Airline gives passenger seat to Rep. Lee; she blames anger of passenger on racism

White black brown pink blue yellow red .. couldn't give a damn about your skin colour, I've just paid for a first class seat only for a politician to use their power to take it from me. Yeah I'd be pissed too but that would have nothing to do with their skin

This world is getting stupid and I'm slowly getting bored of it

a reply to: TerryDon79

Another page turning reply.

Racist snakes on a racist plane (coming 2019)



"everybody strap off, we're about to open some f****** seats to congress people"

And just to add,

Fly Hard: With A Vengeance



More movies for the modern era...

Star Race Wars



What's Eating Racist Gilbert Grape?

According to the stories I read, the woman who got buped was arguing about it in the terminal and didn't even know it was an African-American woman who ended up in her seat until she got on the plane.

So at least going by that, it seems she was mad about getting bumped in general, not mad that she was bumped for an African-American person.

Which is probably what I would do...i.e., be mad that I lost my first-class seat.

There does seem to be some question about whether the woman cancelled her flight or not, but considering she went to the gate expecting to get on the plane, I'm thinking she did not intentionally cancel her own flight (if she cancelled it at all).

As I said before, racism does certainly exist, but let's not cheapen it by claiming racism where there seems to be none.

originally posted by: WhiteWingedMonolith

originally posted by: Grambler
Let's say you have a first class ticket on an airplane.

You are about to board and you see someone get taken to the front of the line.

When you go to board, you find out that person taken to the front is given your seat, and you no longer have one.

You then find out that that person is a member of Congress.

How would you feel?

I would be angry at the airline, and mad that the politician for the seat probably because their position gave them an influence and power that gave them that seat.

Now if I was that politican, even if the incident wasn't my fault, I would understand the perception that my job and position of authority is what led to the airline giving me that seat.

That's it.

Now I read this story and just breezed theougj and felt bad for the woman that lost her seat, but didn't pay much more attention to it.

Then I read more about it today.

It turns out that the politician who got the seat was Shelia Jackson lee, and she KNOWS why the woman that lost her seat made a big deal out of it.

Because Lee is black. Yep, you got it

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who was accused by a United Airlines passenger of bumping her from a first-class seat, said in a Twitter screed on Tuesday that she believes the incident is all about race.

“Since this was not any fault of mine, the way the individual continued to act appeared to be, upon reflection, because I was an African American woman, seemingly an easy target along with the African American flight attendant who was very, very nice,” the Texas Democrat wrote in a post. “This saddens me, especially at this time of year given all of the things we have to work on to help people.”

“But in the spirit of this season and out of the sincerity of my heart, if it is perceived that I had anything to do with this, I am kind enough to simply say sorry,” Jackson Lee continued. “But as an African American, I know there are too many examples like this all over the nation.”

nypost.com...

It couldn't be the woman was angry to lose her seat, and was angry it was to a political. Nope, it's because Lee and the flight attendant are black.

This isn't some hack website making these claims.

This is a member of Congress.

She is so hyper racialized that even this situation where she got a seat that another was kicked out for, even then she is a victim of racism.

Truly a disgusting delusional person.

African American is not a race. Those are countries. How is this politician allowed to speak and not be corrected? She's a negroid. A negro and she knows it. She's the one who doesn't embrace being a negroid, she can't even say what she is.

When did Africa become a country? Last time I checked Africa is a continent.

If Representative Jackson Lee can't fathom why this woman could possibly have any reason other than racism to be upset over losing her first-class airline seat, then the congresswoman is out of touch.

Of course someone would be upset about losing a seat, and racism probably had nothing to do with it. In fact, Ms. Simon (the woman who lost her first-calls seat) was arguing before she even knew anything about the person who ended up in her seat.

Does Rep. Jackson Lee think that people would be fine with losing their seat and NOT complain about it? If so, then she really is out of touch.

a reply to: sdcigarpig

A person is booked first class on a flight, as is a politician. The politician is escorted onto the airplane and person finds out that they are bumped. Person is upset and rightly so.

The problem is that Lee was not originally booked to a first class seat but was given an upgrade after the original passenger 'cancelled' their seat. Lee would not have need an upgrade if she had been booked first class to begin with. In that case it would have been united overbooking first class, but that is not the story we are given.

Jackson Lee has global services status with the airline and was given an upgrade, which is common for when there is an open first class seat, the representative said.

NBC News

Lee is a first class scumbag.

well, she was flying on united so she should consider herself lucky that they only gave her paid for seat away to someone else, they could have beat her senseless,tazed her and thrown her body out of the plane onto the tarmac and left her for dead..Fly the friendly Skies of United!

by now everyone should know how united operates so anyone who still flies on united has no right to complain no matter what happens to them.

Even us lowly Feds have guaranteed seats on any flight booked for Federal travel. I can only imagine what the airlines will do for a sitting member of Congress.

If I have to fly to D.C. (for example) and the flight is overbooked, the one thing I know for sure is, I won't be the one bumped. I certainly don't get first class though. Hell it's usually the middle seat towards the back of the plane, but it's a seat.

you would have to drag me off the plane in chains before i give my seat up to some pompous prick. see you in court asshole. you ruin my day so im gonna make an effort to ruin yours.

a reply to: jadedANDcynical

There in lies the problem, and where it makes no sense. The passenger states she was offered a voucher and to be reseated in another place, and the Rep says that the woman cancelled her seat.

And if the woman cancels her seat then why did UA offer her a voucher or money? It makes no sense, unless she was indeed bumped from her seat in the first place, as the Rep attempted to upgrade her seat, only to find out there was none avalible and thus demanded special treatment.

a reply to: sdcigarpig

This is what looks like happened to me.

