Delta Delays Flight 13 Times—Tells Dad With Toddlers To ‘Figure It Out.’ They End Up Stuck At Atlanta Airport Overnight

When a passenger travels with young children, both airlines and airports tend to accommodate them. That can include things like early boarding, family seating, free stroller check-in, and similar measures.

This is usually not just out of courtesy. It is also efficient and helps things move along more smoothly.

According to one Louisiana dad and sergeant first class on TikTok, however, that is the opposite of what happened on his most recent Delta Airlines trip.

In a video, which has garnered over 1.4 million views, Zachary Burns (@burns.pov) filmed himself and his kids in a less-than-ideal position.

What Went Wrong With the Delta Flight?

“When Delta Airlines delays your flight 13 times in one day so you and your kids sleep in a lactation pod overnight,” Burns wrote in the video’s text overlay.

The clip shows Burns and his two young kids inside a small room, lying down on benches.

For context, lactation rooms are private spaces where parents can nurse, pump breast milk, or feed a child. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport says it has several lactation pods throughout the airport, and each one can be securely locked from the inside for privacy.

Burns added more details in the caption.

“Will never fly @delta again,” he wrote. “This man looked me in my face and said ‘figure it out’ when I mentioned I had kids with me after my flight was delayed for the 13th time in one day. Not to mention the 4 delays the day before. Done with Delta, done with Atlanta.”

What Was Causing Delays In Atlanta?

Atlanta did have weather issues around that time.

According to an Atlanta publication, a severe thunderstorm warning was in effect for DeKalb, Henry, Newton, and Rockdale counties until 3:15 p.m., the National Weather Service said.

According to FlightAware, a website that tracks airport activity, there were nearly 200 cancellations at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport as of 3 p.m.

A Redditor also described getting caught up in the same disruption.

“We got caught up in this,” they wrote. “We were flying from Myrtle Beach to Atlanta and onto our final. Plane into Myrtle was late and pilot stated there was ‘1 hour thunderstorm in Atlanta that caused some delays.’ Then we land in atlanta and basically the entire Delta wing of the airport was chaos. WTF”

According to Burns, the issue was not just the weather. In the comments, he stated his flight was also missing a co-pilot.

Was Delta In The Wrong Here?

In the U.S., airlines usually provide hotel accommodations for overnight delays when the delay is within the airline’s control, according to the Department of Transportation’s airline dashboard.

Weather, however, generally does not fall into that category.

The Mary Sue has reached out to Delta via contact form for comment and more information about the Atlanta delays.

Controversy in the Comments

In the comments section, some viewers expressed discomfort with the fact that Burns, a father, was inside a lactation room. These spaces are meant to provide privacy for breastfeeding or pumping parents.

“As a mom of multiple littles, I’d have found an alternative to taking a room that had a very specific use,” one commenter wrote. “I’m no longer shocked by places locking these pods and requiring an employee to let the breastfeeding/pumping mother in.”

Another viewer agreed.

“Let me tell you how often I need the lactation pods to pump and when I get there it’s occupied by someone not lactating,” they wrote.

Most commenters, however, saw the situation differently.

“I’m with the other moms, I’m glad there was a safe space for your babies to sleep,” one commenter wrote. “I would gladly nurse outside so your babies could sleep safely.”

Another commenter said they strongly support keeping lactation rooms available for breastfeeding mothers, but understood why Burns used the space.

“But I am putting that emotion on pause for this,” they wrote. “Your family had a safe place to sleep and that is very important. I pray you eventually made it home safely.”

@burns.pov Will never fly @delta again. This man looked me in my face and said “figure it out” when I mentioned I had kids with me after my flight was delayed for the 13th time in one day. Not to mention the 4 delays the day before. Done with Delta, done with Atlanta. #deltaairlines #atlanta ♬ original sound – Grunch

The Mary Sue has also reached out to Burns via email for comment and to find out if there have been recent updates.

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]