The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
American Airlines Backs Out Of $650 Promise To Bumped Passenger, Citing Smaller Plane
The even comes weeks after American officially ends involuntarily bumping passengers off flights.
American Airlines has declined to honor a gate agent’s reported promise of $650 to a passenger denied boarding on a flight bound for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), citing an aircraft downgrade that exempted the carrier from federal involuntary denied-boarding compensation.
The passenger initially received a $250 flight credit. After consumer advocate Christopher Elliott contacted the airline, American added $192 to the credit, bringing the total to $442. The passenger did not receive the full $650 that she says was promised.
American's position centers on the aircraft downgrade, which the airline says exempts it from federal involuntary denied-boarding compensation in this case.
The article notes the involvement of Christopher Elliott, who contacted American on the passenger’s behalf. No other details about the flight, timing, or other outcomes are provided in the source material.
The report is published by Simple Flying, with the author Jack (per the source metadata) described as a writer with background in aviation and aerospace.