Lee, deciding she wanted a first class seat rather than the economy plus she originally purchased, used her 'importance' as a congressperson to affect the change.

And now Lee, having been caught out, is throwing the race card in order to obfuscate the above fact.

If the passenger really did accidentally cancle their own flight, United would have told her, "too bad so sad," and gone about their merry business.

Since United has granted the passenger a voucher, which is behavior generally only engaged in when they themselves are at fault, United now is in a very untenable position.

As has been mentioned in the thread, if the passenger did accidentally cancel (which is a two step-process), there will be an electronic record of said cancellation.

If the passenger did not cancel, and United bumped them in favor of the congressperson, well then we have yet another example of those who are supposed to be serving their constituents instead acting as if they themselves are the ones to be served.

And her indignation is nothing but bluster.

a reply to: Grambler

The real racists are the people that make absolutely everything about race. Let that sink in.

Sheila Jackson Lee is nothing more than a pimp for the grievance industry, like the rest of her party.

Why is anyone surprised? This is what Jackson-Lee does. She is a completely empty head that uses such events to appeal to her voters because she has nothing else. Those poor slobs think that she cares about them more than she cares about herself. What will she do when someone tells her about Andrew Jackson and Robert E. Lee?

More info from a frequent flyer blogger who spoke to all concerned parties and posted the info on his blog. In short, he claims United provided him screen captures from SHARES, their booking software, that showed the woman in question cancelled her own intinerary.

There are still unanswered questions by the blogger that you can read there.

United's story is that the passenger cancelled and they're sticking to it. I'm not sure that the SHARE screen shot convinces me that it was the passenger that cancelled her 1st class seat. Could it have been done by someone working at the counter on behalf of Lee, perhaps ? We know the passenger picked up her boarding pass and waited in line to board the plane, doesn't seem like something someone would do who had cancelled her flight, and she claims she absolutely did not cancel her ticket.

We do know that Lee at some point during the flight becomes aware that this woman who lost her seat is very upset and believes Lee has taken her seat. Why wouldn't Lee as a representative of the people do what politicians are supposed to do, approach the upset woman and try and resolve the issue ? Since Lee did NOT pay for a 1st class seat would the RIGHT thing to do be to offer to switch seats with the passenger ? I think Lee actually tells us in her response her justification for taking the seat is that "she has very important work to do and that she used her seat to work on important legislative business" heck, the least the "little people" who she is HELPING sooo much could do is make sure she is comfortable doing her OH so important job!

The most telling thing however is Lee's ridiculous claim the woman was racist, adding insult to injury. Unfortunately unless the passenger is willing to spend her time and money to pursue this I don't think we'll ever know the truth.

originally posted by: MountainLaurel
I'm not sure that the SHARE screen shot convinces me that it was the passenger that cancelled her 1st class seat.

The screen shot is only an example, it isn't the actual SHARES program United uses since theirs is proprietary and they didn't want an image posted. The blogger claims to have scene the actual screen that shows the 'paper trail' of Ms. Simon cancelling her own reservation at 11:29 that day when the flight became delayed.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

I understand, I read the blog you posted. However I'm not convinced that an airline employee couldn't have changed the ticket and made it look like the passenger had done it through the app. , someone is lying and my gut instinct is that it's not the passenger. Now could she have done it accidentally, possibly, but it sounds like this app asks you to CONFIRM your intention is to cancel to avoid this sort of problem.

It's quite a big coincidence that this seat magically became available for Lee. In any case Lee's behavior and reaction tells me she's not a very nice person.

originally posted by: MountainLaurel
However I'm not convinced that an airline employee couldn't have changed the ticket and made it look like the passenger had done it through the app. , someone is lying and my gut instinct is that it's not the passenger. Now could she have done it accidentally, possibly, but it sounds like this app asks you to CONFIRM your intention is to cancel to avoid this sort of problem.

You do have to confirm to change/cancel. Could an associate go in? Sure, but it appears from the time stamp the cancelation occurred awhile before boarding began.

There still is some info that is needed and I would like someone other than the blogger to review the SHARES captures.

if I didn't cancel my flight itinerary and I was legitimately booked and I got bumped from my seat or flight I'd be pissed and there'd be no reasonable excuse an airline could give short of the planes broken. period.

there's no excuse for an airline to do that. I paid for that seat with my hard earned money. it's immoral and scummy for the airline to bump you because they'd rather give the seat to someone else. it's pure incompetence if they over booked. period. there's no legit excuse except for the plains broken.

I wouldn't want their damned voucher. I'd never be flying on that incompetent immoral airline again. I'd want my god damned money back. in cash. a voucher. how insulting. give her her money back in cash including extra so she can go to a real airline and spend her money there with an immediate booking. and if she's in economy plus because they bullied her into sitting there I'd demand every amenities they give to first class and then some to compensate me for their F up.

American based airlines are bottom of the barrel due to their customers last business model unless youre uber rich or a congressman then they'll fall all over you while crapping all over the pions they sneer at in steerage I mean economy.

I recently flew on a bargain seat for quantas. literally the cheapest seat they offer in economy. minus the seat size I was treated and fed better than on any first class experience I'd ever had on an american based airline and I've flown first class on both American and united. the food was higher quality. there was unlimited free booze. a open snack bar where you could take as many candybars as you wanted. the inflight entertainment was a bigger and better selection. and again i was in literally the cheapest crappiest seat quantas offers. seems like united and american airlines have forgotten its about their customers.