Airlines still think this is OK. The reality is that the airline offered $800 dollars to get someone to give up their seat. They are a public company. They should have offered $8000. That doctor could have given up over $800 if he had surgery or a full list of patients the next day. Airlines need to figure out how to run their company and deliver reliable service too.
United wanted to move a full crew to Chicago so they needed 4 seats. Of course why should we care. This is their problem not their passengers problem. United and their unions have a real problem with the idea of a service organization. They just don’t get it. They never have.
I would hazard to guess that if you read what is printed on a ticket (and you could ask) that these sorts of things are covered in the description. To me calling for a 10X payment for inconveniencing oneself seems drastic. We each have our own tastes, I guess.
I am no fan of today’s airlines. But I remember flying in the late 50s all through the 80s and parts of the 90s. Frankly, it was wonderful. Your mileage may vary, of course. It is when government inserted itself is when everything good about it went wrong.
Doctor? No, Gaffer say’s he was not a Doctor. Not that Gaffer was anywhere near the airplane, but he is certain, so...