7 passengers removed from flight after apparent overbooking

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

7 passengers removed from flight after apparent overbooking
Associated Press
11 hours ago

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Officers escorted a man and his girlfriend off a plane after he became upset when his seat was double-booked, and five other passengers were removed when they protested his treatment, airport police said Tuesday.

The incidents occurred Monday evening as Spirit Airlines Flight 868 was boarding at Los Angeles International Airport for a trip to Dallas, Officer Rob Pedregon said.

The couple was offered two other seats together on the same plane, but the male passenger remained unruly and police were called, Pedregon said.

"The man was not happy," Pedregon said. "He got irate and started to raise his voice."




Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/7-passengers-removed-flight-apparent-overbooking-164340502.html#

[JackInGreen]

1. It's bullshit is what it is

This was covered on TYT (today? Yesterday? Podcast so im not sure).
I can somewhat, somewhat, understand the removal of the gent that was confrontational (and that barely), but the removal of other AA passengers because they voiced their objections aswell? Fuck you Spirit Airlines.

[Sherman A1]

2. I would be willing to bet

that none of those removed will be buying tickets on that airline again and that they will be more than happy to share their "experiences" with the airline's "customer service" with others.

I for one have had just about my fill of crappy customer service everywhere and am going to cut back my spending across the board locally as one can't seem to get even the barest minimum customers service be it retail stores, fast food or much of anything else. If I want something I guess it will be online ordering.

[yardwork]

3. I just had a terrible experience on American Airlines.

The airlines seem worse to me. Do others share this impression?

[Historic NY]

5. Jet Blue after 2hrs at the gate they tell us there would be no plane....

and it was their hub.

[BigDemVoter]

13. YES. . . . And almost every bad experience I've had has been with American. . . .

[bigworld]

4. Overbooking happens

... but the overbooked passengers are (in my experience) weeded out at the counter -- I've never seen someone kicked off a plane once they've taken their seats.

[dembotoz]

6. do wonder how they decide who of the people already on board get bumped

once you are on the plane you should be on the plane

perhaps if the airline has sought volunteers or held out peace offerings of free tickets etc to make being a volunteer more palatable

[FLPanhandle]

7. I'm on over 100 flights each year for work

Overbooking happens. Sometimes the same seat is booked and someone has to leave. No one is happy about it.

However, being confrontational doesn't help and delays everyone. The airline will compensate you based on federal guidelines.

The airline found this guy another seat and he still was argumenative. No excuse. Throw him off.

Why anyone else on the plane wanted to get involved in this is beyond me.

[CanonRay]

8. Sorry, I know there is overbooking

but don't they have computers? Can't a computer figure out a seat is sold? This seems like a readily solvable problem in this day and age. Just saying "overbooking happens" doesn't cut it. Why does it still happen?

[FLPanhandle]

9. Overbooking happens on purpose

As for two people assigned the same seat, usually it's because the gate agent has given up on a passenger arriving and released the seat to a standby customer. When the late arriving person boards, oops.

The computer scan of boarding passes at the gate has pretty much stopped this but some airlines don't have them all yet.

[B2G]

11. The last time US Air bumped me due to overbooking,

I was given a check for $900.

I smiled all the way home from the airport and back the next day.

[yardwork]

12. The fact that 7 people got involved implies that this was unusual.

[valerief]

10. Who do airlines think they are, doctors? No, airline execs get paid better.

http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2015/05/lets-take-a-look-at-airline-executive-pay.html/

[vinny9698]

14. I always volunteered to be bumbed in case of overbooking

The airlines would give us vouchers to eat and sometimes book us on a later flight in first class. Not bad for waiting a couple of hours for the next flight.