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GoodThoughts
Dreams do come true
Member since 2/12 2259 total posts
Name:
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United Airlines fiasco
If you haven't already seen the videos or read what happened, I'm attaching the link below. We swore off United after an issue we had with them last year. After this, I wouldn't fly them if you gave me a free ticket
United physically removes passenger because they overbooked a flight and wanted to give seats to employees
ETA: This is the CEO's statement:
"This is an upsetting event to all of us here at United. I apologize for having to re-accommodate these customers. Our team is moving with a sense of urgency to work with the authorities and conduct our own detailed review of what happened."
Message edited 4/10/2017 1:02:28 PM.
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Posted 4/10/17 12:49 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
lightblue
LIF Adult
Member since 1/17 2249 total posts
Name:
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Re: United Airlines fiasco
OMG what in the actual F... horrible.
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| Posted 4/10/17 12:56 PM |
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StaceyWill
It's a girl!!!
Member since 6/10 21539 total posts
Name:
Stacey
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United Airlines fiasco
Insanity!
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| Posted 4/10/17 12:59 PM |
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SecretlyTTC14
LIF Adult
Member since 12/13 1770 total posts
Name:
B
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Re: United Airlines fiasco
I can't believe that was allowed to happen. Shouldn't he be able to press assault charges? There has to be some sort of consequences... right? That's terrible.
ETA: I'm surprised that no one on the flight took them up on their offer for $800 and a hotel stay.
Message edited 4/10/2017 1:06:46 PM.
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| Posted 4/10/17 1:02 PM |
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queensgal
Smile
Member since 4/09 3287 total posts
Name:
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Re: United Airlines fiasco
I don't understand how they can oversell flights?
If the plane holds 300 then you sell 300 seats. Person 301 is told stand by.
Why is this so hard? Why are they allowed to do this in the first place? No other industry can sell things that don't exist, it's called Fraud.
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| Posted 4/10/17 1:05 PM |
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Momma2015
Mommax2
Member since 12/12 6655 total posts
Name:
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Re: United Airlines fiasco
Posted by queensgal
I don't understand how they can oversell flights?
If the plane holds 300 then you sell 300 seats. Person 301 is told stand by.
Why is this so hard? Why are they allowed to do this in the first place? No other industry can sell things that don't exist, it's called Fraud.
They needed the seats to transport United employees apparently. It wasn't two customers fighting for the seat.
ETA: Not that this makes them right or okay in any way.
Message edited 4/10/2017 1:12:26 PM.
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| Posted 4/10/17 1:09 PM |
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dianadrw
LIF Adult
Member since 5/06 2092 total posts
Name:
Me
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United Airlines fiasco
That is insane!! Seems like United needs to plan better for their employees instead of bumping paying passengers off flights.
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| Posted 4/10/17 1:17 PM |
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queensgal
Smile
Member since 4/09 3287 total posts
Name:
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Re: United Airlines fiasco
Posted by Momma2015
Posted by queensgal
I don't understand how they can oversell flights?
If the plane holds 300 then you sell 300 seats. Person 301 is told stand by.
Why is this so hard? Why are they allowed to do this in the first place? No other industry can sell things that don't exist, it's called Fraud.
They needed the seats to transport United employees apparently. It wasn't two customers fighting for the seat.
ETA: Not that this makes them right or okay in any way.
Right. But why are airlines so special? They are allowed to take a seat they sold? Macy's can't rip a pair of pants off your body to give to a sales associate.
In this case, if they need 4 employee seats, then they can only sell 296. If they did not plan ahead, then too bad or they can purchase flights on another airline.
I agree with all other posters. this is outrageous. My point is, we need better regulations to fix the root cause here.
I feel bad for this passenger and everyone else on the plane. Why are they allowed to forcibly remove someone who has paid ?!!! This doesn't happen anywhere other than airlines!
We are taking our first family trip in 2 weeks. My kids would be traumatized by this. I hope this passenger sues!
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| Posted 4/10/17 1:19 PM |
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lightblue
LIF Adult
Member since 1/17 2249 total posts
Name:
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Re: United Airlines fiasco
Posted by queensgal
Posted by Momma2015
Posted by queensgal
I don't understand how they can oversell flights?
If the plane holds 300 then you sell 300 seats. Person 301 is told stand by.
Why is this so hard? Why are they allowed to do this in the first place? No other industry can sell things that don't exist, it's called Fraud.
They needed the seats to transport United employees apparently. It wasn't two customers fighting for the seat.
ETA: Not that this makes them right or okay in any way.
