Delta Air Lines Fires Back at Ann Coulter on Twitter, but Refunds Her $30

[CaliCat 3,957]

Poor Ms. Coulter. The horror she had to endure, because she was assigned another seat. I think whoever was made to sit next to her should sue Delta! LOL. Her tolerance should be commended.

 

And of course, her time is more important than anything else in the world.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/17/business/ann-coulter-delta-twitter.html?ribbon-ad-idx=11&rref=politics&module=Ribbon&version=origin&region=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Politics&pgtype=article

 

The conservative commentator Ann Coulter unleashed a barrage of criticism about Delta Air Lines on Twitter after she was moved to a different seat on a flight on Saturday, prompting the company to publicly return fire and call her comments “unnecessary and unacceptable.”

Ms. Coulter, a pundit known for headline-grabbing comments, began her attack after a flight from La Guardia Airport in New York to West Palm Beach, Fla.

In a statement on Sunday, the airline described what happened as a “seat mix-up,” but Ms. Coulter excoriated the airline in social media posts after she was removed from a seat that she said she had specifically booked.

 

In a statement, repeated on Twitter, the airline criticized Ms. Coulter for “posting derogatory and slanderous comments and photos in social media” about its employees and customers. Delta said it was “disappointed” in Ms. Coulter and called her actions “unnecessary and unacceptable.”

The airline said it would refund her $30 for the preferred seat she bought, adding, “Delta expects mutual civility throughout the entire travel experience.”

She ridiculed the $30 refund, saying on Twitter that it cost her $10,000 of her time to select the seat she wanted, investigate the type of plane and periodically review seat options.

 

 

[Unidentified 2,930]

How can it cost $10 000 of her time to go to seatguru.com? #Entitled... 

[OriZ 3,157]

Not enough info in the article as to why this all happened...I definitely understand picking a specific seat for specific reasons and wanting to actually sit there because I do that all the time. I don't just let them put me anywhere they want. However I'm not sure how this mix up even happened, but just like United refunded the full ticket for both the mom and son in the other story we had just the other week I think Delta should have refunded more than just the $30...the inconvenience of sitting not where you intended to can ruin the whole flight and she should have gotten a full refund.

[Unidentified 2,930]

2 minutes ago, OriZ said:

Not enough info in the article as to why this all happened...I definitely understand picking a specific seat for specific reasons and wanting to actually sit there because I do that all the time. I don't just let them put me anywhere they want. However I'm not sure how this mix up even happened, but just like United refunded the full ticket for both the mom and son in the other story we had just the other week I think Delta should have refunded more than just the $30...the inconvenience of sitting not where you intended to can ruin the whole flight and she should have gotten a full refund.

I don't agree. I pick seats every time too, especially since I am worrying about all kinds of scenarios that can go wrong. I prefer a window seat by the wing so I can keep an eye on the engine and flaps. But if the airlines asks me "would you mind switching seat so this couple can sit next to each other" or whatever reason they have. I am willing to switch. I am travelling by myself and I know sometimes as a couple it is not easy finding seats together. 

 

I feel this is just a spoiled woman used to getting what she wants who couldn't tolerate someone telling her what to do. But yes, I agree. There's not enough info to know why exactly she got switched. 

[OriZ 3,157]

7 minutes ago, Unidentified said:

I don't agree. I pick seats every time too, especially since I am worrying about all kinds of scenarios that can go wrong. I prefer a window seat by the wing so I can keep an eye on the engine and flaps. But if the airlines asks me "would you mind switching seat so this couple can sit next to each other" or whatever reason they have. I am willing to switch. I am travelling by myself and I know sometimes as a couple it is not easy finding seats together. 

 

I feel this is just a spoiled woman used to getting what she wants who couldn't tolerate someone telling her what to do. But yes, I agree. There's not enough info to know why exactly she got switched. 

There's no mention in the article that she was even asked. And considering any flight 3 hours or longer we intentionally pick seats with more legroom because it especially makes it easier for my wife(although I like being more comfortable too) and one of them has to be a window seat if we were offered a seat with less legroom we would not switch unless refunded the full ticket. We always fly as a couple and we've NEVER had a single issue finding seats together, so I guess those people didn't book it far enough in advance which even if I was flying alone I don't think should be my problem. Also I used to book them by the wing as well but now I try to book it as close to the front and/or doors as possible to make it easier to exit be it in a normal landing or an emergency. Again mostly for medical/convenience reasons because we don't like to stand there and wait forever and it is harder on one's body. She might have had her reasons why she wanted the seat she wanted, we don't know, and I think the Airline should respect that if someone picked a seat, they did this for a reason. Not just change their seat without even giving them advance notice about it.

