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FigTree

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55. Overbooking should be a positive PR tool. Not the opposite.

Mon Apr 10, 2017, 02:05 PM

Apr 2017

It will bring more than it will cost. The strategical mistake is to try to make the flight more profitable. The airline has to be profitable, not the flight. Offer the guy a free 1st class trip anywhere Conus. A strategical mistake is always the responsibility of upper-management.

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United CEO apologizes after video of O'Hare passenger dragged from flight goes viral [View all] brooklynite Apr 2017 OP

Didn't United just police a girls pants? Renew Deal Apr 2017 #1

yes indeed! and again, united is on firm ground, legally. and yet, the p.r.... unblock Apr 2017 #3

That's not the kind of "firm ground" I'd like to be on. Renew Deal Apr 2017 #18

Trump territory. Hortensis Apr 2017 #65

United Breaks Guitars too! Bernardo de La Paz Apr 2017 #10

Guessing they'll never do a cover of "reunited" by peaches and herb. miyazaki Apr 2017 #138

That was totally different. Flying free under dress rules. 7962 Apr 2017 #63

a lot of people oversimplified "everyone" else's views unblock Apr 2017 #96

Ok, not "everyone". Correct. 7962 Apr 2017 #100

The new euphemism: "re-accomodate" chia Apr 2017 #2

... our team is moving "with a sense of urgency". not any actual urgency, just a sense of it. unblock Apr 2017 #4

OK, now THAT is some funny stuff right there. 7962 Apr 2017 #72

Weasel words, every one of them... nt chia Apr 2017 #89

I wish tRump / Deplorables would re-accomodate Syrian refugees in the USA. Country is rich enough.nt Bernardo de La Paz Apr 2017 #11

The new Desolation Row JustABozoOnThisBus Apr 2017 #19

Very nice! Adding: chia Apr 2017 #30

what's her name? bora13 Apr 2017 #85

You must be thinking of Kellyanne Conway.... chia Apr 2017 #88

awesome bora13 Apr 2017 #83

almost like they had done it for those people's benefit Abu Pepe Apr 2017 #110

Yep... "here, let me help you re-accomodate..." chia Apr 2017 #112

He does look tasered - my ex-cop hubby said he sounded like they tasered him adigal Apr 2017 #121

Yeah. Way weaselily. trof Apr 2017 #117

"Our team is working hard to re accomodate our Jewish citzens to the Warsaw Ghetto Warpy Apr 2017 #128

Lotta blame to go around, here SpankMe Apr 2017 #5

Agreed - He will now be on a Watch or Do Not Fly list,... Jimbo101 Apr 2017 #16

Why was he already on board? cos dem Apr 2017 #23

Well, you see, United can't tell if the plane is overbooked until they seat everyone and then look uppityperson Apr 2017 #26

It wasn't overbooked. pangaia Apr 2017 #130

Yep, tne only way United could have handled it any worse was to shoot the guy in his seat brush Apr 2017 #47

Delta does it. I book flights that are most likely overbooked for that reason 7962 Apr 2017 #67

They offered a cash compensation + hotel I thought? As for his flight they were not asking him cstanleytech Apr 2017 #76

The next flight was 24 hours later. nt lisby Apr 2017 #118

Ouch long layover, they should have upped the cash offer for sure. nt cstanleytech Apr 2017 #125

My husband thinks they tasered him, which is why he was screaming like that adigal Apr 2017 #122

It was a last minute issue if I am reading it correctly and they needed to get some people to cstanleytech Apr 2017 #75

Nope RobinA Apr 2017 #145

Neither your opinion or mine for that matter means diddly the courts however who's cstanleytech Apr 2017 #163

Other than his emotion, what specifically leads you to believe he in fact, not a doctor? LanternWaste Apr 2017 #33

You don't know what happened before the recording starts Beaverhausen Apr 2017 #46

My husband is an ex-cop and says it sounds like they tasered him adigal Apr 2017 #120

"Do as you're told and you won't get hurt?" Warpy Apr 2017 #129

He may have been tasered, which would explain the erratic behavior towards the end. Tatiana Apr 2017 #133

Be careful, abusive and unstable airline employees are one of DU's privileged castes Sen. Walter Sobchak Apr 2017 #6

LOL. Ain't that the truth! PSPS Apr 2017 #9

Cool allegation... LanternWaste Apr 2017 #36

No kidding! What is up with this nonsense? Let's throw shade at the victim. AgadorSparticus Apr 2017 #140

I'm sure it has something to do with "privilege" of some sort or another Sen. Walter Sobchak Apr 2017 #142

The UA staff acted irresponsibly. But being pulled off was the passenger's fault. Honeycombe8 Apr 2017 #7

