Per FN: Facebook users heap baggage on Spirit Airlines after dying vet refused refund

[pjfootballer]

if the guy was a veteran, and saw combat time (I know you can't really confirm this), an exception should be made.

My dad was a vietnam vet, but I think we go overboard with the military thing since 9/11. His time in the military has nothing to do with their policy. I'm not on the side of the airline, nor am I on his side at this point, but I don't think serving in the military should give you advantages over anyone else.

[techboy]

“That’s an irrelevant statistic,” Baldanza said when told his airline generates gripes at two-and-a-half times the rate of the next most complained about carrier.

And this is exactly it. Spirit's not an airline you fly because you like it, so who cares if people hate them more after this story? It's the airline you fly for rock bottom prices. I suspect they think the publicity helps make more of the "price over enjoyment/like" consumers aware of the product.

[renaissance]

Don't see a problem with the airline's choice. People have to cancel flights for a variety of reasons. If Spirit is going to make an exception for this guy, then where are they supposed to stop? Do they make exceptions for all veterans? Do they make exceptions for anyone who's ever done something honorable in their life? Do they make exceptions for anyone who creates some publicity?

You know the risk of these things going in and we shouldn't expect that everyone should make exceptions anytime there is public outcry over an issue.

[Duckus]

Except if you do it for one, you have to do it for everyone else.

Policies are policies. Sometimes it sucks, but that's just life.

No you don't. You can make exceptions to policies. Companies do it all the time. It would have cost them less to pay $189 than to deal with the PR fallout of not doing it.

I don't think the dying vet deservers the refund. But simple PR can tell you that it is the smart thing to do.

[twa]

You really think it will effect their bottom line?

probably did him a favor with all the publicity

[MLSKINS]

I hate that I am saying this, but I agree with the airline. It kind of sucks though, and they should have just gave him the money back. However, they have those rules in place for a reason and it sucks that they have to enforce them like this.

[AsburySkinsFan]

My dad was a vietnam vet, but I think we go overboard with the military thing since 9/11. His time in the military has nothing to do with their policy. I'm not on the side of the airline, nor am I on his side at this point, but I don't think serving in the military should give you advantages over anyone else.

As a vet myself I agree, which is why him being a vet is for me not the issue, the issue is that he found out that his doctor didn't want him to fly and he has terminal cancer, give the guy his $190 back.

---------- Post added May-4th-2012 at 03:21 PM ----------

Don't see a problem with the airline's choice. People have to cancel flights for a variety of reasons. If Spirit is going to make an exception for this guy, then where are they supposed to stop? Do they make exceptions for all veterans? Do they make exceptions for anyone who's ever done something honorable in their life? Do they make exceptions for anyone who creates some publicity?

Slippery slope is a logical fallacy.

[renaissance]

Slippery slope is a logical fallacy.

When you're expecting the airline to make a judgement as to whether someone's character or personal situation warrants an exception to the company's policy, I don't see a problem with the argument.

[AsburySkinsFan]

When you're expecting the airline to make a judgement as to whether someone's character or personal situation warrants an exception to the company's policy, I don't see a problem with the argument.

What makes the slippery slope argument fallacious is that it suggests that there is no stop once you start making exceptions, but the reality is that an exception can indeed be made without a company or institution descending into policy-less-ness. This is why they are called....exceptions.

[renaissance]

What makes the slippery slope argument fallacious is that it suggests that there is no stop once you start making exceptions, but the reality is that an exception can indeed be made without a company or institution descending into policy-less-ness. This is why they are called....exceptions.

I understand what you're saying. But if they make an exception for this guy bc he's dying military vet, then that implies that dying military vets deserve the same exception. You create a policy exactly for the reason of not having to make these kinds of judgments. If I'm a private company, I have no interest in putting myself in the position of judging each person's worthiness of receiving a refund.

[twa]

you don't buy refundable fare
you don't buy trip ins

it's the companies fault

I would refund his money,but I ain't a good businessman....Ren is right on it creating a sense of entitlement

[renaissance]

you don't buy refundable fare
you don't buy trip ins

it's the companies fault

I would refund his money,but I ain't a good businessman....Ren is right on it creating a sense of entitlement

And if I'm a Spirit customer who couldn't make my flight at some point and didn't receive a refund, how does it make me feel if you are going to refund this guy and not me?

[AsburySkinsFan]

I understand what you're saying. But if they make an exception for this guy bc he's dying military vet, then that implies that dying military vets deserve the same exception. You create a policy exactly for the reason of not having to make these kinds of judgments. If I'm a private company, I have no interest in putting myself in the position of judging each person's worthiness of receiving a refund.

And so you write a piece of paper that makes it easy for you to look past a person's worthiness, because doing so is hard and messy, but hey at the end of the day you as a company have another $190 in the bank.
The minute that business stops looking at their customers as people is the minute they lose their soul.

---------- Post added May-4th-2012 at 04:06 PM ----------

you don't buy refundable fare
you don't buy trip ins

it's the companies fault

I would refund his money,but I ain't a good businessman....Ren is right on it creating a sense of entitlement

Oh please, has anyone said that the company is at fault because they followed their policy? I don't think so, I think what I've read thus far is that people are saying that the airline has created a heartless policy that lacks compassion, and that is the fault.
As for it creating a sense of entitlement........please, I know the Right is all about the sense of entitlement right now, but asking for a refund and receiving one does not create a sense of entitlement.

---------- Post added May-4th-2012 at 04:07 PM ----------

And if I'm a Spirit customer who couldn't make my flight at some point and didn't receive a refund, how does it make me feel if you are going to refund this guy and not me?

How would you know?

[pjfootballer]

Those $190s build up if you keep letting exeptions. I'm telling you, it would be hard for me to make that decision. I can see both sides of it, that's why I'm not siding on one or the other. But in order to stay in business, you have to make money. I think at this point, Spirit cannot refund the money, because if they do, then others may come back and say, "you made an exception for him, why not me." If they had have refunded it without any fanfare or anyone knowing about it, that wouldn't be a problem.

[ABQCOWBOY]

Think I have to agree with the airline on this one.

The executive at Spirit who made this decision should be fired. This is going to cost this company more money over a stupid $200.00 then can be imagined. This was a stupid move in so many ways. Can't believe they did this.

---------- Post added May-4th-2012 at 02:26 PM ----------

Except if you do it for one, you have to do it for everyone else.

Policies are policies. Sometimes it sucks, but that's just life.

How many terminally ill vets do you think they might get asking for refunds? I'd have to think that number would be pretty small.