A couple of weeks ago, I posted about a viral Ethiopian Airlines denied boarding video. I wanted to provide an update, as this situation has evolved in an interesting way — first the airline defended itself, and now the victim is speaking out as well against the carrier’s defense.
Continue reading: Viral Ethiopian Airlines Denied Boarding Video: What Really Happened?
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Ben
I take exception to your liking cnn international, which is a biased, garbage, anti Semitic network. I'd have thought You would known better.
Possibly. But I wonder when she checked in for her flight. I have been on overbooked flights in the USA before basic economy fares started and in that case the last people to check in are denied boarding. Oftentimes, passengers believe that the date of purchase of the ticket is what matters, but when a flight is overbooked, an airline starts to plan how to handle it hours in advance. If someone shows up 90 minutes before departure and checks in at the airport and not online in advance, then they run a higher risk of being the passengers denied boarding. Regardless of the circumstances, security clearly failed on multiple levels if Ethiopian are telling the truth.
If this is what really happened, shame on them.
I mean if you are desperate for a seat at the last minute cos some minister needs to travel ask for a VOLUNTEER to offload themself, offer compensation, hotel, meals and a confirmed seat on the next flight.
Many airlines worldwide avoid denied boarding issues on overbooked flights where everyone shows all the time by using this method. Almost guaranteed they will have a few takers in no rush happy for the cash.
Why pay cash when you can just drag some random pax off the plane? This is Africa...
If you were a journalist investigating this, would you report that they claimed to buy the ticket x days out, or would you just ask to see a copy of the ticket and verify it yourself?
Like many have said, if they didn't do olci, they may well have been bumped to standby. Still not clear how that's impacted by a rev or non rev J if they were in Y (again just check the ticket).
The one thing we can all agreed on is that ET was extremely on brand in their bungling of this. I like ET and have flown a fair amount with them, they're fine 90% of the time, but when they get it wrong, it's usually a dumpster fire.
"Aisha claims she wasn’t a standby passenger, and that she had confirmed tickets that she booked on March 5, with seats assigned."
Mr. Madowo should have asked Aisha for a copy of their itinerary or tickets, email or paper, to support their statement that they had a reserved seat.
The foundation of their claim is that they were not stand-by, that they had reserved seats. As an investigating journalist, I would have asked to see their tickets or itinerary.
Without seeing that, it is all still conjecture.
Standby in this context means the flight was oversold. The status on their boarding pass SBY.
I'm also confused why they first claim that the flight was overbooked, and then later claim that the pax was a standby. Seems like they're throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks.
Brandon - we were looking forward to your opinion. Now that we have it we can move on with our lives
US Airlines have also been known to downgrade a passenger or remove them from the flight if a government official (or Senator/Representative) needs the seat. Trust me it happens especially at DCA.
Case would be immediately closed if she had shown her booking - or ticket receipt with travel date and confo. Name and PNR blanked out of course.
Seems nowadays we need legal counsel for every little thing.
Is it possible that someone was downgraded because of the VIP and given her seat?
but as someone here rightly pointed, seeing the passenger's boarding pass would answer a lot of questions
While it could happen anywhere in the world, I’m sure more a few would be more than willing to get dragged out for an (alleged) multi million dollar settlement; only in the USA, in Africa you’d be lucky to even get accommodation (this lady was not so lucky).
Even still it's the boarding pass that REALLY counts.
Does it have a seat number or does it show SBY?
I've had extensive experience flying in Africa and have personally been at the receiving end of some ET aggression when a staff member on a boarding bus threatened to offload me if I didn't hold-check my hand luggage. I know that African Airlines are champions at gaslighting and stonewalling in the face of criticism, so I personally feel inclined to take ET's statement with a pinch of salt. Only proven facts might help shed more impartiality to the situation.
For example, it's a little odd that a passenger was able to 'bypass security' and head straight on board an aircraft. Surely ET would have systems in place to ensure that wouldn't happen? And indeed with regard to the remark on appearing at the gate at the last moment, I would also imagine CCTV footage would corroborate the statement (or not!).
When I flew through ADD the staff confiscated a candle which I’d bought in duty free at CPT airport because it was “illegal” but rather than put it in the locked bin for confiscated items she put it in her drawer. I asked to see the guidelines which said it was illegal and she refused. When I got them up there was no such thing and you could even take lighters onboard according to the Ethiopian CAA.
However the Ethiopian staff threatened to have me arrested or removed from my flight if I made any further complaint.
Very corrupt country with staff I wouldn’t trust at all. Never flown with them again after that.
All of what she claims in response to ET's long public answer can be proven. Have her show her boarding passes? Have her show the other documents to prove her story. What ET says in their long answer makes sense.