Latest news with #passengerrights
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Furious Spirit Airlines passenger lashes out after being banned for her outfit: 'They treated me like a criminal'
A Spirit Airlines passenger claims she was banned from boarding a flight over the length of her shorts. Tanasia Grayer was stopped by gate agents at Miami International Airport on July 16 as she tried to board a Spirit flight bound for Chicago. The frustrated passenger claims she was wearing short athletic shorts, a cropped workout shirt and a fluffy pink robe as she tried to board the flight. 'She stopped me and said: "You're not getting on a plane like that",' Grayer told CBS News. 'So I looked at her and I said, "Like what?" She said, "With those shorts".' Tensions heightened even more when Grayer's sister Jessica Kordelewski became confrontational with airport security officials and screamed: 'I'm confused, this is crazy, this is insane'. Kordelewski was later arrested and accused of disorderly conduct and trespassing after being issued with a warning. She has since been released. Grayer claims the airline 'treated me like a criminal' for wearing what she describes as 'normal shorts'. Bur Spirit claims the traveler was 'not in compliance with our Contract of Carriage', which details clothing standards for all passengers, and 'refused to comply when provided an opportunity to do so'. The airline updated its Contract of Carriage policy in January this year, issuing stricter guidelines on what passengers can wear while onboard its aircraft. Guests will not be permitted on a flight and may be required to leave if they are 'barefoot or inadequately clothed'. The policy also bans clothing or body art that is 'lewd, obscene or offensive in nature'. Listed examples include see-through clothing that exposes breasts, buttocks or other sensitive areas. But Grayer insists her outfit did not violate the policy, telling CBS that she wore her robe so that her clothing was 'not too revealing'. She argued that a staff member 'should've told me' during the 40 minutes she spent in Miami airport. 'That way I could've went and changed my clothes to put anything else on,' she said. Grayer also claims that not only did she walk through the airport in the outfit without any incident, but also wore similar length shorts on her original flight to Miami. Spirit, in a statement to Daily Mail, said the sisters were 'denied boarding after displaying disruptive behavior'. 'We always want our Guests to feel welcome and have a great experience. Consistent with other US airlines, our Contract of Carriage contains certain clothing standards for all Guests traveling with us,' a Spirit spokesperson told Daily Mail. 'Our records show a Guest was not in compliance with our Contract of Carriage and refused to comply when provided an opportunity to do so. The Guest and their travel companion were eventually denied boarding after displaying disruptive behavior. Further questions should be directed to law enforcement.' The pair ended up flying home on another airline as Kordelewski is now on Spirit's 'no fly' list, according to reports. The sisters have also vowed that they 'won't be back in Miami at all'. Grayer claims in the future she will avoid wearing outfits resembling the one she wore in Miami just to ensure a similar issue does not arise.
CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
Flight cancelled or delayed? These are your rights
You've packed your bags, planned your itinerary and booked your taxi to the to find out that your flight has been cancelled. So, what do you do now? The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA), an independent, quasi-judicial tribunal of the Government of Canada, points out that it is up to the airline to accommodate you as soon as possible. 'In all situations, the airline must provide you with a new reservation on another flight if your original flight has been delayed for three hours or more, or if it has been cancelled,' states the organization's website. The CTA's mandate is to ensure that passenger rights across all modes of transportation are respected and protected. The terms and conditions of the replacement flight, according to Noovo Info, can differ depending on the reason behind the cancellation, and whether or not they are due to a complication caused by the airline. Can I get compensation? You may be entitled to compensation if your flight is delayed or cancelled and the situation is within the airline's control, such as a commercial decision or an avoidable technical problem. Events outside the company's control, such as adverse weather conditions, do not count. In addition, you can only get compensation if you find out about the cancellation or delay less than 14 days before your scheduled departure and you arrive at your destination more than three hours later than expected. Here is the compensation scale, according to the CTA, for major airlines: $400 if you arrive at your destination with a delay between three and six hours; $700 if you arrive at your destination with a delay between six and nine hours; $1,000 if you arrive at your destination with a delay of nine hours or more. If you choose a refund instead of rerouting, you are still eligible to receive $400. Examples of large airlines include Air Canada (including Jazz and Rouge), Air Transat, Flair Airlines and Porter Airlines. For smaller airlines: $125 if you arrive at your destination with a delay between three and six hours; $250 if you arrive at your destination with a delay between six and nine hours; $500 if you arrive at your destination with a delay of nine hours or more. If you choose a refund instead of rerouting, you are still eligible to receive $125. The size of your airline is indicated in the conditions of your