U.S. Airways is real sorry about that plane crash in the Hudson River, and since they know the surviving passengers are probably eager to board an airplane again, they've given them a whole year of free upgrades! But some among the lucky 150 say that's not good enough, and they should be able to fly first class on U.S. Airways for the duration of their lives.
The airline did send out $5,000 checks for lost luggage and other expenses, and the company said passengers will be able to make claims for more expenses in the future. And the first-class "Chairman's Preferred status" membership gives each passenger and a companion first-class domestic travel when seats are available, an upgrade to Europe or Hawaii, and priority check-in. But the VIP treatment ends in March 2010, and as the wife of one survivor points out, "My husband is not going to want to get on a plane for at least a year."
The Post sought out yesterday's U.S. Airways passengers for their opinions. Antonio Sales, a 20-year-old traveling with the University of South Carolina's track team, assessed, "That's more of an 'OK, you're not dead, I'll give you something to hold on to.' It's not enough at all. You're going to crash me into the water, and you're going to tell me all I get is an upgrade?" Not even a bag of peanuts.
Some Flight 1549 survivors have already contacted lawyers, while other passengers like Barry Leonard, of Charlotte, dissent, telling the Post, "US Airways has bent over backwards to help everyone on the flight." Speaking of Flight 1549, here's the game.
