Dying Vet denied refund by Spirit Airlines

sidepasser · #1 05/02/12, 09:19 AM

Well I guess you can be a hard line corporate suit and say that no one, not even a dying vet with a note from his doctor, can be given a refund, but personally I will never fly on this airline at any time in the future.

Veterans groups around the nation are rallying to the side of dying Vietnam veteran and former Marine Jerry Meekins, 76, of Clearwater, Fla., following the airline’s refusal to refund him $197 for a ticket after the doctor treating him for terminal esophageal cancer told him not to fly. Meekins told FoxNews.com he's received "hundreds of calls" from veterans nationwide who are as mad at Spirit as he is.

Vets mull boycott of Spirit Airlines after dying former Marine denied refund | Fox News

haypoint · #2 05/02/12, 10:28 AM

Sad deal.
But, as soon as you allow it once, you must do it for everyone. Don't like it, buy a refundable ticket or don't fly.
Michigan voters approved Medical Pot for dying cancer sufferers. But now some doctors are prescribing Medical Pot for acid reflux. So, if an airline started refunding tickets based on a doctor's nots, they'd be flooded with refund requests.
Sorry for his illness, sorry the rules stand in every case.

sidepasser · #3 05/02/12, 11:24 AM

There is such a thing as compassion, sadly this corporation seems to be lacking in that area. Yes rules are rules but most airlines will make exceptions in extraordinary circumstances. Especially if the airline wants to retain customers and have good public relations. Looks like this particular airline does not care about PR. But I guess they can thumb through that rule book at the unemployment office..part of being a good corporate citizen is giving something back to the community in which you operate. Even if you have to make an exception to a rule once in a while to maintain good relationships.

Got a feeling this is going to come back and bite them.

watcher · #4 05/02/12, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidepasser

There is such a thing as compassion, sadly this corporation seems to be lacking in that area. Yes rules are rules but most airlines will make exceptions in extraordinary circumstances. Especially if the airline wants to retain customers and have good public relations. Looks like this particular airline does not care about PR. But I guess they can thumb through that rule book at the unemployment office..part of being a good corporate citizen is giving something back to the community in which you operate. Even if you have to make an exception to a rule once in a while to maintain good relationships.

Got a feeling this is going to come back and bite them.

They are screwed either way.

If they give a refund the next time they refuse to refund a ticket they will be sued because they are discriminating against the second person.

If they don't give the refund they look heartless and evil.

Tabitha · #5 05/02/12, 04:54 PM

It would not have had to be National news if they had given him a refund, quietly and without much ado. How would everybody and his brother know to demand a refund? they would not. It has become public because they did not. And if it had not been posted on here I would not know beans about it.

FeralFemale · #6 05/02/12, 06:55 PM

At my job there are a lot of decisions like this to be made. The best thing to do is to have a hard, brightline rule and follow it the same for everyone.

It may seem unfair in some circumstances, but the fairest thing to do is treat everyone the same.

Sawmill Jim · #7 05/02/12, 10:56 PM

If i bought a non refundable ticket i would ride that darn plane even if i kicked off on take off

I don't do much my Dr says anyway

What would having a dead man falling out in the aisle do for for their PR

SteveD(TX) · #8 05/03/12, 09:46 AM

What else would you expect from an airline that now charges $100 for a CARRY ON BAG!

http://www.cnbc.com/id/47277260

oregon woodsmok · #9 05/06/12, 08:56 PM

You get a really good bargain price on the non-refundable ticket specifically because it is non-refundable. There is no secret about that. Refundable tickets are available if someone doesn't like to gamble with the price of their airline ticket.

To tell you the truth, normal people would just sigh over the loss of $197 and go on with their lives. So this smacks to me of one of these begging for money, oh-poor-abused-me deals. Where the press is rallied and the public is asked to make donations.

And there is the press drumming up all the drama and pathos to sell their papers.

Sawmill Jim · #10 05/06/12, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oregon woodsmok

You get a really good bargain price on the non-refundable ticket specifically because it is non-refundable. There is no secret about that. Refundable tickets are available if someone doesn't like to gamble with the price of their airline ticket.

To tell you the truth, normal people would just sigh over the loss of $197 and go on with their lives. So this smacks to me of one of these begging for money, oh-poor-abused-me deals. Where the press is rallied and the public is asked to make donations.

And there is the press drumming up all the drama and pathos to sell their papers.

And this is why i don't buy green bananas as they may get ripe just in time for the casket packers to eat em

arabian knight · #11 05/06/12, 10:51 PM

You people do know that two days ago the CEO of Spirit Airlines refunded the money?

Quote:

Spirit Airlines has decided today to reverse a controversial decision it made in April and is refunding the airfare purchased by Jerry Meekins, a dying veteran who could not use his ticket.

http://overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com/_ne...g-veteran?lite

gideonprime · #12 05/07/12, 07:55 AM

Sad that it took that long AK but yeah I'd heard they finally did the right thing.

fantasymaker · #13 05/08/12, 12:31 PM

Right thing my butt. What they did was cave once more to the PC.

watcher · #14 05/08/12, 07:15 PM

So now anyone who is refused a refund on a non-refundable ticket has proof the tickets are not really non-refundable when they sue for not getting their money refunded. Can anyone here say "class action"?

sidepasser · #15 05/08/12, 09:30 PM

Glad to see that the man was refunded his ticket. I know there are rules, but there is also compassion..the man is dying and has a doctor's note that he cannot fly. Sometimes doing the right thing may not follow the rules.

fantasymaker · #16 05/12/12, 10:47 AM

Is this just a Vet thing or can anyone now get a refund on their nonreturnable ticket if they are Dying? According to the statistics I'm over the hump.......

gideonprime · #17 05/12/12, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fantasymaker

Right thing my butt. What they did was cave once more to the PC.

What they did is show compassion and respect for a man who had served his nation.

If you cannot see that . . .

Gary in ohio · #18 05/12/12, 12:00 PM

I fail to see why him being a VET has anything to do with the story.. It was really crappy corporate policy and uncaring agent, but being a vet should matter. Everyone should have been able to get a refund.

gideonprime · #19 05/12/12, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary in ohio

I fail to see why him being a VET has anything to do with the story.. It was really crappy corporate policy and uncaring agent, but being a vet should matter. Everyone should have been able to get a refund.

Agree 100%

sidepasser · #20 05/12/12, 05:41 PM

I think that if a person buys a ticket and intends to fly and finds out before they are to leave that they are dying and a doctor vouches for them, a refund should be given. I doubt that anyone would prefer death to save a couple hundred bucks. I also doubt that it happens very often to cause a major loss to the airline. Still glad the airline did the right thing, some folks fet right upset if they have to sit by a dead person.