[Henrietta Taylor]

Explanation…….....Upon boarding Flight # CO 1830F on March 18, 2008 at 6:39 pm, I proceeded to my assigned seat, #5-C. As I reached the seating area, I noticed a great deal of confusion regarding who should sit where. After listening to the explanations of the other five people involved, it was clear that their were 2 people schedule for seat 5-F. The flight attendants could not decide what to do about the situation. Subsequently, the person who checked the tickets upon loading the plane had to come on board to see if he could rectify the situation. I waited patiently for this matter to be cleared up, but it was not resolved in a pleasant manner. The man taking care of this matter was very rude to me. He did not ask me, but rather, demanded I give up my assigned seat. No one else had been assigned this seat but me, but he chose to give it to a young lady whose seat was already occupied by another person. He then demanded I go to the back of the aircraft where there was a vacant seat. Of the six people involved I was the only African American, the rest was White. I would like to know why I was singled out to go to the back of this plane, from my assigned seat 5-C to 24-F. If the majority of the people on the plane including myself had not already been through so much frustration that day I would have pursued this matter right then and there, but because I do know the Lord I held my peace. In all my 57 years, I have never been so humiliated or treated so disrespectfully. If there was a problem with 5-F being over booked then I would say the exchange of seats should have been between the two customer with the same seat assignment, not me.

I expect an apology from the company as well as compensation for what I went through. I certainly hope this discourteous situation and discriminate behavior will never be repeated or experienced by others.

Sincerely,


Henrietta C. Taylor

[Corbel]

why they didn't just have the one of the people who was assigned 5C to move is beyond me. he probably figured, their ticked off enough because its double assigned and why make them more irate, so instead they picked you who was also in a window in the same row, instead now they made one extra person upset. but why would you want to pursue it any more and possibly get kicked off the plane? just remember, you paid for A seat not specifically that seat you assigned or were assigned too, i have found that out. it doesn't sound like it was discrimination (im tired of that being a reson)

[Butch Cassidy Slept Here]

"...why would you want to pursue it any more and possibly get kicked off the plane?"

So, Corbel, if one files a discrimination complaint, or takes an airline to court, the airline feels it can flaunt the common carrier laws.

"...you paid for A seat not specifically that seat you assigned or were assigned too (sic)..."

That's probably true Corbel. But that doesn't allow Continental, or any other airline, to take someone's first class seat away, force them into coach, and not refund the fare difference.

And the way most courts see it, those worthless flight vouchers Continental, and the other US-based carriers, hand-out do NOT take the place of cash!

MS. TAYLOR:

Out of all the passengers involved in this incident, if there were NO non-African American passengers who, also, were forced into coach, I think a discrimination complaint would be worthwhile. At a minimum, it would force Continental to provide a clear explanation as to why you were singled-out.

Depending on the state where this incident took place, you might do better if you file a complaint with the state, as opposed to the US Dept. of Transportation. If this incident took place at Continental's Newark hub, you should contact the New Jersey Division of Civil Rights in Trenton. However, if this took place at Continental's Houston hub, I would go through the (US) DOT.

Again, this is, yet, another example of why people should consider Amtrak if they are traveling within the mainland US. Given the racial balance of most Amtrak crews Ms. Taylor would, most likely, have had, at least, one crew member taking her side if this same incident happened on Amtrak.

[Corbel]

she didn't say she was in first class. if she was, she should be refunded that money, no doubt i would be ******. and for my first comment i made was, IF she were to pursue while on the plane, that could have caused her to get kicked off, i would write a letter to the company, no doubt about that. she has every right to file a complaint, i just dont think this was discrimination

[Silent Bob]

Doesn't sound like a case of discrimination and there was definitely nothing mentioned of ms taylor's seat being first class, because if it were the case she could definitely persue it for compensation. If the flight attendant demanded you give up your seat and demanded you sit in the back, then you should have demanded to speak to a supervisor to help resolve the issue because the seat was assigned to you without conflict, you should not have to give it up unless something caused it the confusion. If the seat was a first class seat then definitely talk to CO's customer care department and ask to be recompensated.