International

United Again. Indian-Origin Man Alleges Ticket Cancelled For Filming Fight

Darpan News Desk IANS, 11 May, 2017 11:11 AM

An Indian-origin man in the US has said that United Airlines cancelled his flight for filming a dispute involving an employee of the airlines.

Navang Oza, 37, said the incident happened earlier this week when he complained to a United Airlines agent about a $300 charge for his luggage while he was checking in for a flight to San Francisco from New Orleans, the New York Post reported.

Oza said he paid $125 to check the same bag on the first leg of his trip.

Unable to get an explanation, Oza said he decided to do what many other frustrated passengers have done and film the dispute.

Oza posted an unedited clip of the lengthy interaction with the ticket counter worker in New Orleans.

United Can't believe you tried to charge me $300+ for the same bag that I bought on my trip that you originally only charged $125 as I understand it was over the 50lb weight limit. The worse part is that when I started recording, the lady at the check in got upset and called cops and had me kicked out of the airport. This happened at NOLA airport and when the cops got there they said I was drunk when I only had 2 beers before getting to the airport with my colleagues from work. I have the entire incident recorded and now have to book a flight that will cost me over $550 just to get back home on American Airlines last minute. I was even willing to pay the $300 or more fee as this was a work trip and my company would reimburse me but when I started recording on my iPhone the lady at the count got very mad and called the cops who kicked out of the airport and told me to leave or I'd be arrested. I personally feel like I did nothing wrong and was kicked out only because I started recording the lady as she was being rude and I asked to speak to the manager as to why I had to pay more than what they charged me on my flight from SFO to NOLA. I know it's a very long video ~13mins but feel like I need to share this with everyone as I really don't feel like I did anything wrong and the lady at the counter was just being rude and not willing to help me as I inquired why it was costing more than what I paid on my way from SFO to NOLA.
Posted by Navang Oza on Saturday, 6 May 2017

"You do not have my permission to videotape," the United Airlines employee says in the video shared on Twitter. Next, she instructs an agent to "cancel the reservation".

About a minute after ordering his trip cancelled for taping her, the United agent is seen recording Oza.

"I was shocked because I didn't know she had the right to cancel my flight because I started recording," Oza told news station KNTV.

The California resident said that he ultimately re-booked his flight on a different airline. Oza said he wants United to pay for that trip. United told news station KNTV that it is investigating the incident.

I guess @united harassment isn't limited to the unfriendly skies. #unacceptable #united #lackofcustomerservice pic.twitter.com/A5P6A8XJjC
— Navang Oza (@Navang25) May 8, 2017

"The video does not reflect the positive customer experience we strive to offer, and for that we apologise. We are reviewing this situation, including talking with Oza and our employees to better understand what happened," United said in a statement.

United faced a series of scandals in recent weeks, including the violent removal of passenger Dr David Dao, who sustained injuries from being dragged off an overbooked flight.

The Kentucky doctor later reached an "amicable" settlement with the airline for an undisclosed amount.

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