United Airlines Forces Man off of oversold flight

[Westcoastwild]

Sure, for people who can afford the time off work and hotel.

Given that we're on a board with a lot of people who buy DVC, take DCL, think nothing of staying in deluxe resorts, or buy APs, I'm not buying that the majority of people here truly can't afford a long weekend away somewhere.

Plus, when people in "real life" say that to me, what they really mean is that they can't afford to stay at a 4 star hotel. Well, neither can I. Doesn't stop me from traveling.

 

[bcla]

A PP also mentioned that vouchers are useless to million mile flyers or something like that. I took that to mean they accumulate so many points that they fly for free anyway or fly through their business so it's free for them.

Cash works best.

It may be possible to request an open travel voucher. That could make a pretty nice gift. Also - frequent fliers might welcome a chance to fly without paying or using up points.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

It may be possible to request an open travel voucher. That could make a pretty nice gift. Also - frequent fliers might welcome a chance to fly without paying or using up points.

I can't find this particular poster but she said vouchers are worthless to her and she only accepts cash for bumps.

 

[mnrose]

There would be ways around. Certainly Golden Gate Ferry or the Tiburon ferry. Not that great an option if you've already driven to SF. Where do you park overnight and how do you get home from the ferry terminal?

There really is no other option if the accident happens and you are ON the approach to the bridge. Nope. Your choice is to sit or abandon you car, which is no option.

 

[Westcoastwild]

I can't find this particular poster but she said vouchers are worthless to her and she only accepts cash for bumps.

Amberpi, I think, or something like that. I know the vouchers aren't useful for everyone. But they're probably useful for several people on each flight. If I don't go for a voucher for 800, I'm not going to go for cash either- because if I choose to not go for the voucher, it's likely that I need to get home on time.

If you get a voucher for flying that means you were already willing to fly, so you probably don't dislike it that much. I know people who refuse to fly, so much so that they've passed on free holidays to Hawaii. I get that. But they aren't going to be given a voucher for voluntarily bumping because they would not buy a ticket to begin with.

 

[pryncess527]

Given that we're on a board with a lot of people who buy DVC, take DCL, think nothing of staying in deluxe resorts, or buy APs, I'm not buying that the majority of people here truly can't afford a long weekend away somewhere.

Plus, when people in "real life" say that to me, what they really mean is that they can't afford to stay at a 4 star hotel. Well, neither can I. Doesn't stop me from traveling.

Not everyone who hangs out on CB actually gets to vacation that often. Some of us just dream. I haven't been to Disney since 1997 . . .
I suppose, I can "afford" it, but my priorities are such that a voucher is not as good as cash to me. Using it has strings & complications, which I think is the only point most people were trying to make.

 

[mummabear]

I'm guessing those flights were full and it would have caused a domino effect of people getting bumped. The later one probably had empty seats.

it was cheaper and easier to remove their passengers. Without the reciprocal rule there probably isn't a mechanism to do that anymore. I can't see the GA running over to the AA desk paying for 4 flights with a United CC.

Why not? Be cheaper than $800 likely.
Certainly cheaper than 250M

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Amberpi, I think, or something like that. I know the vouchers aren't useful for everyone. But they're probably useful for several people on each flight. If I don't go for a voucher for 800, I'm not going to go for cash either- because if I choose to not go for the voucher, it's likely that I need to get home on time.

If you get a voucher for flying that means you were already willing to fly, so you probably don't dislike it that much. I know people who refuse to fly, so much so that they've passed on free holidays to Hawaii. I get that. But they aren't going to be given a voucher for voluntarily bumping because they would not buy a ticket to begin with.

It is nice to have everything so cut and dry.

The last time I flew? It was because I wanted to see my mother before she died. And no, I wouldn't have voluntarily been bumped, because I need to get to her.

But the guy wasn't voluntarily bumped. They knocked him out and dragged him off of the plane.

So, yes, I dislike it that much. So giving me a voucher is not worth the paper it is printed on. Honestly, if they gave me one, I might just tear it up into little pieces and give it back.

 

[Westcoastwild]

Not everyone who hangs out on CB actually gets to vacation that often. Some of us just dream. I haven't been to Disney since 1997 . . .
I suppose, I can "afford" it, but my priorities are such that a voucher is not as good as cash to me. Using it has strings & complications, which I think is the only point most people were trying to make.

Totally fair point. I can't afford Disney on a regular basis either. But do you fly anywhere that you'd use a voucher at all? My point is that to receive a voucher means that you are flying somewhere to begin with. I can understand why United would only offer vouchers; many people WOULD use them.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I wasn't saying it was racist he was chosen, I asked if he had been another race, had the outcome, either not being assaulted or the public reaction to it be any different.
Another poster mentioned age, I wonder the same thing if he was 25 rather than 69? Would we still be sympathetic?

