Reuters
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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.
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Never underestimate how much airlines disrespect their passengers.
Ian Smith, Sotogrande, Spain
If you believe this guy, you might as well believe in Santa Claus. It is obviously made up to get a quick buck from the airline. Shame on him!
John Wilson, Midrand, South Africa
The flight attendant first giving up her seat and then changing her mind was the sole cause of this problem.
Unless the airline wanted to goad Mr Mutlu into 'making a scene' and having him removed forcibly from the plane by the police.
As people have said 'Why did the airline sell him the ticket?'
GJB, Slough, Berkshire
It's All American to sue it seems, hopefully they tell the truth. i find it hard to believe they would make him stay in the toilet for too long, as it would be against FAA rules not to have him strapped in.
People go off the rails now because they can't get a window seat...
DAvid Huntley, Regina, Canada
he should not have been on the filght
no seat you don't fly
but why did the airline sell him a ticket
knight, aberdeen , uk
Now home much of that is true and how much of the truth is stretched. Like it is always said there are three sides to every story....yours,mine and somewhere in the middle is the whole story.
Bob Kline, Scranton, us
On most U.S. carriers it would probably be about the same quality of service in the tiolet or out and in there at least you wouldn't have the abominably rude flight attendants to deal with.
Bill Atkins, Rehoboth Beach, USA
"should be grateful for being onboard" I would be furious at this behavior, its a wonder how the man even kept his cool on the plane without causing a major fuzz on board. Jetblue is lucky to even have gotten his money for the ticket to begin with. This lawsuit is justifiable.
Andrew, Tustin, United States
John F, you miss the point. The $2 million is far more than some kind of recompense for Mr Mutlu. The point is to teach the airline that this sort of behaviour is unacceptable in the extreme. Just try refusing to buckle up your seat belt, when you are told to, They would give you hell!
Marc, Paris,
never ever i had any thought of such action hapening. i almost work for 30 years invilved in avaition, had never heard about it. what a fool action.
mohamed, manama, bahrain
If this is true, it's no laughing matter.
Airlines that treat their passengers in this way and disregard safety shouldn't be allowed to operate. It's not as if they are flying people for free.
D, London,
haha Gina, nice one!! made me laugh!!!
tom, ldn, uk
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.
Seems an appropriate place to sit under the circumstances....
Gina, Swindon, UK
$2 million? This man needs to get a life.
John F, London,