Protocols? Oh, it's OK to over sell tickets and then bump customers so you can position crew?

Sorry I should have been clearer. Why does there ever need to be an involuntary removal when you're overbooked?

There must be more to the story, that video was started well in to the event, but it certainly doesn't look good for UA at all.


I once had to reduce weight by 10 people in an unusual tailwind situation and the cash offer exceeded US$1,500 plus food, hotel, transportation, and the next flight confirmed, etc. People jumped at it. I feel bad for the first 2 people who accepted $500.


I would have rather cancelled the flight then let it get to the point of dragging people around - but - the good news is that, if this played out as published, this guy will probably be getting enough money to charter his own jet in the future.;)

Yes, sometimes it happens, but it doesn't usually take too much ingenuity to avoid getting into this awful situation.
Because the airlines policy was to overbook. It appears here that the seats were needed for operational reasons. If you don't get enough volunteers you have to remove people who don't want to be removed. There are varying degrees of that, and in the worst case it might be necessary to deplane everybody and start again. Far better (and likely quicker in the circumstances) than ending up in this mess.

Cha ching. I will take that blank check now.

I stopped flying on UAL twenty years ago, along with AA, because of their pizz poor service and attitudes.

We don't know what the airport police officers were told by UAL staff. They could have been asked to remove an unruly passenger.

Yeah, this is what I don't understand. You just keep raising the price until you get volunteers. I don't understand why it ever needs to be involuntary if you're overbooked.

CGB

Yes, it is appropriate to overbook. Welcome to the airline world.

Bub

Don't equate the man being pulled off the plane as a failure of protocol. 3 of the 4 people to be removed did so, the fourth didn't comply with lawful order from the police officer and you saw the result. The aircraft isn't a public place, if those responsible and with the authority to remove the pax did so properly, then it's incumbent upon the pax to leave. The good Dr needs to remember he also has responsibilities as well.

Hems

Why would he get anything besides a refund? He didn't comply with a requirement to leave the aircraft from airline officials , and did the same to police. I have no idea if UA or the police have bigger plans for him, but covering his 3rd point of contact should be his concern, he's the only one who did anything wrong.

Again, I don't understand, you just keep raising the price until you get volunteers. It doesn't take more than 30 seconds. Ring your call button if I have any takers at $2000, $3000, etc.?

The only reason I can think of is United it too tight to do that.

Never let the facts get in the way of customer perception.

It has to be - REASONABLE and LAWFUL. The cops can't be agents for the airlines for civil matters. This pax was not disruptive, not drunk, not a threat to security.

Ironically, the Chicago Airport LEOs aren't even trusted with firearms.

Bottom line

Maybe Chicago was so disappointing that everyone wanted to leave, no matter what.:E

Here's an article published yesterday bragging about how the author made $11,000 by getting bumped off Delta flights a few days ago:

The article is here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabe.../#7534167a4de1

You're kidding right?

It's their aircraft so it'ts ok to assault the customers?

Certainly very bad publicity for UA and deservedly so. No way to offload legit passengers.
Has hit the news in Germany as well.

Chicago Police Department statement:

"At approximately 6:00 p.m., a 69-year-old male Asian airline passenger become irate after he was asked to disembark from a flight that was oversold. The passenger in question began yelling to voice his displeasure at which point Aviation Police were summoned. Aviation Officers arrived on scene attempted to carry the individual off of the flight when he fell. His head subsequently struck an armrest causing injuries to his face. The man was taken to Lutheran General Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Ongoing investigation."

Presumably written before they became aware that there are several different videos of the incident circulating on the Net ...

Yes, all businesses are. There is a limit to the compensation they will offer at this stage of contract failure. Generally this action takes place at the gate before boarding.

No indeed. However it does raise the question why the police were called?

From reports they got to $800 and a hotel.

CFR 250.5 fixes compensation for denied bording at 400% of the fare, with a maximum of $1350. (Can be less if they get rerouted to arrive within an hour or two)

Perhaps if they fixed it at $10,000, (not a percentage of the fare) there would never be another denied boarding.

FWIW - passengers are saying they offered $800, and when no takers, said an algorithm had determined 4 passengers.

In other words they were cheap gits.

So it's important to the police what part of the world a person looks as if they come from?

Being in aviation claims of all sorts including pax liability, UA(well, their insurance company)is going to get crushed on this one. Attorneys are probably camping in front of his house now since the video is viral, and they see an innocent physician being man-handled like a sack of rice, blood on his face. Oh an American jury would tee-off on United if it ever made it to court, multiple of eye witnesses to take the stand for the plaintiff, so UA will throw big money at this one to make it go away.