Right. But why are airlines so special? They are allowed to take a seat they sold? Macy's can't rip a pair of pants off your body to give to a sales associate.
In this case, if they need 4 employee seats, then they can only sell 296. If they did not plan ahead, then too bad or they can purchase flights on another airline.
I agree with all other posters. this is outrageous. My point is, we need better regulations to fix the root cause here.
I feel bad for this passenger and everyone else on the plane. Why are they allowed to forcibly remove someone who has paid ?!!! This doesn't happen anywhere other than airlines!
We are taking our first family trip in 2 weeks. My kids would be traumatized by this. I hope this passenger sues!
I agree- if they over booked and the employees wanted a seat, and no one offered to give theirs up, they should have kept raising their incentives until someone was willing to give their seat up, or the employees should have waited for the next plane. I am sure if that guy sues he would win, they knocked him unconscious and dragged him down the aisle. I know I would never fly United after watching this.
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| Posted 4/10/17 1:22 PM |
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ali120206
2 Boys
Member since 7/06 17792 total posts
Name:
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United Airlines fiasco
He paid and was assigned a seat. He shouldn't have to get off the plane. You can't pick customers at random when they don't volunteer. The other people should be put on another flight.
I hate when they oversell when I have someplace to be - otherwise I don't care. DH and I have taken the bump many times and got to go a lot of places.
I'm flying United in a couple of weeks and think things will be running smoothly after the media backlash they are getting from this fiasco.
Message edited 4/10/2017 1:35:27 PM.
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| Posted 4/10/17 1:34 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: United Airlines fiasco
Posted by queensgal
I don't understand how they can oversell flights?
If the plane holds 300 then you sell 300 seats. Person 301 is told stand by.
Why is this so hard? Why are they allowed to do this in the first place? No other industry can sell things that don't exist, it's called Fraud.
Federal regulations allow it, and even have rules about how much they can do it, and how to compensate, etc...
https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/fly-rights
Overbooking is not illegal, and most airlines overbook their scheduled flights to a certain extent in order to compensate for "no-shows." Passengers are sometimes left behind or "bumped" as a result. When an oversale occurs, the Department of Transportation (DOT) requires airlines to ask people who aren't in a hurry to give up their seats voluntarily, in exchange for compensation. Those passengers bumped against their will are, with a few exceptions, entitled to compensation.
...
DOT requires each airline to give all passengers who are bumped involuntarily a written statement describing their rights and explaining how the carrier decides who gets on an oversold flight and who doesn't. Those travelers who don't get to fly are frequently entitled to denied boarding compensation in the form of a check or cash. The amount depends on the price of their ticket and the length of the delay:
...
https://www.marketplace.org/2015/04/27/business/ive-always-wondered/why-world-do-airlines-overbook-tickets
This link has a good explanation of how and why airlines overbook.
https://apnews.com/cb130ec7379a485ca8c273214510de1e/Airlines-often-oversell-flights,-end-up-bumping-passengers
United Airlines booted 3,765 passengers off flights last year just because it sold more tickets than there were seats on the plane
...
Airlines are allowed to oversell flights, and they frequently do, because they assume that some passengers won't show up. U.S. airlines bumped 40,000 passengers last year, not counting those who volunteered to give up their seats.
...
I'm not condoning this, just stating statistics and info.
No matter what the rules are, this was definitely a horrible way to deal with the situation... 
Message edited 4/10/2017 1:52:45 PM.
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| Posted 4/10/17 1:36 PM |
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ANewDayHasCome
Love multiplies, not divides
Member since 11/12 14481 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: United Airlines fiasco
I felt horrible for that man. That's not right at all.
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| Posted 4/10/17 1:40 PM |
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Momma2015
Mommax2
Member since 12/12 6655 total posts
Name:
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Re: United Airlines fiasco
Posted by lightblue
Posted by queensgal
Posted by Momma2015
Posted by queensgal
I don't understand how they can oversell flights?
If the plane holds 300 then you sell 300 seats. Person 301 is told stand by.
Why is this so hard? Why are they allowed to do this in the first place? No other industry can sell things that don't exist, it's called Fraud.
They needed the seats to transport United employees apparently. It wasn't two customers fighting for the seat.
ETA: Not that this makes them right or okay in any way.
Right. But why are airlines so special? They are allowed to take a seat they sold? Macy's can't rip a pair of pants off your body to give to a sales associate.
In this case, if they need 4 employee seats, then they can only sell 296. If they did not plan ahead, then too bad or they can purchase flights on another airline.
