United Airlines Forces Man off of oversold flight

[Wishing on a star]

Okay.... once again.... and again....
The flight was not oversold.
UA is now conceding this.
This is not really what this whole thing is about.

This was not a situation that was handled at the gate.
This was a paying passenger, seated, in his seat... doing nothing wrong.

This man was assaulted and dragged off a plane, because somebody wanted the seat.
Disturbing, to say the least.

United, probably one of many airlines, actually had previously stated that this would NOT happen, when regulations regarding this kind of thing were being negotiated in Congress. They know how to play this and put their interests over human civil rights.

This is just NOT okay...
IMHO, everyone should be demanding Congress re-address the passenger's bill of rights.
If anybody here wants to have a factual and reasonable discussion. If anyone wants to make a difference...
All of this needs to be directed to our members of Congress.

 

[Babs Johnson]

FWIW, I read an article in I think USA Today (can't find the link right now) that said the airline who's had the most involuntary denied boardings... Southwest. The airline with the most voluntary denied boardings... Delta.

An article I read a while back stated Delta had the HIGHEST amount of overbooking situations, but the LOWEST amount of involuntarily denied boardings. Apparently their employees are empowered to raise the incentives to avoid IDB. Not quite an overbooking issue, but during last weekend's Delta operational snafu, a family (not sure of the size) was offered $11,000, plus a refund of their fares, to cancel their reservation and make their own alternative transportation arrangements.

I wonder in retrospect, if offering $1000-1500 (which I'm sure someone would have taken) is worth losing $250 million in capitalization in one day?

Of course not, but United was willing to gamble by taking the cheap way out. It apparently worked out many times in the past and did with 3 or the 4 on this flight.

I think it will take 3-4 months to see the full effect of declining bookings.

Yes, lower number of bookings in the next two weeks or month could be attributed to the emotional factor over this incident. It will take a while to see if there is any long term effect. My guess is that bookings during July and August of 2017 will be slightly lower than the same months in 2016, but not significantly so.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Yes, lower number of bookings in the next two weeks or month could be attributed to the emotional factor over this incident. It will take a while to see if there is any long term effect. My guess is that bookings during July and August of 2017 will be slightly lower than the same months in 2016, but not significantly so.

I was wondering about this... how long any impact might linger. I think that most people have pretty short memories and move on after a while. I think most also leave room for a company to change policies and improve. I'd guess that the impact wouldn't be too long term... will be interesting to see...

 

[Wishing on a star]

Again....
All of these current comments are moot.
They just are.

We live in a society where people fly... Many times out of necessity...
This is an industry wide issue. If anything, the current discussion shows that.
It is not about whether one particular airline gets caught on video and loses a few bookings.

We deserve to have our basic human civil rights protected, no matter which airline!

 

[anniemae]

Hopefully this will incite some change in the airline industry. The airline industry has been thumbing their noses at passengers for quite some time, small cramped leg room, paying extra for bags, leaving passengers on tarmac for hours, bumping passengers etc. I read on quote from an article yesterday that summed it up, it said something like "the airlines have to realize they are transporting people, not auto parts."

 

[sunshinehighway]

Good grief. I was not the one who originated that line of discussion -- read upthread. And my observation was exceedingly general. Deleted.

Honestly, you would have been better off not taking the bait. Whether you realize it or not people do remember your more controversial opinions so things are inferred when you take the bait.

 

[melanielll]

My point was this - after the mess the day before - they begin with a lowball offer. $150 is nothing for hours of inconvenience. Also - the employee who tried to get on a full flight was being completely tone deaf to what had happened the day before. His behavior - and the response of the gate team - is part of why United sucks at customer service. You hire jerks - your service shows it.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

TMZ has just put out another video of the incident.

 

[amberpi]

I cannot BELIEVE it had not occured to me to pair a blazer with my yoga pants! Awesome! I don't like to look sloppy but I don't sleep if I'm wearing tailored clothing or skirts. That is going in my repertoire, thanks so much. The things I learn here

I actually pair mine with these CHEAP cotton jersey blazers I saw and immediately bought at target - seriously those blazers were cheaper than Lululemon yoga pants! Tailored like a blazer with the thick cotton jersey, but much warmer for a plane and I look a little more put together. Tshirt, scarf and I can be a hot mess and look at least good enough to check into a hotel and pull myself together!

 

[Wishing on a star]

Here is some good info....
Yet another UA passenger was threatened to be handcuffed and dragged off the aircraft, because somebody else wanted the seat he was already sitting in.
Also, a chart of 'denied boarding' (no mention of being forcibly removed AFTER boarding....)
An objective percent-per-number of passengers....

https://www.yahoo.com/news/united-airlines-passenger-threatened-handcuffs-073030438.html

NOTE: that this is not just about UA.... they are actually pretty far down on that list.

 

[DopeyDame]

My point was this - after the mess the day before - they begin with a lowball offer. $150 is nothing for hours of inconvenience. Also - the employee who tried to get on a full flight was being completely tone deaf to what had happened the day before. His behavior - and the response of the gate team - is part of why United sucks at customer service. You hire jerks - your service shows it.

