United Airlines Forces Man off of oversold flight

[Westcoastwild]

I haven't noticed much difference between united and delta in recent years. Had decent experiences with Alaska, but JetBlue beats them all hands down.

I didn't know seats could be as close together as the last delta flight I took. I never saw as much overbooking before, as I did recently with united.

Greyhound in the sky (greyhound circa 2001).

I agree with you on the closeness of the seats. But Delta customer service is significantly better than United, the prices are usually better with more nonstop options, and I really like the Comfort Plus seats. Legroom is my chief grudge against UA and AA. They keep taking it away!

 

[bcla]

And you know this how?

Because this has been big news around the world, even in NZ. Enough for articles on overbooking practices and compensation in NZ. I saw these before I posted the comment.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11836111

Air New Zealand has a denied boarding policy stated in their conditions of carriage.

https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/assets/PDFs/conditions-of-carriage-18-january-2013.pdf

9.3 If we are unable to provide previously confirmed space, we shall provide compensation as required by any applicable law or pursuant to our denied boarding compensation policy. (Further information is available from us on request).​

 

[mummabear]

Because this has been big news around the world, even in NZ. Enough for articles on overbooking practices and compensation in NZ. I saw these before I posted the comment.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11836111

Air New Zealand has a denied boarding policy stated in their conditions of carriage.

https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/assets/PDFs/conditions-of-carriage-18-january-2013.pdf

9.3 If we are unable to provide previously confirmed space, we shall provide compensation as required by any applicable law or pursuant to our denied boarding compensation policy. (Further information is available from us on request).​

And this is because they code share with other airlines, for example to fly Wgtn-NYC you would fly wgtn-auck in Air NZ, Auck to LAX, San Fran or Houston then connect on an Air NZ ticket onto a parner airline to NYC. Thus they have to have conditions to cover these events. It is however not a practice on their own flights.

 

[bryanb]

I'm sure that airlines have all protected themselves legally to the maximum extent allowed by governments. That said, we should not allow our conduct to be governed by the limits of the law... and nor should companies.

There's a chance that United had some bad luck here in how this situation played out. But as a frequent flyer, I believe this was a symptom of United's bigger issues, and the moral outrage over this man's treatment -- and the CEO's subsequent bungling of a PR mess -- speak to the fact that some things need to change there.

Domestic carriers have become arrogant in how they deal with paying passengers. In the days when they were not profitable, they happily accepted public subsidies and safety nets. Now they've taken things too far in how they treat people. I don't mind that United and other airlines will need to do some soul searching on how they conduct business.

 

[mummabear]

According to the Vancouver Sun US airlines involuntarily bumped 40,000 passangers last year, with another 434,000 taking an incentive to be bumped.
http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/...ghts+bump+passengers+here/13295193/story.html

 

[mummabear]

https://www.google.co.nz/amp/foreig...hinese-blame-america-for-united-airlines/amp/

Interesting piece.

Do you think the assault would have happened if the doctor had been either a) white (this article claims he would have been treated better) or b) if he was African american (as this article claims our of fear of being labeled racist)

 

[melanielll]

I flew United the morning after this incident. When I got to the gate, the tv monitor said that the flight was overbooked by 4 people and they were looking for "volunteers" (I am not sure they know what that word means) to take a $150 voucher to give up their seats. So - they didn't learn from the day before. Everyone in the gate area was tense - and everyone had their phones out - ready to film. Making it worse - a uniformed employee came up to the desk and said he wanted to be put on the plane. It was a personal trip. The gate staff told him ok. Any passenger within earshot was not amused. Geez. Now 5 volunteers are needed. Plus- they had 29 people on standby.

Finally - they raise the price to $300 and they had one taker. After more time, a guy traveling with his family went up to the counter and negotiated for a while. They finally upped the offer and the guy took it. The employee never got on the flight.

 

[sam_gordon]

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.

 

[mnrose]

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.

That is interesting. I've taken involuntary offers over the years (mainly from Delta....LOL), and made out great in the process (but then, I'm mainly a leisure traveler with more time than most), and I've been involuntarily bumped as well (on a commuter run, where they literally have flights every hour) so I got a big fat nothing (you only get compensation for involuntary bumping if you have a delay of a certain length in getting to your destination). It's aggravating to be sure, but I remind myself that I ALSO get delayed (unexpectedly) driving down the highway....the longest was HOURS in length because there was a head on on the Golden Gate Bridge and the entire bridge was closed for a long, long time (and, that is the ONLY way to get from point A to point B when you work in San Francisco and live across that bridge). There was no one for me to sue. No compensation. No nothing. We are getting far too demanding if we expect our lives to run perfectly all the time. No matter your form of transportation, you can experience significant delays (I suppose with the possible exception of walking...LOL).

