5 ms·

That's exactly what they did. Someone up the chain made a mistake. Other airlines board must-ride passengers (i.e. crew deadheading to the next destination) bef

That's exactly what they did. Someone up the chain made a mistake. Other airlines board must-ride passengers (i.e. crew deadheading to the next destination) before passengers, but this did not happen. Due to FAA regulations, the movement and sleep requirements of crew is enforced big time. In this case, they had a higher priority than a full-fare passenger (Must Ride), and even though it's morally wrong, it is well within the airline's right to remove any passenger at any time for any reason.

dasil003 9y ago
But they have to pay compensation. The fact that the minimum compensation was not enough to get anyone to volunteer means they are just begging for regulation to push that minimum up. Penny-wise, pound-foolish.
jacquesm 9y ago
Yes, they have the right, but then the public has the right to make a stink. The airline had other options, such as finding alternative transportation, or they could have offered more to bump passengers but they did neither and that's where their error lies. To then remove a bunch of passengers by major force in the age of social media is a mistake that will probably be made only once, those days are over.
charlieflowers 9y ago
Fuck United. Corporations pull shit like this all the time, but they don't often get caught like this. It's OK with me if United doesn't exist tomorrow. Fuck them.
cmurf 9y ago
"airline's right to remove any passenger at any time for any reason" 1. Absurd. Flight attendant: Sir, you farted, we're going to remove you. Passenger: Umm, we're at 42,000 feet?! Flight attendant: Too bad, we can remove you at any time for any reason. 2. Citation for this "right"? In the airline's contract of carriage I see explicit reasons for being removed from an aircraft, and none of them apply to this case.
- AnimalMuppet 9y ago
  If I understand correctly, odor is in fact one explicitly-stated valid reason for being removed from an aircraft. (Not at 42,000 feet, of course.)
  - jacquesm 9y ago
    Usually caused by crappy airline food...
  - cmurf 9y ago
    Yes, for United it's contract of carriage rule 21, H, reason 16: malodorous condition. It's funny that this is under the auspices of safety though. I guess the logic is if someone stinks enough it might cause disorderly conduct by other passengers?
    - self-diversity 9y ago
      Imagine being locked next to someone who smells of their last trip to the bathroom after a taco bell binge for five hours. How much vomit might you conjure up for the crew to enjoy?
- tylerjd 9y ago
  Essentially, the Captains word is law while on the plane. He is responsible for the safety of everyone on board. According to FAA FAR 91.3, a. The pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to, the operation of that aircraft. Additionally ICAO code states The pilot-in-command of an aircraft shall have final authority as to the disposition of the aircraft while in command. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilot_in_command https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilot_in_command
  - cmurf 9y ago
    Nope. Not applicable at all, the aircraft was not in operation. I am a pilot (former CFII) and and there is no possible application of this FAR to this situation. It's not even a stretch.
deleted 9y ago
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dasil003 9y ago

But they have to pay compensation. The fact that the minimum compensation was not enough to get anyone to volunteer means they are just begging for regulation to push that minimum up. Penny-wise, pound-foolish.

jacquesm 9y ago

Yes, they have the right, but then the public has the right to make a stink. The airline had other options, such as finding alternative transportation, or they could have offered more to bump passengers but they did neither and that's where their error lies. To then remove a bunch of passengers by major force in the age of social media is a mistake that will probably be made only once, those days are over.

charlieflowers 9y ago

Fuck United. Corporations pull shit like this all the time, but they don't often get caught like this. It's OK with me if United doesn't exist tomorrow. Fuck them.

cmurf 9y ago

"airline's right to remove any passenger at any time for any reason" 1. Absurd. Flight attendant: Sir, you farted, we're going to remove you. Passenger: Umm, we're at 42,000 feet?! Flight attendant: Too bad, we can remove you at any time for any reason. 2. Citation for this "right"? In the airline's contract of carriage I see explicit reasons for being removed from an aircraft, and none of them apply to this case.

AnimalMuppet 9y ago
If I understand correctly, odor is in fact one explicitly-stated valid reason for being removed from an aircraft. (Not at 42,000 feet, of course.)
- jacquesm 9y ago
  Usually caused by crappy airline food...
- cmurf 9y ago
  Yes, for United it's contract of carriage rule 21, H, reason 16: malodorous condition. It's funny that this is under the auspices of safety though. I guess the logic is if someone stinks enough it might cause disorderly conduct by other passengers?
  - self-diversity 9y ago
    Imagine being locked next to someone who smells of their last trip to the bathroom after a taco bell binge for five hours. How much vomit might you conjure up for the crew to enjoy?
tylerjd 9y ago
Essentially, the Captains word is law while on the plane. He is responsible for the safety of everyone on board. According to FAA FAR 91.3, a. The pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to, the operation of that aircraft. Additionally ICAO code states The pilot-in-command of an aircraft shall have final authority as to the disposition of the aircraft while in command. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilot_in_command https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilot_in_command
- cmurf 9y ago
  Nope. Not applicable at all, the aircraft was not in operation. I am a pilot (former CFII) and and there is no possible application of this FAR to this situation. It's not even a stretch.

deleted 9y ago

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