Man dragged from United Airlines plane in overbooked flight row

Gone Drinking

http://news.sky.com/story/man-dragged-from-united-airlines-plane-in-overbooked-flight-row-10832911

They needed four seats for four pilots who were due to fly for the company the next day. So they had overbooked the flight and had to ask for volunteers to leave the plane and be rebooked on a later flight. No one volunteered so they randomly chose 4 people.

One of the people selected didn't want to leave, so they had him forcibly removed by security, who have knocked him out in the process. Apparently he was a doctor and had to work the next day (don't know if that's true).

This is pretty insane though. Surely they should have rebooked their staff on another flight, with another carrier even, if they needed to be somewhere and they had made the mistake themselves.

Red Kev

Je suis man dragged off plane.

dudara

Wow, that's pretty insane. I can understand being shunted if you haven't yet boarded, but if you've been boarded and seated on the plane, then that's not acceptable.

United probably have some T&C to cover this scenario, but knocking a doctor unconscious and dragging him off a plane isn't going to look very good

Cessna_Pilot

Unbelievable. If it is indeed true as described in the media, I hope he sues the s**t out of them and I would hope this has a knock affect on the airline's revenue.
I'll go a step further and hope that the "security gaurds" in question do time too.

I am disgusted.

smurfjed

UA could have hired a Gulfstream to get their crew to their required destination, it would have been a lot cheaper than the forthcoming court case for this fiasco.

Red Kev

It's filmed in portrait, which for once suits the scene as landscape would have too much irrelevant stuff left and right of the main action.

So for once kudos to the camera operator for using portrait.

gizmo81

Shame on people standing by allowing this.

Red Kev

gizmo81 wrote: »

Shame on people standing by allowing this.

If you tried to stop them in the US you'd be slapped, arrested and possibly charged under the Homeland Act or some other law masquerading as anti Terrorism legislation.

gizmo81

Oh I know. In my idealised world, everyone would make a stand and safety in numbers.

Red Kev wrote: »

If you tried to stop them in the US you'd be slapped, arrested and possibly charged under the Homeland Act or some other law masquerading as anti Terrorism legislation.

Noxegon

The flight was a commuter service – and the distance was four hours by road.

Why United didn't just hire a car and send the crew that way beggars belief.

Locker10a

Possibly needed them in their hotel room by a certain time to meet minimum rest requirements. The 4 hour journey may have put them below minimum rest which would have meant the flight being delayed the next day and rendering the whole thing as useless.
It should be noted that airlines overbook flights every day of the week it's common practice wheather you agree with it or not. But this is usually sorted out at the gate and people rarely refuse to get off like this man

Yourself isit

dudara wrote: »

Wow, that's pretty insane. I can understand being shunted if you haven't yet boarded, but if you've been boarded and seated on the plane, then that's not acceptable.

United probably have some T&C to cover this scenario, but knocking a doctor unconscious and dragging him off a plane isn't going to look very good

I doubt if their T&C allow knocking passengers unconscious.

lawred2

That's outrageous.

Unprovoked assault. That lad should do some jail time. And the airline will suffer a rather costly lawsuit.

In front of a full plane of witnesses..

lawred2

Red Kev wrote: »

If you tried to stop them in the US you'd be slapped, arrested and possibly charged under the Homeland Act or some other law masquerading as anti Terrorism legislation.

Those lads didn't look like any variety of law enforcement to me.

You sure that they weren't private security?

vicwatson

lawred2 wrote: »

Those lads didn't look like any variety of law enforcement to me.

You sure that they weren't private security?

Police written on one their backs - don't know if airport police or police police

lawred2

vicwatson wrote: »

Police written on one their backs - don't know if airport police or police police

Didn't see that..

the_syco

Mr Anspach added: "The doctor's face was slammed against an armrest, causing serious bleeding from his mouth.

Hope no teeth got knocked out!

vicwatson wrote: »

Police written on one their backs - don't know if airport police or police police

It's odd that they had the police, almost like they were expecting trouble. I wonder how random his selection was?

hawkelady

Why do airlines over book seats?? I thought once the plane is full they have the money anyway ...

the_syco

And (seemingly?) moments after he gets the sh|t kicked out of him;

https://twitter.com/Tyler_Bridges/status/851228695360663552

the_syco

hawkelady wrote: »

Why do airlines over book seats?? I thought once the plane is full they have the money anyway ...

