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A man wouldn’t leave an overbooked United flight, so he was dragged off

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Re: A man wouldn’t leave an overbooked United flight, so he was dragged off

#61
post #8

The outrage mob is pushing this pretty hard. Booting people off a plane is pretty shitty behavior for an airline. It's bad customer service and they should dealt with it earlier than after boarding. But if they have to do it, the passenger shouldn't be allowed to just refuse. This guy did. And he had to get dragged off the plane. I don't really see an alternative other than just letting anyone willing to scream to st…

> And he had to get dragged off the plane.

You've skipped over the part where the people involved bashed his head against another seat, then dragged him down the aisle while concussed and limp.

Re: A man wouldn’t leave an overbooked United flight, so he was dragged off

#62
post #6

Someone on a different message board put this situation very well: By the letter of the law, United was correct - morally, they were not. Their 'contract of carriage' allows them to IDB (Involuntary Deny Boarding) to passengers due to overselling, and bump people off at-will. Depending on how delayed the passenger would be to their final destination, they would owe compensation (up to a max of $1350) for the trouble.…

Whoever decided to force the guy off the plane is an idiot. They could have simply raised the comp for volunteering slowly until someone took the money.

Re: A man wouldn’t leave an overbooked United flight, so he was dragged off

#63
post #6

Someone on a different message board put this situation very well: By the letter of the law, United was correct - morally, they were not. Their 'contract of carriage' allows them to IDB (Involuntary Deny Boarding) to passengers due to overselling, and bump people off at-will. Depending on how delayed the passenger would be to their final destination, they would owe compensation (up to a max of $1350) for the trouble.…

Then the law is wrong.

Re: A man wouldn’t leave an overbooked United flight, so he was dragged off

#64
post #35
post #6

Someone on a different message board put this situation very well: By the letter of the law, United was correct - morally, they were not. Their 'contract of carriage' allows them to IDB (Involuntary Deny Boarding) to passengers due to overselling, and bump people off at-will. Depending on how delayed the passenger would be to their final destination, they would owe compensation (up to a max of $1350) for the trouble.…

> Involuntary Deny Boarding I don't have the contract at hand, but by the above wording, the man was already boarded...

From my understanding, you're correct. Deny Boarding can be avoided by checking in early. These people had boarded and the plane was full before the mistake was realized.

EDIT: Still unsure as to the legality of this. IDB is well established, but the fact that everyone has boarded is a different matter. Reading the contract of carriage did not bring any more light to this point. And let's be clear, denying someone and removing someone are very different. At least one source says it does matter (unknown reputability) "This is important because involuntary denied boarding only applies when passengers have been fully checked in (including baggage) and are at the gate at a specified time, typically 30 minutes before scheduled departure." https://thepointsguy.com/2014/12/what-to-do-if-your-flight-i...

Re: A man wouldn’t leave an overbooked United flight, so he was dragged off

#66
post #29
post #12

Buried at the bottom: > "The airline eventually cleared everyone from the plane, Bridges said, and did not let them back on until the man was removed a second time — in a stretcher." My reading is they beat him so badly they had to put him in a stretcher. Is that right?

I would imagine it was a form of restraining him.

Have you seen the video? It isn't clear to me if he's unconscious or just limp.

Re: A man wouldn’t leave an overbooked United flight, so he was dragged off

#67
Law is intended to, at a fundamental level, reflect and enforce the moral and ethical standards of a civilised society.

But when law becomes a reason to induce immoral and/or unethical (but legal) behavior - the civilization collapses.

Good luck to us all!

Re: A man wouldn’t leave an overbooked United flight, so he was dragged off

#68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you're wrong. They should have upped their monetary incentive until someone left voluntarily. It was their business fuckup, not the passenger's, and they should pay for it.

Yeah, the mistake was United's. But the passenger also acted unreasonably. If you act like a two-year-old - even in a situation that, initially, totally isn't your fault - then you may get treated like a two-year-old. And if you act like a two-year-old after the cops start telling you to leave, they're typically going to make you leave - using whatever level of force is required to do so. So, yes, the initial fault i…

But if he had the right to his seat, then why should he leave?

Re: A man wouldn’t leave an overbooked United flight, so he was dragged off

#69
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps, but why let too many people past the final boarding gate check?

The plane was full before all the United employees showed up? Yeah they should have gotten there sooner, but in previous situations when I knew the plane would wait on me I've been the last to board...

I don't think that answers lamby's question. Surely they know how many of their own employees will be flying ahead of time?

Re: A man wouldn’t leave an overbooked United flight, so he was dragged off

#70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you're wrong. They should have upped their monetary incentive until someone left voluntarily. It was their business fuckup, not the passenger's, and they should pay for it.

Yeah, the mistake was United's. But the passenger also acted unreasonably. If you act like a two-year-old - even in a situation that, initially, totally isn't your fault - then you may get treated like a two-year-old. And if you act like a two-year-old after the cops start telling you to leave, they're typically going to make you leave - using whatever level of force is required to do so. So, yes, the initial fault i…

Since when is it acceptable to knock out a two-year old?
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