I totally agree that starting with a $150 offer after this fiasco was totally tone deaf.
But I'm not sure what your issue with the employee is. I have had that same conversation hundreds of times in my life. When you're flying on an employee pass, when you get to the gate, you check in with the gate agent to let them know you're there and to make sure you're appropriately listed on the standby list. It's exactly what the flying employee had to do. It's routine and means nothing. I've absolutely stood by on flights that were wildly oversold. I knew full well I probably wouldn't get on it, but if I'm at the airport why wouldn't I? It's not unusual for employees to show up at the airport with a list of 4 or 5 flights - maybe the one at 8pm has a ton of room, so that's probably the flight I'm going to be on. But my vacation is over and I can get to the airport at 2pm. Of course I'll go to the flight that's oversold and standby. And then happily walk away and go get a drink to tide me over until the next flight that I'm standing by on.
If the employee threw a hissy fit or something, then there's be a problem. But just checking in with the gate agent? Hard to understand where the issue is with that, even given the recent events.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Christie is also requesting that Pres. Trump and Sect. of Transportation Elaine Chao to address these issues with overbooking and abuse of involuntary removal.
https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/chris-christie-asked-trump-administration-143509536.html

Apparantly, United has a monopoly at Newark International in New Jersey, where everyone is painfully aware of this problem, with United, specifically.

 

[Albort]

This is a full case of Ra- Paycial profiling...

 

[Babs Johnson]

Never heard of any of these airlines dragging paying customers off. Maybe they overbooked and offered incentives, thats fine. Never heard or saw any video like I saw of the United incident.

This happened not too long ago. Different circumstances, and maybe she "deserved it," but it has happened before on other airlines.

A woman who was dragged off a Delta Air Lines flight by Detroit Metro Airport police on Monday had ignored boarding procedures and may face criminal charges, according to airport authorities.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/woman-dragged-off-delta-flight_us_585193fde4b0e411bfd4f928

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Christie is also requesting that Pres. Trump and Sect. of Transportation Elaine Chao to address these issues with overbooking and abuse of involuntary removal.
https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/chris-christie-asked-trump-administration-143509536.html

Apparantly, United has a monopoly at Newark International in New Jersey, where everyone is painfully aware of this problem, with United, specifically.

I saw this! Surprised they don't just try to push the idea of MARKET PRICE to bump, set by the people on the flight at the time.

If they disallow overbooking, ticket prices will go up as the airlines protect their bottom lines. I don't think that's the best way to go.

I think the algorithms some of them use might need revisiting, because this seems like it's happening too frequently.

 

[melanielll]

I totally agree that starting with a $150 offer after this fiasco was totally tone deaf.
But I'm not sure what your issue with the employee is. I have had that same conversation hundreds of times in my life. When you're flying on an employee pass, when you get to the gate, you check in with the gate agent to let them know you're there and to make sure you're appropriately listed on the standby list. It's exactly what the flying employee had to do. It's routine and means nothing. I've absolutely stood by on flights that were wildly oversold. I knew full well I probably wouldn't get on it, but if I'm at the airport why wouldn't I? It's not unusual for employees to show up at the airport with a list of 4 or 5 flights - maybe the one at 8pm has a ton of room, so that's probably the flight I'm going to be on. But my vacation is over and I can get to the airport at 2pm. Of course I'll go to the flight that's oversold and standby. And then happily walk away and go get a drink to tide me over until the next flight that I'm standing by on.
If the employee threw a hissy fit or something, then there's be a problem. But just checking in with the gate agent? Hard to understand where the issue is with that, even given the recent events.

My main problem was with the gate agent telling him they would try. To me a better response would be - not likely. Look for something later. After all there were 33 people ahead of him.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

From twitter: United CEO Oscar Munoz: We won't use police to remove 'paid, seated' passengers anymore https://t.co/ZIU8s3oSYE

“It was a system failure,” Mr. Munoz said Wednesday. “We have not provided our front-line supervisors and managers and individuals with the proper tools, policies, procedures that allow them to use their common sense. … That’s on me. I have to fix that.

“This will never happen again,” he said.
​

Yes. And a dose of "duh"...

 

[bcla]

My main problem was with the gate agent telling him they would try. To me a better response would be - not likely. Look for something later. After all there were 33 people ahead of him.

Employee personal travel or buddy passes are always at the end of the waiting list.

I've traveled a few times on these passes. A relative was a travel agent and got them from sales as a personal favor for helping them meet sales targets. Hawaii wasn't too bad with less worry with just one flight in and out. However, try flying to Australia via NZ. The connections mean a higher chance of getting stuck somewhere, especially with only one flight a day for the long-distance leg. I think no room for Auckland to Sydney would have meant waiting a few hours to see if we would make it on the next flight.

 

[Pixiedustaway]

I see it happening Over and over. And the fact that united lost close to a billion dollars says something. something has to change. They can't take your money and then say "oh hey we're full. Take this voucher for free pretzels and get on then next flight 7 days from now"

 

[Gracie09]

I actually pair mine with these CHEAP cotton jersey blazers I saw and immediately bought at target - seriously those blazers were cheaper than Lululemon yoga pants! Tailored like a blazer with the thick cotton jersey, but much warmer for a plane and I look a little more put together. Tshirt, scarf and I can be a hot mess and look at least good enough to check into a hotel and pull myself together!

I have a great pair of knit "dress" pants from the gap that are made out of yoga pant material but look like dress pants (and have a button and fly). I often wear them to work. I love them and have them in multiple colors.