United Airlines Forces Man off of oversold flight

[mummabear]

This video just surfaced.

So it shows a man that was calm, I didn't see and irrational belligerent passenger here did you?

 

[jiminyC_fan]

So it shows a man that was calm, I didn't see and irrational belligerent passenger here did you?

I saw a man planning a lawsuit before anything went down.

 

[mnrose]

If one is asked to leave, complying is probably the best course of action. Failure to do so could be considered interfering with a flight crew.

Especially considering that the police were called AFTER he was off the aircraft and then ran back on with his hands in the air and acting somewhat irrational (perhaps understandable), but he RAN back on. It was then that police were called and he was removed. He ran back on because he learned, once off, that he would be delayed until the following afternoon.

 

[PollyannaMom]

...The policy already existed. Where was the outrage then?

I think you answered your own question:

Terms and conditions apply to everything though. Your Netflix account, your Facebook profile, your credit card, Disneyworld tickets. And most people have NO CLUE what the fine print says.

I agree with you that most of us didn't even realize this was one more thing we had to worry about.

But I also agree with this:

You can't compare air travel to just any other business though. Getting bumped from a flight could have real consequences and losses that you're not going to have in dealings with other businesses...

Air travel is a much bigger deal than say, buying a sweater. I mean, look right here on this board. - People book meals and rides at Disney months in advance, placing enough importance on them to come here and ask each other for advice. Being delayed a day would mean missing out on those carefully detailed (not to mention expensive) plans and this incident has made it feel like a real possibility to a lot of people.

In addition to that, there's no really equal choice here. Unlike just choosing a different sweater at another store, my alternative to air travel is to drive - which isn't on the same level for me at all, as it would cut my time at my destination in half. So the airlines know I'm stuck with whatever fine print suits them.

I think people have been putting up with a lot when it come to air travel. Bag fees, fees to pick seats, fees for food, fees for this and that, delays, cancelled flights, chaos from technical problems. I think this whole thing and United's response just caused the feelings of customers to boil over.

Exactly! They've been "boiling the frog" for so long because we all just sucked it up rather that not fly at all.

...legally they were right. Yeah it might be true but look where that argument got them. There's a difference between being legally right and doing the right thing. Untied is finding that out.

 

[bcla]

Especially considering that the police were called AFTER he was off the aircraft and then ran back on with his hands in the air and acting somewhat irrational (perhaps understandable), but he RAN back on. It was then that police were called and he was removed. He ran back on because he learned, once off, that he would be delayed until the following afternoon.

There were two times. One was when they first arrived to remove him from the plane. Then he managed to run back on from the terminal, and kind of went to the back and waited for something to happen.

 

[Westcoastwild]

The offer to drive MYSELF to Louisville would have been a deal breaker, LOL. If they offered a limo ride, I might accept. But I probably would have been persuaded by the $800 voucher and hotel and meals.

Many here have stated that the $800 voucher wouldn't be acceptable for whatever reasons. Adding a rental car doesn't seem like it would sweeten the pot, but who knows. Maybe it would.

LOL. Yes. Even if I got a rental car for free. 5 hour drive is hard on my body and stressful. If I've already decided to fly, I'm flying. If driving was something I wanted to do, I wouldn't have bought the plane ticket to begin with.

 

[Westcoastwild]

I think you answered your own question:



I agree with you that most of us didn't even realize this was one more thing we had to worry about.

But I also agree with this:



Air travel is a much bigger deal than say, buying a sweater. I mean, look right here on this board. - People book meals and rides at Disney months in advance, placing enough importance on them to come here and ask each other for advice. Being delayed a day would mean missing out on those carefully detailed (not to mention expensive) plans and this incident has made it feel like a real possibility to a lot of people.

In addition to that, there's no really equal choice here. Unlike just choosing a different sweater at another store, my alternative to air travel is to drive - which isn't on the same level for me at all, as it would cut my time at my destination in half. So the airlines know I'm stuck with whatever fine print suits them.



Exactly! They've been "boiling the frog" for so long because we all just sucked it up rather that not fly at all.