I see what you're saying. And I can see that this could impact some people's level of sympathy for the passenger. To me personally, all of these things are irrelevant. I just don't think this policy is fair to any paying customer. Whether the issue is age or whether he does or doesn't have a checkered past (!!) -- none of that is why he was removed. That was due to United mismanagement.

 

[sunshinehighway]

Given that we're on a board with a lot of people who buy DVC, take DCL, think nothing of staying in deluxe resorts, or buy APs, I'm not buying that the majority of people here truly can't afford a long weekend away somewhere.

Plus, when people in "real life" say that to me, what they really mean is that they can't afford to stay at a 4 star hotel. Well, neither can I. Doesn't stop me from traveling.

That's a big assumption. There's lots of people here who don't travel frequently.
Me? I travel somewhat frequently but depending on the circumstances, a voucher wouldn't make me happy with getting bumped. With a voucher the person still has to have the time off and is still ending up paying out of pocket to use it. That just doesn't work for some people.

 

[Westcoastwild]

It is nice to have everything so cut and dry.

The last time I flew? It was because I wanted to see my mother before she died. And no, I wouldn't have voluntarily been bumped, because I need to get to her.

But the guy wasn't voluntarily bumped. They knocked him out and dragged him off of the plane.

So, yes, I dislike it that much. So giving me a voucher is not worth the paper it is printed on. Honestly, if they gave me one, I might just tear it up into little pieces and give it back.

But since the guy was INVOLUNTARILY bumped he was entitled to cash, right? So at that point we aren't talking about vouchers.

I'm so so sorry about your mother. In no way did I mean to imply that people should volunteer to be bumped under similar circumstances. You can't put any kind of price on that.

 

[sunshinehighway]

Why not? Be cheaper than $800 likely.
Certainly cheaper than 250M

I just read they were refunding everyone on that flight. Guess it would've been cheaper than having to do that too. Oops.

 

[3 MEN AND A BOAT]

Last time I flew was about 4yrs ago. DW and I went to visit family in Kansas. I told her then if I have a choice from then on we're driving, and the next trip we took to visit family in Kansas we drove from Mobile, Al. Sometimes people fly on such a rare occasion that a voucher is useless.
Cash is King.

 

[Westcoastwild]

That's a big assumption. There's lots of people here who don't travel frequently.
Me? I travel somewhat frequently but depending on the circumstances, a voucher wouldn't make me happy with getting bumped. With a voucher the person still has to have the time off and is still ending up paying out of pocket to use it. That just doesn't work for some people.

Right, but then you don't volunteer. If you get involuntarily bumped, you're entitled to a check.

I am so not talking about being "happy". I am never happy about flight delays. I'm talking about making the best of it.

 

[Westcoastwild]

I just read they were refunding everyone on that flight. Guess it would've been cheaper than having to do that too. Oops.

Lol. If that's true, United is running scared. Good. Maybe they might learn something from this whole fiasco.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Also with vouchers you still have to
Pay taxes and government fees. It's not entirely a free flight.

 

[mummabear]

I respect your choice, but I would have just found a way to use the vouchers. There's really nowhere you want to go? 800 will take you almost anywhere in the world.

It's not a free trip, out still have taxes, hotels and other costs of going on holiday, if I can't afford those things it doesn't really matter if the voucher is for $100,000

Totally fair point. I can't afford Disney on a regular basis either. But do you fly anywhere that you'd use a voucher at all? My point is that to receive a voucher means that you are flying somewhere to begin with. I can understand why United would only offer vouchers; many people WOULD use them.

Nope, theynoffer them because they think many people win't use them so it costs them nothing.

 

[sunshinehighway]

Right, but then you don't volunteer. If you get involuntarily bumped, you're entitled to a check.

I am so not talking about being "happy". I am never happy about flight delays. I'm talking about making the best of it.

Ok. I guess I really don't understand what you are talking about.
There's lots of reasons people wouldn't want vouchers.

 

[bcla]

I can't find this particular poster but she said vouchers are worthless to her and she only accepts cash for bumps.

I remember the movie version of Up in the Air, where the lead character holds onto his frequent flier miles as if they're priceless. His cashing out miles to buy his sister and new husband a trip around the world marks a change in his perspective. I don't know how many frequent fliers would be willing to take an open voucher, but it's got to be at least a few.

I don't recall exactly why they were issued, but I remember airline coupons in the early 80s on several airlines. I'd see them listed for sale in newspaper classified ads. They might go for 60 cents on the dollar.