Do you feel this is enough?

[NotUrsula]

Based on what passengers were wearing in the photos, there were a LOT of business travelers on that flight. Their companies are probably going to be very concerned about proprietary information that was on left-behind laptops and hard drives, and I can see the possibility that some of that equipment might have been worth more than $5K.

For the most part, however, $5K seems reasonable, plus a refund of the fare itself, if they did not reach their destination on a later flight.

 

[Barb D]

I can see the possibility that some of that equipment might have been worth more than $5K.

I wonder if you could provide receipts or some kind of proof of the value of what you had on the plane if you could get more than $5,000? What if someone was traveling with an expensive gown or something? Or medical equipment?

 

[rparmfamily]

The $5000 is to cover their luggage, which they can not have back until the FAA is done with it.

They got their ticket money back.

I"m sure they'll get more in time, LOL. You how that goes!

It was an act of God and thank goodness they are alive.

 

[DebbieB]

From what I heard, $5,000 was just for the luggage and any personal items.

It remains to be seen if the birds were the only cause of the accident. The same plane had an engine stall coming out of LGA 3 days earlier. They were able to restart it and kept going to CLT.

At least half had to have medical treatment. I think they should be compensated for that and any future treatment as a result. Their own health insurance will not likely cover it, it should be paid by the airline's insurance since it happened on their plane.

 

[U2_rocks!]

Let's review. A plane crashed because of a flock of geese (act of God). The pilots employed by US Airways saved all their lives by safely landing the plane in the river. They will most likely lose the clothes since they will most likely mold.

Now my guess is if someone had asked her at a party a month ago what she'd rather have with choice 1 being on a Flight with a crash that caused her possible death or injuries or 2 Surviving crash, emotionally upsetting time, and $5,000; I'd bet she'd have pick surviving no matter what the other choices included. Why can't people just be grateful they are alive?!!?? Seriously, this type of attitude disgusts me. They should all chip in and give the pilots a gift.

Absolutely! Do people realize how close they came to dying? I'd be so damn grateful for my life, I wouldn't be thinking about money! Sure, I may have lost expensive and important things, but that's not the fault of the airline. Anything particularly expensive should be insured.

What will happen now is that, in addition to claiming on their insurance for the value of the plane etc., the airline will have to add on the cost of all these cheques they are writing to the passengers. What's going to happen to their insurance premiums? These things cost the airlines dearly. Sure, they expect a certain amount of loss - it's part of their business. But when passengers expect to be reimbursed for every little thing, irline costs have to go up for all of us.

Don't get me wrong, I think it was a nice gesture to offer some compensation - I just can't believe some people actually think they should have gotten more!

 

[U2_rocks!]

I wonder if you could provide receipts or some kind of proof of the value of what you had on the plane if you could get more than $5,000? What if someone was traveling with an expensive gown or something? Or medical equipment?

But isn't it the responsibility of the passenger to insure valuable items? Whatever happened to that premise?

 

[mrsltg]

But in our modern tort system, "someone" should always be at fault - preferrably "someone" with very deep pockets.

Absolutely. When the accident happened I said to dh, "I give it one month before the first lawsuit is filed." At first he agreed, then changed his mind. He said, "No, this was on a flight leaving NY. I give it two weeks."

Before any NYers get bent out of shape, DH and I are both from NY!

 

[breezy1077]

Enough!

I'd use that $ and take the Pilot out for one heck of a Dinner!

Amen! But I'd change that to the Pilot and the Co-pilot .

It's more than enough. Call me silly, but accidents happen. I think we all take that risk when we CHOOSE to fly. Like PP said - it was not the fault of the co. - so why should the passengers get to cash in a lottery ticket just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Common sense....it's enough!

 

[daisax]

It remains to be seen if the birds were the only cause of the accident. The same plane had an engine stall coming out of LGA 3 days earlier. They were able to restart it and kept going to CLT.

This.

I wouldn't cash the check until I knew what the final official word of the cause was. Common sense. (not greed, but accountability).

 

[mefordis]

The airline wasn't trying to hurt anyone. And all's well that ends well.

