Posted on 04/12/2017 3:55:29 PM PDT by COBOL2Java
Buckle up, United Airlines, because you're about to hit stormy skies.
The airline has enraged the public this week for violently yanking an uncooperative passenger off an overbooked flight.
Now, the company is gearing up for a legal battle that can't be fixed with a half-assed apology tweet.
While United was playing the aviation blame game, the victim of Sunday's incident, Dr. David Dao, enlisted the aid of two prominent Chicago attorneys, hinting that he plans on giving the airline quite the ass kicking in court.
The 69-year-old medical professional has hired corporate law specialist Stephen Golan and personal injury specialist Thomas Demetrio. This suggests Dao will not only sue for United's mistreatment of him, but for their procedures which allowed them to kick him off to make room for their own crew.
(Excerpt) Read more at perezhilton.com ...
Yep $800-1000 is not nearly enough compensation. I believe it should be just compensation, imagine a family that needs to stay overnight, that could be %500-$1000 alone. Or a business traveler missing a sales appointment or meeting, could be $1000-$10,000. It needs to be high enough to deter this happening very often, I say between $2500 and $5,000 as a starting point. Then priority seating at the earliest next flight on that or any other airline.
I read reports it was 1K at the end.
I believe the pertinent regulation or law limits it to $1,350.00 but the airline chose to limit their offer of compensation to $800.00 then resorting to that Kafka-esque “random” ejection which was in fact not random at all.
Change it, problem fixed.
More carrot and less stick is clearly in order, otherwise airlines are going to lose all discretionary travelers. Who would voluntarily subject themselves to this crap?
Hard to say, clusterf* comes to mind.
The other passengers may have been at first stunned not realizing what was going on. The action escalated quite suddenly. Then the passenger staggers back on bleeding & disoriented. Apparently a man who was chaperoning a youth group started the exodus.
That kind of violence unsettles people and the dial moves to I’ve had enough of this. I’m betting the rental car desks got lots of business.
I would have been uncomfortable remaining with that crew having see this unfold. Like the sinking ship and this is my last chance to get off before the doors close.
The law doesn’t require the airline to offer more than $1350 or 400% of the flight cost whichever is lower but they may offer more incentives(first class travel etc) or more $ if they choose.
The airline is required by the same law to give cash rather than vouchers if requested.
The law pertains to being denied boarding. Once boarded the law in question does not apply. Then a passenger cannot be required to give up his/her seat unless he violates the conditions of carriage. That’s why the United CEO lied and said he was belligerent and abusive. That would have allowed them to remove the passenger legally. Once the video came out the CEO lie was exposed and he had to fall on his sword.
A calm and coherent viewpoint, interesting that the video was after the guy ran back on the plane after being escorted off. I didn’t realize that is how it happened.
Thank you for the link. I don’t agree with the pilot’s wife’s analysis but it good to hear all sides. I think this will play out for awhile & more facts will emerge. The congress is apparently weighing in. The police dept has already weighed in saying the actions were indefensible. The video doesn’t support the “pilots wife “ but there may be more video out there that does.
http://wqad.com/2017/04/10/the-latest-officer-who-dragged-man-off-united-jet-placed-on-leave/
Thanks for the additional info.
oooppps
FAA of course. my fingers failed my mind
Thanks for your dissenting post Torquay.
Strangely enough, this type of thing has been taking place for decades without something quite this bazaar happening.
Is it a perfect solution to the problem? No.
I’ve asked others what they think a solution would be. Perhaps you’ll be the first to provide some ideas.
Some see it as an individual freedom and rights issue.
If you think about it, many things could be seen in that light that we simply accept as part of life and the way things go.
We accept them, see the need for them, and go about our business.
Some folks think this is an issue to take a stand on. I think the guy blew this all out of proportion.
If folks think Doctors never miss an appointment, boy are they in for a rude awakening at some point.
One important thing is being ignored in all this discussion.
The Doctor was on the flight with his WIFE and DAUGHTER. WHY would the airline SELECT a person who was flying with his family ? Why wouldn’t they SKIP him and make the offer to the NEXT person on the list who was a SINGLE PASSENGER ?
If you were on a flight with your DAUGHTER, would you take the VOUCHER, get off the plane, and leave your daughter ?
P.S. If the Doctor accepted the VOUCHER, and wanted his wife and daughter to get off the flight with him, would the airline have offered to give the wife/daughter VOUCHERS as well ? Is that covered in the AGREEMENT everyone talks about that is so long no one reads it ?
The Doctor was on the flight with his WIFE and DAUGHTER. WHY would the airline SELECT a person who was flying with his family ? Why wouldn’t they SKIP him and make the offer to the NEXT person on the list who was a SINGLE PASSENGER ?
If you were on a flight with your DAUGHTER, would you take the VOUCHER, get off the plane, and leave your daughter ?
P.S. If the Doctor accepted the VOUCHER, and wanted his wife and daughter to get off the flight with him, would the airline have offered to give the wife/daughter VOUCHERS as well ? Is that covered in the AGREEMENT everyone talks about that is so long no one reads it ?
A: Because United doesn't give a damn. They've already got your money. Passengers are cattle.
A: I sure as heck wouldn't
A: See the first answer.
Wow! I like that Demetrio...would want him on my side in any civil action.
Anyone taking odds? I say ten mil.
If Dao had a garden variety PI attorney l’d agree. But with Demetrio I’d expect 5 times that.
Good! He deserves that much! Fly the friendly skies of United...unless you want to keep your two front teeth!
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