Hudson Crash Survivors Angered By US Airways' Treatment (SLIDESHOW, VIDEO)

It's been a little more than two weeks since miracle on the Hudson River and the survivors are starting to complain about how US Airways is treating them. The NY Post has an exclusive report from the passengers:

We crash-landed in the Hudson River - but all we got were these lousy upgrades!

US Airways sent a raft of "frigid" letters to the 150 passengers of miracle Flight 1549 (above) saying their death-defying ordeal has earned them top customer status - but for just one year, The Post has learned.

Some who were on the plane - brought down by a flock of geese after takeoff from La Guardia Airport on Jan. 15 - said the temporary tease of first-class perks is for the birds.

Check out HuffPost's one stop entry on the US Airways plane crash:

See a slideshow of crash photos:

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Chesley Sullenberger, known as "Sully," the pilot of the US Airways plane that crashed into the Hudson River is being hailed as a hero for successfully landing the plane without any major injuries or fatalities.

And watch a surveillance video of the crash:

Watch CBS Videos Online

Comments

[CASwisher]

Better than any monetary reward is being alive, what a horrible inconvenience!

[dansup]

typical ingrates

[rklatch]

Gross, just plain gross.

[chasmader]

Pan-Am used to give you a lifetime pass if you were a crash survivor.

[6925thCobras]

If these people are so interested in monitary rewards after practically losing their lives, why don't they do like everybody else in this country? Write a book. Sarah Palin, the lady with the 8 children, people that get stuck in snow storms, every Tim, Dick and Harry is writing a book. When do we have time to read all of them?

[alohaz]

I agree with nearly all the sentiment expressed here. I'm embarassed.

[TchoupitoulasCanal]

I would much rather have the "you're alive and not swimming with the fishes" upgrade.

[LloydG]

Like the song says: "Just be thankful for what you got". Sadly, we Americans have been so blinded by the media's constant bombardments of big payouts (weekend movie takes, A-Rod's contract, Wall Street bonuses, etc.) that everyone is out for the big, easy payoff. In this moment of crisis upon crisis we find ourselves in 9 years into the 21st century, it's surprising that the executives at US Air did not seize this moment to promote their airline's benevolent side by making a large donation to St. Judes Children's Hospital in lieu of the many millions (and I mean many, but less than the billions in bailouts) that would have been spent on lawsuits dragging on for years, the flying in of relatives of the dead, their lodging, etc., etc. had this not turned out the way it did thanks to the superb skills and level-headedness of Sully and his crew. It's painful to see how disconnected business "managers" are from the human beings that are workers, consumers and in this case, survivors. We have all gotten so used to clearing the way for some rich man to collect his money, that we have even abandoned our rights to dignity, respect and fair treatment. It's too bad we are going to have to learn things the hard way. What have we learned as Humans on this planet in these 21 centuries? We must all remember that the "bottom line" of LIFE is PEOPLE, people!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!

[carlgt1]

It was nice seeing the entire crew including Capt Sully at the Super Bowl. I suppose the passengers will now complain they didn't get free trips to the Super Bowl etc!

[AnotherTry]

A typical American story.

[ellawensmom]

If this had been due to improper maintenance or something, I would understand, but the airline had nothing to do with this. This was geese. Either be grateful that you are still alive and getting upgrades, or sue the da** geese. Greedy people irritate me.

[AmbivalentGuy]

I agree, screw this
"I was in this horrible accident and all I got was this lousy tee shirt"
mentality. What about your life?

These people were amazingly lucky - that's not enough for them?

[BenNC]

Geese are ingested every day. Geese, like turbulence, are a predictable ingredient of the atmosphere. Airplanes are designed to fly in both geese and turbulence. The engines may fail, but engines are optional; many excellent planes are built with no engines at all. And many people choose to fly them every day.

This plane could have glided back to the airport and landed on wheels. These passengers have a right to be upset, and I predict they will sue.

[devildidit]

COME ON PEOPLE. Be tankful you are alive and except what the airline is willing to give you. Tell your lawyers to take a hike and be thankful you had an pilot who know what he was doing and not in the bar a few hours prior to take off having cocktails. There was no negligence here. BE TANKFUL FOR CHRIST SAKE.

[justobserve]

Someone thought the plane hit the birds was the airline's fault! Your lives saved are much, much better than anything on earht! Be thankful.

[fredjernig]

What about the birds? Shouldn't we do something for the birds? Elite status won't do for geese, why not free food for a year? Better, why not make the survivors who are unhappy work to care for injured birds for a year? Shouldn't they donate their airline perks to make a wish too? Since their wish (I wish I could survive this) came true.

[rf-hawaii]

Dump the fools back in the river!