Fly the friendly skys of united...

[Jello]

United Airlines under fire after passenger dragged from plane; officer put on leave
United Airlines (UAL.N) sparked outrage on Monday for the treatment of a passenger who was physically dragged off a plane the airline had overbooked, and one of the security officers involved in the incident was placed on leave pending an investigation.
Videos posted online by other passengers showed a man screaming as officers yanked him from his seat on United Flight 3411 before it departed from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Louisville, Kentucky, on Sunday.
The man, who appeared to be Asian, was seen being dragged down the aisle on his back by his hands, body limp, bleeding from the mouth, glasses askew and shirt pulled up above his navel. The videos sparked outrage on social media, the second time in less than a month that United was criticized for its treatment of passengers.

In a letter circulated to employees and seen by Reuters, United Chief Executive Officer Oscar Munoz did not apologize for the way the passenger was handled, writing that the passenger had "defied" security officers.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-ual-p ... SKBN17C1VX

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxedJf5Cg-Y

[macca46]

The guy who was dragged off the flight is supposedly a Doctor and explained he had to get home to see patients?

Over booked by four???? it is apparent at this time the four were United pilots and crew two of each.

A good reason to avoid United in the future.

[wazza]

M66

then its AA or Delta !!!!.

united is the Star Alliance member, where you have to pay for a beer unless u want budpiss in their lounges. no food in lounges even if you fly Business Class, still pay for beers. i rate them as a the equivalent if not lower than a budget airline in SE Asia, and Australia, Silverkris walks all over them.

I flew business class with United for 2 years , when transitting from LAX to Honduras, the last leg you get a meat pie for the leg down from Houston to Roatan , return leg is the left over pies, laughing joke with all PAX, who pay $800 USD for that 2.5 hour flight.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-11/f ... es/8433170

overbooking is common practice and there are Pax who play on this to get the discounts / cash incentives offered

poor attitude maybe, but United playing within their booking conditions, it seems the Cop has been stood down .

[RLTrader]

and he strangely fell on his face. This will cost them, big time.

[hairyharry]

I heard the doctor was carrying a guitar

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo

[arjay]

I presume they would have had to offload the passenger's baggage from the hold. Though being a domestic flight, perhaps he wouldn't have had any.

It would have been interesting if, other passengers had, in protest, then announced, one-by-one, that they did not wish to proceed on the flight, and had to be offloaded along with luggage. An unlikely scenario, no doubt, as they wouldn't have got refunds. If UA keep up this customer friendly practice, they could soon be flying empty. Plenty of room for staff then!

UA do seem to have forgotten the key point, that customers are essential to their business.

(Edited to change AA to UA).

[wazza]

There were 4 seats overbooked , and United asked for volunteers , who were offered cash etc ( United had a Flight crew to get to where ever )

3 accepted from what I read and they still needed another 1

United have a clear policy on this and used it to the letter, the guy was asked to offload / disembark , and what is unclear in some areas, is, who physically removed him, 1 Police offer / sky marshall / airport security etc, seems to have overstepped their mark and used in inappropriate force perhaps. that officer has been suspended.

The old story with flights, the cheaper your ticket the less options you get, pay more for in changes , or in this case, can lead to you being offloaded, according to your T n Cs.

Perhaps airports have Passenger Chasers , with lawyer staff waiting for these sort of opportunities

[Lone Star]

The only US airline I've flown in the last 20 years has been Southwest. Never a problem. =D>

[LU]

Reports are that initially United Airlines (UA) offered $400 plus hotel accommodations for the night and a flight the following day for anyone willing to give up his/her seat. When this offer was not accepted UA increased their offer to $800 (plus hotel and next day flight.) Failing to entice anyone to give up their seat UA brought in law enforcement to remove a passenger who refused to leave when told to do so. It is my understanding that according to the US law that permits US airlines to remove passengers under circumstances such as this the airline could have offered as compensation up to $1350 (plus hotel & next day flight.) Apparently United Airlines felt that increasing the incentive to $1350 was just too much money and instead opted for what has turned into a social media feeding frenzy of negative publicity.

The CEO of UA; Oscar Munoz’s statement regarding this incident has done little to quell the ill-will generated here and reads in part: “Treating our customers and each other with respect and dignity is at the core of who we are, and we must always remember this no matter how challenging the situation.” Somehow dignity and respect got dragged aside (and down the aisle) in this instance. There were probably other options available to United Airlines to resolve this situation. For example: if there were no other UA flights that would have gotten their employees to their destination they could have used another airline's flight. I've seen this type of thing done many times in the past. Instead UA chose to go the route that alienates their most valuable commodity; it’s paying customers. Well done United =D>

[wazza]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-12/u ... es/8436058

3rd apology, Now

police officers identified as those who dragged the PAX off the plane

Attorney giving his clients update.

$1 Billion wiped off their stock,

[vlad]

If you want good seating be prepared for a Beating.

[wazza]

I have just seen mobile phone footage of the removal of the pax.

He refused to move and contributed to his own demise, police were forced to drag him along the walkway, as he refused to walk.

[wazza]

If you want good seating be prepared for a Beating.

If you want good seating, pay the extra to ensure your seat isnt place on "The List "

He choose a cheaper option which the T n C s allowed him to be bumped.

PR nightmare for United , but how many times per day does this same procedure get invoked ??

[AussieBoy]

He was squealing loike a pig.made me laugh. Here sir heres your money. Tomorrows ticket. And tonights room. Now what shall it be. Walk off. Or be taken dragged off. Your choice. Or you could pay the premium and we put some one else off?. Now Sir whats you choice. 10.9.8.7.6.....at least it will make passengers think when asked in the future

Sent from my SM-J200GU using Tapatalk

[Barney]

I agree Aussie boy,
Should have just asked any aussies first, "Who wants to get off and fly tomorrow, upgraded seat and tonight go to a 5 star hotel with 800 bucks in your pocket for a beer and a maybe toasted ham and cheese sandwich?"
There would have been a stampede getting out the door.

[Lone Star]

Interesting read.

https://thepilotwifelife.wordpress.com/ ... ight-3411/

Basically, the airlines -- all of them -- have "bumping" in their contracts with passengers. If one resists, sh*t happens.

I really don't care one way or the other about this incident. It was nice to see some facts that the news media and social media hasn't provided.

[Jello]

It was nice to see some facts that the news media and social media hasn't provided.

Facts from the blog of a housewife who wasn't there?
Here's some interviews with eyewitnesses.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABvASy7L0U0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqC0kOTFnmE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RtSzTn_Amw

If one resists, sh*t happens.

It certainly did in this case...

United Airlines Stock Drops $1.4 Billion After Passenger-Removal Controversy
http://fortune.com/2017/04/11/united-ai ... tock-drop/

Som nam na...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKj2T1WU9HI&t=36s

[Lone Star]

Facts.

One doesn't need to be there to be aware of the contractural obligations of flying and what happens to idiots who make a scene and resist.

Where were the other 3? Oh yeah. They left.

[Jello]

New video of Dr. Dao moments before the altercation, apparently on the phone with the airline. Also United's CEO Oscar Munoz now changing his tune...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk2Y_VL5e7s

[jai yen yen]

Some positive news about this, United airlines voted #1 in Chinese takeout. :-"