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That United flight wasn’t even “overbooked” — and that matters legally
Hotair ^ | 04/14/2017 | Cynthia Than

Posted on 04/14/2017 10:48:36 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

The fact that the flight was not overbooked may seem trivial, or pedantic, but there is very important legal distinction to be made. There may not be a difference in how an airline (typically) responds when it needs additional seats, such as asking for volunteers who wish to give up their seat for a voucher or cash. But there is a legal difference between bumping a passenger in the instance of overselling a flight versus bumping a passenger to give priority to another passenger. Any thoughtful person can see the problem that arises if an airline were allowed to legally remove one fare-paying passenger to allow for another passenger it prefers.

Since the flight was not actually overbooked, but instead only fully booked, with the exact number of passengers as seats available, United Airlines had no legal right to force any passengers to give up their seats to prioritize others. What United did was give preference to their employees over people who had reserved confirmed seats, in violation of 14 CFR 250.2a. Since Dr. Dao was already seated, it was clear that his seat had already been “reserved” and “confirmed” to accommodate him specifically.

A United Airlines spokesperson said that since Dr. Dao refused to give up his seat and leave the plane voluntarily, airline employees “had to” call upon airport security to force him to comply. However, since the flight was not overbooked, United Airlines had no legal right to give his seat to another passenger. In United Airline’s Contract of Service, they list the reasons that a passenger may be refused service, many of which are reasonable, such as “failure to pay” or lacking “proof of identity.” Nowhere in the terms of service does United Airlines claim to have unilateral authority to refuse service to anyone, for any reason (which would be illegal anyway).



TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aviation; overbook; ual; unitedairlines
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To: Hot Tabasco
Seat, beat then drag by feet........

Leave him alone out cold in a jetway while we find a mobile seat, lather, rinse, repeat.

141 posted on 04/14/2017 12:35:02 PM PDT by Snickering Hound
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To: Hot Tabasco

I didn’t say it was relevant.


142 posted on 04/14/2017 12:35:09 PM PDT by Moonman62 (Make America Great Again!)
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To: Gamecock

I’ve been wanting to do that but too lazy to look up the images for it, LOL. Need to add the one in the comedy club.


143 posted on 04/14/2017 12:36:12 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for ... some have unwittingly entertained angels)
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To: Mr. K
I think that everyone understands the logistics of the situation, they just don't like United's solution model.

One viable future model that could arise from this is simply for each airline to reserve the last row of every flight for company use. If the company does not need that row on a particular flight, then the gate agent can release the row for standby travel.

-PJ

144 posted on 04/14/2017 12:36:49 PM PDT by Political Junkie Too (The 1st Amendment gives the People the right to a free press, not CNN the right to the 1st question.)
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To: Snickering Hound

I AM SOOO STEALING THAT!!!

(oops)


145 posted on 04/14/2017 12:37:13 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for ... some have unwittingly entertained angels)
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To: eyedigress; SaveFerris

That would make a great episode, except Costanza get beat about the head and face.

The airport security guy would be some classmate from high school who had his life ruined by George.


146 posted on 04/14/2017 12:38:54 PM PDT by Gamecock (Twitter: What a real democracy looks like.)
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To: Gamecock

I can’t wait to read my Time magazine!

Maybe I’ll read it in the park. Supposed to be a beautiful day!

Have a nice life! Sentence!


147 posted on 04/14/2017 12:40:45 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for ... some have unwittingly entertained angels)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I think the way passengers in our airports are abused by TSA and airline employees does matter.

I believe the way people insist it’s all for our safety is a sad joke.

But, keep up the ad hominem attacks by all means. Congrats for getting away from CAPS LOCK.


148 posted on 04/14/2017 12:41:08 PM PDT by rwilson99 (How exactly would John 3:16 not apply to Mary?)
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To: Moonman62

Precedent:

http://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=5201702

“We do not condone the conduct on the part of the Patriots and the team’s head coach, and we likewise refrain from assessing whether the NFL’s sanctions [and its alleged destruction of the videotapes themselves] were otherwise appropriate,” Senior Judge Robert E. Cowen wrote for the three-judge panel.

However, he said Mayer failed to prove any legal right to damages.

“At best, he possessed nothing more than a contractual right to a seat from which to watch an NFL game between the Jets and the Patriots, and this right was clearly honored,” Cowen wrote.””””