I agree with all other posters. this is outrageous. My point is, we need better regulations to fix the root cause here.
I feel bad for this passenger and everyone else on the plane. Why are they allowed to forcibly remove someone who has paid ?!!! This doesn't happen anywhere other than airlines!
We are taking our first family trip in 2 weeks. My kids would be traumatized by this. I hope this passenger sues!
I agree- if they over booked and the employees wanted a seat, and no one offered to give theirs up, they should have kept raising their incentives until someone was willing to give their seat up, or the employees should have waited for the next plane. I am sure if that guy sues he would win, they knocked him unconscious and dragged him down the aisle. I know I would never fly United after watching this.
I completely agree, but it sounds more like poor planning and even worse handling of the situation, not that they sold more seats than the plane had.
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| Posted 4/10/17 1:42 PM |
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MsSissy
xoxoxo
Member since 3/07 39159 total posts
Name:
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Re: United Airlines fiasco
I am still speechless that this is how they choose to handle this situation.
And after all that:
The man, disoriented and bleeding, was apparently allowed back on the plane and received medical attention.
The same plane. 2 hours later. WTF?
And the CEO statement is much better than their first failed attempt at an apology
I rarely say I hope someone sues. But in this case this guy really should.
I can't imagine if they did this to me when I was on my way to see my grandkids!
Dr. or Grandma...I don't care. It's unacceptable how this was handled.
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| Posted 4/10/17 2:03 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: United Airlines fiasco
If I book a flight and pay for it, I am expecting to be GUARANTEED a seat on that flight.
I don't want to hear bull shit about over booking etc.
What if you were going to a funeral?
A dying relative?
A real fuking emergency?
What if your family member was dying and you missed seeing them because of this horseshit?
How is this practice even acceptable???
And how do they decide who they kick off when nobody volunteers?
Just at random?
Insanity
Message edited 4/10/2017 2:42:52 PM.
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| Posted 4/10/17 2:06 PM |
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summerBaby10
let's be nice
Member since 9/07 10208 total posts
Name:
Wifey
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Re: United Airlines fiasco
That was insane! I was trembling watching it! I also hope the man sues & wins millions.
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| Posted 4/10/17 2:40 PM |
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GoodThoughts
Dreams do come true
Member since 2/12 2259 total posts
Name:
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Re: United Airlines fiasco
Posted by MsSissy
I am still speechless that this is how they choose to handle this situation.
And after all that:
The man, disoriented and bleeding, was apparently allowed back on the plane and received medical attention.
The same plane. 2 hours later. WTF?
And the CEO statement is much better than their first failed attempt at an apology
IMAGE
I rarely say I hope someone sues. But in this case this guy really should.
I can't imagine if they did this to me when I was on my way to see my grandkids!
Dr. or Grandma...I don't care. It's unacceptable how this was handled.
Their former CEO called the passenger "immature."
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| Posted 4/10/17 2:47 PM |
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ave1024
I Took The Wrong Road
Member since 12/07 6153 total posts
Name:
That Led To The Wrong Tendencies
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Re: United Airlines fiasco
Posted by NervousNell
If I book a flight and pay for it, I am expecting to be GUARANTEED a seat on that flight.
I don't want to hear bull shit about over booking etc.
What if you were going to a funeral?
A dying relative?
A real fuking emergency?
What if your family member was dying and you missed seeing them because of this horseshit?
How is this practice even acceptable???
And how do they decide who they kick off when nobody volunteers?
Just at random?
Insanity
Have you ever heard of a contract of carriage? If not you should probably look it up. Basically it says:
No seat is guaranteed. You can be denied boarding if the airline sees fit for any reason they deem. You can also be asked to switch seats if they feel the need to make the plane safer.
All instructions by airline personnel need to be followed. Not following would be considered a crime hence the need to have the cops come on board.
Airlines overbook ALL THE TIME because more people cancel flights than you think. These airlines have algorithms that determine likely number of cancellations per flight. While "involuntary denied boarding" as the airline call it does not happen often... it happens more than you think. They aren't going to fly with empty seats if they can afford it.
They don't need to keep "upping the ante" to pay more to get somebody off. They can offer more and you can even make an offer of more. The airline may take it to avoid the PR nightmare. But they are not required to pay you what you demand to get off. They can simply remove you.
While I am not a United apologist, if this guy was removed by law enforcement for not following crew instructions, he needed to be removed forcefully.
If you don't like the contract of carriage that you automatically ageee to by flying on that airline, fly another airline. But I'll give you a hint, most if not all airlines including JetBlue and southwest have similar rules in their contract of carriage.
