Posted on 12/08/2013 2:11:10 PM PST by Doogle
A 90-year-old World War II veteran en route to a ceremony marking the 72nd anniversary of the attack at Pearl Harbor was booted from his flight to accommodate the weight of additional jet fuel needed for the trip.
According to Hawaii News Now, Ewalt “Walt” Shatz, a WWII veteran credited with shooting down a Japanese plane during the 1941 attack, was scheduled to take a United Airlines flight direct from Los Angeles to Honolulu on Wednesday, but was re-booked on an American Airlines flight leaving eight hours later that included a layover in Maui.
“I was surprised. I didn't know which way to go. Here I am at LAX with all these people and it's all new to me. I was just lost I didn't know what to do which is an awful feeling," Shatz told the paper.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
If that’s the real reason, than it was necessary even if it was unfortunate.
..seems baggage could have been a better choice
Just what I was thinking.
That is true.
Was there not a single passenger who would surrender their seat for a Pearl Harbor survivor on December 7th???
We deserve what we get.
This story has a happy ending, as I found out when I decided to click the link and try and get the answers to my many questions (I did get them, pretty much.)
From the article “Shatz arrived in Honolulu just before midnight and in time for the ceremony.
Word of his Shatz’s plight traveled quickly on the Internet, and 71 people – mostly U.S. service members – organized a last-second welcoming party for him at the airport in Honolulu.”
Very nice!
I suspect there may be more to this story. I have never been on a flight where someone was just kicked off. They ask for volunteers and provide incentives.
Over a loonngg evening once on a Friday in Atlanta I scored 4 free flights, $425 and meals and lodging and meals for the (rest of) the night.
...or any other passenger. (Unless they were all 90-year-old WW2 Pearl Harbor survivors flying in one plane.) If there were any “routine” passengers aboard the flight, I’m sure a dozen would have offered to take the bump. It like the airline didn’t bother to ask anybody.
I haven’t flown United since the late 80s. We use either Delta or EVA for overseas. Delta has better connections out of PDX but semi hostile attendants and poor food. EVA is a good bet all around.
“Was there not a single passenger who would surrender their seat for a Pearl Harbor survivor on December 7th??”
I would bet most on the flight would have; had they had any idea what was going on. Probably the United employees would have kept him on the flight had they known as well.
You’re right.
Also, it was cruel to do this to a 90-year-old who would be more likely to be physically and emotionally stressed by such a sudden change.
What makes you think a United employee (or employees or even Corporate) didn't target him for this extra special treatment?
I’ve been on plenty of flights where people were rebooked. If no volunteers come forward, the airline will do it—I have been the recipient of this treatment on multiple occasions.
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/24143676/outrage-expressed-after-wwii-vet-allegedly-bumped-from-honolulu-bound-flight
FOX makes it sound like he was the only passenger removed. The article above states that 41 passengers were bumped based on passenger’s fare class, itinerary and check-in time.
That being said, this Vet did recieve a raw deal and he should not have been bumped.
I was thinking the same thing...
I have NEVER heard of someone getting booted off a flight because of weight and CG issues because of additional fuel, where a paying passenger needed to be booted off...
I would think this is more along the lines that they asked if anyone would give up their seat because of this issue, but since I have never heard of something like this even being approached by the flight crew, and it had to be the flight crew, that made the decision, then notified company officials on the ground (front office, counter people) to prepare for someone voluunteering to give up a seat on that flight...
Only then would they possible ask a gentleman of this age, tie in the date, destination, and possibly ask the guy if he was a veteran of the Pearl Harbor attack...
Just seems to me we do not have all the information here...
There had to be some other person who would have given up their seat to allow this guy a chance, maybe his last chance to go back and be a part of the rememberance of just such a tragic time in our history...
None of this, technically, or socially adds up...United Airlines should have had someone a little bit more on the ball than this giving the final look over of the solution...
Very poor performance yet again by a major corporation...
I am not at all impressed...
I wonder who called the news over this. I can’t imagine this guy did.
FReegards
“Delta has better connections out of PDX but semi hostile attendants and poor food.
___________________________________________________
Delta use to be a fine airline years ago, but not now.
I was on a Delta from Paris to Atlanta one day. As the stew came to get drink orders, the guy behind me asked for a Coke.
When she delivered it she asked for one or two bucks.
She came to me next and I said that I had never heard of charging for a soft drink on an international flight. She barked back, “well, we are just trying to keep from going bankrupt”.
“What makes you think a United employee (or employees or even Corporate) didn’t target him for this extra special treatment?”
I have no idea either way. But there are a lot of people with military backgrounds who work for airlines.
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