Davkaus Posted April 11, 2017 Share Posted April 11, 2017 (edited) In fairness, while the airline handled it appallingly, when they called law enforcement, they probably weren't expecting them to knock him out then drag his body off the plane while he was out cold. They're not responsible for the actions of that police officer. It should have been resolved without calling the police, absolutely, but the assault isn't United's fault. Edited April 11, 2017 by Davkaus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Pangloss Posted April 11, 2017 Share Posted April 11, 2017 9 hours ago, HanoiVillan said: I'm not an expert in American airlines - just viewing them from afar - but I wonder if this won't help them in the long run. Since none of them seem to compete on service, and as far as I can tell their constant main concern is competing on price with Southwest and other low-cost carriers, a scandal like this will help if it persuades more people to upgrade to first (to guarantee their seats and not be treated like cattle) or check in early online (allowing them to lay off check in counter staff). It's not beyond the realms of possibility that they will lose out on long-haul because of this, where there is a lot more competition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KHV Posted April 11, 2017 Share Posted April 11, 2017 11 hours ago, Davkaus said: Isn't it illegal to refuse to comply with an order to leave an aircraft? It doesn't justify the manhandling, but you can't just say "lol no" when the police tell you to get off a plane. Yes it is, once you you have been asked to leave an aircraft you must leave the aircraft. Failure to comply will lead to law enforcement being called to remove you. The law is the same everywhere. If this was in the UK then police would have boarded the plane and removed the passenger too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coda Posted April 11, 2017 Share Posted April 11, 2017 The obsession with American news in this country. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mozzavfc Posted April 11, 2017 Share Posted April 11, 2017 4 hours ago, darrenm said: Absolutely this. An easy solution if airlines are intent on overbooking is a reverse auction. "Ladies and gents we need 4 people to take the next flight. We'll start at $300, press the call button if you'd like to take that offer. $350" ding "$400" ding ding $450" ding I'm sure I read somewhere that they did do this but no one wanted to leave the aircraft It was probably given as vouchers, which is something that also belongs in this thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowychap Posted April 11, 2017 Share Posted April 11, 2017 Was he wearing leggings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genie Posted April 11, 2017 Share Posted April 11, 2017 27 minutes ago, snowychap said: Was he wearing leggings? Would Jeggings be allowed? If not, when do skinny jeans become jeggings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowychap Posted April 11, 2017 Share Posted April 11, 2017 21 minutes ago, Genie said: Would Jeggings be allowed? If not, when do skinny jeans become jeggings? Jeggings? Didn't he play in goal for Tottingham? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted April 11, 2017 VT Supporter Share Posted April 11, 2017 5 hours ago, darrenm said: Absolutely this. An easy solution if airlines are intent on overbooking is a reverse auction. "Ladies and gents we need 4 people to take the next flight. We'll start at $300, press the call button if you'd like to take that offer. $350" ding "$400" ding ding $450" ding They did that. Apparently they offered $800 and had no takers. I get @Genie's train of thought. The airline is totally at fault here. It should NEVER have gotten to the stage where the police were called, they should have just taken it on the chin and accepted they'd **** up. However, if you get to the stage where the police are telling you to do something and you're refusing, then you're being a bit stubborn to say the least. That's not putting blame on the Doctor, again it's the Airline's fault. But if the police are telling you to get off the plane (legally I may add) then you should probably just do it. It's basically the same as if someone accuses you of robbing a shop and the police turn up to arrest you. Even if you haven't robbed the shop, if you then resist arrest it's not going to help matters. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genie Posted April 11, 2017 Share Posted April 11, 2017 Cheers @Stevo985, that's the point I was trying (badly) to make. Its a really shitty situation the airline has created, but they do reserve the right to remove people from flights if they wish. I assume they asked him several times and he refused. Then the police turn up and he's still refusing to get off the plane. Now they HAVE to remove him by force because of this refusal. I don't think for a second the officer deliberately smashed the guys head into the armrest, but it was a result of the struggle he was causing. Yes the airline shouldn't have let the situation happen Yes the airline should have done more to encourage people to leave the plane or put their staff on another flight But this passenger needs to carry some of the blame for ending up injured. