Military wife says American Airlines charged her $3,600 in ticketing error — and refused to refund her: ‘Huge weight on my chest'
A traveling mom says American Airlines bilked her out of more than $3000 following a ticketing error — and initially refused to refund her the money.
The peeved passenger, known only as Katie, took to TikTok to tell the ticketing tale, publicly pleading for the carrier to make the situation right.
3 Military wife Katie claims American Airlines bilked her out of more than $3000 following a ticketing error.
wellnessby.katie/TikTok
'American Airlines accidentally charged me thousands of dollars, and now they're refusing to pay me back,' the Californian claimed at the outset of her viral video, which clocked up X views.
Katie explained that her husband was in the military, and that she and her five-month-old baby had traveled to Japan to visit him there.
Rather than obtain a return ticket, crafty Katie decided to book her flight back to America using airline miles gained through a credit card.
'I'm pretty savvy with using credit card points and airline miles, so I'd been checking the American Airlines site daily for an award ticket to open up,' she subsequently told the Daily Mail.
'When one finally became available, I booked it and immediately called American Airlines to add my five-month-old as a lap infant.'
An airline employee informed her that she would have to pay an additional $386 fee for her baby, which she paid for over the phone.
However, a receipt revealed that Katie was charged not just $386 — but also an additional $3,674 for 'a second full-price ticket under her name.'
Katie called back and an American Airlines rep allegedly assured her that she would be refunded the $3,674.11 within a week.
3 Katie was allegedly informed by American Airlines that they could not refund her $3,674.
Getty Images
Upon check-in at Okinawa Airport, a Japanese gate agent was 'confused' by the fact that there were two tickets in Katie's name — the one purchased with credit card points and the $3,674 one processed in error.
'I had two tickets in my name, on the same flight, under the same confirmation code,' the mom said.
Despite the gate agent 'assuring' the mom that she was using the award ticket, a refund never came through when she arrived back in the US.
At home, Katie claims she spent close to '50 hours' on hold with various American Airlines staff who were unable to resolve the situation.
After weeks of chasing up the airline, she was purportedly informed that she was ineligible for a refund because the Japanese gate agent had checked her in with the erroneous $3,674 ticket.
'I had this huge weight on my chest knowing a massive corporation had taken thousands of dollars from me, and it would keep me up at night,' Katie said — but saying she turned to TikTok in a last-ditch effort to try and get her money back.
The public pleading worked — with the mom's video instantly going viral and eventually attracting American Airlines' attention.
'Boosting this for you! Never flying American Airlines after hearing about this,' one supporter vowed. 'You deserve your money back.'
'Not very 'American' of American Airlines to do this to a military mom who was traveling solo,' another said.
3 'Boosting this for you! Never flying American Airlines after hearing about this,' one supporter vowed. 'You deserve your money back.'
AP
Soon after, Katie received a call from the airline saying she would be getting a refund for the charge as well as a 7,500-mile bonus as an 'apology.'
The 'vindicated' mom said it spoke to the power of social media to pressure companies into acting ethically.
'It's incredibly disappointing that such a large corporation can fail its customers this badly,' she stated.
