Seventy seven year old Ida Billing of St. Louis, MO was escorted off her United flight Sunday afternoon by Federal Air Marshalls. United Airlines employees reported Ms. Billings as “combative and unruly” when she was asked by a flight attendant to return to her ticketed seat.
“I don't know what happened,” Billings told a reporter . “I was in my seat listening to Frank Sinatra. I was wearing headphones so I wouldn't disturb the other passengers, and this stewardess came up to me, pointed to my tray table and asked me if I wanted a treat. I haven't been in an airplane in a while, but I have enough sense not to eat the food. I shook my head no. The stewardess looked kind of upset but I said I was fine. Then a man came over, showed me a badge and asked to see my ticket. I showed him I was in 34E and my armrest said 34E. The man got all fired up and tried to tell me I was in 34F, but I know an E when I see one, and I swear I saw one line with three lines attached! The next thing I know they were taking me off the plane!”
Billings admits she had taken out her hearing aid to wear the headphones, and although she had brought her glasses with her, she had put them in a bag with her reading material. “I was planning to read the last Harry Potter book on the plane but they said it was too big for their carry on policy and made me check it at the gate for $25,” Billings said.
A spokesman for United insisted that Ms Billings was clearly trying to upgrade her seat for free. Although seat 34F is right next to seat 34E and was unoccupied, 34F has 2.75” more legroom, and thus considered a “Deluxe Economy Space Upgrade” with an additional $35 fee.
Billings, who was returning from visiting her grandson, a US Marine being deployed to Syria, was taken off her flight in Houston, and United says they are looking into flights to get her back to St. Louis by Thursday. A spokesman for United was firm in speaking about the incident, “People can't just sit wherever they want! The next thing they'll want Is to sit In the cockpit! Or free meals! And we are certainly not about to let that happen!”