ticket. You have one year to submit a claim for compensation due to a delay or cancellation, and the airline has 30 days to respond, either by making a payment or explaining its reason for refusal. Beyond compensation In addition to compensation, the Flight Claim platform points out that people can also be entitled to short-term assistance. This includes requesting refreshments and sufficient food depending on the wait time, two free telephone calls, telexes, faxes or e-mails, and hotel accommodation for one or more nights. Flight Claim adds that it is possible to ask for reimbursement for part of a journey not made, no longer required, or other such modifications to the original travel itinerary. What if I used a travel agent? Customers who employed travel agents licensed in Quebec can 'benefit from one of the best protections available' via the Compensation fund for customers of travel agents. Regulated by the Office of Customer Protection, the fund can reimburse travellers who are disappointed with the services they paid for. There are many scenarios covered under the fund, including severe bad weather, overbooking, natural disasters and political instability. Any tourist services purchased with a licenced travel agent are protected by the fund, including air tickets, bus transportation, hotel stays, cruises and excursions. This applies both to online purchases and those made directly with an agency. 'This is not the case when you book directly with the supplier, or when you buy from a travel agent outside Quebec,' the OPC stresses.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Spirit Passenger Claims She Was Denied Boarding Because of Her Shorts. The Airline Says It Was Her 'Behavior'
NEED TO KNOW A Spirit Airlines passenger claims she was denied boarding due to her shorts, the airline says it was her "disruptive behavior" Tanasia Grayer was trying to board a Chicago-bound flight from Miami on Wednesday, July 16, when the incident occurred Grayer's sister, Jessica Kordelewski, was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and trespassing after a warningA woman is claiming Spirit Airlines denied her from boarding a flight because of her shorts. The airline says it was her 'disruptive behavior' that caused the incident. According to CBS Miami, Tanasia Grayer planned to board a Chicago-bound flight from Miami International Airport on Wednesday, July 16. When she arrived at the gate, she claims Spirit personnel told her she wasn't allowed to board because of her outfit. 'We were getting ready to board the plane, and the lady at the front desk, she stopped me and said, 'You're not getting on a plane like that,'' Grayer told the outlet. 'So I looked at her and I said 'Like what?' She said, 'With those shorts.'' Grayer alleges she walked through the airport without anyone telling her to change. Wearing a pink robe overtop, she says her clothes were not revealing at all. 'They said that you can't have the bottom or your butt out,' she said. 'That's why this robe is on so that I'm not too revealing.' She added: 'I was in the airport for 40 minutes, y'all should've told me. That way I could've went and changed my clothes to put anything else on.' In a clip of the confrontation with airport authorities shared with CBS Miami, a woman in the background can be heard shouting 'I'm confused, this is crazy, this is insane.' Grayer said that was her sister, Jessica Kordelewski, who was arrested and accused of disorderly conduct and trespassing after a warning. In a statement shared with PEOPLE, a spokesperson for Spirit said their records show 'a guest was not in compliance with our Contract of Carriage and refused to comply when provided an opportunity to do so.' The statement says their Contact of Carriage contains certain clothing standards for all passengers. 'The guest and their travel companion were eventually denied boarding after displaying disruptive behavior," the statement read. 'I'm going home,' Kordelewski told CBS Miami after she was released from jail.'We are done with Miami, we ain't never coming here again,' Grayer added. According to the outlet, the sisters booked another flight with a different airline to get home. She explained she wouldn't wear the same outfit to avoid any troubles. The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest to Spirit's Contract of Carriage, guests shall not be permitted on an aircraft and may be required to leave if they are 'barefoot or inadequately clothed,' or if their clothing or body art is considered 'lewd, obscene or offensive in nature.' Listed examples include see-through clothing exposing breasts, buttocks or other private parts. According to USA Today, the airline recently updated this policy in January 2025. Before, the contract did not specify clothing examples nor body art. Read the original article on People
Khaleej Times
5 days ago
- Khaleej Times
Video: Dubai-Kozhikode flight cancelled after passengers 'locked in' for 4 hours with no AC