American Airlines told The Post in a statement: 'Our team has been in touch with this customer and offered her an apology, refunded her in full and offered her a gesture of goodwill.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
11 hours ago
- New York Post
Military wife says American Airlines charged her $3,600 in ticketing error — and refused to refund her: ‘Huge weight on my chest'
This sky-high charge was hardly fare. A traveling mom says American Airlines bilked her out of more than $3000 following a ticketing error — and initially refused to refund her the money. The peeved passenger, known only as Katie, took to TikTok to tell the ticketing tale, publicly pleading for the carrier to make the situation right. 3 Military wife Katie claims American Airlines bilked her out of more than $3000 following a ticketing error. 'American Airlines accidentally charged me thousands of dollars, and now they're refusing to pay me back,' the Californian claimed at the outset of her viral video, which clocked up X views. Katie explained that her husband was in the military, and that she and her five-month-old baby had traveled to Japan to visit him there. Rather than obtain a return ticket, crafty Katie decided to book her flight back to America using airline miles gained through a credit card. 'I'm pretty savvy with using credit card points and airline miles, so I'd been checking the American Airlines site daily for an award ticket to open up,' she subsequently told the Daily Mail. 'When one finally became available, I booked it and immediately called American Airlines to add my five-month-old as a lap infant.' An airline employee informed her that she would have to pay an additional $386 fee for her baby, which she paid for over the phone. However, a receipt revealed that Katie was charged not just $386 — but also an additional $3,674 for 'a second full-price ticket under her name.' Katie called back and an American Airlines rep allegedly assured her that she would be refunded the $3,674.11 within a week. 3 Katie was allegedly informed by American Airlines that they could not refund her $3,674. Getty Images Upon check-in at Okinawa Airport, a Japanese gate agent was 'confused' by the fact that there were two tickets in Katie's name — the one purchased with credit card points and the $3,674 one processed in error. 'I had two tickets in my name, on the same flight, under the same confirmation code,' the mom said. Despite the gate agent 'assuring' the mom that she was using the award ticket, a refund never came through when she arrived back in the US. At home, Katie claims she spent close to '50 hours' on hold with various American Airlines staff who were unable to resolve the situation. After weeks of chasing up the airline, she was purportedly informed that she was ineligible for a refund because the Japanese gate agent had checked her in with the erroneous $3,674 ticket. 'I had this huge weight on my chest knowing a massive corporation had taken thousands of dollars from me, and it would keep me up at night,' Katie said — but saying she turned to TikTok in a last-ditch effort to try and get her money back. The public pleading worked — with the mom's video instantly going viral and eventually attracting American Airlines' attention. 'Boosting this for you! Never flying American Airlines after hearing about this,' one supporter vowed. 'You deserve your money back.' 'Not very 'American' of American Airlines to do this to a military mom who was traveling solo,' another said. 3 'Boosting this for you! Never flying American Airlines after hearing about this,' one supporter vowed. 'You deserve your money back.' AP Soon after, Katie received a call from the airline saying she would be getting a refund for the charge as well as a 7,500-mile bonus as an 'apology.' The 'vindicated' mom said it spoke to the power of social media to pressure companies into acting ethically. 'It's incredibly disappointing that such a large corporation can fail its customers this badly,' she stated. American Airlines told The Post in a statement: 'Our team has been in touch with this customer and offered her an apology, refunded her in full and offered her a gesture of goodwill.'
New York Post
21 hours ago
- New York Post
Wild elephant tramples tourist, stripping off their pants, after ignorant selfie attempt
Skip the selfie safari. A tourist who attempted to snap a photo with an elephant was subsequently severely injured after being trampled and stripped — revealing his bare behind for all manner of beasts to bear witness. Authorities are calling it a reckless and dangerous stunt. The shocking incident, which occurred near a temple in Karnataka, India on Sunday, was captured on video by other visitors at the wildlife reserve. The footage has since gone viral online, sparking outrage and renewed warnings about human-animal interactions. Advertisement The tourist, identified as R. Basavaraju, had reportedly trespassed into a restricted forest area when he encountered the wild elephant. Witnesses say Basavaraju attempted to take a selfie with the animal, which was eating carrots by the roadside at the time. 3 The tourist, identified as R. Basavaraju, had reportedly trespassed into a restricted forest area when he encountered the wild elephant. NX According to one bystander, Daniel Osorio, the elephant was provoked by the sudden camera flash and immediately became agitated. The video shows the elephant raising its trunk and charging across a road— startling drivers as it sprinted after Basavaraju. Advertisement As the massive mammal gave chase, Basavaraju attempted to flee but fell face-first onto the tarmac of the busy road. The elephant caught up with him in seconds, stomping on him repeatedly in a terrifying moment that left onlookers horrified. At one point, the elephant's attack was so forceful it tore off the man's trousers and underwear — it was a bum-mer to see. After the violent episode, the elephant hovered over the injured tourist briefly before trotting away into the forest, giving the man a chance to escape. 3 As the massive mammal chased Basavaraju, he fell face-first onto the tarmac. When the elephant caught up with him, it stomped on him repeatedly, tearing off the man's trousers and underwear. NX Advertisement Miraculously, Basavaraju survived the attack but was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries. Following the incident, local forest authorities fined Basavaraju 25,000 Rupees (around $285) for trespassing and provoking wildlife. He was also ordered to record a video confession, in which he admitted his actions were a result of ignorance regarding wildlife safety rules. According to the Daily Mail, Osorio said, 'This incident is a strong reminder to follow the rules of the wildlife reserves and to let trained authorities, not people on foot, handle situations like this.' Advertisement The Forest Department issued a statement condemning such reckless behavior. India is home to over 30,000 wild elephants — more than any other country — and holds around 60% of the world's entire Asian elephant population. As tourism grows, so do conflicts between humans and wildlife, often due to disrespect for boundaries and safety rules. This is not the first time elephants have attacked tourists in India. Last year, a Russian woman was violently slammed to the ground by an elephant named Gouri at the Amer Fort in Jaipur. The same elephant had also severely injured a local shopkeeper months earlier. 3 Following the incident, local forest authorities fined Basavaraju 25,000 Rupees (around $285) for trespassing and provoking wildlife. NX While elephants are typically gentle, conservationists and animal welfare groups warn that provocation, mistreatment, or fear can cause them to lash out—especially in areas where they are used for entertainment or forced into unnatural settings. Basavaraju's case has reignited debates about whether provoking wild animals should be treated as a criminal offense, with growing calls for harsher penalties for tourists who put both themselves and animals at risk for the sake of viral content.
