Bumped after being seated

Flight Date: 18 April 2012

My 15 year old daughter, a ticketed passenger waiting in her assigned seat for takeoff, was ordered (not asked or bargained with) to deplane because of alleged overbooking but a businessman Took her seat. She was given no other explanation or assistance and treated rudely by staff at the gate, prompting her
to become very frightened and me to call the airline headquarters. 

The explanations I got were ludicrous, such as she was probably bumped for weight restrictions (she is a hundred pounds) or because she looks older than 15 (the same attendant who ordered her off the plane asked beforehand how old she was). Airline tried to buy their way out of this disgraceful incident by giving my daughter a check for $650.  Oh and did I mention that she is Asian?

- Sandra

Oversold and Stranded a Long Way from Home

Flight Date: 15 April 2012

We purchase a full priced, non stop ticket for our college daughter from San Francisco to Denver on her Spring Break. We drove 100 miles from our home to DIA.  We checked her in to security and then we left her at the airport.  We then drove 100 miles back to our home.  She called us at 7:00 and told us that her flight would be delayed until 8:00.  So she waited around, walked around, etc.  She came back to the gate at 7:50 and they refused to allow her on the plane even though they knew she was there waiting on them for their delay. They told her they oversold the flight and she couldn't get on. She told them she had been waiting for their delay and needed to get back for school.  They told her it was their policy to oversell flights and since she wasn't around they gave her seat to someone else. And we were at home 100 miles away at that time.  

They told her she was out of luck, not what can we do to help you. She was hysterical.  The then told her that the next few days were booked and they couldn't get her out until Wed.  We drove halfway back to DIA, when she called us and said she could fly to Phoenix, spend the night alone in the airport and catch a flight at 6:45 to San Francisco.

OMG! UNBELIEVABLE! MY YOUNG DAUGHTER, ALONE IN AN AIRPORT IN PHOENIX!  WHEN I HAD PURCHASED A NON STOP FULL PRICED TICKET MORE THAN A MONTH IN ADVANCE SO I DIDNT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HER CHANGING PLANES!

She was alone, up all night, late for school and treated like crap by SW. We called SW and they called my daughter a liar.  Instead of asking how it can be fixed, they called her a liar.  Untied Airlines always makes it right even if they dont know whose fault it really is.

They did this to me personally three years ago when I was flying to the east coast for my grandmothers funeral.  I was delayed at security and got to the gate just when they were closing the door and they wouldn't let me on.  I had to fly to Chicago and then to Philadelphia where I was late for the funeral. I then forgave them and gave them another chance and this is what they do.

I want a refund.

- Laura

Airline Delays Lead to a Missed Flight and the Passenger Is Forced to Pay the Hotel Bill

Michael sent in this complaint about a recent flight from Mexico that included significant delays and extra unexpected travel expenses.

On a flight from Cancun to Dulles connecting to Norfolk, VA (UA 7709).
The airplane arrived at our Cancun departure point about an hour late. the plane experienced a minor mechanical problem that lasted another 20 minutes of delay. We finally departed Cancun about 90 minutes late. About 80 passengers missed their connections in Dulles, me included.

The United customer relations people booked us all for a flight the next day. We, however, we were told to pay for own hotel rooms because the delay was due to ATC (air traffic control).

Well, I say it was due to a late arrival at Cancun and a mechanical at Cancun. Even the Captain said we were delayed for a mechanical. I was an airline pilot for 5 years and no way was ATC to blame for this delay. There were also about 20 of my co-worker pilots on board that will attest to these facts. United is trying to use a bogus ATC delay to avoid paying for their shortcomings. So, I am paying for my own meal and room.

AirSafe.com Responds
The sad fact is that it does not matter why the plane was delayed because for the most part airlines that fly in the US are not legally obligated to provide any compensation for a delayed passenger, even if that delay results in a missed connection or unexpected hotel charges. It is possible that an airline will offer some kind of compensation, but that is up to the airline, or more likely the top airline customer service representative you can find after you find out you will be delayed.

AirSafe.com goes into some detail about when you can get compensation from a US air carrier, typically for cases where you are bumped from an oversold flight.