United Airlines forcibly removes passenger on flight they (did not) overbook

[White Out 403]

The dude didn't handle himself very well but guess what? He was being dragged off a plane by force. Why? So the airline could avoid having to offer 1200 dollars for people to get off a plane THEY overbooked. Jesus tap dancing christ.

MOD EDIT: No insults please.

[Minnie]

Originally Posted by Acey

They claim that "over $1,000" was offered. It's supposed to be 4x the ticket ($1,350) for involuntary bumps... but it's a kind of scummy thing where you have to work them up to the amount you're actually entitled to, which you should never have to do.

So they had further options then, United did, before resorting to using a computer to pick random people to bump off the flight.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Pretty simple solutions, IMO.

If you have 4 crew members that need to get on a flight and the airline did not account for that and there is no room, get them a different plane. You can ask if passengers are willing to give up their seats for cash and a different flight, and if so, fine. But don't force people off a flight they have booked well in advance and paid for.

And if there is an overbooking situation figure it out before people get on the plane. You don't wait until everyone is seated and then try to figure it out, especially by using force.

[chemgear]

CEO backing the ####ing truck up, lol.

Yesterday:



Today:

[Acey]

Originally Posted by Minnie

So they had further options then, United did, before resorting to using a computer to pick random people to bump off the flight.

It's not random and is based on check-in order and other factors including the class of fare and total fare paid, but the problem right now is that there's conflicting reports on exactly how much was offered, and whether or not they were given the full amount after being involuntarily bumped.

So yes, they could have offered more... but why (from their perspective) when you can legally bump anyway? Though of course I'm sure they'll reconsider this notion going forward.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

They really didn't have to stick to their guns. I have no idea how you came to that conclusion.

Because as soon as they let one selected person refuse, why would anyone else selected after that agree to be bumped? It would make them powerless to bump anyone as everyone else after that would just make some excuse or refuse.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

And if there is an overbooking situation figure it out before people get on the plane. You don't wait until everyone is seated and then try to figure it out, especially by using force.

Well, they just admitted that it was not overbooked at all. Just that they wanted to transport those 4 people instead after the plane had already fully boarded and seated.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by chemgear

Well, they just admitted that it was not overbooked at all. Just that they wanted to transport those 4 people instead after the plane had already fully boarded and seated.

Yes, I was just saying if there was indeed an overbook situation in the future. For any airline. Figure that stuff out before people board. Waiting for people to sit down and then offer cash incentives seems like a nickel and dime operation.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Because as soon as they let one selected person refuse, why would anyone else selected after that agree to be bumped? It would make them powerless to bump anyone as everyone else after that would just make some excuse or refuse.

What a crock of ####. If the person claims they cant get off the plane and refuses to cooperate, you're saying everyone else just shouts of "freedom" like in Braveheart and the plane will descent into chaos?

Can we also stop pretending the airline gave up at 800/1000 dollars? YOU overbooked the ####ing flight, go up to 1200 or 1400 or whatever it takes to get someone to get off the plane voluntarily.

Do some of you people own or work for these airlines? My god, flying is already such garbage and reading this is astonishing.

[Acey]

Originally Posted by chemgear

Well, they just admitted that it was not overbooked at all. Just that they wanted to transport those 4 people instead after the plane had already fully boarded and seated.

Exactly. It's a pretty big popup on the screen warning that more people have checked in than you have seats for on the screen at the podium, the agent doesn't then just start scanning boarding passes and get to the end realizing she doesn't have enough seats.

Aside from a complete computer failure, there's zero chance of having to bump after boarding for a typical overbook.

[White Out 403]

hey maybe United should press charges against this guy while we're at it for trespassing? Maybe throw in a little resisting arrest. He might have bled on a cop too, let's call that assault.

[Acey]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

hey maybe United should press charges against this guy

They will.

If he wants to slug this out in court, they'll make sure they charge him with the felony of interfering with a flight crew after he was belligerent with them.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by Acey

They will.

If he wants to slug this out in court, they'll make sure they charge him with the felony of interfering with a flight crew after he was belligerent with them.

Good luck with that in a court of his peers.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

What a crock of ####. If the person claims they cant get off the plane and refuses to cooperate, you're saying everyone else just shouts of "freedom" like in Braveheart and the plane will descent into chaos?

I am saying that everyone else just says no as well. The rules either apply to everyone, or they apply to no one.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

Good luck with that in a court of his peers.

Good luck trying to get that jury to leave the box!

[Raekwon]

MOD EDIT: That isn't a contribution.

[Acey]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

Good luck with that in a court of his peers.

Cool. It'll reduce the billion dollar settlement people are hoping for to merely a fraction. I'm not a lawyer but it seems easy for Republic's lawyers to prove that they did not authorize or suggest that security use physical force to remove the guy. Since they were within their legal right to ask him to leave, that's all they need to prove and the defendant then becomes security.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by Acey

They will.

If he wants to slug this out in court, they'll make sure they charge him with the felony of interfering with a flight crew after he was belligerent with them.

Haha what?! You think that in the midst of this ongoing ####storm, the social media backlash, the horrible reaction from the Chinese market (one of their key growth markets), the CEO now finally apologizing that "no one should ever be mistreated this way" - that they are going to now press charges?

I mean, they've ####ed this up so badly and consistently on this that sure, they might go the nuclear option and #### it up even more. Sure, I guess.

[burn_this_city]

I don't know that they can really charge him with anything, since he was within his rights to refuse removal once he was boarded. I believe they can only bump you prior to boarding.

[Raekwon]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

I don't know that they can really charge him with anything, since he was within his rights to refuse removal once he was boarded. I believe they can only bump you prior to boarding.

Source?