Newsweek
a day ago
- Newsweek
Grandma Boards Plane for 'Dream' Trip—Tears at Flight Announcement Surprise
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A video about an 87-year-old woman who finally made it to Hawaii—a trip she had long dreamed of taking with her late husband—surrounded by eight of her 16 grandchildren has captivated viewers on TikTok. The clip shared by Britney Lindgren (@hejmammabat) has racked up more than 6.4 million views since it was posted on July 26. Filmed on a July 17 flight from Phoenix, Arizona, to Honolulu, Hawaii, it shows a smiling grandmother receiving a special in-flight announcement from crew members as her family celebrates the journey. "Grandma has always been close to all of us since we were babies. She helped take care of us all through our lives," Lindgren, 39, who lives in the Midwest and works for a radiology organization, told Newsweek. "This was grandma's first time to Hawaii. It was always a place she dreamed of going. She told us to go there with someone you loved and had hoped to go with her husband. He passed suddenly in 1996 before they could go." A screenshot from a viral video showing the grandma on her "dream trip" to Hawaii. A screenshot from a viral video showing the grandma on her "dream trip" to Hawaii. @hejmammabat on TikTok The flight attendant's announcement in the video drew laughs and applause from passengers. "We wanted to give a quick shoutout from a very grateful group of grandkids in rows 35, 36 and 37. Today, they are flying with a true VIP—their grandma," the crew member said. From 2000 to 2024, the grandmother took each of her grandchildren on a one-on-one trip after they finished eighth grade—"yup, 16 middle schoolers, 16 adventures," the attendant said, adding: "We're still not sure how she did it, but somehow she made every single trip unforgettable … so, now, it's her turn." The announcement closed with a message of gratitude: "Thank you for your love, your courage and your endless curiosity, for being our biggest fan, our favorite travel buddy and the queen of making travel memories. We love you, grandma." Research shows that grandparent-grandchild relationships can have tangible benefits for health and well-being. A 2015 study in Child Indicators Research found that grandparents can influence outcomes such as children's nutrition, mental health, and survival rates. It also reported that a strong grandparent-grandchild bond can help offset "the negative effects of having an emotionally distant relationship with parents." A 2018 study in Ageing International found that older adults engaged in grandparenting often "tended to perceive meaning in their lives and to exhibit relatively low levels of stress and depressive mood." 'I'm Sobbing' The caption accompanying the viral post read: "Grandma always said 'go to Hawaii with someone you love' and although she meant that at first because she didn't want to take 14 year olds there—I think 8 of her 16 grandchildren taking her to Hawaii counts." The TikTok video drew emotional responses from viewers. "Ok sobbing. May this kind of generational love chase me down and kidnap me," one user, Caitlin, commented. Another, @wowagabrielle, wrote: "'Queen of making memories' I'm sobbing." Others marveled at the grandmother's dedication over the years. "16 grandchildren. 16 individual trips! What a woman!" wrote @angiebazikian. Lisa Collins posted: "Now THIS is the type of airline announcement that I'm paying full attention to. What a woman!! Enjoy." User @kayla commented: "I hope she had the best trip ever." Do you have a travel-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@ and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
