I have a hard time believing that United doesn’t have a fleet of executive learjets they could have put their employees on instead of having police beat up a guy.
The morality of the situation is appalling, to be sure, but the thing that really gets me is someone decided that this was more cost-effective than just increasing their compensation offer until someone took it. At $2000+hotel, it would have been a bargain compared to this PR disaster. Who thought that was a good idea?
really gets me is someone decided that this was more cost-effective than just increasing their compensation offer until someone took it. At $2000+hotel, it would have been a bargain compared to this PR disaster. Who thought that was a good idea?]]>
Not to mention, it’s only a 5-hour drive from Chicago to Louisville. Put the employees in a company car and have them drive. Or a competing airline. Anything.
A friend told me about this at lunch and I was appalled and asked if they arrested the men who knocked the guy out and he was like “They were air marshals” which instantly conveyed that they would not be. URG
Add this to my already too long list of “reasons why a completely free market won’t work, my hardcore libertarian friends.”
This story has me paranoid for our family vacation this year. If they do things like this to scare people into paying more for the privilege of not getting bumped, it’s working on me. I spent my train time this morning looking for ways to minimize or eliminate the risk of being bumped. I don’t care about their stupid perks, I just want to get where I’m going.
Flying an air line other than United is probably a good start. Delta obviously has its own overbooking problems, but they’ve been increasing the amount that they pay out for getting bumped until they get actual volunteers.
We luckily did not choose United. Before booking I was debating between an earlier flight on United or a less expensive, slightly later flight on American.
I read this morning that Jet Blue has a “no overbooking” policy. Might have to keep them in mind for future trips.
washingtonpost.com – A man wouldn’t leave an overbooked United flight. So he was dragged off, battered and limp.
washingtonpost.com – A man wouldn’t leave an overbooked United flight. So he was dragged off, battered and limp.]]>
The morality of the situation is appalling, to be sure, but the thing that really gets me is someone decided that this was more cost-effective than just increasing their compensation offer until someone took it. At $2000+hotel, it would have been a bargain compared to this PR disaster. Who thought that was a good idea?
really gets me is someone decided that this was more cost-effective than just increasing their compensation offer until someone took it. At $2000+hotel, it would have been a bargain compared to this PR disaster. Who thought that was a good idea?]]>
Not to mention, it’s only a 5-hour drive from Chicago to Louisville. Put the employees in a company car and have them drive. Or a competing airline. Anything.
I hope that officer is being investigated for excessive force, but that seems unlikely.
This Atlantic article talks about how what they did is essentially legal, and just a part of our shitty airline monopoly.
theatlantic.com – The Real Scandal of That Brutal United Video – The Atlantic
theatlantic.com – The Real Scandal of That Brutal United Video – The Atlantic]]>
A friend told me about this at lunch and I was appalled and asked if they arrested the men who knocked the guy out and he was like “They were air marshals” which instantly conveyed that they would not be. URG
UAL stock was up for the day.
Is there a middle finger emoji?
Add this to my already too long list of “reasons why a completely free market won’t work, my hardcore libertarian friends.”
This story has me paranoid for our family vacation this year. If they do things like this to scare people into paying more for the privilege of not getting bumped, it’s working on me. I spent my train time this morning looking for ways to minimize or eliminate the risk of being bumped. I don’t care about their stupid perks, I just want to get where I’m going.
Flying an air line other than United is probably a good start. Delta obviously has its own overbooking problems, but they’ve been increasing the amount that they pay out for getting bumped until they get actual volunteers.
forbes.com – Why Delta Air Lines Paid Me $11,000 Not To Fly To Florida This Weekend
forbes.com – Why Delta Air Lines Paid Me $11,000 Not To Fly To Florida This Weekend]]>
We luckily did not choose United. Before booking I was debating between an earlier flight on United or a less expensive, slightly later flight on American.
I read this morning that Jet Blue has a “no overbooking” policy. Might have to keep them in mind for future trips.
Jetblue is great. I generally pick them whenever they fly to my destination.