Posted on 05/12/2008 8:17:47 PM PDT by auzerais
NY man sues airline over flight spent in toilet
Mon May 12, 2008 6:52pm EDT NEW YORK (Reuters) - A New York man who says he was denied a seat on a five-hour jetBlue flight and was instead told to "hang out" in the plane's bathroom has sued the airline for $2 million, saying he suffered "extreme humiliation."
When Gokhan Mutlu arrived to check in for a jetBlue flight from San Diego to New York in February he was told the flight was full, according to the lawsuit filed in New York State Supreme Court.
But Mutlu was allowed to board after a jetBlue flight attendant agreed to give up her seat and travel in an airline employee "jump seat." It was not clear in the lawsuit whether the flight attendant was working.
However 90 minutes into the flight, the pilot told Mutlu the flight attendant was uncomfortable and he would have to give up his seat and "hang out" in the bathroom for the remainder of the flight, the lawsuit said.
The pilot "became angry at (Mutlu's) reluctance" and said Mutlu "should be grateful for being onboard," the lawsuit said. When Mutlu volunteered to sit in the "jump seat," he was told it was reserved for airline personnel.
At one point, the airplane experienced turbulence and Mutlu sat on the toilet seat without a seat belt, causing him "tremendous fear," the lawsuit said.
JetBlue was not immediately available for comment.
Gotta wonder if there’s more to the story.
Indeed, it breaks so many FAA rules and regs that there has to be more to it.
“...the airplane experienced turbulence and Mutlu sat on the toilet seat without a seat belt.”
I can see where that might cause a problem.
” ... turbulence and Mutlu sat on the toilet seat without a seat belt, causing him “tremendous fear,” the lawsuit said.”
Turbulence in the toilet leading to extreme fear.
A common occurrence.
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2008-05-12-sue-jet-blue_N.htm
He was using a free buddy pass given him by a JetBlue employee. That is why he was the one shoved around. Doesn’t make it right, though.
The story is a bunch of b.s. They would not make him give up his seat to anyone who is jump seat qualified, especially after they’ve agree to take the jump seat. It doesn’t happen. Bank on it.
I would happily take a one-stop on Southwest before flying nonstop on JetBlue, but JetBlue does not overbook its flights, I’ll give them that. I believe there is a no-standby policy.
I love JetBlue! Our youngest son and I are flying South next month on the airline! The only problem I’ve ever had on a JetBlue flight was a 2-1/2 hr. delay on the tarmac at JFK, and that wasn’t even a problem, because I just watched the TV the whole time. That delay wasn’t even the fault of the airline. There were delays because of weather all up and down the East Coast that day.
Mmmm ... don’t think so .. if you don’t have a seat you can’t hang out in the lav ....FAA regs .....
The guy is going to get win his suit easily. The pilot should be fired immediately. What an a-hole.
I don’t believe this lawsuit for a minute. If the pilot was truly this stupid, the guy will own the airline. Sounds more like a shakedown here. The FA was “uncomfortable” in the jump seat and so he needs to go “hang out” in the bathroom? Are we supposed to believe this?
Whats he beefing about? He had the whole bathroom to himself.
That's better than coach.
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