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Couple on way to wedding kicked off United flight

by Rebecca Savransky - 04/17/17 8:02 AM ET

A couple who boarded a United Airlines flight to go to their wedding was reportedly kicked off their plane this weekend, sparking more criticism of the airline on social media.

The couple, Michael Hohl and Amber Maxwell, were the last people to get on the flight going from Houston to Liberia, Costa Rica, Hohl told KHOU in Houston.

Hohl said he and Maxwell originally sat in seats they weren’t assigned to in row 21 after seeing a man spread across their row, 24, napping.

“We thought not a big deal, it’s not like we are trying to jump up into a first-class seat,” said Hohl. “We were simply in an economy row a few rows above our economy seat.”

United considers Row 21 “economy plus” as an upgrade on that plane, however.

{mosads}A flight attendant then asked Hohl and Maxwell if they were in the right seats. The couple was asked to return to their original seats after first requesting an upgrade.

Hohl said the couple complied with the requests of the flight attendant, but a U.S. marshal then came on the plane and requested the couple leave.

“They said that we were being disorderly and a hazard to the rest of the flight, to the safety of the other customers,” Hohl said.

In a statement Saturday, United Airlines said it is “disappointed” when a customer “has an experience that doesn’t measure up to their expectations.”

“These passengers repeatedly attempted to sit in upgraded seating which they did not purchase and they would not follow crew instructions to return to their assigned seats,” the statement said.

“We’ve been in touch with them and have rebooked them on flights tomorrow.”

Hohl called the way the airline handled the situation “absurd.”

Earlier this month, a passenger was violently dragged off a United Airlines flight, sparking nationwide outrage and calls for congressional hearings.

The passenger, David Dao, boarded the flight and took his seat before the crew announced four seats were needed to accommodate airline personnel. Passengers were selected at random to be bumped from the flight when there were no volunteers.

The man refused to give up his seat, so United brought aviation authorities on board to assist in removing him.

Video surfaced following the incident of Dao being forcibly removed from his seat and dragged down the aisle.