But that's a risk with any type of travel. Cars break down. Roads close. Trains derail.

I know some people really aren't going to like this argument. BUT....If you miss a day at Disney, all you are really out of is one day's time. You aren't even necessarily out a pass day because your pass doesn't activate until you enter the park, so if you have a planned a free day, you would still be able to use your full pass. ADRs and fast passes can be changed, and even if you can't replace them exactly, your trip isn't ruined. I mean, I understand that it would suck to get your plans messed up. It does. It's happened to me. That's why I build a "waste" day into most vacations now. Then if I get sick or delayed, I have a little wiggle room. Because any kind of travel has its downsides. Planning is all well and good but I don't think you should ever count on everything going exactly to plan on vacation (or in life for that matter).

 

[mefordis]

This guy is going to own half the airline when this is over. I hope he does. This can only be good for the customer in the future. No more being treated like cargo.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...ays-fearless-girl-violates-his-rights-n745676

United Airlines Offers Refunds as Outrage at a Violent Removal Continues

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/12/business/united-dragged-passenger-video-chicago.html

 

[bcla]

LOL. Yes. Even if I got a rental car for free. 5 hour drive is hard on my body and stressful. If I've already decided to fly, I'm flying. If driving was something I wanted to do, I wouldn't have bought the plane ticket to begin with.

Depends I guess. I prefer to drive if it's under 400 miles. My wife wanted to take the family to Disneyland and insisted on air travel because she thought it would be less tiring/stressful. We did use a special deal (BOGO from our credit card) for airfare, but it was still about $400 for SFO-SNA for three, and $125 including taxes for a rental car. We still needed to pay for parking at DL and at the hotel.

I frankly prefer driving because there's flexibility if one misses a flight. Taking a flight meant we had to arrange everything, including parking our car, public transportation to the airport, etc. Then we had to stress out about arriving at the airport in time, especially with a rental. All told I think it normally takes about 5-1/2 hours to drive, but about 4 trying to deal with all the transportation and waiting at the airport. Since then I've driven every time, although once we decided to use a rental car.

 

[Westcoastwild]

This guy is going to own half the airline when this is over. I hope he does. This can only be good for the customer in the future. No more being treated like cargo.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...ays-fearless-girl-violates-his-rights-n745676

United Airlines Offers Refunds as Outrage at a Violent Removal Continues

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/12/business/united-dragged-passenger-video-chicago.html

I was really, really confused for a moment there. I hope they don't move the little statue before I get a chance to see it- I thought it was a pretty clever play on the bull.

 

[Westcoastwild]

Depends I guess. I prefer to drive if it's under 400 miles. My wife wanted to take the family to Disneyland and insisted on air travel because she thought it would be less tiring/stressful. We did use a special deal (BOGO from our credit card) for airfare, but it was still about $400 for SFO-SNA for three, and $125 including taxes for a rental car. We still needed to pay for parking at DL and at the hotel.

I frankly prefer driving because there's flexibility if one misses a flight. Taking a flight meant we had to arrange everything, including parking our car, public transportation to the airport, etc. Then we had to stress out about arriving at the airport in time, especially with a rental. All told I think it normally takes about 5-1/2 hours to drive, but about 4 trying to deal with all the transportation and waiting at the airport. Since then I've driven every time, although once we decided to use a rental car.

I can totally understand that. I have tendon damage in one leg- I used to really enjoy driving but now anything after about 180 miles is painful. I miss the flexibility and especially driving my own car- I can fly to an airport near a national park and rent a car, usually for less than driving my own, but I miss the cool roadside stuff and just driving a car I'm familiar with.

 

[bcla]

I can totally understand that. I have tendon damage in one leg- I used to really enjoy driving but now anything after about 180 miles is painful. I miss the flexibility and especially driving my own car- I can fly to an airport near a national park and rent a car, usually for less than driving my own, but I miss the cool roadside stuff and just driving a car I'm familiar with.

I think part of it is my wife hates to drive and thinks that I should hate it too. I prefer the flexibility, especially if it's reasonably close.