Is there a difference between buying a ticket for a plane or a seat at a stadium? I should say not. Can the NFL remove a fan who was simply watching the game, and put their employees there?


149 posted on 04/14/2017 12:41:27 PM PDT by castlegreyskull
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To: Mr. K

come on man give it up. the all caps all the time crap on this one topic is getting old. How about we simma down now and discuss this rationally or... well never mind:(


150 posted on 04/14/2017 12:42:56 PM PDT by rebel25 (Tagline unavailable due to technical problems. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: CaptainK

I’ll put money on it that he doesn’t


151 posted on 04/14/2017 12:43:39 PM PDT by Mr. K (***THERE IS NO CONSEQUENCE OF OBAMACARE REPEAL THAT IS WORSE THAN KEEPING IT ONE MORE DAY***)
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To: beelzepug

bite me


152 posted on 04/14/2017 12:45:07 PM PDT by Mr. K (***THERE IS NO CONSEQUENCE OF OBAMACARE REPEAL THAT IS WORSE THAN KEEPING IT ONE MORE DAY***)
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To: Snickering Hound

Yes. I do. I was being serious, if a bit snarky.


153 posted on 04/14/2017 12:49:25 PM PDT by ichabod1 (I call Obama "osama" because he damaged us far more than Osama bin Ladin ever did.)
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To: Mr. K

No it’s more simple...

The four employees who showed up late to get on said plane get an Uber... take a 4 hour car ride and go to work tomorrow.

This wasn’t the last helicopter out of Saigon.


154 posted on 04/14/2017 12:51:03 PM PDT by rwilson99 (How exactly would John 3:16 not apply to Mary?)
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To: Mr. K

The method of beating somebody up to get a seat for “your crew” isn’t going to fly.

This guy just changed the rules for everybody.

A simple alternative will need to be in place. If they can just arbitrarily beat you up and remove you, why offer any compensation in the first place?


155 posted on 04/14/2017 12:51:37 PM PDT by eyedigress ((Old storm chaser from the west))
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To: Mr. K
THEY HAVE EVERY “LEGAL RIGHT” TO REMOVE ANYONE FROM AN AIRPLANE FOR ANY REASON

Hopefully not while it's in the air.

156 posted on 04/14/2017 12:53:05 PM PDT by Theophilus (Repent)
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To: JayGalt

There is a great article about it here:
http://www.liftable.com/carolynfultz/video-passenger-dragged-plane-disturbs-world-wife-pilot-writes-didnt-see/

and here:
https://archive.is/blU5e

with this being the money shot:
“United Airlines has been heavily criticized for their actions, but this blogger wanted to make it clear that United Airlines did not drag out the man. United was required, by law, to contact federal aviation security when Dr. Dao ran back into the plane after being escorted out, since such an act is classified as a threat to security. As she states, running into “a secured, federally restricted area” may not have been the wisest choice “because, you know, that just happens to be breaking a major federal Homeland Security law.””

and this being the most important factor:
[..]this was a must fly, a positive space situation. In layman terms, it means that a crew must be flown to an airport to man a flight in order to avoid cancellation of said flight due to crew unavailability. This is a federal DOT regulation, not an airline one. The airlines are required to do so to avoid disruption of air traffic.


157 posted on 04/14/2017 12:53:15 PM PDT by Mr. K (***THERE IS NO CONSEQUENCE OF OBAMACARE REPEAL THAT IS WORSE THAN KEEPING IT ONE MORE DAY***)
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To: SeekAndFind

These threads have been extraordinarily enlightening in ways that have very little to do with the actual subject.


158 posted on 04/14/2017 12:54:53 PM PDT by zeugma (The Brownshirts have taken over American Universities.)
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To: itsahoot
He was refusing to obey lawful directions from law enforcement officers

Turns out those directions weren't so lawful. They never should have been called because the doctor had every right to remain on board.

159 posted on 04/14/2017 12:55:59 PM PDT by BfloGuy ( Even the opponents of Socialism are dominated by socialist ideas.)
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To: Mr. K

Yep. Looks like the Airlines may have to go charter when flights are booked or have all passengers agree to a 5,000 dollar compensation.

This rule of beating people will not stand.


160 posted on 04/14/2017 12:56:52 PM PDT by eyedigress ((Old storm chaser from the west))
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