Purported airline ordered to stop selling tickets

DeltaFlot · 06-11-2003, 02:33 PM

Purported airline ordered to stop selling tickets
Tuesday, June 10, 2003 Posted: 11:38 AM EDT (1538 GMT)
HONOLULU, Hawaii (AP) -- A company claiming to be an airline was ordered Monday not to sell any more bargain-priced tickets between Honolulu, Hawaii and Los Angeles, California.

The state obtained a temporary restraining order against Mainline Airways LLC after an investigation found the company had not filed an application with the Federal Aviation Administration to operate a charter airline and doesn't have any planes, officials said Monday.

"It takes more than a Web site to start an airline," said Mark Recktenwald, director of the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. "From the evidence gathered thus far it does not appear that Mainline has much more than that."

Mainline Airways has been offering fares as low as $89, plus $30 in taxes and fees, for one-way flights between Honolulu and Los Angeles starting July 3 -- about half the lowest fares offered by established airlines.

The Web site was still operating on Monday, with a reservations section inviting passengers to purchase nonrefundable tickets by credit card.

Luke Thompson, named in the court order and identified on a company letterhead as Mainline's chief executive, responded to a request for an interview by fax on Monday. The fax said he wasn't aware of the court order and had not been notified.

"Until I see the order, I must assume that this is hype being perpetuated by competition," he wrote.

Thompson offered no background on himself or independent verification that his company exists as an airline. He did not immediately return calls to a number on the letterhead.

In the fax, he said the company had no planes because it planned to subcontract the flights.

Stephen Levins, spokesman for the state Office of Consumer Protection, said the state has tried to notify Thompson, but he was unaware whether he had received the actual order.

Thompson, in the fax, said his company's plans to file necessary papers with the Department of Transportation have been hampered by other companies.

But the company has violated an FAA regulation prohibiting anyone from advertising or offering flights without the proper authorization from the FAA, said Tweet Coleman, a spokesman for the agency.

It was unclear how many people had used the site.

David Hingtgen · 06-11-2003, 03:19 PM

I checked their site a while ago--they were advertising MD-11's! So of course cheap domestic MD-11 flights got me interested. But the lack of a phone number, plus a lot of typos/errors got me worried. Checked some more, and saw pretty much what you posted----no evidence they actually exist. Also--there's almost no "unaccounted for" MD-11's. If one becomes available, FedEx or UPS buys it. The only one I know of that could be used, is the ex-Mandarin one. And people would have noticed it being moved/flown somewhere, due to its very distince paint.

TL925 · 06-11-2003, 07:34 PM

They started advertising they'd be using 757-300's...then finally their last aircraft of choice was to be a 707!! Heck, I'd pay $100 to be able to fly a commercial 707 flight in 2003 without being in Africa!!

richie154 · 06-11-2003, 07:43 PM

i heard this Mainline Airways was going to start using L-1011s from LAX-HNL, but i heard they later changed their minds and said they were using DC-10s...odd indeed.

Chansen · 06-12-2003, 09:46 AM

Questions Surround Airline Offering Service To Hawaii

Airline's Web Site Says Service To Start July 3

POSTED: 9:15 a.m. HST June 6, 2003

HONOLULU -- A new airline advertising low Internet fares from Hawaii to the West Coast may not be an airline after all, KITV 4 News learned.

According to its Web site, Mainline Airways is starting service between Los Angeles and Honolulu on July 3. If you go to the Web site you can book a trip and pay with a credit card, but the Federal Aviation Administration said buyer beware.

Video

VIDEO REPORT The Mainline Airways Web site looks legitimate. It lists one-way fares as low as $89 to and from Hawaii. The company even has a working customer service line.

However, FAA spokeswoman Tweet Coleman said Mainline Airways in not an airline. She suggests passengers should stick with established carriers.

KITV 4 News called Mainline to try and get some answers. A customer service representative assured reporter Caroline Sluyter that service will start on July 3, but said Mainline will use charter flights and will not operate its own airline.