Edited July 18, 2017 by OriZ

[Unidentified 2,930]

3 minutes ago, OriZ said:

There's no mention in the article that she was even asked. And considering any flight 3 hours or longer we intentionally pick seats with more legroom because it especially makes it easier for my wife(although I like being more comfortable too) and one of them has to be a window seat if we were offered a seat with less legroom we would not switch unless refunded the full ticket. We always fly as a couple and we've NEVER had a single issue finding seats together, so I guess those people didn't book it far enough in advance which even if I was flying alone I don't think should be my problem. Also I used to book them by the wing as well but now I try to book it as close to the front and/or doors as possible to make it easier to exit be it in a normal landing or an emergency. Again mostly for medical/convenience reasons because we don't like to stand there and wait forever and it is harder on one's body. She might have had her reasons why she wanted the seat she wanted, we don't know, and I think the Airline should respect that if someone picked a seat, they did this for a reason. Not just change their seat without even giving them advance notice about it.

Picking seat is a privileged not a right. Not all airlines offer it. We are all going to get to our destination regardless of where we sit. 

[OriZ 3,157]

1 minute ago, Unidentified said:

Picking seat is a privileged not a right. Not all airlines offer it. We are all going to get to our destination regardless of where we sit. 

If you offer it you better stand behind it or own up to it. I said in the other thread the last couple times United screwed up I was glad they at least owned up to it and offered full refunds. I don't see why this has to be any different.Getting to your destination is not all it's about or there wouldn't be different seats to choose from. Some of us have reasons for specific seats and if they are changed like I said it can quite literally ruin a whole flight and for that - I'd want my money back.

[Unidentified 2,930]

For such a short trip? I could understand the complaints about leg space etc if we were talking about a 12 hour flight. 

[Dashinka 23,420]

I think I mentioned this story before, if so, sorry.  I was on a flight out of Monterrey Mexico one time and Greta Van Susteran was sitting next to me.  She asked me nicely if I could switch seats with her producer so they could work together, and of course I complied as it really made no difference to me.  

 

As @OriZ mentioned, and I concur, there is not enough information in the article to form an opinion one way or the other.  I also generally pay a little more for the privilege to choose my seat(s) and am usually happy with them.  I stay away from bulk heads due to the narrower seats, but usually purchase the Comfort + seats especially for long distant flights, yes, I tend to fly Delta since Detroit is a hub.  One time when Katya was flying, she was asked to change her seat to allow a mother with a baby to use it, but she was given another Comfort + seat, so it was no big deal.  I am sure Coulter is a bit of a prima donna, so she may be exaggerating a bit, but it can suck to be moved against your will and we have no idea how this whole scenario played out.

Edited July 18, 2017 by Bill & Katya

[OriZ 3,157]

That length flight would be borderline for us whether or not we get extra leg room. It seems right around 3 hours which can start making a big difference for some people. As I said in the thread about the Viatnamese dude who got thrown off a United flight - they all suck. Pretending that united is evil and delta are sweet little angels just doesn't work for me. What I also said there that seems true in this case is that while United does seem to have more screw ups, they are also more generous when it comes to compensation than American or Delta. I am sorry but $30 is an insult. Or if they make a change to your flight several weeks or months before your flight but you already have it booked you can pretty much get away with whatever changes you want to make then too, for free. Most airlines still limit you on the changes you can make. I actually try to book as early as I can and try to take advantage of that situation as it's happened to me a couple of times. Overall I'll take Jetblue over all 3 though, but when it comes to dealing with PEOPLE providing you with a service, any service, I find it very hard to come across competent ones these days.

Edited July 18, 2017 by OriZ

[charmander 692]

SSDD. U.S. airlines suck. Boycotting one would not take you far, united would drag you out of plane, american would hit you in the head with your stroller, jetblue would kick your family out because of a birthday cake. ..and then they complain about the Gulf airlines kicking them out of the international market. who wants to fly 10+ hours with an U.S. airline in their infamous cattle class?

 

[OriZ 3,157]

1 minute ago, charmander said:

SSDD. U.S. airlines suck. Boycotting one would not take you far, united would drag you out of plane, american would hit you in the head with your stroller, jetblue would kick your family out because of a birthday cake. ..and then they complain about the Gulf airlines kicking them out of the international market. who wants to fly 10+ hours with an U.S. airline in their infamous cattle class?

 

Ummm...the whole cake thing was ridiculous(on the passengers part, not jetblue). Last time my wife and I flew I actually happened to open one of the compartments that had the oxygen in it and made a joke that maybe I should stick a cake in there. Sorry, that was all on them.

[CaliCat 3,957]

9 hours ago, Unidentified said:

How can it cost $10 000 of her time to go to seatguru.com? #Entitled... 

 

Better yet, for $10,000, she should just have flown a private plane, and spare everyone the suffering of her sense of entitlement.

Edited July 18, 2017 by CaliCat