Posted on 04/10/2017 2:59:25 PM PDT by grayboots
My husband is a Gold member on United and is totally disgusted by what they did to that poor man. I thought of a great marketing idea for other airlines. If they offered a comparable status on their airline to fly, my husband would jump at the chance to fly with them. Do you think the other airlines would think of this? I think so many people would switch over to their airline in a heartbeat. Or is this not an option for them?
One more reason NOT to fly the’friendly’ skies of United. Competitors cannot buy the negative press this caused.
“Fly Delta. We don’t beat our customers.”
“Try Jetblue. We won’t assault you in your seat.”
“Go Southwest. 25% cheaper, 100% less punching you in the head.”
I know that you can. Or at least you could. I don’t know who has tried it lately. But I know that both American and United used to do it all the time for fliers out of Chicago. If you are near an airport that has near equal airlines, then have him right a letter. Send proof of your status and I think they will honor the switch.
United may be changing a lot of policies soon, because this passenger could end up owning the company.
I tried doing that with Hotel rewards once. They told me they couldn’t comp people like that.
At the time was was a 100+ night per year Marriott member. The only other hotel in town was a Sheraton. 10years later, I only stay at Marriott’s.
Personally I don’t think we have even close to the whole story.
The flight was overbooked. They had to remove a passenger per their overbook policy. He was the chosen candidate. According to procedure, United staff (or any other airline) would kindly ask the passenger to deplane and explain in full detail what has occurred.
The involuntary denied boarding passenger will be given a check for three times the amount that he paid and will also be given a confirmed seat on the next flight.
When he chose not to deplane, the United staff had no choice but to call law enforcement. Once they arrive, you are either willingly or unwillingly getting off of the plane—he chose the latter. It was his doing and his alone. He didn’t follow orders from the police and this is the end result. It’s personal responsibility and poor behavior on his part.
I think with the “Cop” or whatever he is/was, being suspended we are not to far off.
“Fly American. We believe the flag should be red, white & blue...not the passenger.”
How do they decide who gets booted?
Here we go........
If this goes to court the defense will demand he produce his records for the following day’s activities- if he was scheduled for brain surgery (unlikely) that would be different than if he had office hours at a clinic with other staff.
I use to use Continental and had zero complaints, ever. United bought them and turned them into their own airline Hell...
United is about as “friendly skies” as a ticked off Cottonmouth with it’s tail caught under your tire...
What I don’t get - if the flight was over-booked (an incredibly common state of affairs today), and they had to resort to a computer picking “random” customers to bump from the flight, why would they include in the “drawing” a paying customer who was already SEATED on the plane???? How about seating folks based on their booking order (after their paid priority order)? This was completely avoidable - and I wouldn’t be surprised if that booted passenger has a legitimate and healthy lawsuit ahead of him against United.
United’s CEO is going to need another heart transplant.
http://fortune.com/united-airlines-ceo-oscar-munoz/
Right. At least until YOU are the one who draws the short straw. Then everything changes.
That is not logical - why did they allow him to BOARD the plane and get seated? Why remove a passenger already in their seat? That makes no sense at all.
Well then by all means you should post it as "News".
He’ll be in court alright. It will be a case of failure to follow orders of a law enforcement agent.
What he has planned has no bearing or consideration on the part of United. It’s unfortunate, but it’s not United’s fault. They overbooked the flight, but that happens. Sometimes you have to get crew somewhere so that they can work a flight. You can’t drive them per union contract policy. Sucks but it’s the reality of it.
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