at Noi Bai airport invited families with small children and elderly people over 65 years old to check-in first.

Runner-up Hoang My said she was not sure her voice could contribute to change, but she was happy if mothers' opinions were heard and accepted.

Priority check-in is not enough

After posting an open letter to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, Vietnam Airlines Corporation and the Ministry of Transport on "Proposal to prioritize parents with young children at Vietnamese airports" on May 26, Hoang My received a lot of information and comments.

She learned that one airline has launched a pregnancy care service that includes fast check-in assistance, strollers to the foot of the plane, and amenities to help reduce discomfort during the flight. Another airline announced that it would open a separate Family Check-in counter in 2019 for families with seniors over 65 and children under 12.

Hoang My often takes her little daughter out to visit her family - Photo: Character provided

On the one hand, Hoang My is happy to see that airlines in Vietnam have policies for this. But on the other hand, she still sees a big gap between policy and reality.

She wrote: "What bothers me is that the actual experience of many passengers, especially mothers that I have had the opportunity to talk to in the past few days, is completely different.

And in the policies being communicated, there is still no clear mention of priority support at security and customs areas, the two most difficult journeys for families with young children, the elderly or pregnant women.

To make people bold in giving birth and taking care of children

Hoang My mentioned recent policies such as birth promotion policies, subsidies for mothers who give birth to two children under the age of 35...

But she wondered: "Taking care of children is a very difficult process, especially for parents who both work and take care of their children. I myself prepared financially before having children, now I don't have to worry about finances, just taking care of children is already overwhelming."

She suggested that there should be support and encouragement from the smallest things such as priority at the airport so that people can boldly give birth and take care of their children.

MI LY

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/toi-co-the-mua-ve-may-bay-gia-cao-nhung-hang-trieu-nguoi-me-khac-thi-sao-20250528011437303.htm