"You deal with Mainline Airways throughout your deal with us, your transaction in a sense. You make a reservation with us everything is done with Mainline Airways even the plane says Mainline Airways, but then only the aircraft, the physical aircraft is owned by someone else," said Mike Gomes of Mainline Airways.

Although service is supposed to start in less than a month, the Hawaii Department of Transportation said Mainline has not rented space at Honolulu International Airport, or filled out required applications.

"Mainline pretty much only exists as a website right now," DOT spokesman Scott Ishikawa said.

The DOT said its only communication from Mainline has been through e-mail. The last one coming Wednesday, saying it will be chartering a 757-300, but the Mainline customer service representative told KITV it will be flying a 707.

The FAA said the Inspector General's office is investigating Mainline. Locally the Office of Consumer Protection is doing it's own investigation after receiving a few complaints.

Copyright 2003 by TheHawaiiChannel.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

ZX1100F1 · 06-12-2003, 06:37 PM

It appears that "Luke Thompson" is actually an 18 year old college kid that set up the scam.

David H,
Don't forget about World Airways and their (5) passenger MD-11's.

"Student Allegedly Sets Up Bogus Online Airline

POSTED: 3:35 p.m. EDT June 12, 2003

BOSTON -- A company calling itself Mainline Airways that was offering cut-rate flights never existed. In fact, its chief executive, Luke Thompson, was really an 18-year-old freshman at Babson College in Wellesley, Mass.

Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly said his office obtained a temporary restraining order against Thompson and ordered him to refund all tickets purchased over the Internet.

Mainline Airways was offering flights between Honolulu and Los Angeles for as low as $89. But the attorney general said the airline had no planes, no crews and no permits to fly.

Thompson, a Yardley, Pa., resident, set up a Web site that included Hawaiian music, flight schedules and a description of the airline's "fleet" of jets.

Reilly said it's a reminder that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Babson College said it is assisting the state in its investigation."

flick70 · 06-13-2003, 03:20 AM

College student accused of creating fake airline
Friday, June 13, 2003 Posted: 1:33 AM EDT (0533 GMT)

The Web site offered fares as low as $89 one way between California and Hawaii.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Story Tools

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BOSTON, Massachusetts (AP) -- A college freshman created a fake airline that offered bargain-priced tickets on flights between Honolulu and Los Angeles, authorities said Thursday.

Luke Thompson, of Yardley, Pennsylvania, incorporated Mainline Airways in Pennsylvania, established a business address in the Boston suburb of Wellesley and set up an elaborate Web site, according to Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas Reilly.

Thompson, who attends Babson College in Wellesley, offered fares as low as $89 one way between Los Angeles and Honolulu, Reilly said. Flights were to begin July 3, but Mainline had neither planes, crews nor the required permits and approvals as recently as a few weeks ago.

Thompson told The Associated Press that the allegations were "absolutely untrue," but he did acknowledge that he was the only person behind the company, other than a consultant and an investor he did not identify.

"We had every intention of doing this operation," he said. "We had 15 airlines we had contacted or were in serious negotiations with, regarding the actual providing of the (air) service."

He offered no details on which airlines were involved.

Babson College student Luke Thompson
Thompson's Web site, which has been taken down, described the company's "fleet," outlined various policies and answered travelers' questions.

Reilly won a temporary restraining order Wednesday that keeps Thompson from using any Mainline bank accounts for anything other than providing refunds. A judge in Hawaii last week ordered ticket sales halted.

Thompson faxed letters earlier this week to Hawaii officials, promising refunds by the end of the week to 120 "pre-reservations" and maintaining that Mainline Airways was "only to be the tour operator."

