A case can be made that UAL violated their “CoC” which states that any “IDB” offers should happen pre-boarding. In any case they definitely violated “common sense” standards. Much information (2000+ posts) from experienced PAX & crew on the subject here:
I have been a member of flyertalk for many years and have a large number of postings.
Please tell me what United should have been done differently according to “common sense”.
They ask for volunteers, don’t get enough.
The gate agent’s computers select which passengers get involuntarily bumped, likely the ones who paid the least.
The passenger resists when denied the flight.
The police are called as per standard airport and airline protocol. If something doesn’t go well between the passenger and police that is absolutely not the airline’s fault at all.
Sometimes employees who need to fly show up after passengers have boarded but the door isn’t yet closed. Is it really “common sense” to delay hundreds of passengers on another flight by neglecting to bump one person on this one?
Thanks for that link........