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| Posted 4/10/17 2:58 PM |
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mommy2B3
2 boys 2 girls!!!!
Member since 7/08 3324 total posts
Name:
M
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Re: United Airlines fiasco
This makes me sick to my stomach. I hope this man sues the everliving shit out of them, and I hope people stop buying tickets from them. I will never fly united ever again! Those "officers" should be ashamed of themselves.
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| Posted 4/10/17 3:01 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: United Airlines fiasco
Posted by ave1024
Posted by NervousNell
If I book a flight and pay for it, I am expecting to be GUARANTEED a seat on that flight.
I don't want to hear bull shit about over booking etc.
What if you were going to a funeral?
A dying relative?
A real fuking emergency?
What if your family member was dying and you missed seeing them because of this horseshit?
How is this practice even acceptable???
And how do they decide who they kick off when nobody volunteers?
Just at random?
Insanity
Have you ever heard of a contract of carriage? If not you should probably look it up. Basically it says:
No seat is guaranteed. You can be denied boarding if the airline sees fit for any reason they deem. You can also be asked to switch seats if they feel the need to make the plane safer.
All instructions by airline personnel need to be followed. Not following would be considered a crime hence the need to have the cops come on board.
Airlines overbook ALL THE TIME because more people cancel flights than you think. These airlines have algorithms that determine likely number of cancellations per flight. While "involuntary denied boarding" as the airline call it does not happen often... it happens more than you think. They aren't going to fly with empty seats if they can afford it.
They don't need to keep "upping the ante" to pay more to get somebody off. They can offer more and you can even make an offer of more. The airline may take it to avoid the PR nightmare. But they are not required to pay you what you demand to get off. They can simply remove you.
While I am not a United apologist, if this guy was removed by law enforcement for not following crew instructions, he needed to be removed forcefully.
If you don't like the contract of carriage that you automatically ageee to by flying on that airline, fly another airline. But I'll give you a hint, most if not all airlines including JetBlue and southwest have similar rules in their contract of carriage.
OK thanks for the info
And for the record I am not agreeing with this guy resisting and having to be physically dragged off a plane- that was wrong.
But I think this so called "contract of carriage" is ridiculous Just my opinion
And from what i can see on this thread I am not the only one who feels this way.
And speaking of PR, now they have a huge PR nightmare on their hands- whether or not they were within their rights. More bad press
Message edited 4/10/2017 3:13:12 PM.
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| Posted 4/10/17 3:11 PM |
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ave1024
I Took The Wrong Road
Member since 12/07 6153 total posts
Name:
That Led To The Wrong Tendencies
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Re: United Airlines fiasco
Posted by NervousNell
Posted by ave1024
Posted by NervousNell
If I book a flight and pay for it, I am expecting to be GUARANTEED a seat on that flight.
I don't want to hear bull shit about over booking etc.
What if you were going to a funeral?
A dying relative?
A real fuking emergency?
What if your family member was dying and you missed seeing them because of this horseshit?
How is this practice even acceptable???
And how do they decide who they kick off when nobody volunteers?
Just at random?
Insanity
Have you ever heard of a contract of carriage? If not you should probably look it up. Basically it says:
No seat is guaranteed. You can be denied boarding if the airline sees fit for any reason they deem. You can also be asked to switch seats if they feel the need to make the plane safer.
All instructions by airline personnel need to be followed. Not following would be considered a crime hence the need to have the cops come on board.
Airlines overbook ALL THE TIME because more people cancel flights than you think. These airlines have algorithms that determine likely number of cancellations per flight. While "involuntary denied boarding" as the airline call it does not happen often... it happens more than you think. They aren't going to fly with empty seats if they can afford it.
They don't need to keep "upping the ante" to pay more to get somebody off. They can offer more and you can even make an offer of more. The airline may take it to avoid the PR nightmare. But they are not required to pay you what you demand to get off. They can simply remove you.
While I am not a United apologist, if this guy was removed by law enforcement for not following crew instructions, he needed to be removed forcefully.
If you don't like the contract of carriage that you automatically ageee to by flying on that airline, fly another airline. But I'll give you a hint, most if not all airlines including JetBlue and southwest have similar rules in their contract of carriage.
OK thanks for the info
And for the record I am not agreeing with this guy resisting and having to be physically dragged off a plane- that was wrong.
But I think this so called "contract of carriage" is ridiculous Just my opinion
And from what i can see on this thread I am not the only one who feels this way.
