Don't fly United

[Anonymous]

I am a United frequent flyer and I am appalled at the video. The overbooking thing has gone too far. I was on a flight 2 weeks ago and they started the request for volunteers at $800 for a flight that was leaving about 4 hours later so not a terrible back up plan. It took a while to get enough volunteers even when the deal was pretty good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have had this happen to me on Delta, they said they overbooked a flight and needed 4 seats and computer "randoMLY" picked my family of 4. We were bumped, even before we got on the plane, and we were checking in early so we weren't the last ones to arrive whatsoever. They offered us a flight 10 hours later. We were in business. Huge argument ensued. I had two small children, so spend 10 extra hours in an international airport with no where to go, then get on a 9 hour flight, hell to the no. After 2 hours of arguing, crying, negotiating, they reluctantly agreed to put us 4, in 2 seats and 2 seats in coach, with NO refund on price difference, they just beat us down, just so we could get on our original flight (why they didn't offer these coach seats to begin with is insane). We get on the flight and are on the runway, i look out my kid's window seat window and see 4 black town cars literally driving on the runway to our plane, people get out, and board our plane. Our seats apparently were for these people. F Delta.

You are kidding me. You paid for business class, and they bumped you to coach? I hope you wrote a letter of complaint.

Yes this really happened to me on a flight from CDG to IAD in 2015. I let my DH handle it (who is very calm and assertive in these kind of situations) while I cried big fat crocodile tears. We never got a refund. They acted at the end as if we were the problem and they were doing us such a big favor. We were 3.5 hours EARLY for our flight, we were not flying standby or late or last to check in. Every time I fly now I get nervous it will happen again.

You mean on Air France, not Delta right? Delta doesn't fly CDG to IAD.

They are partner airlines, so it was a joint flight if you are trying to get technical. Just wait until it happens to you "I am so sorry but it looks like you have been bumped to our next flight as our flight is full. It is no problem for you because you can have exact same seat assignments in the next flight. That flight leaves in 10 hours so it is not possible to check you in at this time. If you would like to come back in 7 hours we can check you in. Now can you step to the side so I can help the next customer that would be very nice....."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The passenger is welcome to take United and the police to court on this and seek compensation, but my guess is they won't win.

Dear United Shill, there's no way in hell that your airline lets this one go to court. The passenger will get a nice payoff to compensate for being abused and a non-disclosure agreement on top. Whatever legalities you think may entitle an airline to treat a paying customer in this fashion, you lose much more in the court of public opinion.

Not a United shill, just someone who flies a lot, and usually not on United.

The people who dragged him off were plainclothes members of Chicago Department of Aviation Police. United isn't at fault for their behavior. United followed procedures for a involuntary denied boarding, and the passenger refused to comply, so they called police.

If a police officer asks me to do X, I'm going go to do it. We can hash out in court later if the order was legal, but not complying is breaking the law, and I don't want that charge.

Why wouldn't the passenger comply with a legal order? They can complain to the airline or police later.

Facts matter. This was not an involuntary denied boarding. The passenger was boarded - which means that the gate attendant also scanned in his boarding pass at the door, and seated. Involuntary denied boarding has to have a reasonable legal meaning. Moreover, I question them even invoking the overbooking provisions since the issue isn't overbooking by paid/revenue passengers but the need to accommodate flight crew for next day staffing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have had this happen to me on Delta, they said they overbooked a flight and needed 4 seats and computer "randoMLY" picked my family of 4. We were bumped, even before we got on the plane, and we were checking in early so we weren't the last ones to arrive whatsoever. They offered us a flight 10 hours later. We were in business. Huge argument ensued. I had two small children, so spend 10 extra hours in an international airport with no where to go, then get on a 9 hour flight, hell to the no. After 2 hours of arguing, crying, negotiating, they reluctantly agreed to put us 4, in 2 seats and 2 seats in coach, with NO refund on price difference, they just beat us down, just so we could get on our original flight (why they didn't offer these coach seats to begin with is insane). We get on the flight and are on the runway, i look out my kid's window seat window and see 4 black town cars literally driving on the runway to our plane, people get out, and board our plane. Our seats apparently were for these people. F Delta.

You are kidding me. You paid for business class, and they bumped you to coach? I hope you wrote a letter of complaint.

Yes this really happened to me on a flight from CDG to IAD in 2015. I let my DH handle it (who is very calm and assertive in these kind of situations) while I cried big fat crocodile tears. We never got a refund. They acted at the end as if we were the problem and they were doing us such a big favor. We were 3.5 hours EARLY for our flight, we were not flying standby or late or last to check in. Every time I fly now I get nervous it will happen again.

You mean on Air France, not Delta right? Delta doesn't fly CDG to IAD.

They are partner airlines, so it was a joint flight if you are trying to get technical. Just wait until it happens to you "I am so sorry but it looks like you have been bumped to our next flight as our flight is full. It is no problem for you because you can have exact same seat assignments in the next flight. That flight leaves in 10 hours so it is not possible to check you in at this time. If you would like to come back in 7 hours we can check you in. Now can you step to the side so I can help the next customer that would be very nice....."

+1000. I am appalled by the apologists

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bitchy flight attendants and customer service.