I wouldn't mind taking a bus or train though.

 

[Albort]

I think part of it is my wife hates to drive and thinks that I should hate it too. I prefer the flexibility, especially if it's reasonably close.

I wouldn't mind taking a bus or train though.

wished trains were cheaper... the price to take a train is double of an airplane ticket... :|

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Especially considering that the police were called AFTER he was off the aircraft and then ran back on with his hands in the air and acting somewhat irrational (perhaps understandable), but he RAN back on. It was then that police were called and he was removed. He ran back on because he learned, once off, that he would be delayed until the following afternoon.

I can't help but wonder what in the world was going on from a security perspective that he was able to run back on the plane?? Just a mess.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I have been listening to lawyers talk today, they say he has a strong case against them.and the CEO admitted he was not being belligerent or anything else.

 

[mummabear]

The whole "take your clothes off" hypothetical request is just ridiculous on its face.

The idea that air crew have supreme authority and that we should do anything they say without question is also ridiculous.

I agree with many of the things that I would do when asked, put on my shoes, sit down/return to my seat, put on my seatbelt etc these are all safety issues for myself and/or others.

You mentioned if you were asked to switch seat so a parent and child could sit together, I personally would do this where it wasn't splitting me from my own but I have seen in other threads here on the DIS many wouldnt do that because they paid for that seat, or preferred boarding etc

 

[phamton]

Here's another side to the story. https://thepilotwifelife.wordpress....thoughts-from-a-pilot-wife-about-flight-3411/

 

[bcla]

The idea that air crew have supreme authority and that we should do anything they say without question is also ridiculous.

They do have supreme authority while they're in control. That doesn't mean they couldn't face legal consequences for abuse, but the last thing that's needed is a passenger questioning their authority. You'd deal with chaos if passengers were allowed to determine if they should or shouldn't obey the commands of a flight crew.

Asking a passenger to leave doesn't sound like something that's beyond the authority of a crew to request.

 

[Westcoastwild]

wished trains were cheaper... the price to take a train is double of an airplane ticket... :|[/

Here's another side to the story. https://thepilotwifelife.wordpress....thoughts-from-a-pilot-wife-about-flight-3411/

Already been posted and analyzed a few pages back, actually.


It'll be interesting to see what actually happens. The CEO has said they'll "likely" never deplane anyone for the same reason again. Delta has said that there is nothing "wrong" with the overbooking system, and the problem was not the deplaning but how United handled it. Two more members of the security team have been suspended but there is no indication yet that they'll get any kind of punishment. More than 100,000 people have signed a petition calling for Munoz's resignation but he's already said he won't resign, which is pretty much admitting he's not all that sorry about what happened- he's just sorry that there's a PR mess.

I'm guessing that what United really hopes for is to shove money at the problems and then not change anything. I really doubt that further customer protection will come out of this, unless it's on local (individual airport) level.

 

[BroganMc]

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

Ya think? Their stock is tanking and the passenger has hired a high-priced attorney. Throw in the various consumer boycotts ramping up and United will be lucky to get out of this one without bankruptcy and a major buyout. The video was that horrible.

No airline should have the right to eject a passenger for any reason other than the safety of the other passengers and crew. No question. Weather and equipment delays can delay or disrupt travel, but this situation had nothing to do with either. Instead you had a callous airline staff who got caught treating their customers like unwanted cattle.

I only fly once or twice a year and that is exclusively on one airline (Southwest). I do that because I also travel with a power wheelchair and I have to zealously protect my wheels. Southwest has the better reputation for customer service and handling of disabled passengers. I just flew with them early Monday morning. They were absolute champs taking excellent care of me and my stuff. Yes, there have been issues over the years. (Once they broke my power chair when unloading it.) But they dealt with it by giving me a rental replacement, paying to fix the damage ASAP and giving me a travel voucher good for the next flight. I have not heard good things about United. You can bet I won't touch them with a 10 foot pole now.

I'm actually surprised anyone on this thread could ever have defended them or found fault with the passenger. Surely the videos made it clear this was an excessive use of force on a harmless person.