And speaking of PR, now they have a huge PR nightmare on their hands- whether or not they were within their rights. More bad press
United screwed up by allowing him to get on the plane. If this was dealt with at the gate like every other IDB then this would be a non news story. They are still within their right to have the guy removed though.
Bad press only goes so far. There are only so many airlines with so many travel routes. Airlines are more crowded and profitable than ever. I don't think this is going to crush United in the long run.
If anything maybe the cops might get a slap on the wrist with how it was handled. But again, the guy refused to get off after being asked by law enforcement.
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| Posted 4/10/17 3:17 PM |
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MsSissy
xoxoxo
Member since 3/07 39159 total posts
Name:
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Re: United Airlines fiasco
Posted by GoodThoughts
Posted by MsSissy
I am still speechless that this is how they choose to handle this situation.
And after all that:
The man, disoriented and bleeding, was apparently allowed back on the plane and received medical attention.
The same plane. 2 hours later. WTF?
And the CEO statement is much better than their first failed attempt at an apology
IMAGE
I rarely say I hope someone sues. But in this case this guy really should.
I can't imagine if they did this to me when I was on my way to see my grandkids!
Dr. or Grandma...I don't care. It's unacceptable how this was handled.
Their former CEO called the passenger "immature."
Did he? I didn't see that.
I hope this cost them much more than a few empty seats on some planes.
To know this is how you could be treated for not "voluntarily" giving up a seat is disgusting. I'm sure this is the 1st time someone needed to give up a seat by computer selection. However it is the 1st time I've seen or heard of it being handled like this. Up the anty. Save yourself the backlash from the people you need to fill those seats. I hope over booking their flights is no longer an issue because people will be under booking with them.
ETS: I'm still confused how he was allowed back on the same flight after this fiasco. Did they up the perk for someone else to get off so he could get on?
Message edited 4/10/2017 3:21:02 PM.
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| Posted 4/10/17 3:18 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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United Airlines fiasco
I don't agree with what happened. But, they don't just pick someone at random. If no one volunteers, they start bumping those who checked in for their flight last. Last year on our flight to Puerto Rico (by way of Orlando), Southwest was oversold. They offered HUGE compensation. 4 times the price of your ticket, and the next flight. No one would bite. So they had to deny the last people to check in for their flight. So if you had C59 or whatever the last number is, sucked to be you! Horrible, but unfortunately it's their rules.
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| Posted 4/10/17 3:20 PM |
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ave1024
I Took The Wrong Road
Member since 12/07 6153 total posts
Name:
That Led To The Wrong Tendencies
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Re: United Airlines fiasco
Posted by queensgal
Posted by Momma2015
Posted by queensgal
I don't understand how they can oversell flights?
If the plane holds 300 then you sell 300 seats. Person 301 is told stand by.
Why is this so hard? Why are they allowed to do this in the first place? No other industry can sell things that don't exist, it's called Fraud.
They needed the seats to transport United employees apparently. It wasn't two customers fighting for the seat.
ETA: Not that this makes them right or okay in any way.
Right. But why are airlines so special? They are allowed to take a seat they sold? Macy's can't rip a pair of pants off your body to give to a sales associate.
In this case, if they need 4 employee seats, then they can only sell 296. If they did not plan ahead, then too bad or they can purchase flights on another airline.
This flight was going Chicago to Louisville? What if something happened near Louisville where they didn't have a crew ready for their morning flight and needed to get a crew there ASAP? Maybe they were relying on an incoming crew that couldn't make it due to weather, or had a crew that exceeded their flying time due to delays or whatever else?
So deny boarding for 4? Or cancel a plane of 80+ the next day?
What do you think is less of a headache for the airline (and the passengers?) Is every flight going to not sell 4+ seats in the rare event they have to move a crew team between airports?
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| Posted 4/10/17 3:25 PM |
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Mill188
LIF Adult
Member since 3/09 3073 total posts
Name:
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Re: United Airlines fiasco
I disagree with the police using force to remove the man, but I don't see that UA did anything wrong. Yes, it sucks big time to get bumped off a flight, but it happens. I've actually volunteered quite a few times for a bump and have been very happy with the compensation offered.
The crew members that they needed seats for were not UA employees taking a vacation. They were deadheading to their next job assignment. Can you imagine the uproar if the following morning, UA had to announce they didn't have a flight crew?
If anyone erred here, it was the police who used force to remove the passenger. The only time force should be used is if the other passengers were in danger.
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| Posted 4/10/17 3:48 PM |
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