Lawsuit Accuses United of Forcefully Removing Woman From Business Class
Joe Cortez April 25, 2017
Chicago, IL, USA - March 17, 2016: A United Airlines 747-400 landing on 28C at the Chicago O'hare Airport.
Flyer claims gate agent pulled her out of seat, used derogatory slur during downgrade process
A new flyer is coming forward to speak out against United Airlines, claiming she was also forced to give up her premium cabin seat without explanation before being forced into economy by a gate agent. The New York Daily Post reports that the flyer, Karen Shiboleth, is suing the carrier in Manhattan Supreme Court for $150,000 over the alleged ordeal.
According to her account, Shiboleth was aboard a United flight bound for London in September 2016, moving to attend grad school at King’s College. In order to accommodate her move, she paid 60,000 American Express Membership Rewards points and $3,146 to upgrade to the aircraft’s premium class, BusinessFirst. Assigned to seat 2A, the student experienced no issues until she boarded the aircraft.
After taking her assigned seat, she accuses a gate agent working for the airline of boarding the aircraft and demanding she give up her seat and move to the rear. She claims the agent would not give her a reason why she had to be moved, or why she could not be moved to an empty seat in the premium cabin.
The lawsuit alleges the individual grabbed her arm “without consent” and “forced” her to the back of the aircraft. The filing goes on to accuse the individual of calling her a derogatory female term while escorting her to the back of the aircraft.
“The upgraded BusinessFirst ticket was to ease the burden of her move, improve the care and safety of her personal belongings, and provide convenience from the stresses that accompany moving,” the lawsuit reads. “Especially moving to a new country nearly halfway across the world.”
Shiboleth’s allegations come as United is fending off bad publicity over physically forcing a passenger from United Flight 3411 earlier in April. Immediately afterwards, another flyer claimed that he was given similar treatment to Shiboleth on a flight from Hawaii to the mainland United States.
The airline acknowledged the lawsuit to the New York Daily News, but declined to comment further due to pending litigation.
[Photo: Shutterstock]
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There's got to be more to the story than what she's telling. Why would a gate agent even WANT to go to the trouble of moving someone like this?
I'm booked in Premium Economy soon on a transatlantic flight, and worry that this now could happen to me - being forced to regular economy.
cosflyer - I thought of a FAM as well, until I read that she was not allowed to use other empty B/F seats.
looks like a last minute FAM getting booked.
http://www.flyertalk.com/articles/executive-pay-at-united-to-be-tied-to-customer-satisfaction.html There goes your bonus, Munoz.