United Airlines Forces Man off of oversold flight

[dlavender]

I'm guessing they stopped the voluntary offer at $800 because that was probably 4 times the fares paid.

I'm guessing they wish they hadn't stopped........

$2000 right now probably sounds pretty sweet...

As this guy is looking at at least a quick settlement offer of $15k to drop it.

 

[JimmyBean42]

I'm guessing they wish they hadn't stopped........

$2000 right now probably sounds pretty sweet...

As this guy is looking at at least a quick settlement offer of $15k to drop it.

Considering this guy is a doctor and the amount of publicity this is getting, I'm thinking his settlement number is going to be way higher than that. They might have gotten away with that number had this not gone viral.

 

[DopeyDame]

UAL Market cap is down $650 million + so far this morning.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/un...illion-off-the-airlines-market-cap-2017-04-11

Bet they sure wish they had offered some money and gotten away easy on that flight.

 

[mefordis]

I just cancelled my UAL Chase credit card. I had this account for 13 years. The customer service lady told me many, many people have called to cancel for the same reason. I will never fly United again. I hope they feel the pain.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I'm guessing they stopped the voluntary offer at $800 because that was probably 4 times the fares paid.

Stupid, stupid, stupid decision. Stupid.

 

[mefordis]

Plain and simple they should have upped their offer and someone would have taken it. The customer was peacefully sitting in his seat and UAL assaulted him. So much for the customer is always right. They could have called him belligerent, let him fly, then banned him from future UAL flights as punishment. No one deserves to be assaulted like that unless they are resisting arrest and he was not being arrested because he broke no laws. If he had, they would have handcuffed him and read him his rights.

I think these were incompetent bullies who had no idea what to do. The fact he ran back on the plane tells me this. It is also being speculated that they sedated him when he was in the back of the plane because he ended up passing out as he walked off the second time. What an absolute mess.

 

[MillauFr]

Plain and simple they should have upped their offer and someone would have taken it. The customer was peacefully sitting in his seat and UAL assaulted him. So much for the customer is always right. They could have called him belligerent, let him fly, then banned him from future UAL flights as punishment. No one deserves to be assaulted like that unless they are resisting arrest and he was not being arrested because he broke no laws. If he had, they would have handcuffed him and read him his rights.

I think these were incompetent bullies who had no idea what to do. The fact he ran back on the plane tells me this. It is also being speculated that they sedated him when he was in the back of the plane because he ended up passing out as he walked off the second time. What an absolute mess.

Exactly. $800 was way too low to stop. There would have been at least 4 takers if the number was closer to $2,000.

 

[adisneyaunt]

I truly never realized that a paying customer, already checked in and seated on a plane could be asked to leave the plane. Or forcibly removed.
I always thought they stopped accepting people Onto the plane...in the first place.
Don't they know at the gate, when they re scanning boarding passes..?

Video looked terrible and I'm seeing $$$$ for that passenger. Huge PR debacle as well.

We ve been offered cash/ next flight but passed on it. And have Seen this happen before we even boarded though. But after seated .. nope, new to me.

 

[Jennasis]

At least now we know...next time you hear that announcement looking for volunteers to get off the plane, tell them you'll happily get off for $1350 cash!

 

[pigletto]

I just love how their official response was that the customer was "politely asked" to leave the plane. Last time I checked, when I am asked something I have the option of saying yes or no.
There's no justification for how this man was treated, and United digging in their heels this morning and refusing to acknowledge that this was handled horrifically is just further insult.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I think it shows a huge problem with the way airlines treat customers and the lack of protections for customers. There's just too much power given to airlines. It seems things are set up so the airline is always right and can do what they want. It shouldn't be that way. The comparisons to bring booted from a movie theater are way off. The stakes can be much higher when it comes to travel.
The response from United just shows the arrogance and contempt for customers, the feeling that the airline is always right.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I don't know if it's been mentioned before but if anyone is interested in knowing just exactly what your rights are (from U.S. point of view) here is where you would want to go: https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/fly-rights.

Involuntary Bumping section is quite long (ETA: information provided on my quote however is in regards to Involuntary Bumping but the whole section is too long to just paste in here).

Link above does contain the information regarding min/max compensation based on when you would arrive at your destination compared to when you were originally scheduled to arrive at your destination.

For those wondering about ticket vouchers here's the information on that: Airlines may offer free tickets or dollar-amount vouchers for future flights in place of a check for denied boarding compensation. However, if you are bumped involuntarily you have the right to insist on a check if that is your preference.

Here's a notation regarding negotiation: Once you cash the check (or accept the free flight), you will probably lose the ability to pursue more money from the airline later on. However, if being bumped costs you more money than the airline will pay you at the airport, you can try to negotiate a higher settlement with their complaint department. If this doesn't work, you usually have 30 days from the date on the check to decide if you want to accept the amount of the check. You are always free to decline the check (e.g., not cash it) and take the airline to court to try to obtain more compensation. DOT's denied boarding regulation spells out the airlines' minimum obligation to people they bump involuntarily.

Other good information is found in that link.

**Hadn't realized you could technically take an airline to court based on amount of compensation**

 

[bcla]

Plain and simple they should have upped their offer and someone would have taken it. The customer was peacefully sitting in his seat and UAL assaulted him. So much for the customer is always right. They could have called him belligerent, let him fly, then banned him from future UAL flights as punishment. No one deserves to be assaulted like that unless they are resisting arrest and he was not being arrested because he broke no laws. If he had, they would have handcuffed him and read him his rights.

