Fook United Airlines

[00tec]

Dude brought it on himself after the involuntary deboarding - he was escorted off, then ran back onto the aircraft and hid in the back, forcing officers to remove him, delaying the flight a further 2 hrs or so.

He's being compensated for his involuntary deboarding, but might yet face charges for reboarding and refusing to leave.

Sucks when irrops make the crew use a computer to randomly choose persons to IDB (they are not required to keep upping the compensation offers until someone bites), but those are in the terms of carriage on your ticket.

Dude was involuntarily deboarded on his back, after being knocked out. He returned to the plane after that, and was provided medical attention, delaying the flight.
All because of piss poor planning and practices on United's part. United knew it had 4 crew to send somewhere. They should have denied boarding to 4 customers (as outlined in the contract of carriage). Not attempted to remove 4 customers after asses were in seats.

[Mtneer]

Bad day for that customer. According to a friend who is a pilot, that guy committed a felony by refusing to obey air crew instructions. It was Chicago PD that hauled him off.

In this case, it wasn't the usual overbooking that is SOP. It's a result of the storms on the East Coast last week that created chaos for all the airlines with flight cancellations. They all have to deadhead crews around the country because many crews hit the time limits or are in the wrong place. Also rescheduled flights often end up on different planes so even a confirmed seat doesn't mean anything after a severe weather event. Many passengers were on standby tickets, which gives them even less rights.

Wasn't even a United crew but subcontractors. Still a PR nightmare for United. But pretty much all airlines suck these days if you don't have Business Class or better.

[funkymonkey1111]

Bad day for that customer. According to a friend who is a pilot, that guy committed a felony by refusing to obey air crew instructions. It was Chicago PD that hauled him off.

In this case, it wasn't the usual overbooking that is SOP. It's a result of the storms on the East Coast last week that created chaos for all the airlines with flight cancellations. They all have to deadhead crews around the country because many crews hit the time limits or are in the wrong place. Also rescheduled flights often end up on different planes so even a confirmed seat doesn't mean anything after a severe weather event. Many passengers were on standby tickets, which gives them even less rights.

Wasn't even a United crew but subcontractors. Still a PR nightmare for United. But pretty much all airlines suck these days if you don't have Business Class or better.

yeah, fuck your pilot friend. it's that b.s. attitude of "if you cross me it's a felony" that escalates the idiotic tension on planes. If i never set foot on another commercial airliner it'd be fine with me--listening to some a-hole glorified bus driver telling me what the wind direction is. Who, in the history of being a passenger on a plane, gives a crap about the wind speed and wind direction? "oh shit, it's blowing 19 miles from the east in denver--i guess i'd better not eat that second bag of peanuts!"

and as for over booking, i understand how these flying bus lines want to hedge their bets. but have you been on a flight since 9/11 that has had an empty seat? maybe it's just that i'm going places that people want to go, but i can't remember a vacant seat on any flight in the last 15 years.

[kfr]

[Grant H.]

yeah, fuck your pilot friend. it's that b.s. attitude of "if you cross me it's a felony" that escalates the idiotic tension on planes. If i never set foot on another commercial airliner it'd be fine with me--listening to some a-hole glorified bus driver telling me what the wind direction is. Who, in the history of being a passenger on a plane, gives a crap about the wind speed and wind direction? "oh shit, it's blowing 19 miles from the east in denver--i guess i'd better not eat that second bag of peanuts!"

and as for over booking, i understand how these flying bus lines want to hedge their bets.
but have you been on a flight since 9/11 that has had an empty seat? maybe it's just that i'm going places that people want to go, but i can't remember a vacant seat on any flight in the last 15 years.

The airline didn't write the law, they just use it to their advantage. So, saying "nice things" about his pilot friend really just reflects on you. Not trying to call you out, but sharing some friendly advice.

Empty Seats? Yeah, normally...

8/10 of the last flights I have been on have had empty seats. 5 of those I have had the entire row to myself.

Flying to major destinations like Vegas, BWI, San Fran, Etc...

It's all in when you fly. Even when I had to fly for a company, basically every week, I could arrange my flights so I had a much more relaxed flight.

Bash on United all you want, but its either them or Southwest (with auto check-in) for me.

[kfr]

This happened at O'hare international. United could have transported the 4 employees on a different flight or another carrier instead of bumping paying customers. Much bigger problems now cause United is going to get their ass handed to them. Hopefully they refocus on customer service.

[NFATrustGuy]

I can fly for free or almost free to anywhere in the world. In the last year I've traveled by commercial plane exactly ZERO times except when forced to do so for work.

When I retire from my airline job, my goal is to never set foot on a commercial jet for the rest of my life. If I can't drive or fly myself to a destination in a small plane, I don't need to go there.

The industry is in a sad state.

[kfr]

I can fly for free or almost free to anywhere in the world. In the last year I've traveled by commercial plane exactly ZERO times except when forced to do so for work.

When I retire from my airline job, my goal is to never set foot on a commercial jet for the rest of my life. If I can't drive or fly myself to a destination in a small plane, I don't need to go there.

The industry is in a sad state.

It is good to hear from an insider. Thank you for your comment!

[ColoWyo]

I can fly for free or almost free to anywhere in the world. In the last year I've traveled by commercial plane exactly ZERO times except when forced to do so for work.

When I retire from my airline job, my goal is to never set foot on a commercial jet for the rest of my life. If I can't drive or fly myself to a destination in a small plane, I don't need to go there.

The industry is in a sad state.

You and me both brother.

[NFATrustGuy]

I hear you have a
very small plane.

Yes, I do. I once passed a guy on downwind when he was taking his Private Pilot checkride. (I knew the examiner and coordinated the pass via radio before I did it.) The examiner later told me the Applicant insisted that the plane that passed them was a giant scale radio-controlled plane. It has an 18' wingspan and is 16' long. It weighs about 650# empty and top speed is about 180mph with a 100hp engine. A Midget Mustang.

Honestly not much of a traveling machine, but it's fun and cheap for hamburger runs and entertainment. I'm not really one to go on vacations.