Teen daughter removed from front of Spirit Airlines plane while uninformed mother sat in back, lawsuit claims

Absolutely and must be a rule no airline can break or get a very heavy fine. Once in your seat no way Jose they should ask you to deplane.

This incident happened last April. It was legal at the time, but was outlawed in October.
H.R.302/Public Law No: 115-254 says:

SEC. 425. TICKETS ACT.
(a) Short Title.—This section may be cited as the “Transparency Improvements and Compensation to Keep Every Ticketholder Safe Act of 2018” or the “TICKETS Act”.

(b) Boarded Passengers.—Beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, a covered air carrier may not deny a revenue passenger traveling on a confirmed reservation permission to board, or involuntarily remove that passenger from the aircraft, once a revenue passenger has—

(1) checked in for the flight prior to the check-in deadline; and

(2) had their ticket or boarding pass collected or electronically scanned and accepted by the gate agent.

That’s the spirit!

Had to do it...

I think they will likely settle out of court and get something like half of the 75K or something.

everyone always flies Spirit exactly once

Once. Once.

Child endangerment.
A 15 year old girl alone at an irport is not a good idea, especially with no transportation to get home.

Kidnapping? Take it easy. Stop the dramatics.

All airlines have a priority system. Things that can be considered are: Frequent flyer member? Time of check-in? Class of service paid for (more expensive classes for the same seat typically get priority).

You obviously have never read any ticketing agreement that you agreed to when you bought tickets. There is no fraud. The ticket agreement that binds the customer says that they may be denied boarding for any reason by the carrier.

Now, is that bad business, maybe. But not illegal, as you wrongfully suggest.

You're not trying to be racist but you're assuming they don't understand English because they're hispanic?

Wow... I guess planes in 80% of the rest of the world must have a LOT of empty emergency rows then. Hopefully that FA is now on the custodial crew.

Spirit Airlines, where they spirit you or loved ones awaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy!?!

lol!!

I’m not really seeing how Spirit owned up to it - nothing in the report says they apologized, just refunded the ticket and offered some miles (to customers who I’m sure want nothing to do with them ever again). I’m not a fan of frivolous lawsuits, but sometimes it’s the only way to get through to these sleazy companies.

I'd assume legal costs of the lawyer would be a large part of that.

It's not overbooking. It's removing passengers who are already on the plane to accommodate the "overbooking"

For sure. We don’t kmow that this 15 year old didn’t volunteer to give up her seat for a later the flight same day and get some extra pocket money as well. Especially if she knew her Mom would never approve? Two sides to every story?

15 year olds are capable of telling the staff to notify their mother onboard that they are being taken off the flight! In fact, if she had spoken up that her family were already boarded, they would not have separated her from her family.

Spirit has frequent flyers?

If the “big pockets” really want get there, charter a private jet

before she got removed

Everything was not good. The parent didn't know her daughter had been removed. That would create a little panic, don't you think? And then, of course, you also have the terror the teen was experiencing. How can you say everything was good !

What justice, Mr. Horton, would there be for the hundreds of the innocent airline employees
who would the be unemployed should your wish that Spirit were forced to close its doors? I really don't get this degree of unjust rage.

I see, as expected some are not supporting my zeal. The airlines have been allowed to wander too far afield in there desire to be judge,jury and executioner. They were given one tiny step by the government and with the help of high paid lobbyist they have pursued a policy that makes them a government unto themselves. This bothers me as it should bother everyone. It should have been reigned in in the beginning but was allowed to charge head-on. It needs to stop but I can tell you it will not. It is just a precedent for future conduct by other industry. Think not? Study history. Airlines are a necessary component of our transportation system. I have had many pleasant experiences. That said placing passengers in danger by action or omission cannot be tolerated and should be punished. The only way to punish is to hit them heavily in the pocketbook. Placing the fear of criminal prosecution on employees will cause them to pause, think and find more creative solutions to the problems. In this case the first question from the mouth of the crew should have been "are you traveling with others?". However, the crew feels confident that whatever decision they make will be supported by the airline and smoothed over with a few meaningless miles and meal vouchers.

You might end up in the poor house before it would be all said and done. And even if you were rewarded with a win, it'd be lifetimes before the appeals would be exhausted. What you propose, IMHO, is just greed.

