United removes first-class passenger to make room for 'higher-priority' traveler

Original title is "United passenger threatened with handcuffs to make room for 'higher-priority' traveler", but it's too long for HN so I had to shorten it.

Although the article doesn't give a specific date, it seems this incident actually happened first, but is only now making it to press.

> He had to fly to Hawaii last week

What a lack of professionalism.

The customer even paid premium price to be in first class and instead of being notified at the gate, like any respectable airline would do, he's asked to give his seat to somebody "more important" than him when already seated.

It doesn't make any sense, if that "more important person" came later, he should be the one getting compensated by the airline especially when the problem occurred because United needed to change the plane for a smaller one.

You don't kick customer, you compensate them.

Can someone read this:

https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/contract-of-carriag...

and explain where it allows them to refuse transport to a well-behaved passenger after boarding?

Rule 21 seems to apply, but nothing there looks like "United can refuse to transport you 'just cause'".

I've seen lots of people claim this behavior is legal, all without a shred of evidence to back them up.

>Obviously the safety of passengers can not be ensured anymore.

Let's not be dramatic. Actual airline safety issues that lead to horrific deaths are not being discussed here. This is just piss poor customer service that could be encountered on any property (e.g. hotels that have overbooked, etc).