Spirit Airlines Denies Refund to Dying Vet

UVAwahoos · May 4, 2012

Anybody hear about this? This airline has the absolute worst business ethics ever, and now they're abusing a vet with terminal cancer.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/trendin...airlines-refusing-refund-dying-163437054.html

Medical exemptions should always apply in cases like this, and vets should clearly be treated with respect. Just a joke all around. I've had issues with Spirit in the past, but this has to be the last straw. It's not worth saving even $300 to fly an airline like this.

Cythim · May 4, 2012

As a veteran myself, I find he appalling that he expects special treatment for having served in the military. There are benefits to serving, one of them is not using your status to garner special privileges or bully companies into bending their rules for you. It isn't the airline's fault his medical status changed and the airline should not be expected to exempt him because they will have to exempt everyone if they do.

UVAwahoos · May 4, 2012

This is the only airline with a backwards ass policy. And yes, they should be expected to exempt "everyone" who can't fly due to acute medical issues.

In any business, there's a protocol to maximize profits, but it clearly cannot apply to 100% of your customer base. This guy is a legit exception.

Cythim · May 5, 2012

UVAwahoos said:
This is the only airline with a backwards ass policy. And yes, they should be expected to exempt "everyone" who can't fly due to acute medical issues.

In any business, there's a protocol to maximize profits, but it clearly cannot apply to 100% of your customer base. This guy is a legit exception.

You make one exception and everyone will want to be an exception. A minority with less of a "legit" claim can cry discrimination and get away with it if they help this white male and refuse others. The best policy for them is to adhere to their rules no matter the circumstance.

NoDak · May 5, 2012

Cythim said:
There are benefits to serving, one of them is not using your status to garner special privileges or bully companies into bending their rules for you.

How is this a benefit?

63echo · May 5, 2012

Cythim said:
You make one exception and everyone will want to be an exception. A minority with less of a "legit" claim can cry discrimination and get away with it if they help this white male and refuse others. The best policy for them is to adhere to their rules no matter the circumstance.

Except in this case, their "best policy" is going to cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars (if not more). Hardly a masterstroke of business acumen. Medical exceptions would have been the way to go prior to this guy ever showing his face at their ticket counter, but a better policy might have been to simply give a quiet refund.

Cythim · May 5, 2012

63echo said:
Except in this case, their "best policy" is going to cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars (if not more). Hardly a masterstroke of business acumen. Medical exceptions would have been the way to go prior to this guy ever showing his face at their ticket counter, but a better policy might have been to simply give a quiet refund.

You are making an assumption that this will leave them with empty seats. This will go away in a week and everyone will forget about it when they are looking for the lowest fair.

Cythim · May 5, 2012

NoDak said:
How is this a benefit?

He is trying to benefit from his veteran status by getting a refund on a non-refundable ticket.

NoDak · May 5, 2012

Cythim said:
He is trying to benefit from his veteran status by getting a refund on a non-refundable ticket.

Yeah, I get that. But you said, There are benefits to serving, one of them is not using your status to garner special privileges or bully companies into bending their rules for you. Sounds like you are saying it IS a benefit. Not using your status isn't actually a benefit.

I'm guessing you meant, There are benefits to serving. Using your status to garner special privileges or bully companies into bending their rules for you is not one of them.

Just confusing how it was worded, I guess. I know you were arguing against him doing that, and I agree. Ticky tack, I know. But it didn't seem to match your stance on the subject.

Cythim · May 5, 2012

NoDak said:
Yeah, I get that. But you said, There are benefits to serving, one of them is not using your status to garner special privileges or bully companies into bending their rules for you. Sounds like you are saying it IS a benefit. Not using your status isn't actually a benefit.

I'm guessing you meant, There are benefits to serving. Using your status to garner special privileges or bully companies into bending their rules for you is not one of them.

Just confusing how it was worded, I guess. I know you were arguing against him doing that, and I agree. Ticky tack, I know. But it didn't seem to match your stance on the subject.

Yeah, it probably would have looked different if I said "one of them isn't..." instead of is not.

Midswat · May 5, 2012

If he's dying, why does he need a refund?

Sheik · May 5, 2012

We're all dying from the day we're born. Some faster than others.

Hope this helped.

lons · May 6, 2012

I'm willing to bet that the Vietman Vet part didn't come out til later. Just look at this like anyone else that had booked a flight and then were told by their doctor that they could not go on it and you should arrive at the same God Damn ending. Give the man his money back and make it make you look good.

There are a few rules in life....

Movies that show kids get killed never do shit in the box office.
Never take advantage of a dying person for profit such as this case.
And never buy a 4 year warranty on something you'll replace in 3.

2233boys · May 6, 2012

lons said:
I'm willing to bet that the Vietman Vet part didn't come out til later. Just look at this like anyone else that had booked a flight and then were told by their doctor that they could not go on it and you should arrive at the same God Damn ending. Give the man his money back and make it make you look good.

There are a few rules in life....

Movies that show kids get killed never do shit in the box office.
Never take advantage of a dying person for profit such as this case.
And never buy a 4 year warranty on something you'll replace in 3.

They had a policy they enforced. He choose to buy the ticket from them. They enforced their policy. It sucks but they didn't take advantage of the guy. I would say he was trying to take advantage of them.

lons · May 7, 2012

I think it is hilarious the two most left people on this board that call oil companies the devil are a ok with this. lol

Midswat · May 7, 2012

I wouldn't give the guy a refund either.

Try being a vet of a war we won, jackass.

dbair1967 · May 7, 2012

lons said:
I think it is hilarious the two most left people on this board that call oil companies the devil are a ok with this. lol

If the guy was wearing a hope and change tee shirt, the opinion would be vastly different I suspect

Jon88 · May 7, 2012

It's not like he can take the money with him when he dies.

Cythim · May 7, 2012

lons said:
I think it is hilarious the two most left people on this board that call oil companies the devil are a ok with this. lol

Sadly there is no cure for your stupidity. Even if your label of us were true (and if falling in the middle makes me the most left person on this board then so be it), what does this have to do with politics? Everything does not have to be politicized, and even if it is politicized it is okay to have opinions that fall to the right and left of center.

Cythim · May 7, 2012

dbair1967 said:
If the guy was wearing a hope and change tee shirt, the opinion would be vastly different I suspect

That is because you are just as stupid as lons. Just because your opinion would change with a hope and change t-shirt does not mean everyone's will.

2

2

2

2

UDFA

2

2

2

UDFA

2

2

All-Pro

UDFA

2

UDFA

2

Administrator

Pro Bowler

2

2