Yes, we must fight what we perceive as injustices with as much hatred as we can muster.

Did you not bother to read the story or watch the video? The girl reportedly did tell them her mother was in the back of the airplane, but no one would listen and told her she would be on the next plane out.

you obviously don't have kids.

1) yes, it does
2) when they switched planes, mom/brotehr assigned to back of plane, daughter assigned to front
3) no
4) mom's phone was in airplane mode so daughter couldn't communicate to her.

All answered from reading the article posted.


not sure why she didn't try brother, but bro might not have had a phone. also, possible mom didn't see the daughter being removed due to other passengers settling into their seats.

I don't know any civil defense lawyers who would want to go anywhere near your ill-considered questions. Particularly number 4, which is answered, "I was told to fasten my seatbelt and not to leave my seat until after the seatbelt sign was turned off." "While I was trapped by this aircrew command, my daughter was forcibly removed from the plane without my knowledge or consent." "When I learned my little girl was missing from the plane I was frantic, I didn't know where she was, left in a strange place all alone and no way to contact her to see if she was safe." It gets even better from there as the mother begins to cry (rightfully so) over the loss of her child. There are also very good answers to the other 3 questions which place the responsibility on the airline. 1."Yes, the airline assigned the ticket seat number. 2. We were separated when the airline put us in different seats. 3 No, my daughter is not handicapped, this would have been even worse if I had a handicapped child thrown off the plane without my knowledge, but we sat where the airline told us we had to sit, we did not get a choice."

And regarding #3 - read the article before posting comments.

Mind if I ask what you think the parents did wrong in this case? The entire family was on board (and split up as Spirit tends to do), the daughter was booted, and the parents weren’t informed until it was too late to make other arrangements. I’m a strong proponent of personal accountability but I don’t see it lacking here.

I take back my comment in a previous sub-thread. THIS is the dumbest comment in the thread. Your ignorance of how criminal law applies in such a situation is likely to get you behind bars if you take some sort of action such as separating a child from their parent - regardless the venue. But please - go right on ahead and give it a whirl. I'll get some popcorn and a lawnchair.

Spirit was given an opportunity to comment and declined. Spirit refunded the airfare and offered additional air miles. Not something they would have done if nothing wrong happened as you imply.

My favorite part is her phone was on Airplane mode”. Isn’t the younger generation tech savy!!?

You should probably try reading the entire story, especially the part about how she was not allowed to tell her mother (who was in the rear of the aircraft), and that her mother's cell was already in "airplane mode", as per the flight crew instructions.

If you know anything about modern media, you know that the lawyer would have made that VERY obvious in his play for public sympathy in his legal fight with Spirit. And the media, which seems to think its job is to incite peoples anger, would have put it in the story as well.

I'm guessing you didn't read the article. You should try that.

That’s crap lady!! Sprit Air is one of the worst airlines currently flying. They could have asked some else!! They should have sued for a whole lot more. Actually, closing that airline would be the best thing!!

Clearly you have no children.

I am not a helicopter dad by any means but if I landed at my destination and my daughter wasn't on the plane and I had no info. about where she was. I would probably have a nervous breakdown and my wife would have to be sedated. The fact that she was separated from her family in the first place is b.s. I would not "deal with it" and once she was located and my anti-anxiety medication wore off I'd be on the phone with a lawyer.

That’s absurd. Like, what makes you think that “deal with it” is a reasonable response to this situation?

We’re not talking about leg room here. Or are you unable to make the distinction?

Like United? First-rate goon squad with first-rate curb-stomp?

lol - the airline is a "who" ?

Do you have kids?!?! The airline should be shutdown.

Quite possibly the dumbest comment in the thread right here. You clearly do not have children. Nor do you understand the 2nd rate or note - there is a significant element of criminality here. Kidnapping, child endangerment just to start.

You are a pawn of the lawyers and the internet media which seeks to incite you for clicks in order to make money. Why do you assume what has not bee reported?

Really? Let's see how that sounds.

"As compensation for the inconvenience and terror you caused to my family, I demand to be able to fly your airline exclusively for the next 10 years because it will be almost free."

Nope, not sane at all.