Man Forcibly Removed Due United Flight Overbooking

[It's me]

Title says it all:


https://www.google.ca/search?site=&s...+united+flight

[eltf177]

Boy, this is NOT going to win them a lot of loyalty - but it will probably end up in court...

[morgana]

Not that I fly much, but I'm absolutely never flying United again . . .

[wolfie]

Even though the cheap tickets (advance purchase nonrefundable) aren't a problem with overbooking (since it's nonrefundable, airline gets its money whether or not the person flies), people with those tickets are the first to get bumped (since they paid the least). Perhaps the airlines should offer a "no bump" (in exchange, giving up refund/transfer priveliges, so airline gets the money even if the person doesn't show up) option for full-fare tickets.

Would be interesting if the "expert from out of town" who's being flown in to fix a problem that has one or more planes grounded, but works for a 3rd-party service company (so airline doesn't have a "don't bump this person" flag on their reservation) were bumped. Would be even more interesting if the 3rd-party service company always booked on airline A, but they were being flown in to fix a problem with airline B (i.e. by bumping them, airline A is sabotaging airline B).

[notalwaysright]

We need better train service in this country.

[It's me]

Apparently the reason for the bumping was to accommodate four United employees.

For some reason I just don't see how forcibly dragging a peaceful, paying customer out of the aircraft was a particularly good idea. I'm with the people who say United should have bumped up the offer until they had the four seats. Even a couple of thousand dollars each would have been a lot less expensive that this cluster-f.

[Dreamstalker]

Call me cynical, but I'm wondering if the passenger didn't escalate things first (a doctor who 'needed to see patients'...that sounds like prime territory for an SC explosion). IIRC, there's wording in the Contract of Carriage about overbooking and the possibility of getting bumped if there are no volunteers.

[raw1989]

So as more of the story emerges it was because EMPLOYEES needed seats and as far as im aware employee seats are stand by seats and they only get to get on if theres empty seats, second off I grantee you if united had upped the anti of more money they would have had a bunch of people get off. I head on the news of a couple on a delta flight who gave up there seats and made 11,000 dollars. I don't see this ending well for united.

[raw1989]

Also after all said and done he got back on the plane and they had to make everyone get off and clean the plane witch took an hour so removing this guy was stupid

[mjr]

I don't understand why they had to clean the plane.

But aside from that, just like with hotels, I don't think overbooking should be allowed. I mean, I kinda understand why they do it, but that doesn't mean I have to agree with it.

[ImmBarb]

If you ever read an airline ticket, it is a master class in promising nothing. They will try to get you to your destination and if they don't; too bad so sad, it's not *our* fault.

My feeling is that once they allowed him to board, and his butt was in a seat they lost the right to bump him. That has no legal standing though, just what what I think is the right thing to do.

[Mr Hero]

I don't understand why they had to clean the plane.

But aside from that, just like with hotels, I don't think overbooking should be allowed. I mean, I kinda understand why they do it, but that doesn't mean I have to agree with it.

My hotel doesn't overbook. However, if you don't show up, you're still paying for the (first) night.

[lordlundar]

I don't understand why they had to clean the plane.

SOP for bio hazard.


Yes, that is blood from his mouth.

[notalwaysright]

SouthWest: We beat the competition. Not you.

I know overbooking is a thing, and they are technically allowed to remove a person for basically whatever reason they want but... Bad move. I haven't been able to bring myself to watch the video because that sort of thing disturbs me.

[taxguykarl]

Moreover, that is about 5 hours driving, why not put that flight crew (or bumpees) on a shuttle bus or even a limo to Louisville?
That would be cost-effective over this fallout. Also I agree with you, ImmBarb, once one's butt is in the seat, no bumping. I've been on overbooked flights before (yes, I know this one wasn't in reality) and there was no boarding 'til the passenger list was trimmed enough. Each time, Mrs. TGK & I set our price for being bumped.