If the airline puts you on the plane, that is too late for them to bump you. Bernardo de La Paz Apr 2017 #15

One of my friends is an ex-regional pilot Sen. Walter Sobchak Apr 2017 #24

Regional airlines have been more dangerous too. Continental Connection crash sharedvalues Apr 2017 #101

No...that's not too late. There's no law about that. Honeycombe8 Apr 2017 #73

No law that I know of. Just human decency & way to avoid really bad viral press. nt Bernardo de La Paz Apr 2017 #99

No. Overbooking is not a fact. C_U_L8R Apr 2017 #20

Thank you! Overbooking is part of their "business model".... Raster Apr 2017 #59

Absolutely!!!! BadgerMom Apr 2017 #105

Not to mention the lawsuits over this FakeNoose Apr 2017 #141

Why couldn't they leave the people without seats off the flight? Renew Deal Apr 2017 #21

They were United employees needed elsewhere. randome Apr 2017 #31

You're right Renew Deal Apr 2017 #40

It may have been a Catch-22 situation, though. randome Apr 2017 #41

Maybe lakercub Apr 2017 #51

Its a somewhat different situation if its pilots they needed and the pilots are at other airports. cstanleytech Apr 2017 #77

All They Had To Do RobinA Apr 2017 #147

Wait - don't they OWN a whole damn airline? colorado_ufo Apr 2017 #135

I want to know that, too. Maybe nothing else was available? randome Apr 2017 #143

Not possible jberryhill Apr 2017 #52

Not the passengers problem Renew Deal Apr 2017 #53

It is for the passengers on the plane waiting for the crew jberryhill Apr 2017 #54

That's Uniteds problem Renew Deal Apr 2017 #61

Do you think United wanted to do this? I kind of doubt it. cstanleytech Apr 2017 #79

Yes they wanted it Renew Deal Apr 2017 #91

They tried that at first but not enough were interested but they should I will agree with upping the cstanleytech Apr 2017 #94

There is a difference between volunteering and compliance Renew Deal Apr 2017 #108

You can make plans but sometimes even the best plans fall apart and this is probably one of cstanleytech Apr 2017 #113

At this point, robots would be an improvement Renew Deal Apr 2017 #114

"they should have planned for it" jberryhill Apr 2017 #116

+1000 BadgerMom Apr 2017 #107

Where did I say I was okay with dragging anyone off of a flight? jberryhill Apr 2017 #115

Doesnt the contract essentially equate to they will try their best but if shit happens be prepared? cstanleytech Apr 2017 #126

Pretty much, yeah jberryhill Apr 2017 #131

I can understand then why they would bump the economy and coach people first then cstanleytech Apr 2017 #134

That doesn't sound right; if a plane takes off at 4pm, that would mean the pilot must be asleep at 2 muriel_volestrangler Apr 2017 #153

It's about the required rest *before* flying jberryhill Apr 2017 #157

That all makes sense - "flight duty period" is very different from "flight" muriel_volestrangler Apr 2017 #158

No... jberryhill Apr 2017 #159

No, it doesn't say anything remotely like that. And what you propose would make no sense at all muriel_volestrangler Apr 2017 #160

I'm Sympathetic To This RobinA Apr 2017 #146

Sure, but at what point does it become bribery instead of compensation? randome Apr 2017 #152

There is no science to this Sen. Walter Sobchak Apr 2017 #29

It's just part of the deal. Compensation: Honeycombe8 Apr 2017 #71

Overbooking may be a fact, but another fact is the airlines know BEFORE seating passengers if they uppityperson Apr 2017 #32

From your linked article "You arrive at the airport, pass through security and head to your gate" uppityperson Apr 2017 #35

overbooking is an unethical practice and should be prohibited. cab67 Apr 2017 #43

Absolutely! hamsterjill Apr 2017 #58

Hope Gorsuch doesn't end up being the deciding vote on the case, klook Apr 2017 #104

Me, too. hamsterjill Apr 2017 #109

There are a significant number of no-shows and cancellations for most flights GeoWilliam750 Apr 2017 #136

Haven't "no shows" already paid for their ticket? hamsterjill Apr 2017 #150

That's a different issue. Fact is...each airline has its bumping rules. Honeycombe8 Apr 2017 #64

It sounds like the guy was tasered. athena Apr 2017 #137

No it wasn't...stop blaming victims lakercub Apr 2017 #45

+1000 meadowlander Apr 2017 #123

Exactly! Beautifully put! athena Apr 2017 #139

You're right, but its sad that you're right 7962 Apr 2017 #69

They picked on the one Asian guy cagefreesoylentgreen Apr 2017 #8

I wonder - Would he have appologized if there was no video? n/t SpankMe Apr 2017 #12

