Well, at least the seat was free. A man traveling on an employee buddy pass (and thus presumably flying for free) was ordered to sit in the bathroom of a packed JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ: JBLU) flight. He is now suing the company for $2 million.
Gokhan Mutlu claims that the pilot of a JetBlue flight from New York City to San Diego ordered him to sit in the bathroom after a flight attendant claimed his seat. The attendant apparently felt that her jump seat was uncomfortable; since Mutlu was not an employee, he couldn't sit in her jump seat. And on a full plane, that left the toilet as the only seating option on the five hour flight.
Mutlu wasn't crazy about the idea, but the pilot soon set him straight. According to the lawsuit, the pilot said that "he was the pilot, that this was his plane, under his command that (Mutlu) should be grateful for being on board." So the bathroom it was. Eventually, Mutlu was allowed to return to his original seat.
Whatever really happened, JetBlue can't afford any more bad press. The airline is still trying to make customers forget about trapping passengers on their planes for up to nine hours during bad weather last year.
On the other hand, maybe this isn't such bad news. It might just show that JetBlue pilots have a wicked sense of humor. Given the crowds expected on planes and runways this coming summer, that could be a good thing. JetBlue could even build an ad campaign around it: JetBlue - there's always an extra seat!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-13-2008 @ 4:48PM
ryan said...
Apparently, if the pilot was ordering him to the bathroom during the flight then jetBlue has 2 extra seats: the toilet and the pilots seat!
5-14-2008 @ 6:47PM
pam said...
My daughter got sick on Jet blue airlines when the buckle seatbelt sign was on. - there were no air sickness bags in our row so I ran to the bathroom to get a paper towel - the stewardess announced over the loudspeaker to stay in there.
Evidentally this must be the safest seat on Jet Blue!! ha ha
5-14-2008 @ 10:02PM
markp said...
something sounds fishy here
pilots can NOT leave the cockpit for any reason
so how could the pilot tell this passenger
when the pilot can NOT leave the cockpit?
5-14-2008 @ 10:54PM
Vegas Flygirl said...
I agree with Markp, something is definitely fishy about this - I'm a flight attendant & since 9/11 a pilot cannot leave the cockpit inflight, therefore he can't order anyone anywhere per se. What is also extremely strange is why the flight attendant wanted a passenger seat versus her own jump seat - was she on duty or commuting? There's just so many unanswered questions here. I also feel sorry for the employee that gave this guy the buddy pass, because an airline worker can lose their flying benefits if a passenger flying on their pass cause any kind of flight disruptions - so suing the airline probably won't go over so well. Can't wait to hear the outcome of this...
5-18-2008 @ 2:48AM
juno said...
This guy traveling on a privileged pass is an opportunist .......obviously he needs that money since he's traveling on a non revenue ticket!
This must be a joke! jetBlue is the best airline i have ever dealt with.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
6-19-2008 @ 9:39PM
Kcmarvin said...
This sounds exactly like a movie that was out a couple years ago "Soul Plane" where the same thing happened. and the character suied and won millions. Quite a coincidence...