Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

> The terms of purchasing the ticket includes your agreement that you might get bumped.

'Bumping' is the colloquial term for 'involuntary denied boarding'. Bumping does not apply in this case, because the passenger in question was already boarded, and therefore could not be denied his seat, as he was not acting abusively.

But don't take my word for it, this is directly from the US Department of Transportation:

> Can airlines involuntarily bump me after I have boarded the flight?

> Generally, no. If you have met the following conditions, airlines are not allowed to deny you permission to board, or remove you from the flight if you have already boarded the flight: > You have checked-in for your flight before the check-in deadline set by the airlines; and > A gate agent has accepted your paper boarding pass or electronically scanned your boarding pass and let you know that you may proceed to board. > However, airlines may deny boarding or remove you from a flight even after accepting your boarding pass and informing you that you may proceed to board if the denial or removal is due to a safety, security, or health risk, or due to a behavior that is considered obscene, disruptive, or otherwise unlawful.

https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/aviation-consumer...



My mistake, I forgot that detail. My other two points, however, are still valid, even if the airlines request broke regulations.


> My other two points, however, are still valid.

No, if you read the DOT website I linked to, you'll see your second point is not valid either.

The DOT explicitly states airlines are not allowed to deny you permission to board, or remove you from the flight if.... If you have already boarded the plan, or had your ticket scanned, and are not being unruly, airlines are literally not allowed to deplane you.


Trespass law is not within DOTs regulatory purview. It is possible for a request from an airline to be legal under one set of laws but illegal under another. Airports are both under federal and state law. Which may conflict at times.


How could trespassing laws possibly apply? It’s not the airlines property just their vehicle parked on the government’s property


By that logic a stranger could get into my car if it is parked in the street, since it is a private vehicle parked on the governments property. This seems counterintuitive.


But the vehicle is not parked in a public space it's parked on private property that is owned by the government. If someone is in a vehicle on someones property then it's the property owner not the vehicle owner were trespassing laws apply to.

The Airline is as much a guest in an airport as the passenger is.


This is not true. In the US, trespass in a vehicle is often criminalized regardless of where that vehicle sits.


Vehicles are typically included as property under most trespass laws


airlines may remove you from a flight if the removal is due to a behavior that is considered disruptive


…or if the weather changes and they need to reduce weight. On a CRJ this is quite common (which was the type of plane this incident occurred).




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: