I’m a loyal American Airlines flyer and achieved their highest level of published elite status (Executive Platinum) but after this story and some other things, I’m getting close to doing a status challenge with one of their competitors and switching airlines.
You may recall that last year, an American Airlines flight attendant made worldwide headlines after it was revealed that he was secretly recorded passengers going to the bathroom in the plane’s lavatory.
According to Boston’s WCVB: “Estes Carter Thompson III, 36, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was indicted last month in connection with an incident that happened on a Boston-bound American Airlines flight late last summer. Federal prosecutors said that on Sept. 2, 2023, Thompson video-recorded or attempted to surreptitiously video-record a 14-year-old female passenger with a cellphone as she used the aircraft lavatory while he was working as a flight attendant onboard American Airlines Flight 1441 from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Boston Logan International Airport. As a result of an investigation into that incident, prosecutors said videos of four additional girls using aircraft lavatories were found on Thompson’s iCloud account that were recorded between January 2023 and August 2023. Authorities said those four girls were 7, 9, 11 and 14 years old.”
The family of the nine-year-old girl, who was allegedly recorded on flight from Austin to Los Angeles in January 2023, filed a civil lawsuit against Thompson and American Airlines.
But a lawyer who represents American Airlines wrote in a filing that the young girl should have been aware that a device was recording her. According to court documents and The Independent, “Any injuries or illnesses alleged to have been sustained by Plaintiff, Mary Doe, were proximately caused by Plaintiff’s own fault and negligence, were proximately caused by Plaintiff’s use of the compromised lavatory, which she knew or should have known contained a visible and illuminated recording device,” the filing said
If this was my daughter, or any child for that matter, I would have snapped at the perpetrator, the lawyer and the airline, like any decent parent. It’s no surprise that the nine-year-old girl’s mother said in a statement acquired by WCVB, “instead of taking responsibility for this awful event, American Airlines is actually blaming our daughter for being filmed. How in good conscience could they even make such a suggestion? It both shocks and angers us. American Airlines has no shame.”
I agree and so does the attorney of the family, Paul Llewellyn, who said, “It is shocking. It is outrageous and, in my opinion as a lawyer, they’ve just reached a new low.”
American Airlines should have settled this out of court because they’re about to get an avalanche of negative publicity … as they deserve. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of their big corporate clients threaten to jump ship, too.
UPDATE: May 23, 2024
Well, that didn’t take long. American Airlines has walked back their position about the nine-year-old passenger. I guess American knew there was going to be a huge fallout from their lawyer’s outrageous claim.
According to Boston.com, “We do not believe this child is at fault and we take the allegations involving a former team member very seriously,” American Airlines said in a statement sent to Boston.com. “Our core mission is to care for people — and the foundation of that is the safety and security of our customers and team.”
But Paul Llewellyn, an attorney representing the 9-year-old girl and the 14-year-old girl, told Boston.com that American Airlines has never contacted either family during the year since it happened. “We put this trust and faith into the airlines and this terrible event happened,” said Llewellyn. “Instead of doing something about it, they put out a PR boilerplate with meaningless statements. Actions speak louder than words. Do something about it.”
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“I’m getting close to doing a status challenge with one of their competitors and switching airlines.”
You’re getting close? You’re getting close? Johnny, do you have any idea how lame that sounds? Sounds like you are showing “outrage” while still getting to keep your American perks. Kind of a Susan Collins “ooh, I’m really concerned” response from you if you ask me…
American’s response is about as pitiful and egregious as a company can offer. To stay with them at this point is close to tacit approval. I am really disappointed in you …
If you read the bottom of the post you would see they walked back their statement
From the last paragraph of your post …
“But Paul Llewellyn, an attorney representing the 9-year-old girl and the 14-year-old girl, told Boston.com that American Airlines has never contacted either family during the year since it happened. “We put this trust and faith into the airlines and this terrible event happened,” said Llewellyn. “Instead of doing something about it, they put out a PR boilerplate with meaningless statements. Actions speak louder than words. Do something about it.”
PR boilerplate with meaningless statements.
You do what you need to do, Johnny. I for one will NEVER fly on that horrible airline.
I agree with the PR boilerplate but UA and DL aren’t much better.