06-11-2003, 02:33 PM	#1
DeltaFlot The Patriot Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Laurel, MD Age: 36 Posts: 3,228	Purported airline ordered to stop selling tickets Purported airline ordered to stop selling tickets Tuesday, June 10, 2003 Posted: 11:38 AM EDT (1538 GMT) HONOLULU, Hawaii (AP) -- A company claiming to be an airline was ordered Monday not to sell any more bargain-priced tickets between Honolulu, Hawaii and Los Angeles, California. The state obtained a temporary restraining order against Mainline Airways LLC after an investigation found the company had not filed an application with the Federal Aviation Administration to operate a charter airline and doesn't have any planes, officials said Monday. "It takes more than a Web site to start an airline," said Mark Recktenwald, director of the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. "From the evidence gathered thus far it does not appear that Mainline has much more than that." Mainline Airways has been offering fares as low as $89, plus $30 in taxes and fees, for one-way flights between Honolulu and Los Angeles starting July 3 -- about half the lowest fares offered by established airlines. The Web site was still operating on Monday, with a reservations section inviting passengers to purchase nonrefundable tickets by credit card. Luke Thompson, named in the court order and identified on a company letterhead as Mainline's chief executive, responded to a request for an interview by fax on Monday. The fax said he wasn't aware of the court order and had not been notified. "Until I see the order, I must assume that this is hype being perpetuated by competition," he wrote. Thompson offered no background on himself or independent verification that his company exists as an airline. He did not immediately return calls to a number on the letterhead. In the fax, he said the company had no planes because it planned to subcontract the flights. Stephen Levins, spokesman for the state Office of Consumer Protection, said the state has tried to notify Thompson, but he was unaware whether he had received the actual order. Thompson, in the fax, said his company's plans to file necessary papers with the Department of Transportation have been hampered by other companies. But the company has violated an FAA regulation prohibiting anyone from advertising or offering flights without the proper authorization from the FAA, said Tweet Coleman, a spokesman for the agency. It was unclear how many people had used the site. __________________ Febuary 15, 1898 December 7, 1941 June 8, 1967 September 11, 2001 Never Forget, Never Forgive If you kick the Tiger in the arse, you better be able to deal with the Tiger's teeth.

06-11-2003, 03:19 PM	#2
David Hingtgen Complete Wacko! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Iowa Posts: 4,055	I checked their site a while ago--they were advertising MD-11's! So of course cheap domestic MD-11 flights got me interested. But the lack of a phone number, plus a lot of typos/errors got me worried. Checked some more, and saw pretty much what you posted----no evidence they actually exist. Also--there's almost no "unaccounted for" MD-11's. If one becomes available, FedEx or UPS buys it. The only one I know of that could be used, is the ex-Mandarin one. And people would have noticed it being moved/flown somewhere, due to its very distince paint. __________________ *We need more TWA twin-stripes!*

06-11-2003, 07:43 PM	#4
richie154 Retired Hookah Master Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Valley of Heart's Delight Age: 24 Posts: 3,719	i heard this Mainline Airways was going to start using L-1011s from LAX-HNL, but i heard they later changed their minds and said they were using DC-10s...odd indeed. __________________ The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. An evil soul producing holy witness is like a villian with a smiling cheek, a goodly apple rotten at the heart. Oh, what a goodly outside falsehood hath! Private Pilot: 10/20/2005 Private Multi Engine: 05/09/2008 The more things change, the more Mesa still sucks.

06-12-2003, 09:46 AM	#5
Chansen Complete Wacko! Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 3,041	Here is another report on that Airline. Questions Surround Airline Offering Service To Hawaii Airline's Web Site Says Service To Start July 3 POSTED: 9:15 a.m. HST June 6, 2003 HONOLULU -- A new airline advertising low Internet fares from Hawaii to the West Coast may not be an airline after all, KITV 4 News learned. According to its Web site, Mainline Airways is starting service between Los Angeles and Honolulu on July 3. If you go to the Web site you can book a trip and pay with a credit card, but the Federal Aviation Administration said buyer beware. Video VIDEO REPORT The Mainline Airways Web site looks legitimate. It lists one-way fares as low as $89 to and from Hawaii. The company even has a working customer service line. However, FAA spokeswoman Tweet Coleman said Mainline Airways in not an airline. She suggests passengers should stick with established carriers. KITV 4 News called Mainline to try and get some answers. A customer service representative assured reporter Caroline Sluyter that service will start on July 3, but said Mainline will use charter flights and will not operate its own airline. "You deal with Mainline Airways throughout your deal with us, your transaction in a sense. You make a reservation with us everything is done with Mainline Airways even the plane says Mainline Airways, but then only the aircraft, the physical aircraft is owned by someone else," said Mike Gomes of Mainline Airways. Although service is supposed to start in less than a month, the Hawaii Department of Transportation said Mainline has not rented space at Honolulu International Airport, or filled out required applications. "Mainline pretty much only exists as a website right now," DOT spokesman Scott Ishikawa said. The DOT said its only communication from Mainline has been through e-mail. The last one coming Wednesday, saying it will be chartering a 757-300, but the Mainline customer service representative told KITV it will be flying a 707. The FAA said the Inspector General's office is investigating Mainline. Locally the Office of Consumer Protection is doing it's own investigation after receiving a few complaints. Copyright 2003 by TheHawaiiChannel.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

