Family sues American Airlines after 4-year-old is bumped from flight plunging ‘once in a lifetime’ Disney trip into chaos
Toddler accidentally bumped into something American Airlines Flight on the way to a “once-in-a-lifetime” trip Disney World Her deaf mother and military veteran father claim that a ticket agent lied to them about the flight being oversold.
The boy’s father, Coby Stewart, was promised a $1,200 voucher and guaranteed to meet his family again later that day. Dallas Fort Worth International AirportWhile she raced to an airport in another state to try and catch an alternative flight with her 4-year-old son, Archer, she was unable to get the refund after the agent called her and told her the offer was no longer valid because the original flight was not sold out, according to a case reviewed by . Independent.
Lawyer Chris Ieyoub explained Independent He said Stewart did not actually reunite with the others in Dallas, but that he and Archer finally arrived at the Disney resort that night, exhausted, long after the others. Ieyoub said it was “risking life and limb” to rush to another airport in the next state to catch Stewart and Archer’s new flight.
reportedly American The airline that unintentionally skewed the largest number The number of ticketed passengers is quite high, but complaints about the practice are common for all carriers. Air Canada made headlines in 2017 Dropping a 10-year-old boy from a plane Their parents then had to go to two more airports and spend an extra $850 to reach their destination.
That same year, a Chicago pulmonologist refused to be kicked off a United Airlines flight to Louisville to make room for a confused employee. He was forcibly dragged from the plane by the policeHe suffered a concussion, a broken nose and two knocked out teeth.
American Airlines faces legal action after family trip ruined by an overbooked flight (Getty Images)
Bumper passengers who are delayed one to two hours have rights. Compensation equal to twice the one-way price The flight they crashed had a ceiling of $1,075, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Passengers bumped into delays of more than two hours will be able to benefit from four times the one-way price of their original ticket, with a cap of $2,150.
American Airlines did not respond to requests for comment.
On January 2, 2025, residents of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, Coby and Emily Stewart paid $5,187.58 for six roundtrip tickets for themselves and their four children, ages 4 to 11, on the American Eagle shuttle from Lake Charles Regional Airport to Orlando, Florida. complaintThe lawsuit, which was first filed in state court on February 27, was transferred to federal court on March 10.
They were embarking on a “once-in-a-lifetime journey” DisneyThey reserve a “preferred seat” for everyone, the complaint states.
The Stewarts arrived at the airport about two hours in advance and checked in immediately, the complaint continues. It is stated that Coby introduced himself to the ticket agent as a former US military officer and that his wife was deaf and served as his sign language interpreter.
That’s when the agent told the couple that the flight was “oversold” and that one person in their group had to be bumped – even though the family had arrived much earlier than many other passengers on the same flight, the complaint continues.
Coby and Emily “reiterated to the ticket agent that the family could not leave for some reason. [Emily’s] her disability and her inability to care for four minor children… [her husband]” he complains.
Coby Stewart was given a ‘guarantee’ by his American Airlines ticket agent that he would be able to meet his family again at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, but that never happened, according to a lawsuit (Getty Images)
Still, the ticket agent doubled down and “refused to accommodate” the family, according to the complaint.
“In fact, as the boarding process began and all claimants had been checked in and screened through the TSA, the American Airlines ticket agent advised Coby and Emily Stewart to: [the carrier] He was preparing to remove four-year-old Archer Stewart from the flight,” the complaint continues.
Left with no other option, Coby left Emily with the other children and headed with Archer to Jack Brooks Regional Airport in Beaumont, Texas, more than 90 minutes away, to catch another flight. The American ticket agent at the Lake Charles airport told Coby he would receive a $1,200 voucher for his trouble and was “guaranteed to connect with his family at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport,” the complaint said.
The complaint alleged that as the two raced to Beaumont, Coby received a call from the ticket agent, who said the original flight was overbooked and canceled his $1,200 voucher.
“However, upon learning of Emily Stewart’s special needs, the American Airlines ticket agent notified the Stewart family that they were the only passengers in the lottery who would be excluded from the full flight,” according to the complaint.
The Stewarts are currently seeking damages for intentional infliction of emotional distress, fear and anxiety, as well as court costs and interest.
Last week, American Airlines requested 21 more days to formally respond to the allegations, saying the carrier had “recently retained counsel” and needed “additional time to conduct the investigation.”