Because people they assume a percentage of people on certain flights won't turn up.

LiamaDelta

hawkelady wrote: »

Why do airlines over book seats?? I thought once the plane is full they have the money anyway ...

Because they want more money!

martinsvi

Locker10a wrote: »

Possibly needed them in their hotel room by a certain time to meet minimum rest requirements. The 4 hour journey may have put them below minimum rest which would have meant the flight being delayed the next day and rendering the whole thing as useless.
It should be noted that airlines overbook flights every day of the week it's common practice wheather you agree with it or not. But this is usually sorted out at the gate and people rarely refuse to get off like this man

it is my understanding that this whole ordeal delayed the plane for 2.5 hours.. flight time was supposed to be little over an hour. Roughly worked out the same 4 hours give or take.

this is the most savage thing I've seen for a while, utterly unprofessional

J Mysterio

dudara wrote: »

United probably have some T&C to cover this scenario, but knocking a doctor unconscious and dragging him off a plane isn't going to look very good

Hhahaha, i LOL'd at that.

Gaoth Laidir

From United's Customer Commitment:

Our United Customer Commitment

We are committed to providing a level of service to our customers that makes us a leader in the airline industry. We understand that to do this we need to have a product we are proud of and employees who like coming to work every day.

Our goal is to make every flight a positive experience for our customers. Our United Customer Commitment explains our specific service commitments so that we can continue a high level of performance and improve wherever possible. The commitment explains our policies in a clear, consistent and understandable fashion. We have detailed training programs and system enhancements to support our employees in meeting these commitments, and we measure how well we meet them.

Welcome on off board United Airlines!

endacl

I wonder why they selected the slight, bespectacled Asian man to 'volunteer' off the flight, when there were so many tall well built men to choose from...?

elbyrneo

Surely the appropriate course of action is to ask for volunteers, and if they are not forthcoming, offer an incentive of cash or vouchers. Keep upping the offer until you have enough volunteers. Simples.

john boye

One small point, and I'm absolutely not trying to defend UA in any way whatsoever, is that the flight was actually operated by Republic Airlines for UA.

J Mysterio

elbyrneo wrote: »

Surely the appropriate course of action is to ask for volunteers, and if they are not forthcoming, offer an incentive of cash or vouchers. Keep upping the offer until you have enough volunteers. Simples.

Or just knock someone out and drag them off. Easy.

Jawgap

https://twitter.com/reflog_18/status/851452978104082434

elbyrneo

OSI wrote: »

They did. But nobody volunteered, even with the voucher offer so they select 4 people randomly from the computer.

Yeah but keep upping the offer? What did they stop at, $50, $100$ ?

Welruc

elbyrneo wrote: »

Yeah but keep upping the offer? What did they stop at, $50, $100$ ?

I read that they offered $400 and two passengers took the offer they then upped it to $800 and got no takers

Gamebred

A good lawyer will get 6 figures in compensation there for the victim no doubt.

john boye

deuceswild wrote: »

I read that they offered $400 and two passengers took the offer they then upped it to $800 and got no takers

Feel sorry for the 2 who cracked at 400 if that's the case, should have held out.

Gaoth Laidir

Jawgap wrote: »

https://twitter.com/reflog_18/status/851452978104082434

That and Fist Class.

sunny2004

Shocking... no matter what the situation, he bought a ticket and took his seat...

nhunter100

Gamebred wrote:

A good lawyer will get 6 figures in compensation there for the victim no doubt.

Doubt it will be a 6 figure sum, at least a 7 figure . A slight little Asian guy assaulted and dragged off a flight he had a valid ticket for. A lawyers wet dream.

Locker10a

hawkelady wrote: »

Why do airlines over book seats?? I thought once the plane is full they have the money anyway ...

Flights almost never go compleaty full. Thus airlines overbook as they know that on 99% of occasions people won't show up and there are no problems, on the rare occasion everyone does show up they will offer cash etc.
On this occasion everyone showed up and people didn't take up the offers of cash.
In the US the law is you can over book to 103%.
In Europe I've heard of airline overbooking by as much as 10%!

Locker10a

nhunter100 wrote: »

Gamebred wrote:

A good lawyer will get 6 figures in compensation there for the victim no doubt.

Doubt it will be a 6 figure sum, at least a 7 figure . A slight little Asian guy assaulted and dragged off a flight he had a valid ticket for. A lawyers wet dream.