Was there somewhere in the article that they wanted to fly their own staff as this thread suggests? On buddy passes? My cousin is a flight attendant and flies her family everywhere constantly. It bothers me mostly that they fly first class, which means that everyone else with points doesn't get an upgrade.

It was a flight crew that they needed to get in place for the next day.

And it is United's fault for either not counting seats properly or making other arrangements for their crew. But to forcibly bump/remove a paying, lawful customer who has alredu embarked and is seated, is deplorable.

I wouldn't want to be their defense attorney.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have had this happen to me on Delta, they said they overbooked a flight and needed 4 seats and computer "randoMLY" picked my family of 4. We were bumped, even before we got on the plane, and we were checking in early so we weren't the last ones to arrive whatsoever. They offered us a flight 10 hours later. We were in business. Huge argument ensued. I had two small children, so spend 10 extra hours in an international airport with no where to go, then get on a 9 hour flight, hell to the no. After 2 hours of arguing, crying, negotiating, they reluctantly agreed to put us 4, in 2 seats and 2 seats in coach, with NO refund on price difference, they just beat us down, just so we could get on our original flight (why they didn't offer these coach seats to begin with is insane). We get on the flight and are on the runway, i look out my kid's window seat window and see 4 black town cars literally driving on the runway to our plane, people get out, and board our plane. Our seats apparently were for these people. F Delta.

F Delta, indeed! I am so mad on your behalf!

I am too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are regulations about how airlines choose who to bump, and the process (including compensation offers). My guess is United followed them. The person who was forcibly removed did not comply with a lawful order.

I don't work for United.. but I'm not sure why this passenger didn't just comply with the police asking him to leave. Does he also not pull over his car when police try to stop him?

Because he is a doctor with an oath to serve his patients, who he was scheduled to see in the morning. The alternative flight was at 3:00 today. If you were one of his patients and had a scheduled appointment for Monday morning, wouldn't you be perturbed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are regulations about how airlines choose who to bump, and the process (including compensation offers). My guess is United followed them. The person who was forcibly removed did not comply with a lawful order.

I don't work for United.. but I'm not sure why this passenger didn't just comply with the police asking him to leave. Does he also not pull over his car when police try to stop him?

Because he is a doctor with an oath to serve his patients, who he was scheduled to see in the morning. The alternative flight was at 3:00 today. If you were one of his patients and had a scheduled appointment for Monday morning, wouldn't you be perturbed?

That's exactly why airlines have to follow procedure to determine who gets kicked off. The aren't in the business of making judgment calls of which passenger's need is more important. The computer determines it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are regulations about how airlines choose who to bump, and the process (including compensation offers). My guess is United followed them. The person who was forcibly removed did not comply with a lawful order.

I don't work for United.. but I'm not sure why this passenger didn't just comply with the police asking him to leave. Does he also not pull over his car when police try to stop him?

Because he is a doctor with an oath to serve his patients, who he was scheduled to see in the morning. The alternative flight was at 3:00 today. If you were one of his patients and had a scheduled appointment for Monday morning, wouldn't you be perturbed?

Even if he was not a doctor, it is still wrong to force him out. He could have a funeral to attend, a sick relative to visit, defend a dissertation, etc. there is a reason he did not volunteer his seat, and this reason should be respected.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand why airlines are allowed to overbook. I've always expected that if I pay for a seat, that I will get to be on that flight. Will never book a flight with United in the future.

[Anonymous]

United's response to this doesn't improve the situation much


“Flight 3411 from Chicago to Louisville was overbooked. After our team looked for volunteers, one customer refused to leave the aircraft voluntarily and law enforcement was asked to come to the gate.
We apologize for the overbook situation.”

Being forced off the plane is not leaving voluntarily.

I haven't flown United in nearly 20 years. They should be forced to voluntarily leave the business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Facts matter. This was not an involuntary denied boarding. The passenger was boarded - which means that the gate attendant also scanned in his boarding pass at the door, and seated. Involuntary denied boarding has to have a reasonable legal meaning. Moreover, I question them even invoking the overbooking provisions since the issue isn't overbooking by paid/revenue passengers but the need to accommodate flight crew for next day staffing.

I had this happen once when on one of those small planes. Once everyone boarded, they determined we were over the weight limit and some people and bags had to get off. I think they offered some vouchers and people took it (this was a while ago). So if no one offers to get off, can they do an involuntary denied boarding? They didn't know the weight issue until everyone boarded as I understand it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why airlines are allowed to overbook. I've always expected that if I pay for a seat, that I will get to be on that flight. Will never book a flight with United in the future.

All airlines overbook, so it's pretty difficult to avoid that situation if you plan to fly at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why airlines are allowed to overbook. I've always expected that if I pay for a seat, that I will get to be on that flight. Will never book a flight with United in the future.

Most airlines are shitty nowadays.

[Anonymous]

I'll be the first to call BS on this guy needing to see patients. Unless he's traveling home and has appointments, I think folks are under the false impression that he's so special that he flies to see his patients.

I'd like to be proven wrong. Just kidding, nobody like's being proven wrong.

His bio should be out shortly I'd imagine.