United airlines..PR disaster

[short 215]

If overbooking were banned, the airlines would be flying planes with lots of empty seats since passengers on full fare changeable tickets tend to be no shows. While working, I would guess that I changed to a different return flight close too 1/2 the time.

To compensate for passengers that do that, Airlines would probably make the tickets valid for ONLY the flight you reserved. Changes would be permitted ahead of time (24 hours) but the cost would be such that it is better to toss the ticket and buy a new one. (Cebu Pacific comes to mind but I am sure there are other low cost carriers). Miss the flight and you buy a new ticket.

 

Delta is just now delivering passengers from flights cancelled due to weather last week. Airlines are packing the planes so tight that they have no slack space to recover from delays.

[short 215]

The CEO is doing morning TV. Said on GMA that United will never again use Police to get passengers off. The other two wanna be cops have been relieved or benched until a further review is done by the agency in charge.

 

The CEO ... Said on GMA that United will never again use Police to get passengers off.

 

In another words the CEO was trying to offload the blame on the police. The problem with that logic is that you don't call the police unless you are looking for someone that will use force if necessary.

[yorta2 694]

I heard that the Pentagon has given a 2.1 million dollar contract to United Airlines to remove Assad from Syria, if he resists after asking him kindly a couple of times....

[firth1974 2,659]

Very interesting video of the incident from before it all kicked off!!!

 

https://youtu.be/GgieOw2120c

[firth1974 2,659]

https://youtu.be/GgieOw2120c

[firth1974 2,659]

http://www.airlive.net/news-united-airlines-to-refund-tickets-for-all-passengers-on-infamous-flight/

[Bushcraft 2,591]

Doesn't sound like he's being disruptive, just standing his ground. Being of similar age, I'd be utterly indignant and probably very disruptive of their plans.

[forcebwithu 4,856]

 

Or to put it another way, stinking pigs.

 

No, stinking pigs are handled under the "disruptive" clause in the contract of carriage.

'Emotional support' pig kicked off flight for being disruptive

 

 

Passenger Robert Phelps took a picture after this passenger was asked to leave a US Airways flight with her "disruptive" pig.

[TheFiend 1,181]

Another interesting video..... this one done by a lawyer who has gone through Uniteds T & C's

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

According to the lawyer, the man has a broken nose and sinus damage and requires reconstructive surgery.

 

Clearly excessive use of force.

 

https://www.usatoday...ence/100409492/

Edited April 13, 2017 by midlifecrisis

[Billions 687]

 

According to the lawyer, the man has a broken nose and sinus damage and requires reconstructive surgery.

 

Clearly excessive use of force.

 

https://www.usatoday...ence/100409492/

 

 

 

....and had two teeth knocked out!

 

The focus is on the airline but what about the lunatic in uniform who assaulted the passenger? He should be looking at a custodial outcome surely?

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

 

 

....and had two teeth knocked out!

 

The focus is on the airline but what about the lunatic in uniform who assaulted the passenger? He should be looking at a custodial outcome surely?

 

Agreed, there was a crime committed here, imho.

[JONPAT 222]

Interesting that in the American Constitution 'all men are created equal under the law'; yet United uses a 'law' that says they can classify passengers as to who is more equal than others. If you are young, or a couple, or a special disability then you get to lose your seat at the last minute because United waited until the last minute to add those four workers to the plane to Lousville.

[TheFiend 1,181]

Interesting that in the American Constitution 'all men are created equal under the law'; yet United uses a 'law' that says they can classify passengers as to who is more equal than others. If you are young, or a couple, or a special disability then you get to lose your seat at the last minute because United waited until the last minute to add those four workers to the plane to Lousville.

 

Apparently ther's been another case this week with United where a First Class passenger was getting bumped off a flight after boarding..... the man was threatened with being hand-cuffed..

 

http://www.latimes.com/business/lazarus/la-fi-lazarus-united-low-priority-passenger-20170412-story.html

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

Interesting that in the American Constitution 'all men are created equal under the law'; yet United uses a 'law' that says they can classify passengers as to who is more equal than others. If you are young, or a couple, or a special disability then you get to lose your seat at the last minute because United waited until the last minute to add those four workers to the plane to Lousville.

 

A few years ago they changed a rule about how long they can leave you sitting on the tarmac waiting to take off. Before 2009 I don't believe there were limits.

 

"Airlines must return planes to the gate and let passengers off any time a flight is sitting on the tarmac for three hours. Airlines must provide passengers with adequate food and water within the first two hours of any tarmac delay."

[forcebwithu 4,856]

 

A few years ago they changed a rule about how long they can leave you sitting on the tarmac waiting to take off. Before 2009 I don't believe there were limits.

 

"Airlines must return planes to the gate and let passengers off any time a flight is sitting on the tarmac for three hours. Airlines must provide passengers with adequate food and water within the first two hours of any tarmac delay."

 

Another good example where an airline would place profits over passenger comfort, and common sense. As you pointed out, rule change occurred in 2009. Wonder if DOT will come out with new rules regarding involuntary bumping as a result of this latest incident.