Except he agreed when booking his flight to the T&Cs which allow passengers to be bumped by airline, he may have a case about assault from the police but in the US this is unlikely...

the whole year inn

He right in what he done, unless it was for an emergency then, I'd hold my ground aswell.

nhunter100

Locker10a wrote:

Except he agreed when booking his flight to the T&Cs which allow passengers to be bumped by airline, he may have a case about assault from the police but in the US this is unlikely...

They weren't police. Also you may be bumped at the gate but not once you have taken your seat. The airline is going to pay dearly for this screwup. I'd even lay a bet on that outcome.

the whole year inn

deuceswild wrote: »

I read that they offered $400 and two passengers took the offer they then upped it to $800 and got no takers

Where did you see they took the offer

scudzilla

deuceswild wrote: »

I read that they offered $400 and two passengers took the offer they then upped it to $800 and got no takers

I've heard of these payouts before, are they cash/transferred into account or airline credit??

lawred2

Locker10a wrote: »

Except he agreed when booking his flight to the T&Cs which allow passengers to be bumped by airline, he may have a case about assault from the police but in the US this is unlikely...

Nobody agrees to being hauled off a plane against your will when you've taken your seat.

vicwatson

No need for this - what so ever

john boye

OSI wrote: »

They're airline credit and often have ridiculous terms like an relatively short expiry date and a requirement to be used in one transaction.

EI offered myself and herself 400 cash each and 2 seats on the BHD-AGP (which was due to leave 3 hours later) and a taxi up to BHD one morning when the 330 to AGP was overbooked. But While we considered it (I was VERY tempted), the girl then said "oh wait, we have something" and put us in J. Couldn't understand why she didn't just do that originally.

faoiarvok

OSI wrote: »

They're airline credit and often have ridiculous terms like an relatively short expiry date and a requirement to be used in one transaction.

Coming home from my J1 a few years back, the ATL - DUB with Delta was overbooked and they offered increasing amounts in airline vouchers. Nobody budged, got bumped from the flight and got a cheque for $1500, business class on the ATL - CDG 2 days later, Cityjet CDG - DUB, and hotel for 2 nights.

Businessman who got bumped was furious, myself and the other 2 J1ers were delighted.

I was actually told by the customer service woman that she was booking the business class seat so I wouldn't be bumped again, and I would actually be sitting in economy. Saw her type the same in the booking remarks, but when I printed my boarding pass the seat number was in the 2nd row so I sat there and nobody bothered me except to bring me more wine

Locker10a

john boye wrote: »

OSI wrote: »

They're airline credit and often have ridiculous terms like an relatively short expiry date and a requirement to be used in one transaction.

EI offered myself and herself 400 cash each and 2 seats on the BHD-AGP (which was due to leave 3 hours later) and a taxi up to BHD one morning when the 330 to AGP was overbooked. But While we considered it (I was VERY tempted), the girl then said "oh wait, we have something" and put us in J. Couldn't understand why she didn't just do that originally.

May have been an aircraft change, don't some of their 330s have different J cabins?
Double booked seats are common occurance with aircraft changes etc. It always amazes me how little gate staff know about aircraft changes land various types and and available seats etc
Gate staff often seem to pass the problem by telling passengers which seating issues, oh ask the crew on board! Which is totally ridiculous as the computer with all the seat information is at the gate.

john boye

Locker10a wrote: »

May have been an aircraft change, don't some of their 330s have different J cabins?
Double booked seats are common occurance with aircraft changes etc. It always amazes me how little gate staff know about aircraft changes land various types and and available seats etc
Gate staff often seem to pass the problem by telling passengers which seating issues, oh ask the crew on board! Which is totally ridiculous as the computer with all the seat information is at the gate.

Think EI 333s have a standardized J these days and that AGP morning flight is solidly 333 operated during peak summer. Think it was more that they had planned on J being empty on that flight, we were the only ones up there. The flight attendant said something to that effect during the flight.

J Mysterio

nhunter100 wrote: »

They weren't police. Also you may be bumped at the gate but not once you have taken your seat. The airline is going to pay dearly for this screwup. I'd even lay a bet on that outcome.

Police were among the group that manhandled him.

Pawwed Rig

1 policeman put on admin leave already. I suspect the company will offer him a large amount of cash to bury this story quickly.

nhunter100

J Mysterio wrote:

Police were among the group that manhandled him.

The news site I read describes the 3 as security guards. My mistake so.