Absurdly Driven looks at the world of business with a skeptical eye and a firmly rooted tongue in cheek.
The question that rumbles around minds when airlines make a mess of things is: “How?”
How did United get to having Dr. David Dao dragged off a plane, bloodying his face in the process?
How did Delta decide to kick a man off a plane because he went to the restroom just before takeoff?
And how, Jose Cordova would like to ask, did Spirit sell one of his plane tickets — tickets he’d paid for — to someone else?
As Fox 8 reports, Cordova booked two seats on a trip from Denver to Las Vegas because he’s considerably overweight. He wants to be comfortable.
On the return trip with Spirit Airlines, Cordova says the flight was overbooked. So the airline simply gave his spare seat to someone else.
“I told them I had bought two seats,” he told Fox 8. [They said] ‘Well, talk to them when you get off the plane.'”
He said he found the experience embarrassing and humiliating.
His friend, Scott Tenorio, who was traveling with him, told Fox 8: “People were just watching him, and it’s almost like they look at, ‘Oh my God, I’ve got to sit next to that.”
Tenorio also told Denver 7: “Those that are thinking of weight, we tried to alleviate him from infringing on anyone’s space, and then he’s forced (to do so). I could barely sit in these seats they’re so tiny.”
I contacted Spirit to ask for its view and will update, should the airline reply.
A spokesman did tell Denver 7: “This is not the type of experience we want for our customers. We are looking into the circumstances that led to this situation to ensure it doesn’t happen again. We have refunded Mr. Cordova for his flights and will work directly with him on making this right.”
Every company makes mistakes. Airline staff are also under enormous pressure, as their managements makes them focus on profit before all else, with little margin for breath.
But surely Cordova had proof that he had paid for both seats. Why wouldn’t anyone listen?
It’s a lost art, listening.
The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.