United drags passenger off plane

[YankeeFan]

Bad scene. United asked for volunteers so they could get a crew in place.

When they couldn't get enough, they picked passengers at random, and a doctor who refused to leave, was dragged off by the police.

They definitely should have handled it better, but the resulting hot takes are so over the top I can't handle it.

 

[Jake_Taylor]

Where did it happen? Somewhere in the Great Planes?

 

[Donny in his element]

Bad scene. United asked for volunteers so they could get a crew in place.

When they couldn't get enough, they picked passengers at random, and a doctor who refused to leave, was dragged off by the police.

They definitely should have handled it better, but the resulting hot takes are so over the top I can't handle it.

Fun fact: Chicago, while in the Midwest, is not considered part of the Great Plains.

 

[HC]

So much for Fly the Friendly Skies.

 

[YankeeFan]

Where did it happen? Somewhere in the Great Planes?

Fuuuuuuck!

As soon as I clicked back over here, I saw my mistake, and seeing that there were already replies, knew it was too late to fix.

 

[Donny in his element]

So much for Fly the Friendly Skies.

Perhaps you mean skis.

 

[Iron_chet]

United is having a bad couple of weeks on social media between this and the pass rider who was denied for wearing leggings.

 

[CD Boogie]

I am blown away that no one took the offer of $800 and a free hotel to just switch a flight. Still, you don't **** around when security tells you to leave a plane. Sure, bad optics, but the guy should have complied. He lost the lottery. Shirley Jackson would have stoned his ass.

 

[YankeeFan]

Off

Shoot me now. Can I just delete this thread?

 

[Cosmo]

It's all good now!

 

[LongTimeListener]

I am blown away that no one took the offer of $800 and a free hotel to just switch a flight. Still, you don't **** around when security tells you to leave a plane. Sure, bad optics, but the guy should have complied. He lost the lottery. Shirley Jackson would have stoned his ass.

I'm not sure why United can't up it to $1,000 or $1,500 instead of bringing the goons out. There's always a price that works.

 

[CD Boogie]

I'm not sure why United can't up it to $1,000 or $1,500 instead of bringing the goons out. There's always a price that works.

I don't know, $800 sounds pretty damn enticing to me. If you've just gone on vacation or an expensive trip and someone offered you that just to switch a flight? Unless I'm scheduled for an organ transplant that night, I'd be all over it.

 

[bigpern23]

I'm not sure why United can't up it to $1,000 or $1,500 instead of bringing the goons out. There's always a price that works.

I suppose if they did that, it would lead to a never-ending escalation of costs, though.

 

[bigpern23]

I don't know, $800 sounds pretty damn enticing to me. If you've just gone on vacation or an expensive trip and someone offered you that just to switch a flight? Unless I'm scheduled for an organ transplant that night, I'd be all over it.

I've done it before coming back from South Florida. It was great to get an extra day in the sun for basically free.

 

[dixiehack]

If they switched it to $800 cash and a free rental car (Chicago to Louisville is an easy enough drive) I'd have taken it.

But why is overbooking such a holy sacrament for the airlines? Wrigley Field doesn't get to sell the same seat twice then hope somebody doesn't show so they can pocket twice the money.

 

[LongTimeListener]

I suppose if they did that, it would lead to a never-ending escalation of costs, though.

Who cares? That's their problem for selling something they don't have.

They could also do it by offering multiple tickets instead of more cash. That doesn't cost the same either.

$800 isn't a very high bar before you start dragging people off the plane. They weren't exactly at the desperation point.

 

[Songbird]

I am blown away that no one took the offer of $800 and a free hotel to just switch a flight.

I'd be the first one to raise my hand for 800 bucks and a free night. People are ****ing idiots.

 

[bigpern23]

Who cares? That's their problem for selling something they don't have.

They could also do it by offering multiple tickets instead of more cash. That doesn't cost the same either.

$800 isn't a very high bar before you start dragging people off the plane. They weren't exactly at the desperation point.

I'm sure United cares and that's why they don't do it.

 

[cranberry]

I'm not sure why United can't up it to $1,000 or $1,500 instead of bringing the goons out. There's always a price that works.

Yeah, the magic of the marketplace would have worked . Instead United decided that taking the bad press and providing an awful customer experience for all on board was a better business choice than paying market rates.

 

[JC]

I don't know, $800 sounds pretty damn enticing to me. If you've just gone on vacation or an expensive trip and someone offered you that just to switch a flight? Unless I'm scheduled for an organ transplant that night, I'd be all over it.

Sounds good to me as well but obviously wasn't good enough to the people on that flight. It is not their fault the plane is overbooked. You raise the price until somebody accepts.