06-13-2003, 03:20 AM	#7
flick70 Insane Collector Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Omaha Age: 38 Posts: 1,042	And from CNN... College student accused of creating fake airline Friday, June 13, 2003 Posted: 1:33 AM EDT (0533 GMT) The Web site offered fares as low as $89 one way between California and Hawaii. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Story Tools -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BOSTON, Massachusetts (AP) -- A college freshman created a fake airline that offered bargain-priced tickets on flights between Honolulu and Los Angeles, authorities said Thursday. Luke Thompson, of Yardley, Pennsylvania, incorporated Mainline Airways in Pennsylvania, established a business address in the Boston suburb of Wellesley and set up an elaborate Web site, according to Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas Reilly. Thompson, who attends Babson College in Wellesley, offered fares as low as $89 one way between Los Angeles and Honolulu, Reilly said. Flights were to begin July 3, but Mainline had neither planes, crews nor the required permits and approvals as recently as a few weeks ago. Thompson told The Associated Press that the allegations were "absolutely untrue," but he did acknowledge that he was the only person behind the company, other than a consultant and an investor he did not identify. "We had every intention of doing this operation," he said. "We had 15 airlines we had contacted or were in serious negotiations with, regarding the actual providing of the (air) service." He offered no details on which airlines were involved. Babson College student Luke Thompson Thompson's Web site, which has been taken down, described the company's "fleet," outlined various policies and answered travelers' questions. Reilly won a temporary restraining order Wednesday that keeps Thompson from using any Mainline bank accounts for anything other than providing refunds. A judge in Hawaii last week ordered ticket sales halted. Thompson faxed letters earlier this week to Hawaii officials, promising refunds by the end of the week to 120 "pre-reservations" and maintaining that Mainline Airways was "only to be the tour operator."

06-11-2003, 07:34 PM	#3
TL925 Master Collector Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: London Age: 26 Posts: 529	They started advertising they'd be using 757-300's...then finally their last aircraft of choice was to be a 707!! Heck, I'd pay $100 to be able to fly a commercial 707 flight in 2003 without being in Africa!!

06-12-2003, 06:37 PM	#6
ZX1100F1 Buford T. Justice Join Date: Sep 1999 Posts: 2,004	It appears that "Luke Thompson" is actually an 18 year old college kid that set up the scam. David H, Don't forget about World Airways and their (5) passenger MD-11's. "Student Allegedly Sets Up Bogus Online Airline POSTED: 3:35 p.m. EDT June 12, 2003 BOSTON -- A company calling itself Mainline Airways that was offering cut-rate flights never existed. In fact, its chief executive, Luke Thompson, was really an 18-year-old freshman at Babson College in Wellesley, Mass. Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly said his office obtained a temporary restraining order against Thompson and ordered him to refund all tickets purchased over the Internet. Mainline Airways was offering flights between Honolulu and Los Angeles for as low as $89. But the attorney general said the airline had no planes, no crews and no permits to fly. Thompson, a Yardley, Pa., resident, set up a Web site that included Hawaiian music, flight schedules and a description of the airline's "fleet" of jets. Reilly said it's a reminder that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Babson College said it is assisting the state in its investigation."

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