To answer your first question, no. The airline also have entered into a contract and are required to get their customer from A to B or compensate them accordingly.
Yes, the passenger has rights. It's a lopsided contract for the airlines but a well-informed traveler will make out ok in "events."
I am a bit hesitant to believe overbooked by 30 also. I didn't do any research to find out the aircraft size but 30 is alot but not uncommon. What is uncommon is that 30 people actually were denied. What I mean is, airlines routinely overbook. But if they actually have more people than seats, it's usually a very very small number, less than 5. Less than 30 certainly.
I'm curious if there was a down-grade or equipment change and in that case, if memory serves me correctly, the passenger is due nothing. It's totally unfair but I believe that to be correct. I wish our DOT rep was still around to verify that.
Last edited by The_Judge; Jan 12, 2010 at 10:59 AM.
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