Airline double-books flight, passenger refuses to exit: ‘You can’t be playing with people’s plans’
He thought it was just plane disrespectful.
An irate passenger caused a scene after refusing to leave a plane that he was double-booked on, as seen in a video going viral online.
“Don’t be disrespectful, is my money worthless?” declared the unnamed flyer during the hour-long standoff, which occurred on an Avianca flight from Los Angeles, USA to Bogotá, Colombia, Jam Press reported.
Flight attendants had informed the traveler that the flight was oversold despite the fact that he allegedly bought his ticket three months ahead of time, Colombian media reported.
They subsequently told him to deplane because there were no seats available, but the man refused.
In an accompanying footage, shot by a fellow passenger, the incensed fellow can be seen laying into cabin crew members over his perceived unfair treatment.
“Don’t give me bad options, I need to get there,” he fumed. “I’m a lawyer, you should respect me.”
The flyer continued, “I paid for it, they deducted it from my card, you haven’t given me anything, it wasn’t a favor! It seems disrespectful to me that you would sell something you don’t have.”
Upon noticing he was on camera, the passenger declared: “And film what you want, I hope I become famous.”
At that point, the employees threatened to call the police, but the man remained steadfast, yelling that he hoped the prosecutor’s office would come down so he could “file a report.”
“You can’t be playing with people’s plans,” the declared stubborn passenger, who eventually left on his own volition out of consideration for his fellow flyers, according to the person filming.
He received a round of applause for this gesture.
In Colombia, the selling of flight tickets is regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority. Nonetheless, the airline should have offered the impacted passenger an alternative way to reach their destination on the same date and via the same route.
Failing that, they should compensate them for a minimum of 30% of the ticket’s value.
It’s yet unclear whether said flyer was offered either option.