 

[punkin]

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?

 

[mom2rtk]

I flew United the morning after this incident. When I got to the gate, the tv monitor said that the flight was overbooked by 4 people and they were looking for "volunteers" (I am not sure they know what that word means) to take a $150 voucher to give up their seats. So - they didn't learn from the day before. Everyone in the gate area was tense - and everyone had their phones out - ready to film. Making it worse - a uniformed employee came up to the desk and said he wanted to be put on the plane. It was a personal trip. The gate staff told him ok. Any passenger within earshot was not amused. Geez. Now 5 volunteers are needed. Plus- they had 29 people on standby.

Finally - they raise the price to $300 and they had one taker. After more time, a guy traveling with his family went up to the counter and negotiated for a while. They finally upped the offer and the guy took it. The employee never got on the flight.

That flight was likely oversold long before the recent incident. I wouldn't have been the least bit tense. Hopefully they wouldn't make the same mistake twice in the same week.

I don't have an issue with them overbooking. I DO have an issue with them doing it but setting an unreasonable limit on how high they'll go with their compensation before resorting to an involuntary bump. If they want to play this game, they should have to pay what the market will bear.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Do you think the assault would have happened if the doctor had been either a) white (this article claims he would have been treated better) or b) if he was African american (as this article claims our of fear of being labeled racist)

I think this is bull, and a big part of what is currently wrong with this country -- that SO MANY people jump to a racial argument about almost anything.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I agree with you on the closeness of the seats. But Delta customer service is significantly better than United, the prices are usually better with more nonstop options, and I really like the Comfort Plus seats. Legroom is my chief grudge against UA and AA. They keep taking it away!

The thing is, after that recent Delta experience, I would NOT even consider flying with them unless I could book a Comfort Plus seat. That seems like "quite a racket", as my Grandmother would have said. It was ridiculous... I felt like the guy in front of me was RIGHT IN MY FACE. Crazy. Worse than taking a crowded city bus.

I used to travel routinely for work, and back in the day, American was the best... more space in coach all the time. So disappointed they changed that, but luckily JetBlue has been expanding and I can fly them to many more places now.

 

[declansdad]

I flew United the morning after this incident. When I got to the gate, the tv monitor said that the flight was overbooked by 4 people and they were looking for "volunteers" (I am not sure they know what that word means) to take a $150 voucher to give up their seats. So - they didn't learn from the day before. Everyone in the gate area was tense - and everyone had their phones out - ready to film. Making it worse - a uniformed employee came up to the desk and said he wanted to be put on the plane. It was a personal trip. The gate staff told him ok. Any passenger within earshot was not amused. Geez. Now 5 volunteers are needed. Plus- they had 29 people on standby.

Finally - they raise the price to $300 and they had one taker. After more time, a guy traveling with his family went up to the counter and negotiated for a while. They finally upped the offer and the guy took it. The employee never got on the flight.

I don't see anything wrong with this.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

And so it begins. It looks as if Dr. Dao, while still hospitalized, has hired two lawyers to represent him - one, a personal injury specialist, the other, a corporate specialist.

 

[sunshinehighway]

Looks like stories of United's treatment of customers is starting to trickle out. It'll be interesting to see where this goes.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

And so it begins. It looks as if Dr. Dao, while still hospitalized, has hired two lawyers to represent him - one, a personal injury specialist, the other, a corporate specialist.

I don't blame him. If he's still hospitalized I wouldn't be surprised if he has a small subdural hematoma from the hit on the face/head.

 

[Praying Colonel]

And so it begins. It looks as if Dr. Dao, while still hospitalized, has hired two lawyers to represent him - one, a personal injury specialist, the other, a corporate specialist.

I don't see the problem. I guarantee United has a team of lawyers and other specialists working this already. For all we know they've already reached out to the passenger with some type of settlement offer and he's seeking counsel for that purpose.

 

[anniemae]

And so it begins. It looks as if Dr. Dao, while still hospitalized, has hired two lawyers to represent him - one, a personal injury specialist, the other, a corporate specialist.

Good for him. He needs someone to guide him through this mess.

 

[gottaluvPluto]

Do you think the assault would have happened if the doctor had been either a) white (this article claims he would have been treated better) or b) if he was African american (as this article claims our of fear of being labeled racist)[/QUOTE]

Race had nothing to do with this situation. On the flip side, maybe it was size discrimination. I don't think a body builder or anyone that displays considerate amount of muscles would have been treated this way.