[music playing]
We have two kids traveling by themselves.
They will not let us walk our kids out together.
You know what?
Southwest-- don't ride Southwest.
CHECK-IN WOMAN: It's not about Southwest.
It's about security. - Yes, it is.
NARRATOR: Security rules at Midway
are making Debbie Prisbilo angry.
She's got two kids and only she or her husband, not both,
can accompany them to the gate.
They're going to see their father
for the Christmas holidays.
And both me and their stepdad wants
to walk them down because we're not going
to have them for the holidays.
So both of us want to say goodbye to them.
And they won't let us.
We have to limit the people that go through security.
And that's what I'm trying to get to you.
It's-- it's a security reason.
I cannot handle walking two kids by myself.
I can give you a pass for one person to go down.
Anybody could grab them and kidnap them.
So what's your answer to that?
You about to get the kids kidnapped during the holidays?
CHECK-IN WOMAN: Ma'am.
Ma'am what?
NARRATOR: Debbie's standing her ground.
Time to bring in reinforcements.
Right now, we're blocking off this.
So I'm going to get you checked in.
I'm already checked in.
But I want to know about my kids, though.
Why can't we walk them down?
NARRATOR: In Chicago, Ginny Doner
has been called to deal with disgruntled mom, Debbie
Prisbilo.
We just don't give out passenger information
on your children to anybody.
So if anything, I think--
To anybody-- I'm their mother.
So that's not anybody.
We had to buy two tickets.
I want to walk her down.
He wants to walk him down.
What is the difference?
Right now, we have the holiday traffic.
Everything's congested.
And we do have to follow security rules-- only
allowed to let one parent go.
You know what?
We're allowed to let one person through.
I think your security reason is wrong.
And I think you're just making this up.
Because any other airline would do it.
You should have both adults bring their children, you know,
to-- to the gates to board.
It's ridiculous.
It's the holidays.
I want to say goodbye.
Both of us want to say goodbye to our kids.
Right, well--
I mean, this is our first Christmas without them.
We both want to say goodbye to them.
Is that so difficult to ask?
NARRATOR: Debbie is a force to be reckoned with.
And she's not taking no for an answer.
Debbie's determined to stay with her daughter
until her plane leaves.
Her husband and son are already through security.
But she's confident she can blag another security
pass from baggage services.
You didn't get a pass at the--
No, they did not give me a pass for her to walk her down.
Is she traveling with someone else?
Her 12-year-old brother, who's already down there.
Who did he go down there with?
His stepfather.
NARRATOR: Little does Debbie know,
but Shadia is double-checking with the folks
at the ticket counter.
Hello?
Hey, who is this?
Hey, Phil, this is Shadia.
Everything gets done upstairs.
The only reason they do come down here
is when they have more than one person walking them through.
And they denied her the pass.
Hopefully, they could get this resolved, or one of them
will walk her down and stay with her until the plane leaves.
NARRATOR: But Ginny's caught on to Debbie's game.
I was shocked when Debra made her way with the bags.
I was shocked that she left her husband
and separated the children.
She had our back against the wall.
There's nothing more I can do, you know,
than make a bigger scene out of that situation.
NARRATOR: But Debbie does seem determined
to make the most of the situation, making up rules
as she goes along.
--down there.
There's no legal guardian down there of her.
He's my stepdad.
That's a stepdad.
That is not a legal guardian.
By the state of Illinois or any place,
any federal government, a stepfather or stepparent is not
a legal guardian of anybody.
So you know what?
You messed up.
So you will stay with her until she leaves.
Otherwise, I will sue you for leaving a child by herself
without a legal guardian.
NARRATOR: Debbie has put Ginny between a rock
and a hard place.
There was no option except to issue a second security pass.
I saw her heart was breaking, because her kids are
going away for the holidays.
So--
This is my first Christmas without my kids.
Do you feel better now that I can walk you down?
NARRATOR: It's all smiles for the time being, anyway.
There they are.
[smooch] I love you.
Have fun hunting, OK?
I will.
DEBBIE: Bye.
Bye, Mom.
OK.
NARRATOR: They're supposed to fly to Houston
to meet their father.
But that flight is delayed, and another plane
is using the gate, bound for Los Angeles.
The kids want me to give you a hug.
NARRATOR: Ginny has put the kids on the wrong flight.
No one, not even Debbie and Bob, has realized Ginny's blunder.
A little bit more relieved that you get to see
the kids go off, you know.
And you don't have to worry about, you know,
the phone call two hours later finding out--
DEBBIE: That something happened to one of them.
BOB: Yeah.
At least we can go home a little--
DEBBIE: With peace of mind.
BOB: Yeah, knowing that they got off OK.
I hope that's everybody now.
NARRATOR: In Chicago, Vees just found out
that the Clark children, bound for Houston,
were pulled off a plane going to Los Angeles.
And guess who's at fault?
Well, they thought you knew what was going on.
They didn't question you.
You are kidding me.
I'm B11 right now with the kids.
Well, I think the whole time I said
they were going to Los Angeles.
[laughs]
I messed up.
This is the biggest bonehead move that I could ever make.
But I'm going to go and make sure the kids are OK.
NARRATOR: Ginny is going to have a hard time
living this one down.
[laughs]
Are you guys done yet?
We cracking jokes about you, Ginny.
You know--
Did you hear what she said?
Hopefully, we'll get this one right.
[laughs]
Are you guys ever going to forget this trip?
[laughs]
Must be a crew swap.
Are you guys going to ask for me next time you
come to the airport? - Crew change.
If you're still here.
I will be.
Yeah, right, that's a good point.
I hope I'm still here.
I am sorry.
OK? - We're on the right one, right?
- Huh? - We're on the right one, right?
Yes, you're on the right one.
NARRATOR: Ginny's off the hook.
The kids make it to Houston, where
they're met by their father.
There's a lesson to be learned in all of this.
[laughter]
Probably a lesson for myself.
Double check details.
[laughter]