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On the heels of United's heavy-handed removal of a booked passenger comes another wonderful piece of news from United:
Fearns needed to return early so he paid about $1,000 for a full-fare, first-class ticket to Los Angeles. He boarded the aircraft at Lihue Airport on the island of Kauai, took his seat and enjoyed a complimentary glass of orange juice while awaiting takeoff.
Then, as Fearns tells it, a United employee rushed onto the aircraft and informed him that he had to get off the plane.
"I asked why," he told me. "They said the flight was overfull."
Apparently, due to technical problems, a different plane was used that had slightly fewer seats. So fewer first class seats. So why bump off a first class passenger?
"That's when they told me they needed the seat for somebody more important who came at the last minute," Fearns said.
Seriously, United?
This ended up with Fearns being bumped down to economy class. With no recompensation offered. When contacting them to demand a refund and $25k for a charity of his choice, the reply was no on both accounts. But he was offered the difference between a first class ticket and the seat he was forced to occupy - between a couple that had a fight, refused to sit next to each other and spent the 6hrs of flight fighting. Oh, and $500 in United credit.
I realise this is just one side of the story, but still: this news surfacing the next day and these two events happening in the same week?
"I understand you might bump people because a flight is full," Fearns said. "But they didn't say anything at the gate. I was already in the seat. And now they were telling me I had no choice. They said they'd put me in cuffs if they had to."
You couldn't make this up if you tried.
Indeed, I could not.
For shame, United. For shame.
takyon: United Airlines' Own Contract Denied it any Right to Remove Passenger
N.J. doctor saves woman on United flight where medical supplies were 'lacking'
(a completely different story)
(Score: 3, Insightful) by What planet is this on Friday April 14 2017, @12:31PM (7 children)
I can only hope that we reach a tipping point here in the U.S. where people will realize that the only way to stop this sort of thing from happening again and again is with a nationwide boycot of products or services that treat us like poo.
I had to put up with airline travel as part of my job when I was working but haven't flown since. I'm buying a new phone soon and it's going to be a flip phone because of no root access to remove crap and tracking on smartphones. Even the sound system in our car occasionally puts up a message that you have to agree to that talks about distracted driving and keeping both hands on the wheel if you want listen to music. Really? Next sound system will be aftermarket. Where does this end.
Have you had enough yet?
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 14 2017, @01:01PM (1 child)
> the sound system in our car occasionally puts up a message that you have to agree to that talks about distracted driving and keeping both hands on the wheel if you want listen to music.
Pray tell, what make and model is this devil car. I want to avoid it!
(Score: 1) by What planet is this on Friday April 14 2017, @10:12PM
2013 Buick LaCrosse. Other than that, nice car.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 14 2017, @02:44PM
If you have to fly, you have to fly. Unfortunately, with all the airline mergers, a lot of times you don't have much of a realistic choice depending upon which airport you're leaving and which one you are going to. In some markets United went from 5% share to over 50% after they merged with Continental. What that industry needs is more competition, or more regulation.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Runaway1956 on Friday April 14 2017, @02:48PM (2 children)
I've been boycotting all the airlines, since the TSA was created. I blame the airlines, individually, and collectively, for the shit service that has been offered since 9/11/01. I just refuse to play their silly-assed games. The best idea they came up with, were sky marshalls. Nothing else even came close.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 14 2017, @03:11PM (1 child)
> I've been boycotting all the airlines, since the TSA was created.
Me too! I'm also boycotting Lamborghini and Ferrari. And SpaceX too.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Friday April 14 2017, @05:45PM
Boycotting SpaceX? You fucking LUDDITE!!
(Score: 2) by mcgrew on Friday April 14 2017, @06:10PM
There are several businesses I refuse to go to because of their mentally-challenged policy of carding everyone for beer, regardless of age. When you're 30 and get carded, it's a compliment, but when you're twice that age they're just mocking you. I make it a habit of never returning anywhere where they card me; my gray hair and wrinkles are proof I'm old enough to drink.
Stop standing for that shit, sheeple!
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