[jenamety]

>I have even seen it suggested that the employees could even have gone by taxi, though I don't know if that was really practical.

I have a feeling the contract with the Pilot and FA unions squashes that idea rather quickly.

[chimeracoder]

> I have a feeling the contract with the Pilot and FA unions squashes that idea rather quickly.

Correct, the pilot and FA unions would both have forbidden using a taxi to deadhead in this scenario.

Source: friends who are flight attendants, and I've actually also gotten bitten myself by this rule personally (though obviously with far less serious consequences than this doctor).