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted April 11, 2017 Moderator Share Posted April 11, 2017 The PR disaster should ironically help with United's policy of over-selling their flights if people with tickets refuse to travel with them in the short term 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darrenm Posted April 11, 2017 Share Posted April 11, 2017 13 minutes ago, Stevo985 said: They did that. Apparently they offered $800 and had no takers. I get @Genie's train of thought. The airline is totally at fault here. It should NEVER have gotten to the stage where the police were called, they should have just taken it on the chin and accepted they'd **** up. However, if you get to the stage where the police are telling you to do something and you're refusing, then you're being a bit stubborn to say the least. That's not putting blame on the Doctor, again it's the Airline's fault. But if the police are telling you to get off the plane (legally I may add) then you should probably just do it. It's basically the same as if someone accuses you of robbing a shop and the police turn up to arrest you. Even if you haven't robbed the shop, if you then resist arrest it's not going to help matters. No there's 2 very different things there. A hypothetical situation: 1. You're taking photographs at the park and a police officer tells you to stop because it's illegal. You know it isn't so you say "I'm sorry officer this isn't illegal I'd like to continue". You continue to do it because there's nothing wrong with it. That's not resisting arrest. 2. If the police officer then decides to arrest you for a made up law, only then if you physically attempt to stop yourself being arrested, that's resisting arrest and is the point you go along with what they say. Refusing to go along with what the police tell you to do is not a crime. If it's while they're trying to arrest you it is. I accept it is different in the USA though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted April 11, 2017 VT Supporter Share Posted April 11, 2017 Just now, darrenm said: No there's 2 very different things there. A hypothetical situation: 1. You're taking photographs at the park and a police officer tells you to stop because it's illegal. You know it isn't so you say "I'm sorry officer this isn't illegal I'd like to continue". You continue to do it because there's nothing wrong with it. That's not resisting arrest. 2. If the police officer then decides to arrest you for a made up law, only then if you physically attempt to stop yourself being arrested, that's resisting arrest and is the point you go along with what they say. Refusing to go along with what the police tell you to do is not a crime. If it's while they're trying to arrest you it is. I accept it is different in the USA though. They were legally within their rights to remove him from the aircraft. As shitty as it is, I believe he was breaking the law by refusing to be removed. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villaglint Posted April 11, 2017 Share Posted April 11, 2017 One consequence of the Twitter, FB biweekly explosions of public opinion is that it feels like people discuss the ins and outs of morality a lot more than before. Would that be fair? Although it seems like society is increasingly getting outraged over everything if we all have a lot better steer over our own moral compass that has to be a good thing overall, doesn't it? This is unrelated to the United thing and also off topic so double damn me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted April 11, 2017 VT Supporter Share Posted April 11, 2017 United have lost at least one customer now though. I'm flying to the US in two weeks for work and United are one of the approved airlines. I'll be avoiding them now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dAVe80 Posted April 11, 2017 Share Posted April 11, 2017 46 minutes ago, Stevo985 said: United have lost at least one customer now though. I'm flying to the US in two weeks for work and United are one of the approved airlines. I'll be avoiding them now. "UNITED!" "SHIT!" Been saying that for years. Everyone knows that. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StefanAVFC Posted April 11, 2017 Share Posted April 11, 2017 Stupidity of my staff. Had an inkling a Greek guy on my team was making personal calls using work telephony, couldn't prove it. Hear him speaking Greek, go into our interaction software, make a note of the number he's speaking with, google it; it's a Greek version of Gumtree and he's buying a lamp. If he did when i wasn't here, he'd be undetectable. Now we have to have a fun chat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blandy Posted April 11, 2017 Moderator Share Posted April 11, 2017 8 minutes ago, StefanAVFC said: it's a Greek version of Gumtree and he's buying a lamp. If he did when i wasn't here, he'd be undetectable. Now we have to have a fun chat. What, like "which Lampshade goes best with this"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davkaus Posted April 11, 2017 Share Posted April 11, 2017 2 hours ago, StefanAVFC said: he's buying a lamp What do you want him to do, sit in the dark?! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trekka Posted April 11, 2017 VT Supporter Share Posted April 11, 2017 Forgetting that I had my bank card in my trouser pocket before proceeding to put the trousers in the washing machine. Yep, the bank card is nackered (even the chip has gone!). This happened on Sunday by the way and the lovely lady on the phone said I would have a replacement within 2 or 3 working days. 2 days have passed and I have no cash! (luckily my car has petrol and I have food). Hurry up and get here you stupid piece of plastic. I don't really want to go into a branch to withdraw money showing them my mangled up card*. *I know they'll give me money with ID but it's still embarrassing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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