Story Archive

Gate Bully (er, Agent)

Navang Oza, 37, was checking in for his United Airlines flight home from New Orleans, La., to San Francisco, Calif., when he says the airline agent said it would cost $300 to check a bag that had cost him $125 on the flight out. “In trying to get an answer, the lady was being rude,” Oza said, so, he started recording the conversation with his cell phone. “You did not have my permission to videotape,” the agent says on the resulting video. Then, she said to another agent, “Cancel the reservation.” About a minute later, the agent pulled out her own phone and started recording too, and then called airport police. Oza was still recording when they arrived. “Can I at least keep this recording?” Oza asked. “Sir, you have the right to do whatever you want; it’s a public space,” the officer replied. The agent didn’t agree. “Until that [clip] is erased, you’re not traveling,” she said. Oza posted the video on social media — and bought a one-way ticket home on another airline. He wants United to pay for that trip and cancel all his future reservations without penalty. The airline is investigating the incident. (MS/KNTV San Jose) ...Hope nobody erased the videos.