<p>I came across this article on the NY Times website and it really got my blood boiling. </p>
<p>Long story short, an editor at the paper shows up to Newark airport with his family and non-refundable tickets 30 mins before his flight’s departure time (not boarding time) and then misses his flight. For starters he doesn’t seem to understand that the flight’s departure time is when the plane physically backs out of the gate… not when boarding begins.</p>
<p>Since he purchased non-refundable tickets the airline charges him a steep fee to transfer to a later flight. The author feels this is unjust and files a lawsuit against airline over the fees–seemingly unwilling to accept the fact that he simply turned up at the airport far too late.</p>
<p>Setting aside the fact that the author is clearly totally clueless when it comes to air travel (you can’t drive up to major airport with your whole family 5 mins prior to your flight boarding and expect to get on the plane), the author’s sense of entitlement–suing the airline for his own mistake–somehow struck a nerve with me as highlighting something seriously wrong with our society today.</p>
<p>He must have behaved like a total A-hole! When it was clear to me that DD would miss her JetBlue flight, I called the airline trying to switch her to a later flight. The very nice JetBlue agent I politely talked to told me that in order to avoid the $100 penalty, DD had to physically show up at the ticketing counter, and she’d be put on the later flight at no charge if there were any seats left on that flight! DD was very apologetic and nice, and was issued a seat right away!</p>
<p>^^^Exactly my assumption too. Although the airline was under no obligation to do so, I imagine they would have given the guy some slack if he was calm and admitted his error. </p>
<p>Instead he tries to blame everyone and everything (from the signage to the airline’s boarding policy) for his tardiness… except for the fact that he simply turned up way too late.</p>
<p>^^^I hope so too. This guy blamed everything else except the true problem: himself. Either he neglected to research any of the basics of traveling by air or really needs a story to write. Either way, it’s not jetBlue’s fault.</p>
<p>One of the comments: “It’s tough going through life late. It must be tougher being late and confused.”</p>
<p>LOL</p>
<p>This guy’s article makes one question what type of people the Times hires as editors… then again the fact that they let readers freely point out the stupidity of their own staff sort of wins them back a few points in my book.</p>
<p>This guy must not have flown since before 9/11. I plan on getting to the airport 2 hours before my flight–an hour and a half at the latest. Jeesh!!</p>
<p>It seems to me that if your New York Time is delivered late to your house, you should be able to sue the NYT. Papers should be served on that Times Editor.</p>
<p>One part of me is saying “HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND??!?!?!!?!?!” and another part of me is saying “If TSA didn’t have such nonsensical, stupid theatrical security that does nothing whatsoever to improve security, then the guy and everyone else could have made the flight on time.”</p>
<p>Seriously. Check in online, don’t check baggage, and study the asinine security rules thoroughly.</p>
<p>Maybe the ‘editor’ didn’t read or understand the text presented to him in the contract they always present to you before purchasing an airline ticket - the part about the ‘non-refundable’ aspect of the tickets and associated rebooking costs. Could it be the editor only skimmed the first sentence?</p>
<p>It’s been a long time since I’ve flown out of Newark but I’d guess 30 minutes is generally nowhere near enough time to arrive at the airport, check bags (traveling with family), go through security, then get to the gate in time to board. Even if he just barely made it to the gate he might have found they gave his seat to another overbooked passenger and he’d still be out of luck.</p>
<p>They’re not as lenient as they used to be before 9/11. The closest I’ve ever made it onto a plane (due to a late connecting flight) was when I ran down the jetway and knocked on the plane door they had just closed. They actually looked out the window, saw me, and opened the door and let me on! But that was before 9/11.</p>
<p>He seemingly did at least the first two… but claimed that it took him 10 minutes to figure out where his gate was and then when (after he sued them) JetBlue pointed out that the gate was on the boarding pass he printed out he says: </p>
<p>“The paralegal’s position, repeated again and again, was that my boarding pass had the gate number printed on it. I had printed the boarding passes at home, and each computer and printer configures online documents differently, so who knows.”</p>
<p>Um, yeah the company rep is right. And no they don’t look different printed on different printers (apart from color vs B&W)… that’s why they use PDFs. But yet again instead of simply accepting that arriving at the airport 30 minutes prior to departure is a dumb idea he tries to blame the gate problem on his printer!?!</p>
<p>Too bad JetBlue just gave the guy these vouchers and didn’t send someone to fight him in court… they clearly would have won (but it would have cost them more to fight it). Although I think they’re getting the last laugh now as this Charles Delafuente character makes a total fool of himself using his position at the New York Times to tell the world his story.</p>
<p>Just out of curiosity I went to JetBlue’s website and sure enough right next to where you choose what type of fare you want they have a plain as can be explanation of what a non-refundable ticket is: </p>
<p>“This fare is nonrefundable and name changes are not permitted. Reservations made with this fare may be changed or cancelled at jetblue.com or by calling 1-800-JETBLUE (538-2583) prior to scheduled departure for a fee of $100 per person plus any applicable difference in airfare.”</p>
<p>This guy clearly didn’t know what he was doing… but clearly, at least in his world, there’s no possible way that could be his fault.</p>
<p>A differential of $100? That’s much better than the $150 I was stuck with when I had to extend a trip up north.</p>
<p>Thanks rocketman: “One of the comments: "It’s tough going through life late. It must be tougher being late and confused.”</p>
<p>And…the author’s sense of entitlement–suing the airline for his own mistake–somehow struck a nerve with me as highlighting something seriously wrong with our society today Rocketman…Did you read the article in the NYT about the family who’s famous for NOT suing when they were injured during a Macy’s Day parade a few years ago? We need more of that.</p>
<p>My DD arrived at Newark airport 40 minutes before airplane departure and made it. However, she did check in online earlier, had no bag to check and just had to rush to her gate. Fortunately there was no line at the security.</p>
<p>At another time, my S arrived 30 minutes before departure time but was refused boarding because he did not check in at least 45 minutes prior to departure time. I think that airline had a 45 minutes minimum check in rule. He could have made it if he had checked in online earlier but he forgot.</p>
<p>"“This fare is nonrefundable and name changes are not permitted. Reservations made with this fare may be changed or cancelled at jetblue.com or by calling 1-800-JETBLUE (538-2583) prior to scheduled departure for a fee of $100 per person plus any applicable difference in airfare.”</p>
<p>^^The key word is “prior to departure”. As I was told by the very helpful agent on the phone, it is the JetBlue’s policy that if the passenger is late due to unforeseen circumstances (my D’s suitcase broke apart on the T!) and there are seats on the next flight, they will put the passenger on the next flight free of charge *after the departure *of the flight they missed. Of course, if I were upset and yelling, I would have been told to take a hike and pay for the new ticket while the flight D missed was still on the ground. I feel very sorry for the ticketing agents because they have to endure all sorts of crap and angry attacks from irate customers. Sometimes, a few kind words go a long way.</p>
<p>I checked in online, and got to the airport (Newark, in fact) 30 minutes before departure. I made in on board with 10 minutes to spare, AND I even had time to pick up a sandwich before I got on the plane! What the hell was this guy doing?</p>