United overbooked a flight so they dragged a passenger off the plane

[Kellhound]

You can question it all you want, you can write letters to your Congressman, you can protest. At the end of the day, nothing will change. There is a reason why all airlines do this. If it was me, I would have canceled the flight and forced everyone to rebook.

Because the stupid customers let them. Its the reason companies get away with anything.

[petej0]

Now if there was just some kind of machine that could track people in some kind of big, lets call it a data base, that would then be able to figure out where people were needed and when they were needed......

Like unforeseen events dont ever happen. Like a crew eating the fish on a flight and needing hospitalization requiring a new crew to fill in for them.

Kidding aside, if a crew members get sick or have an emergency, they will need fill-ins and if the fill-ins are available they just need to be shuffled in from another location.

[Evil Midnight Bomber]

It's probably the reason the mess happened, if it wasn't an internal affair they would have known during check-in and would have tried to find volunteers before anyone entered the plane (or just not check in the last four people).

And that's the crux of the issue that the "he should have just given up his seat" people are not getting. It never should have gotten to the point where anyone was asked to give up their seat after boarding. It should have been dealt with at the gate.

[Kellhound]

They do. But shit happens. That's what "unforeseen" means. You can make predictions, but that doesn't mean they're guaranteed to be accurate.

Perhaps they need better programmers then, or more reliable flight crews.

[Tinykong]

It wasn't even law enforcement that removed him from the plane, it was Chicago Aviation Police, which seems to be just security personnel.

This guy is going to have a nice settlement coming his way.

[smooshtheman]

Because the stupid customers let them. Its the reason companies get away with anything.

Very true, any economics class should show you how consumers have input and can shape companies. Wake up people and realize you have a voice. Maybe one voice is quiet but many is loud.

[Mindark]

Perhaps they need better programmers then, or more reliable flight crews.

What part of "unforeseen" confuses you. No amount of money, programmers, or reliable flight crews will help. What you are looking for is someone that can see the future.

edit: For clarity, these people don't exist.

[Wyrt]

It wasn't even law enforcement that removed him from the plane, it was Chicago Aviation Police, which seems to be just security personnel.

This guy is going to have a nice settlement coming his way.

He should be fired, not put on leave.

And yeah, the doctor is going to have a nice retirement package curtesy of United.

[Kellhound]

Like unforeseen events dont ever happen. Like a crew eating the fish on a flight and needing hospitalization requiring a new crew to fill in for them.

Kidding aside, if a crew members get sick or have an emergency, they will need fill-ins and if the fill-ins are available they just need to be shuffled in from another location.

That explanation would make sense if it was for one crew member, not 4. 4 says the fucked up and were short an entire crew and had no well though out response plan.

[petej0]

Because the stupid customers let them. Its the reason companies get away with anything.

No, its because customer rebook, cancel or fail to show for their flights. So instead of flying with a half empty plane and loosing money, they overbook and hope to get the fullest flight possible. To show how often overbooking causes an issue, I have flown well over 3 dozen times and seen only one flight offer passengers money to stay behind.

[Spectral]

I'd rather bet on people trying to look cool by highlighting how THEY could "take it" and "act mature".

Yeah man, you got me, IRL I throw tantrums all the time

[Kellhound]

What part of "unforeseen" confuses you. No amount of money, programmers, or reliable flight crews will help. What you are looking for is someone that can see the future.

edit: For clarity, these people don't exist.

For clarity, that would explain needing one replacement crew member.

[Tinykong]

We don't know if was work related or not. They may have been customers that happened to be United employees. The media has a way of sensationalism. We all know this.
Couldn't the unruly passenger that was picked by the computer have done the very same thing? He is not better than anyone else. Instead he chose to be noncompliant with airport police. If only he had done as he was asked. If only...

The airport police department said the officer wasn't following department policy, and he has been placed on leave.

These aren't regular cops, and the scope of their authority is different. If it's a rent-a-cop type situation, they have no authority to detain you or forcibly remove you, and by doing so they are breaking the law.

[Templar 331]

As someone who's never flown, and from the looks of it never will, how does this happen exactly? It was my understanding that you had to have a physical ticket to get on a flight. One that was already paid for. So why is overbooking a common practice? Even if someone doesn't show up and there's an empty seat it's already paid for. And seeing as how this flight was already full why should United kick it's paying customers off? That's a pretty big F.U. in my opinion even with the compensation. Imagine if the NBA or some other sports league did this same thing with front row seats at a big game for 4 of it's employees. It shows that the company cares more for itself than for your service.

[Mindark]

That explanation would make sense if it was for one crew member, not 4. 4 says the fucked up and were short an entire crew and had no well though out response plan.

Or 4 says a previous flight didn't make it to their destination on time, perhaps weather or another unforeseen situation delayed or cancelled a flight.

[petej0]

That explanation would make sense if it was for one crew member, not 4. 4 says the fucked up and were short an entire crew and had no well though out response plan.

I dont know how flight crews work. I am not going to pretend to know how flight crews work. Even if it was a fuck up, who cares. They have a policy.

[IIamaKing]

No, its because customer rebook, cancel or fail to show for their flights. So instead of flying with a half empty plane and loosing money, they overbook and hope to get the fullest flight possible. To show how often overbooking causes an issue, I have flown well over 3 dozen times and seen only one flight offer passengers money to stay behind.

These people who say overbooking is dumb, I wonder how many of them want to pay double for a ticket?

[Allybeboba]

Just watched the videos.
That guy shrieked like a little girl. He really should be ashamed of himself.

[Deleted]

I'll defend the law over those who are ignorant of it.

So did the NKVD(KGB today) when they dragged political opponents to gulags, it's not their fault they followed the law, right? In the end, if you voice an opinion against an unfair law, you are an enemy to the people, da? Because all laws are just and perfect and we never have to actually fight against any and none are eeevvver abused, EVER. I do wonder, do you also defend Maduro's murder of people who do drugs in the Philipphines?
Oh, but I'm moving away, this is not as bad as that. Hmmm... how about segregated schools for whites and blacks? Segregated buses? That was law once, did you support it then?

Also, where's this magical law that says that companies that overbook can drag companies out of their flight by force?

[Kellhound]

No, its because customer rebook, cancel or fail to show for their flights. So instead of flying with a half empty plane and loosing money, they overbook and hope to get the fullest flight possible. To show how often overbooking causes an issue, I have flown well over 3 dozen times and seen only one flight offer passengers money to stay behind.

Again, I have no issue with them being able to throw money at solving their greed induced errors, I have an issue with them being able to force paying customers off against their will. And THAT is something that is 100% the fault of customers not demanding it change.