Honestly, if it were me, I'd be thrilled to get $5000 out of the deal. And I'd be pissed off that they were holding my luggage. If they have the luggage, they ought to return it, for Pete's sake.

Yeah, I would be happy to get the $5000 and would want my luggage too.

 

[Stacerita]

Just because there is an accident, doesn't always mean someone was in the wrong.

 

[DebbieB]

Absolutely! Do people realize how close they came to dying? I'd be so damn grateful for my life, I wouldn't be thinking about money! Sure, I may have lost expensive and important things, but that's not the fault of the airline. Anything particularly expensive should be insured.

What will happen now is that, in addition to claiming on their insurance for the value of the plane etc., the airline will have to add on the cost of all these cheques they are writing to the passengers. What's going to happen to their insurance premiums? These things cost the airlines dearly. Sure, they expect a certain amount of loss - it's part of their business. But when passengers expect to be reimbursed for every little thing, irline costs have to go up for all of us.

Don't get me wrong, I think it was a nice gesture to offer some compensation - I just can't believe some people actually think they should have gotten more!

They have a liability policy with AIG with a limit of $1.5 billion. They will pay for this. When you buy an airline ticket, part of it goes to paying for their liability insurance. AIG is also going to pickup the cost of the plane itself, estimated at $40 million.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I have been through a few near misses. Just to name one, I worked on the 97th floor of the WTC building struck first on 9/11. 295 friends and co-workers died that fateful morning. I am alive today because of a business trip to Dallas that very morning. My flight landed just as the plane struck.

I have lived a blessed life, and so will these people now. But for the grace of God, they would be dead. My advice, take the money and live life anew. Who cares if there was negligence? The only thing that really matters is that you are all alive!

And for those out there who haven't had a near miss, don't wait for one. You too can know the true joy of life. You don't have to survive cancer or some disaster to learn to appreciate each and every day that you get...

 

[JimB.]

Barring any proven negligence or maintenance issues the had a direct factor in the crash I'd say yea, $5000 is pretty proactive & generous on the part of US Air.

Of course, I AM wondering if a condition of said payoff is a waiver of future litigation...........

 

[daisax]

Who cares if there was negligence?

The people getting on the next flight?

We just had a fire fighter die because of faulty brakes on his fire truck. After the death, the mayor ordered the entire fleet inspected... they pulled 3 more trucks off duty. Had there not been a death but a near miss, would any such inspection have happened? Not if the attitude was "who cares if there was negligence." And it would be the next set of firefighters who weren't so lucky.

Of course, I AM wondering if a condition of said payoff is a waiver of future litigation...........

Of course it is... any time an insurance company rushes to offer you money, you'd best think twice. And rest assured -- this is the airline's INSURANCE carrier driving this offer.

It may very well be that it was a total fluke with the birds. My best friend's father growing up was an engineer at GE and that was something he worked on -- throwing bird carcasses into jet engines!

But the fact that that same plane had engine trouble mere days before suggests that a closer look is warranted.

 

[SDFgirl]

Why can't people just be grateful they are alive?!!?? Seriously, this type of attitude disgusts me. They should all chip in and give the pilots a gift.

Honestly. I'd be so thrilled to be alive and grateful to the pilots, $5000 would honestly seem like too much. Our society has such a sense of entitlement these days.

Really, the geese are the ones who owe them money! Sue, sue, sue!!

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

The people getting on the next flight?...

I should have said, "If I were one of these people, I would not care about possible negligence." Besides, I think that you missed the spirit of my post...

 

[Handbag Lady]

If it were me, I'd be very happy to be alive BUT now that I am alive, I don't think that $5000 would cover my costs.

I do travel with some of my jewelry, but most of the time it is on my person, so in this case, it would come off the plane with me.

And now I'm making a mental note of this for the next time I travel and divide up my belongings much more carefully than I already do.

 

[Feralpeg]

Enough!

I'd use that $ and take the Pilot out for one heck of a Dinner!

Finally! Something we totally agree upon!

 

[Handbag Lady]

Just because there is an accident, doesn't always mean someone was in the wrong.

Or they would call it an "on purpose!"