Plane overbooked, two passengers accept $4,000 to delay departure
The world of travel is full of amazing stories. The one told by a user on TikTok, however, is truly amazing. [...]
Delta
SkyTeam
The world of travel is full of incredible stories. The one recounted by a user on TikTok, however, is truly amazing. At the center is Delta Airlines and the overbooking practice which is the order of the day in America.
In this article:
Delta and overbooking
On TikTok, the story of a young traveler quickly went viral. Donutwoutaholeisadanish recounted his own interesting adventure with Delta Airlines, which earned him quite a bit of money. The whole story is divided into several days, and the main character is Stanley Yelnats, who explained that he discovered at the gate that his Delta was overbooked. As we have also recounted in other articles, it happens frequently in the U.S., and companies are looking for volunteers who, for a reward, will agree to take a later flight.
Not such an unusual practice then, but what is surprising is the amount paid by the company: $2,000. All Stanley had to do was be patient and leave the next morning on the first flight.
With some excitement in his voice, which was definitely understandable, the young man said he was ready to leave for a family vacation. His mother was adamantly opposed to her son arriving at the location (in Key West, Florida) a day late, but the boy decided to be enticed by the money offered.
As mentioned earlier, however, the final voucher amounts to $4,000. The reason is quickly explained. The next morning Stanley showed up at the airport for his own flight, discovering that Delta Airlines had another overbooking problem.
The boy was thus faced with a new choice: let his mother be enraged or accept other two thousand dollars? He thinks about it briefly, and when confirmation comes that the new voucher will be the same amount, he has no more doubts.
In the video posted online, which has collected so many views, another lucky passenger also appears. His name is Donald, and together they have collected $4,000, to spend as they please, simply by standing still at the New York airport.
@donutwoutaholeisadanish Reply to @haileyeahh FINAL RECAP: A short coming-of-age film sponsored by delta? @delta SPONSOR ME ? #fyp #fypシ #xyzbca #delta #ComeDanceWithMe #PassTheBIC ♬ original sound - Stanley Yelnats
Delta: one last deal
What else could happen? That the only flight out of New York to the Florida Keys airport is once again overbooked. The proposal, however, is only 800 dollars. The temptation is strong, but in the end Stanlay and Donald decide to "settle" for the $4,000 received as a gift.
Overbooking in Europe
This situation happens in the U.S. because there is no regulation similar to the European Traveler Protection Act. Failure to board a passenger by a carrier operating in Europe triggers immediate compensation for the traveler. None of this exists in the U.S., and so it is that companies, in order to avoid lawsuits, adopt this mechanism of offering money to passengers who voluntarily agree not to leave.
