Woman kicked off flight, jailed for changing seats on United flight
A woman has filed a $5 million lawsuit against United Airlines claiming she was thrown off a plane and jailed for three days for attempting to change seats.
Jean Mamakos, 68, of Huntington, Long Island, said she moved to an empty exit-row seat during a layover in Seattle but was told by a flight attendant she would have to pay for an upgrade.
"At that point, I decided no, I’m not paying $109 and went back to my seat," Mamakos told CBS New York.
After returning to her original seat she heard the captain announce: "There is a lady that wants to get off the plane on this flight, so we have to wait."
"I didn’t know that was me," Mamakos added.
After refusing to leave the aircraft, Seattle police were called and she was taken off the plane in handcuffs.
She spent three days in a Washington county jail and missed her Alaska ski trip.
Mamakos admitted she resisted arrest and claims United flight attendants overreacted.
Her attorney Patricia Swicicki, said Mamakos spent so long in jail as no court was open over the weekend.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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