Passengers onboard an Air India Express flight bound for Kozhikode were left sweltering inside the aircraft for over four hours on Friday morning, only to be told that the flight had been cancelled. Flight IX 346, scheduled to depart from Dubai at 9am, began boarding around 8.15am. But what followed, passengers said, was a prolonged and agonising wait on the tarmac with no air conditioning, no updates, and growing frustration. At 12.15pm, they were finally asked to disembark after being informed that the flight had been cancelled due to operational reasons. 'There was no air conditioning and it was extremely hot and uncomfortable the entire time,' said Anjali Mohan, a Dubai resident who shared videos from inside the aircraft with Khaleej Times. One clip shows passengers using safety cards to fan themselves, while others can be seen repeatedly adjusting air vents and overhead fans in a desperate attempt to cool down. Watch a video here: "We were just waiting, without any clarity on when this would end. I had to take emergency leave from work and miss an important function I had planned. I was already feeling weak, and sitting in those conditions for so long only made it worse.' She later updated Khaleej Times and said: 'They've (airline) finally decided to take us to a hotel. We're being told the next flight will only be at 3.40am (India time) tomorrow (July 19).' Another passenger, Ziyaf Mohamed, echoed her frustration. 'We were locked inside the aircraft since early morning, with barely any updates. The heat was unbearable and people were visibly uncomfortable,' he said. 'I had to miss an important work commitment. Many of us felt unwell. It was a terrible experience; we felt completely helpless and ignored.' As of 1pm, passengers had been taken back to the terminal. 'There's a huge crowd and no clarity,' said one passenger. 'Everyone's just waiting for answers.' Meanwhile, Air India Express flight IX 523 from Thiruvananthapuram to Abu Dhabi was also delayed for about 1.5 hours. The plane was supposed to take off at 1.15pm (India time) on Friday, but was moved to 2.40pm same day. The two delayed flights are the latest in a growing list of disruptions involving Air India Express. Just a day earlier (Thursday), the airline cancelled a Dubai-bound flight from Jaipur at the last minute, after passengers had waited for hours at the airport. Its incoming flight from Dubai to Jaipur also failed to operate due to a reported technical snag. Flight tracking data reviewed by Khaleej Times shows that the airline has cancelled more than 30 flights across sectors since mid-June, including repeated cancellations last month between Dubai and Lucknow over three consecutive days. Passengers have repeatedly complained about poor communication and lack of support during these disruptions. An email sent to Air India Express regarding a separate cancellation earlier this week is still awaiting a response, with the airline stating it would need at least a day to reply.
ABC News
6 days ago
- ABC News
Qantas travellers' bush stranding highlights Australia's need for aviation consumer law
Sancia Walker almost made it home from her holiday last week. But when her Qantas flight was grounded in Cloncurry due to a mechanical issue, she said she was left to find her own way home. "They told us: 'No, you actually need to find your own accommodation for the night,'" Ms Walker said. Ms Walker had to book a cabin overnight, instead of completing her trip from Townsville to Mount Isa. She said it was a scramble for the roughly 30 passengers to find accommodation in the town of 3,000 people last Wednesday. Ms Walker said ground staff promised Qantas would text or email each passenger overnight to let them know if a replacement plane or a bus would be provided the next day. The following morning, Ms Walker said she had not heard from the airline, so she organised for a colleague in Mount Isa to make the three-hour round trip via car to pick her up. She said Qantas contacted her three days after the flight, after she lodged a complaint, offering to reimburse her out-of-pocket costs for the accommodation and meals. Ms Walker said the airline would not refund the cost of the flight but offered 5,000 frequent flyer points instead. A return flight from Mount Isa to Townsville costs a minimum of 16,000 points. Qantas said the airline had apologised to customers affected by the delay and would be reviewing the situation. In a statement, they said a replacement aircraft was sent to Cloncurry the following day to help get customers on their way. "We'll also reimburse them for related expenses," they said. Ms Walker said she did not receive a text or email about a replacement flight, but saw the updated flight on her Qantas app when she opened it during her lift home. Aviation expert Ian Douglas said the experience highlighted Australia's lack of aviation-specific consumer laws. "If this had happened in Europe, Qantas would have been obliged by law to get the passengers where they were travelling, to accommodate them, feed them, care for them until that was done, and to have compensated them for the delay," he said. Dr Douglas, who worked for Qantas for 25 years and lectures at the University of NSW, said general Australian consumer law was not well-suited to disrupted flights. Each airline has its own policy regarding flight disruptions, but has limited legal obligations to get customers to their intended destination or refund fares. Dr Douglas said operating airlines with Australia's relatively small population and large distances was difficult, but it was not a unique issue — pointing to countries like Finland and Canada that have similar demographics and geography. "It's therefore more difficult to connect and service regularly, but that's not an excuse for leaving people stranded without resources," he said. Dr Douglas said the federal government needed to step in for any meaningful change to happen. "If there was a willingness to run the business differently, they could have done that already," he said. He pointed to a 2024 Aviation White paper, where the Australian government announced an ombudsperson to set out national guidelines for the fair and appropriate treatment of customers by airlines and airports. An interim ombudsperson has started drafting some rules, but so far has yet to see significant progress. "It's taken two years to implement something fairly mediocre," Dr Douglas said. "They've really been kicking the can down the road as far as not implementing the sorts of things that are considered basic rights in Europe and have been implemented in Canada and the US."
