Man says JetBlue made him sit on toilet

[Dion]

A New York City man is suing JetBlue Airways Corp. for more than $2 million because he says a pilot made him give up his seat to a flight attendant and sit on the toilet for more than three hours on a flight from California.

Gokhan Mutlu, of Manhattan’s Inwood section, says in court papers the pilot told him to “go ‘hang out’ in the bathroom” about 90 minutes into the San Diego to New York flight because the flight attendant complained that the “jump seat” she was assigned was uncomfortable, the lawsuit said.

Mutlu was traveling on a a “buddy pass,” a standby travel voucher that JetBlue employees give to friends, from New York to San Diego on Feb. 16, and returned to New York on Feb. 23, the lawsuit said.

Initially, Mutlu was told a flight attendant had taken the last seat on the plane, but then he was advised she would sit in the employee “jump seat,” meaning he could have the last seat, the lawsuit said.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h...RZ9PQD90KOIE80

[Dion]

While i feel sorry for the guy, i burst out laughing when i read this story.

Judge: Do you have any evidence to support your claim?

Lawyer: Yes your Honor, my client has a ring around his anus.

[Boblobla]

Originally Posted by Dion

While i feel sorry for the guy, i burst out laughing when i read this story.

Judge: Do you have any evidence to support your claim?

Lawyer: Yes your Honor, my client has a ring around his anus.

[MelBridgeman]

This is kinda unbelievable.
If it is true, pilot and flight attendant should prob be looking for new jobs.

[Ironhorse]

So he travelled for free (buddy pass), and then is complaining?

[MarchHare]

Obvious question: why did the passanger have to sit in the bathroom and not the "uncomfortable" jumpseat vacated by the flight attendant. I guess the jumpseat might have been located in the cockpit, which would have been a security issue if they allowed a passenger to occupy that seat. Then again, it's a safety issue to have the passenger in the bathroom for an extended amount of time; they must be strapped in during takeoff and landing, and what would have happened if they encountered turbulent air? Either way, this is pretty stupid. The employee should have sucked it and stayed in the jumpseat, instead of forcing a paying customer to vacate his seat.

This is just another data point in the entitlement attitude displayed by unionized American airline workers, though. A good friend of my parents is an executive with the Moncton Airport Authority. After 9/11, when many US-bound planes were forced to land at Moncton, he personally met with the aircrews to assist with their needs. He said the flight attendants of (IIRC) an American Airlines flight refused the shared hotel room he had arranged for them, stating that their union contract guaranteed them a single room (never mind that there weren't any single rooms available because Moncton wasn't prepared for so many unexpected visitors). He compared their behaviour with the crew of a British Airways flight, who declined a hotel room completely and instead opted to stay at the airport with their own passengers, making sure their needs were attended to.

All that being said, a $2 million lawsuit is ridiculous compensation, and I hope any judge will agree that's way beyond what the passenger should be entitled to. Free flights for a year or two is much more within reason.

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Obvious question: why did the passanger have to sit in the bathroom and not the "uncomfortable" jumpseat vacated by the flight attendant. I guess the jumpseat might have been located in the cockpit, which would have been a security issue if they allowed a passenger to occupy that seat. Then again, it's a safety issue to have the passenger in the bathroom for an extended amount of time; they must be strapped in during takeoff and landing, and what would have happened if they encountered turbulent air? Either way, this is pretty stupid. The employee should have sucked it and stayed in the jumpseat, instead of forcing a paying customer to vacate his seat.

This is just another data point in the entitlement attitude displayed by unionized American airline workers, though. A good friend of my parents is an executive with the Moncton Airport Authority. After 9/11, when many US-bound planes were forced to land at Moncton, he personally met with the aircrews to assist with their needs. He said the flight attendants of (IIRC) an American Airlines flight refused the shared hotel room he had arranged for them, stating that their union contract guaranteed them a single room (never mind that there weren't any single rooms available because Moncton wasn't prepared for so many unexpected visitors). He compared their behaviour with the crew of a British Airways flight, who declined a hotel room completely and instead opted to stay at the airport with their own passengers, making sure their needs were attended to.

All that being said, a $2 million lawsuit is ridiculous compensation, and I hope any judge will agree that's way beyond what the passenger should be entitled to. Free flights for a year or two is much more within reason.

He was on a buddy pass..

[Jason14h]

A flight attendant could have at least helped him join the mile high club if he was going to be in there so long!

[MarchHare]

He was on a buddy pass..

I'm aware; I read the story.

It doesn't change the fact that he's still a customer and she's still an employee. So long as the safety of the flight isn't compromised, customer comfort is more important than employee comfort, regardless of how he obtained his pass.

[RW99]

Good old lawsuit happy USA. If there was not a safety risk, I say he should suck it up.

I've worked for plenty of companies that offered their services free to staff and family/friends. Just a couple of weeks ago I did a two day motorcoach trip and they put me in the worst hotel room on the property. It's a part of life when you get something for free.

[LeftWing]

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

He was on a buddy pass..

Right, what they should have done is put him in the baggage compartment.

[FlamesAddiction]

I remember Air Canada made me sit on the toilet during a flight once... but that was more due to the airplane food they gave me.

[Nufy]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I remember Air Canada made me sit on the toilet during a flight once... but that was more due to the airplane food they gave me.

Now you pay extra for that.......

[CaptainCrunch]

Lucky they didn't hit turbulance, a self swirly in a vacuum based toilet filled with blue water is nasty.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Lucky they didn't hit turbulance, a self swirly in a vacuum based toilet filled with blue water is nasty.

Good thing it wasn't a couple in there having a quickie

[CaptainCrunch]

Did they shuffle him out of there whenever anyone had to drop some cargo off, and then did he have to go back in and live the stench, because people tend to pretty much smell up airplane bathrooms without fail.

[Muta]

The USA is pissing me off these days with their ABUNDANT, frivilous, trigger-lawsuit-happy society. Everyone wants to cash in, it's sickening.

It's never anybody fault anymore, it's always someone else's. And if it is their fault, well then, people sure don't seem like being the bigger person by holding their head high and just look past the situation.

Nope, if there's a way to screw someone else, by all means, do it. That's what certain categories of people are sure good at.

[BuzzardsWife]

Id rather sit in the bathroom than beside some of the freaks I've had to sit beside before.

[Azure]

Should have strapped him on a parachute and kicked him off the plane.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Azure

Should have strapped him on a parachute and kicked him off the plane.

Well then he's definitely not getting his seat back.