That's a rhetorical question, right? SunSeeker Apr 2017 #17

Toxic culture starts at the top C_U_L8R Apr 2017 #13

United should have gone straight into Chapter 7 in 2002 Sen. Walter Sobchak Apr 2017 #27

Delta has the highest flight bumping rate. United is second. SunSeeker Apr 2017 #44

There is no excuse for the brutal, incompetent way they "bumped" this man from the plane. SunSeeker Apr 2017 #14

THE ARTICLE SAYS that passengers were offered $800 to voluntarily give up their seat but I wonder if Kashkakat v.2.0 Apr 2017 #22

This was on a Sunday night Sen. Walter Sobchak Apr 2017 #28

It was just a lousy VOUCHER. Ever try to use an airline's voucher? SunSeeker Apr 2017 #38

I think... cab67 Apr 2017 #49

Last time I was bumped in 2002, I was offered a first class ticket and hotel stay for my troubles. haele Apr 2017 #56

They used to not overbook at all. In the early 90s I was able to stretch out across 3 seats. SunSeeker Apr 2017 #68

A Friend And I RobinA Apr 2017 #148

was it $800 each? cab67 Apr 2017 #48

Flight credit is supposed to be usable as cash. What airline were you dealing with 7962 Apr 2017 #70

THAT is no apology. k&r uppityperson Apr 2017 #25

"re-accommodate"? The passengers weren't accommodated the FIRST time More_Cowbell Apr 2017 #34

Orwellian doublespeak Va Lefty Apr 2017 #39

These days Airlines constantly overbook.Cover /w increase in layover hours, less direct flights and Sunlei Apr 2017 #37

We allow people like Donald Trump to rise to the top of the food chain Eliot Rosewater Apr 2017 #42

This isn't capitalism. This is fascism. SunSeeker Apr 2017 #50

Well it is capitalism though, at least the only form we know or have experienced. Eliot Rosewater Apr 2017 #95

Overbooking should be a positive PR tool. Not the opposite. FigTree Apr 2017 #55

High speed mag lev trains between busy Sculpin Beauregard Apr 2017 #57

You are kidding - right exboyfil Apr 2017 #66

If only!! nt 7962 Apr 2017 #74

Trump will get right on it IronLionZion Apr 2017 #82

Some apology. No mention of "sorry for beating you bloody?" mainer Apr 2017 #60

PR nightmare Freethinker65 Apr 2017 #62

Re-accommodate ?? C_U_L8R Apr 2017 #78

They spend millions on PR. liberalmuse Apr 2017 #80

totally agree spooky3 Apr 2017 #103

Why was he seated on the plane? Why issue him a boarding pass? IronLionZion Apr 2017 #81

because the flight was NOT overbooked... OKNancy Apr 2017 #87

Which should have happened before he even got the boarding pass IronLionZion Apr 2017 #90

exactly OKNancy Apr 2017 #98

What I would like to know is---- pangaia Apr 2017 #84

United is horrible MosheFeingold Apr 2017 #86

So...to 're-accommodate these customers' means draging them from their assigned seats pecosbob Apr 2017 #92

who was the United employee? bora13 Apr 2017 #93

Breaking news: "United Airlines is changing its name to Divisive Airlines." WinkyDink Apr 2017 #97

Good one! OrwellwasRight Apr 2017 #161

How much will this incident cost United in bad publicity, etc., vs. spooky3 Apr 2017 #102

If my sister didn't live 3,000 miles away, I'd avoid flying at all costs. And back when our Mom.... Hekate Apr 2017 #106

"re-accommodate" and the "sense" of urgency. Solly Mack Apr 2017 #111

Did he end his statement with sarisataka Apr 2017 #119

CEO's statement isn't an apology - It's a poor explanation flying-skeleton Apr 2017 #124

"United apologized for the overbooked situation, but not for its treatment of the passenger." dalton99a Apr 2017 #127

I wonder who the "lucky" employee that ended up christx30 Apr 2017 #132

"Like Flying in a Cattle Car with Wings" TM. nt Mc Mike Apr 2017 #144

"Upsetting event to all of us here at United" - not good enough, asshole hatrack Apr 2017 #149

" .. the airline is trying to reach the passenger to "further address and resolve this situation." Botany Apr 2017 #151

What seems to have been overlooked in this whole mess is that United values its employees more than WoonTars Apr 2017 #154

"Final Solution" - nt KingCharlemagne Apr 2017 #155

United sold a seat that did not exist - FRAUD bagelsforbreakfast Apr 2017 #156

WTF didn't they ask for volunteers BEFORE everybody was onboard?!? Storm Trooper tactics. catbyte Apr 2017 #162