[LJEsposito]

Philadelphia Airport – US Airways Terminal B Departures – June 21, 2009 5:30 PM
My wife's company paid premium rates a month in advance and she arrived at the airport 2 hours ahead of her departure but was told the flight (1144) was overbooked by 25 people and that she was being bumped. They gave her a $450 dollar voucher and booked what they claimed was the next available flight late in the afternoon the following day. I tracked down what appeared to be the only manager on duty, John Carasquaro (C) who had a line waiting to see him. A gentleman who I later found out to be from Homeland Security jumped in front of everyone in line. I asked him what he thought he was doing and Mr. C said it was company business. He spent 15 minutes researching the gentleman’s problem while the frustrated customer in front of us waited crying to catch her flight to LAX. She was directed to the line because she was unable to check in using the automated kiosk and the attendant told her that she had to speak with the manager. She befriended us and we agreed to get her luggage to her mother if she could catch her flight (729) leaving in 30 minutes since it was too late to check it. But by the time she finally got through to the manager, he told her that it was now 20 minutes before takeoff and that no one else could check in. He said there was absolutely nothing that he could do even though I told him my wife had recently checked in minutes before a flight. The best that he offered to do for this woman was to book her a flight late in the afternoon the following day. The woman left crying. I took her phone number and will investigate if legal action is an option for her and if Mr. C was negligent in his duties.
When we finally got to Mr. C I asked if there were any flights from any airlines from any neighboring airports that could get my wife to any neighboring airports to San Diego (including LA) before the following day. She was representing her company at a very important conference and missing half the conference wouldn’t even be worth the trip. He checked and said there were none, claiming he’s not authorized to check neighboring departing airports where I was willing to drive her, nor airlines like Southwest that aren’t partnered with US Air. He added that he was acting well within FAA regulations that are spelled out on my wife’s ticket envelope which I couldn’t locate. He further defended the actions with lengthy discussions on how individuals try to rip off the airlines, as if I cared. He claimed that we could avoid this in the future by going to the US Air Website and reserving our seat before coming to the airport as if the $900 paid a month in advance meant absolutely nothing. I would like to review the FAA regulations because I consider it an egregious offense for a manager to defend his airline’s sub-ethical practices by misquoting some FAA regulations.
When we went to baggage claim to find out who we should call to get my wife’s luggage, which went without her on her flight to San Diego, directed to our home in the event that her travel plans our canceled by her company, they said that we would have to make a special trip back to the airport to fill out a claim since such claims could not be processed over the phone.
As mentioned I would like to know where I could find a copy of the FAA regulations that have jurisdictions over these practices. I intend to pursue this every way possible until resolved
Thank you
Larry Esposito