If you’re a longtime JohnnyJet.com subscriber to my newsletter, then you know I’m frequently warning travelers not to fly low-fare carriers or buy Basic Economy on legacy carriers unless you read the fine print. Many make their money by charging enticing super-low fares, only to make it back on baggage and other ancillary fees, including carry-on bags. Some charge $99 just to use the overhead bin.
Even Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines, has argued that the model of ultra-low-cost carriers like Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines is “dead” and unsustainable because it relies on “tricking” customers with low base fares before hitting them with added fees.
A recent incident at Miami International Airport is now putting those policies under an even brighter spotlight.
According to a report from NBC6 South Florida, three women were arrested Sunday after allegedly refusing to pay for an extra carry-on bag and then refusing to leave a plane.
Authorities identified the women as Nafisa Dockery, 30, Dionjana Cochran, 21, and Davana Cochran, 26. All three were charged with trespassing after warning and resisting an officer without violence, according to arrest reports.
The incident began as the women were preparing to board a Frontier flight to Philadelphia. A gate agent reportedly noticed that although they had paid for one carry-on bag, they were traveling with two. They were asked to step aside and pay for the additional bag, which led to a verbal dispute.
According to the report, Dockery told the others to ignore the employee and the group proceeded past a restricted door and onto the aircraft. At that point, a Frontier manager requested law enforcement assistance and had their boarding privileges revoked.
Deputies boarded the aircraft and informed the women that their tickets had been canceled and that they needed to exit. Officials said they were given multiple warnings but refused to comply. The situation escalated to the point where deputies cleared the plane of other passengers before taking further action.
When unruly passengers refuse to deplane the captain then has all passengers get off which then lead to the women eventually leaving, but they decided to get physical and then resist arrest. This never ends well and didn’t for these three as they were transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Bottomline: Always read the fine print to know exactly what your fare includes. And if the gate agent, flight attendant or captain asks you to deplane, get off otherwise your ticket is going to cost you a lot more money.
