It did not take too long for Trumpette’s/Republicrat’s deregulation wave to make news. The ‘policy’ of overbooking needs to stop. What kind of business plan is ‘dependent’ of no-shows and cancellations?
The man bought and paid for his ticket. He was seated on the plane. All he wanted was what he had paid for. He had done nothing wrong. The way he was treated was rotten and if he can’t sue them I hope everyone with a ticket to fly with them will cancel and they are forced out of business. How dare they set a preference for their own people rather than a paying customer?
Reading the ticket terms & conditions, when you enter the jet, you relinquish all constitutional rights. So while what they did to that guy wasn’t moral, it was legal.
I don’t see why someone else just didn’t voluntarily give up their seat? Unless I had an important appointment, I think I would have been willing to do that and suffer a delay, for decent compensation. Surely someone out of a planeload of 150 + people… anyone? That would have made it so much easier! No excuse for the guy to get belligerent (and reward that behavior by letting him stay?). As in so many cases, violence just gets answered more of the same from law enforcement! However, the real blame here goes not to the airline or the passenger, but to the employees needing the lift, and showing up AFTER the plan had been boarded!
@WF11 At least in my experience (very limited and long ago), they usually just offer “travel vouchers” which expire in a year. So, unless you already have another trip that you want to take that you haven’t booked yet — why would you take them up on their offer???
The flight was not actually “overbooked” with paying passengers, as some keep trying to say. It was last minute non revenue crew on their way to a duty station. In the long run, after what it will cost United, it would have been cheaper to charter them a small jet to get there. The most simple way (& I believe has been used in the past), is to cancel the whole flight, & restart it as a new one, with new tickets (minus the 4 crew seats needed) for those allowed to board back on. During the total re-boarding, the pilots would have ample time to refile a new flight plan, or upgrade the original one.
Baslim the Beggar Premium Member about 7 years ago
Whoa! ZING!
Here’s another instance of United being ridiculous…
United passenger threatened with handcuffs to make room for ‘higher-priority’ traveler
http://www.latimes.com/business/lazarus/la-fi-lazarus-united-low-priority-passenger-20170412-story.html
Kim Metzger Premium Member about 7 years ago
Wow! Quick response on this subject, guys!
katina.cooper about 7 years ago
And maybe she can also sue the airline for a few hundred million.
I was FRAMED!!!!!! about 7 years ago
It did not take too long for Trumpette’s/Republicrat’s deregulation wave to make news. The ‘policy’ of overbooking needs to stop. What kind of business plan is ‘dependent’ of no-shows and cancellations?
cdward about 7 years ago
I have a friend who’s a United pilot. Great guy, remarkably embarrassed by corporate.
Rich C. Premium Member about 7 years ago
Cheap shot against United Airlines. You do know it’s a felony to not follow the instruction of the flight crew, correct?
ladykat about 7 years ago
I think the way United Airlines handled the issue is reprehensible.
alondra about 7 years ago
The man bought and paid for his ticket. He was seated on the plane. All he wanted was what he had paid for. He had done nothing wrong. The way he was treated was rotten and if he can’t sue them I hope everyone with a ticket to fly with them will cancel and they are forced out of business. How dare they set a preference for their own people rather than a paying customer?
rickmac1937 Premium Member about 7 years ago
anyone who flys this airline is plain stupid after watching the video
TheBigPickle about 7 years ago
This goes against Rita’s character. Punishing employees? Yes. But she would actually be applauding the airline.
cosman about 7 years ago
Reading the ticket terms & conditions, when you enter the jet, you relinquish all constitutional rights. So while what they did to that guy wasn’t moral, it was legal.
WF11 about 7 years ago
I don’t see why someone else just didn’t voluntarily give up their seat? Unless I had an important appointment, I think I would have been willing to do that and suffer a delay, for decent compensation. Surely someone out of a planeload of 150 + people… anyone? That would have made it so much easier! No excuse for the guy to get belligerent (and reward that behavior by letting him stay?). As in so many cases, violence just gets answered more of the same from law enforcement! However, the real blame here goes not to the airline or the passenger, but to the employees needing the lift, and showing up AFTER the plan had been boarded!
BlueIris Premium Member about 7 years ago
@WF11 At least in my experience (very limited and long ago), they usually just offer “travel vouchers” which expire in a year. So, unless you already have another trip that you want to take that you haven’t booked yet — why would you take them up on their offer???
SackofRabidWeasels about 7 years ago
Mistress Rita is getting lazy.
charliefarmrhere about 7 years ago
The flight was not actually “overbooked” with paying passengers, as some keep trying to say. It was last minute non revenue crew on their way to a duty station. In the long run, after what it will cost United, it would have been cheaper to charter them a small jet to get there. The most simple way (& I believe has been used in the past), is to cancel the whole flight, & restart it as a new one, with new tickets (minus the 4 crew seats needed) for those allowed to board back on. During the total re-boarding, the pilots would have ample time to refile a new flight plan, or upgrade the original one.