Originally Posted by
KelvinD
I find this interesting. It shows that United are still trying to spin things, because this still doesn't solve their problem.
As shown
here crew don't meet the legal definition of confirmed reserved seating, even if the airline has reserved a seat for them. So passengers still can't be denied boarding in favour of crew.
Of course knowing about the problem in advance does allow the gate crew more time to try and find a solution such as a pax voluntary giving up their seat.
Definitions from CFR 250
Confirmed reserved space means space on a specific date and on a specific flight and class of service of a carrier which has been requested by a passenger, including a passenger with a “zero fare ticket,” and which the carrier or its agent has verified, by appropriate notation on the ticket or in any other manner provided therefore by the carrier, as being reserved for the accommodation of the passenger.
Zero fare ticket means a ticket acquired without a substantial monetary payment such as by using frequent flyer miles or vouchers, or a consolidator ticket obtained after a monetary payment that does not show a fare amount on the ticket. A zero fare ticket does not include free or reduced rate air transportation provided to airline employees and guests.