I think these were incompetent bullies who had no idea what to do. The fact he ran back on the plane tells me this. It is also being speculated that they sedated him when he was in the back of the plane because he ended up passing out as he walked off the second time. What an absolute mess.

All the reporting has been that the removal was done by city employees. It was badly botched, but I don't particularly agree that calling them in was unwarranted.

 

[pryncess527]

I truly never realized that a paying customer, already checked in and seated on a plane could be asked to leave the plane. Or forcibly removed.
I always thought they stopped accepting people Onto the plane...in the first place.
Don't they know at the gate, when they re scanning boarding passes..?

Video looked terrible and I'm seeing $$$$ for that passenger. Huge PR debacle as well.

We ve been offered cash/ next flight but passed on it. And have Seen this happen before we even boarded though. But after seated .. nope, new to me.

Agreed. I get bumping people, but even the DOT regulations constantly refer to it as a "denied boarding compensation" -- not "boarded and then were forcibly removed" --

What's almost more appalling are the number of people who think we should all roll over and do whatever a company tells us to. Consequences work both ways -- airlines can reasonably remove a passenger, but nothing about that was reasonable. If he refused to comply, they should have contacted police and let authorities place him under arrest. I'm not going to let fear cow me into following orders no matter what. I'm glad he made a stink about this.

 

[declansdad]

I think that we do. The "maximum compensation" should have been whatever it took for 4 people to voluntarily give up their seats. That particular man may not have had a price but I absolutely think that at least 4 people would have. The airline just didn't want to pay enough and decided to resort to force.

So we don't and what the final offer to this gentleman is just an assumption, like a lot of other stuff being tossed out.

FWIW, I read somewhere that the flight was already boarded when the United employees needing seats showed up. That explains why this was not taken care of before boarding, as it usually is.

I read that the 4 employees were mechanics and they needed to be in Louisville to fix the other plane. But that is just something I read.

 

[disney4us2002]

....

I think these were incompetent bullies who had no idea what to do. The fact he ran back on the plane tells me this. It is also being speculated that they sedated him when he was in the back of the plane because he ended up passing out as he walked off the second time. What an absolute mess.

This tells you something about airport security but not about the passenger? What kind of person does this? You were asked to exit, you were dragged from the plane and then you run back on? I'm glad this guy isn't my doctor; he doesn't sound like he has all his marbles.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm reading this thread in reverse order.

You don't argue with airline personnel. To do so is foolish. We had a neighbor do that (while drink and causing issues), and he got federal time for it. And that was pre 9/11.

Whatever the case may be, I do believe he was in the wrong for refusing to exit the plane. Does it suck that anyone had to and that airlines overbook? Of course, but this is common knowledge (I thought for regular travelers at least). The part that perplexes me the most is why anyone would make such a stink to have to be dragged off.

YES.

Possibly true but if in the process the child is left bleeding and injured, I would have some explaining to do because I went too far.

And if your explanation is "I wasn't expecting him to buck and go limp and thrash in such a way that he hit things", one hopes you would be listened to.

Also for those who have been bumped with a hotel stay involved, does that include funds for getting meals for the next 12 hrs?

Some vouchers, yes. Not really enough but oh well. We voluntarily bumped super bowl 2014 and were put up at the Doubletree near MCO. Vouchers weren't quite enough but it was fine. $400 each in travel vouchers was just fine. Plus dh and ds got to watch the Seahawks win on a big screen at the hotel while I drank a large beer while wandering an empty Epcot.

what if hypothetically he had a 'good' reason (although i suspect all the people seated with him on the plane felt their reasons were good as well) like a funeral to get to? How much do we let the airlines get away with? This needs to stop. it won't until the customer base insists.

They were getting 4 employees to their next job. We take the bus or car to work. They often take planes.

If they are delayed it means an entire planeload of people (and connections etc) with decent reasons for traveling is held up. 4 people vs hundreds.

I just love how their official response was that the customer was "politely asked" to leave the plane. Last time I checked, when I am asked something I have the option of saying yes or no.
There's no justification for how this man was treated, and United digging in their heels this morning and refusing to acknowledge that this was handled horrifically is just further insult.

When asked to do something by someone official on a plane we don't really have the option to say no. Surely we all know this by now?

 

[sunshinehighway]

So we don't and what the final offer to this gentleman is just an assumption, like a lot of other stuff being tossed out.



I read that the 4 employees were mechanics and they needed to be in Louisville to fix the other plane. But that is just something I read.

I think the whole argument that these employees needed to be somewhere by a certain time just shows why United is wrong in how they treat customers. It shows sometimes people need to be somewhere and what United is saying is we don't give a crap about our commitment to customers. They seem to be trying to use the argument that it was so important to get their people where they needed to be and ignoring that perhaps the people they were kicking off needed to be somewhere too.

 

[bumbershoot]

This tells you something about airport security but not about the passenger? What kind of person does this? You were asked to exit, you were dragged from the plane and then you run back on? I'm glad this guy isn't my doctor; he doesn't sound like he has all his marbles.

Agreed.

And do we have confirmation that he really IS a doctor? And honestly does it matter? We all have lives to get back to. Doctors aren't magical beings. And if he is a mythical unicorn of a doctor, the only one at all that can do some procedure, I think we've just seen that he doesn't handle perceived stress very well. Time for some time off.

 

[dlavender]

This tells you something about airport security but not about the passenger? What kind of person does this? You were asked to exit, you were dragged from the plane and then you run back on? I'm glad this guy isn't my doctor; he doesn't sound like he has all his marbles.

The guy is actually a genius.

They offered $800, he could get six figures.

1 this guy, 0 United