jetBlue forces pax to sit on toilet during crosscountry flight

Based on what's being reported, I'd say this guy has a pretty good
case, plus jetBlue should fire both the pilot and FA.


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.

auzpig wrote:
Based on what's being reported, I'd say this guy has a pretty good
case, plus jetBlue should fire both the pilot and FA.


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."


I don't buy it. That would be multiple airline personel blatantly
violating regs and company policy.

auzpig writes:

Based on what's being reported, I'd say this guy has a pretty good
case, plus jetBlue should fire both the pilot and FA.

What isn't mentioned in this article is that Mutlu was travelling on an
airline buddy pass.

Nevertheless, the aircraft can't depart until everyone has a seat, and
everyone must continue to have a seat with a seat belt until the aircraft
lands. If they didn't have enough seats to accommodate this man, they should
not have departed with him. And once he had a seat, they could scarcely force
him out of it unless another seat were available.

In message Mxsmanic
wrote:

auzpig writes:

Based on what's being reported, I'd say this guy has a pretty good
case, plus jetBlue should fire both the pilot and FA.

What isn't mentioned in this article is that Mutlu was travelling on an
airline buddy pass.

Nevertheless, the aircraft can't depart until everyone has a seat, and
everyone must continue to have a seat with a seat belt until the aircraft
lands. If they didn't have enough seats to accommodate this man, they should
not have departed with him. And once he had a seat, they could scarcely force
him out of it unless another seat were available.

It sounds like they had enough seats, counting the jump-seat, the
problem was that the flight attendant seated in the jump-seat changed
her mind and the passenger wasn't permitted to try out the jump-seat.

It still shouldn't have happened, but the boarding portion of the
process doesn't sound all that wrong.