Anyone Care To Fly United Airlines

Davita said:
And now Delta Airlines...soon there'll be no airlines to fly with in USA.....

https://www.aol.com/article/news/20...d-staff-give-up-2-year-old-son-seat/22069492/
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That is an odd story, and the video report doesn't match up with the written report. The bottom line seems to be that they thought they were still entitled to their older child's seat even though he was not on the flight. That's definitely not how these things work, if the person the seat is purchased for does not check in, the seat is forfeit. It also sounds as though this occurred before the now-famous Asian doctor on the United flight out of Chicago, they are just now getting media coverage for it because it's become a popular for outrage (and ratings).
 
I don't know about the threats of legal action, by staff. They have been given some power but there have been a couple of stories lately of people being bumped off of Air Canada. This included a family and a woman who lost her vacation. Fortunately the company where she lost her vacation allowed her to retake it no charge and this was not Air Canada. I am sure staff is under pressure, as Davita indicated, to meet their runway time or have to wait for another opening. This puts a lot of pressure on staff to come up with a quick solution=incentives, threats whatever works fastest.

But the real elephant in the living room is overbooking. They should be able to overbook socceer matches, baseball games just in case someone doesn't show up. If they all show up, give the seat to the most important person. If someone has brought their family to the game, oh well, you will just have to leave the game. I believe selling things more then once is wrong.
 
Nimbus said:
My impression is that the heavy emphasis on security that comes after 9/11 is slowly getting airport and airline personnel power drunk. Customers in just about every other industry is treated like customers, but in this industry they are treated mostly as commodity. While it's true that economy passengers are barely profitable, these people at least cover the cost, so the airline can profit from business and first classes.

It's all about "respect my authority" now. Not following MY order is a federal crime! I have power!
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In case members agree with the above 'impression' I'd like to state the 'facts' I reported in my post #44 happened, according to my log book, before 9/11....it occurred on 26 Aug 1987. My only correction is the flight was predicted to be 8 hours (not 10 as I casually observed) and actual time was 7hrs and 54mins.

Prior to joining an airline I was an officer in the Royal Air Force and crewed the VC10 with passengers like the Queen, Prince Charles, Prime Ministers Wilson and Heath...and many other dignitaries, and yet, couldn't afford to fly commercially with my own family, and never did.
It has become so inexpensive today almost everyone can afford to fly.
During my airline career passengers understood how to behave (my story post #44 was an exception) but today, when I get on any budget airline like Lion/Air Asia, some passengers just don't know how to behave appropriately.
My impression is it's that inappropriate behaviour that causes many problems leading to events discussed on this thread. Airlines, to keep costs low and seats full, load passengers like getting on a bus or train and behaviour is conditioned on that premise.
For example.....I'm amazed airlines allow the cabin baggage I see some people have on their backs...don't those people know every time they turn they swipe another person! Also...some people think boarding the aircraft is timely to start long conversations with their friends 6 rows away....and some demand the Flight Attendants for the 'password' and chatter on a phone while being given instructions over the PA.
I've heard a story of passengers firing up a picnic cooker to heat their own meals....:sad:...and I know some steal the lifejackets...that's why I always check under our seats after boarding.
Airline advertising is another culprit...they seem to advocate that transport by aeroplane is a joy to behold...ever see the advert with Jennifer Aniston preferring to sit in economy rather than the first class she can easily afford...some people believe that shit and are underwhelmed when getting on any flight with seats smaller than their arse and observe Union flight attendants, hips wider than the aisle, that they have to move sideways....:smile:

It's more than a working-class person like me can take....and some blow up.....and others take selfies of incidents. I'm thinking of learning how to take pictures on MY smart phone...so far I only know how to say hello!
 
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I remember when Court line went bust, BEA as British Airways was then had to pick up the stranded passengers, a Stewardess at the time said to me, What dreadful Class of passenger, so I suppose it's been going down hill since then
 
Davita said:
In case members agree with the above 'impression' I'd like to state the 'facts' I reported in my post #44 happened, according to my log book, before 9/11....it occurred on 26 Aug 1987. My only correction is the flight was predicted to be 8 hours (not 10 as I casually observed) and actual time was 7hrs and 54mins.

Prior to joining an airline I was an officer in the Royal Air Force and crewed the VC10 with passengers like the Queen, Prince Charles, Prime Ministers Wilson and Heath...and many other dignitaries, and yet, couldn't afford to fly commercially with my own family, and never did.
It has become so inexpensive today almost everyone can afford to fly.
During my airline career passengers understood how to behave (my story post #44 was an exception) but today, when I get on any budget airline like Lion/Air Asia, some passengers just don't know how to behave appropriately.
My impression is it's that inappropriate behaviour that causes many problems leading to events discussed on this thread. Airlines, to keep costs low and seats full, load passengers like getting on a bus or train and behaviour is conditioned on that premise.
For example.....I'm amazed airlines allow the cabin baggage I see some people have on their backs...don't those people know every time they turn they swipe another person! Also...some people think boarding the aircraft is timely to start long conversations with their friends 6 rows away....and some demand the Flight Attendants for the 'password' and chatter on a phone while being given instructions over the PA.
I've heard a story of passengers firing up a picnic cooker to heat their own meals....:sad:...and I know some steal the lifejackets...that's why I always check under our seats after boarding.
Airline advertising is another culprit...they seem to advocate that transport by aeroplane is a joy to behold...ever see the advert with Jennifer Aniston preferring to sit in economy rather than the first class she can easily afford...some people believe that shit and are underwhelmed when getting on any flight with seats smaller than their arse and observe Union flight attendants, hips wider than the aisle, that they have to move sideways....:smile:

It's more than a working-class person like me can take....and some blow up.....and others take selfies of incidents. I'm thinking of learning how to take pictures on MY smart phone...so far I only know how to say hello!
Click to expand...

