Originally Posted by
noflynomore
last on first off is a fair principle if no one volunteers to offload but it seems unlikely that on a transcontinental size aircraft they couldn't find people willing to volunteer.
It was an 80-minute flight operated by a 70-seat Embraer, but you are no doubt correct that it would have been possible to find four willing volunteers to offload if realistic compensation had been offered.
In fact some reports are suggesting that the doctor in question and his wife had initially volunteered, but on being told that they would be rebooked on a flight almost 24 hours later, they explained that he had patient appointments to keep and needed to fly.
Spectacular, and completely unnecessary own-goal by United.