Brenda Song, known for her role in the hit series **Running Point**, has voiced her frustration over a recent incident with Alaska Airlines that led to her family being separated during a flight. The actress, alongside her fiancé Macaulay Culkin, travelled with their two young sons, Dakota and Carson, on what was meant to be a smooth trip, but the experience turned out to be quite the opposite.
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While attending the premiere of the second season of her show, Song spoke with PEOPLE about the challenges she faced when flying with her children. The 39-year-old actress expressed that travelling with young kids is often accompanied by considerable difficulties, and she feels that parents are frequently mischaracterised. “Everyone thinks that parents are trying to take the easy way out and not choosing seats together,” she reflected. However, her situation was exacerbated when her sons, aged three and four, were expected to sit alone, separated by 20 rows from their parents.

The situation became especially stressful for Song as she observed that the airline staff were simply attempting to perform their duties amidst the chaos. Nevertheless, she struck a positive note, stating that despite the distress of the moment, she was relieved her family arrived safely at their destination. “It all worked out. We made it. We’re all happy and healthy. We’re fine,” she stated, underscoring that, in the grand scheme of life, their experience was “a very small problem.”

The trouble began prior to take-off on 21 March when Song took to Instagram to express her disappointment with Alaska Airlines. She detailed how she and her family had booked first-class tickets six months earlier to celebrate her son’s birthday but discovered that their seats had been reassigned without notice. “I didn’t know when you book your first-class tickets… Alaska Airlines can just give away your seats the morning of with no warning,” she wrote in her stories. She concluded her post by publicly stating that she and her family would not consider flying with Alaska Airlines again.
Following her social media outburst, Culkin, 45, added his own humorous touch by sharing her grievances with his followers, highlighting the intensity of her feelings with the quip, “Hell hath no fury like a Brenda scorned.”
In response to the uproar, Alaska Airlines issued an apology, addressing the matter as “unacceptable and not reflective of the care” that they aim to provide. A representative from the airline acknowledged the stress that comes with travelling, particularly with young children, and expressed regret for any added tension caused by the incident. The airline reiterated its commitment to ensuring a safe, reliable, and caring experience for all its passengers, particularly families.
The airline also noted that it had reached out to Song’s family in an effort to rectify the situation, demonstrating their willingness to correct their missteps. In an age where family travel is becoming increasingly common, the need for airlines to prioritise the experience of families is more critical than ever, as highlighted by this incident.
Brenda Song and Macaulay Culkin have been busy balancing their family life with their careers. Their elder son Dakota was born in April 2021, while the arrival of Carson, confirmed in December of the previous year, added to their familial joy. However, this recent incident serves as a reminder that even the most meticulously planned family trips can go awry, particularly when dealing with airlines.
As this story continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Alaska Airlines will follow through on their promise to amend the situation. The incident has sparked discussions among parents and frequent flyers about the importance of clear communication and the need for airlines to be more considerate of families travelling with young children.
Brenda Song’s experience could resonate deeply with many parents who have encountered similar hurdles while navigating air travel, underlining the need for improvements in the industry’s handling of family bookings.