New DOT Consumer Rule Limits Airline Tarmac Delays, Provides Other Passenger Protections

 

World's longest (and strangest) flight delays

In 1999, Northwest Airlines (which merged with Delta in 2008), left travellers stranded in a snowstorm at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, and was later ordered to pay out $7.1 million in compensation. Despite a 12-inch dump of snow over the New Year weekend, the airline decided to keep running flights while other operators cancelled services.

Thousands of passengers were left on the tarmac for up to 10 hours, reportedly without food, water or working toilets on some aircraft. According to the Chicago Tribune, Northwest's handling of the snowstorm was a significant factor in Congress deciding to make airlines abide by a "passenger bill of rights", which was introduced in 2009.

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

 

 

Another good example where an airline would place profits over passenger comfort, and common sense. As you pointed out, rule change occurred in 2009. Wonder if DOT will come out with new rules regarding involuntary bumping as a result of this latest incident.

New DOT Consumer Rule Limits Airline Tarmac Delays, Provides Other Passenger Protections

 

World's longest (and strangest) flight delays

In 1999, Northwest Airlines (which merged with Delta in 2008), left travellers stranded in a snowstorm at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, and was later ordered to pay out $7.1 million in compensation. Despite a 12-inch dump of snow over the New Year weekend, the airline decided to keep running flights while other operators cancelled services.

Thousands of passengers were left on the tarmac for up to 10 hours, reportedly without food, water or working toilets on some aircraft. According to the Chicago Tribune, Northwest's handling of the snowstorm was a significant factor in Congress deciding to make airlines abide by a "passenger bill of rights", which was introduced in 2009.

 

 

It's a great question but it took years of complaints and media documentation before the 2009 rule was instituted, as your example shows.

[teelack 9,645]

As predicted the United fiasco has started to have positive results. I copied this off the Internet this morning.

 

Delta Air Lines has increased the payouts its airport agents can offer passengers on overbooked flights, moving to prevent a public relations nightmare similar to the one plaguing United Continental Holdings Inc.
Customer service agents will be able to offer passengers as much as $2,000 (NZ$2858) when they’re asked to give up a seat on an oversold flight, up from $800 (NZ$1143), according to a memo seen by Bloomberg. Managers can offer as much as $9,950 (NZ$14,220), more than seven times the previous cap of $1,350, the memo dated April 13 says.
The new policies come in the wake of a controversy that enveloped rival United this week, after law enforcement officers dragged a passenger off a United Express flight from Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky. The passenger, David Dao, was already seated on the plane and refused to give up his seat to make room for a United crew member who needed to fly. The incident made worldwide news and led to questions about why the airline didn’t simply offer Dao more money to leave the plane.
Delta spokesman Anthony Black confirmed the authenticity of the memo, but declined to comment further. United earlier this week said it would review its policies regarding overbooked flights and announce results of the review by April 30. The company reiterated its plan Friday after the contents of the Delta memo were reported.
The memo also gives customer service agents tips on how to best deal with oversold flights, including looking for passengers with other options for non-stop flights. Agents are advised to contact managers if compensation above is needed, the memo says. It does not address the United controversy.

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

So what happens if people don't take the increased payouts? It isn't about payouts.

[jacko 8,822]

So what happens if people don't take the increased payouts? It isn't about payouts.

You keep going up, there will be takers!

If you get takers, there won't be removals by force!

 

The higher 'ceilings' on payouts will also put downward pressure on over-booking.

The removed guy was of Vietnamese origin and it reminds me of a couple of them I knew while working in the USA. Strong minded guys and one in particular had some tales to tell of his life both in Vietnam and early days in the USA.

Edited April 16, 2017 by jacko

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

A couple on their way to Costa Rica to get married were kicked off a UA flight.

 

http://www.sacbee.com/news/nation-world/national/article144973654.html

Edited April 17, 2017 by midlifecrisis

[MM 6,562]

A couple on their way to Costa Rica to get married were kicked off a UA flight.

 

http://www.sacbee.com/news/nation-world/national/article144973654.html

Seems they were not staying in their assigned economy seats and were moving to upgraded economy "plus" seating after they were told to take their assigned seats.

No sympathy.

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

Seems they were not staying in their assigned economy seats and were moving to upgraded economy "plus" seating after they were told to take their assigned seats.

No sympathy.

 

Yes, the official reason for removing them was for failure to follow the flight crew's instructions.

 

I only added this as part of the ongoing UA saga. Whether they are in the right or not, each incident affects the public's perception.

[MM 6,562]

 

Yes, the official reason for removing them was for failure to follow the flight crew's instructions.

 

I only added this as part of the ongoing UA saga. Whether they are in the right or not, each incident affects the public's perception.

But I want to make clear that this case and Dr. Dao's are totally different.

 

Based on the reports, the flight crew was justified in getting law enforcement involved in this case, since they were actively being disruptive and disobeying valid requests from the flight crew.

[ttk 236]

No video of this? There is a huge difference in the version of events from each side.