If you think people who pay upward of $100 to sit on a tiny seat and served 0.5 oz of pretzels with half a can of coke behave poorly, you haven't seen some of the folks I served as a restaurant waiter. Still, customers are treated better in a cheap restaurant than in an expensive airplane these days.
 
Nimbus said:
If you think people who pay upward of $100 to sit on a tiny seat and served 0.5 oz of pretzels with half a can of coke behave poorly, you haven't seen some of the folks I served as a restaurant waiter. Still, customers are treated better in a cheap restaurant than in an expensive airplane these days.
Click to expand...

If the airlines,, at 35,000 feet, were to offer the same as a restaurant i.e. "If you don't like the service you can always leave"...people might be more refined..OR.....maybe the airlines should allow tipping for good service....:thumb:

In the 'good ole days' we'd leave the flight deck door open and allow passengers to observe the overwhelmed pilots at work...hehehe.
I was on a Tokyo flight when a gaggle of Japanese wanting to take pictures were chattering away...so I rolled a yen note between my fingers. Within the time it took for me to make a radio call there was a pile of Japanese cash on the jump seat.....and many smiling Japanese taking picture after picture. I had to call for a Japanese speaking flight attendant to tell them I was joking but they insisted...so did I as I realized the Airline would fire me for accepting money from passengers.

I've just had a thought...I wonder if Air Asia crew would allow sitting in those overwing exit seats if I made the 'traditional' Indonesian handshake....:lol:
 
I've flown on lots of different aircraft, from steerage to first class suites. I do prefer Asian carriers (except for mainland China), as the service, even in coach, is usually much better. I've had good service on US carriers flying to/from Asia, but often it's just indifferent, even in Business or First.

I see a lot of entitled passengers who just go crazy if they don't get their seat selection, meals and the like. Western or Eastern passengers can both be pretty over the top. I try to treat the staff well, and plan everything out way in advance.

JAL and Cathay are my favorites. Garuda, Korean and Singapore are quite nice, as well.
 
fastpitch17 said:
Aaaaannnddd this.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/trave...-passenger-4800km-in-the-wrong-direction.html

United fly passenger the wrong way.
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I thought, for a few seconds, that the aircraft flew the wrong way...that would catch my attention.
Lucky the flight wasn't full and they'd hauled off a genuine passenger to give this one the seat....and what happened to the ladies hold baggage...that is a serious violation of security. Probably worse than having the wrong person on the wrong aircraft is to have the wrong bags.

I'm surprised more people don't get on the wrong aircraft...especially here in Indonesia where they often change gates and the garbled announcements are incoherent.

Not long ago we were flying JKT-DPS and the whole busload of us got on and took our seats. As the plane was empty I thought...what happened to the passengers before us. I asked the only flight attendant if this aircraft was going to Bali..."Oh! yes sir...but you people are early...we dont depart for another hour."
I looked out the window and saw the aircraft next door filling up with the remainder of our group. Our driver had taken us to the wrong aircraft.
 
I've had aircraft return to the gate with a passenger who is on the wrong plane, usually it would appear to be elderly gentleman, who it would appear not to know where they are in the first place, one old chap I had to take to the adjacent pier, as there were no ground staff at our pier and they sorted him, his English wasn't too good
 
From the bit I've read, this Southwest incident seems pretty significantly different from the United incident.

United sequence of events
  • United needed to move crew to a different airport
  • United sought volunteers to leave the flight, but when there wasn't enough they demanded that 1 or more additional passengers leave to make room for their crew
  • (I don't know if confirmed, but some reports said the doctor in the famous video was selected based on having paid the lowest amount for his seat)
  • The doctor was told to leave the plane and refused
  • Airport police were called to remove him
  • He was forcibly removed and injured
Southwest sequence of events
  • Lady boards plane and sees a service dog board also
  • Lady requests the dog be removed from the flight because she has a life-threatening allergy
  • Southwest refuses to remove the dog (removing a service animal would violate the Americans with Disabilities Act)
  • Southwest informs the lady that she may not remain on the flight if she has a life-threatening condition and no medication
  • The lady begins to change her story to say it's not life-threatening
  • Southwest does not believe her new story, or is perhaps obligated by law or policy, and insists she can not fly because of her prior claim unless she has medication
  • Southwest offers to administer the medication, but excessive forms are required to administer any medication on an aircraft, so they ask her to exit to the jetway, receive the medication, and get back on the flight
  • The lady refuses to leave her seat
  • Southwest calls airport police to remove her
 
You are correct R.C.... the reasons are different as it would be difficult to replicate identically.
The similarity is both passengers were forcibly removed by law enforcement because they refused to leave voluntarily when ordered to do so...... and the removal was on video.
 
Yes, just pointing out some of the differences for how this will play out in the court of public opinion. United really seemed the bad-guy, but I think Southwest will come away from this looking just fine. The doctor on the United flight also got a settlement that was presumably quite large, I don't think this lady will get a dime.
 
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