United Breaks Guitars (and now, faces!)

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 12:18 pm

Nut job on United flight rushes cockpit

Other airline hijinks

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 12:19 pm

How the hell are all these crazy people rich enough to afford flights?

gilraen · Post by **gilraen** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 12:22 pm

McNutt wrote:
ImLawBoy wrote: A year from now, if someone does an Orbitz search and the United option comes up $30 cheaper than the next one, I'm guessing they're clicking on United.
Most protests end when the price is significantly cheaper.

Key word being "significantly". In the past couple of years, I'd search for a flight, and Southwest would be exactly $25 more than United...except I know I need to check a bag, so in the end, the price is identical. Now the prices are even harder to judge, considering that United introduced their "basic economy", where you can't bring a carry-on bag (other than a purse or laptop, or a similar "personal item"). If you normally fly with a carry-on and 1 checked bag, suddenly that's 2 checked bags - that's $60. There's a saying in Russian, that roughly translates to "the cheapskate pays twice". Sure, there will be plenty of stupid people that will see the United ticket as "cheaper", but depending on what you need to bring, you won't be saving any money.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 12:26 pm

gilraen wrote:
McNutt wrote:
ImLawBoy wrote: A year from now, if someone does an Orbitz search and the United option comes up $30 cheaper than the next one, I'm guessing they're clicking on United.
Most protests end when the price is significantly cheaper.
Key word being "significantly". In the past couple of years, I'd search for a flight, and Southwest would be exactly $25 more than United...except I know I need to check a bag, so in the end, the price is identical. Now the prices are even harder to judge, considering that United introduced their "basic economy", where you can't bring a carry-on bag (other than a purse or laptop, or a similar "personal item"). If you normally fly with a carry-on and 1 checked bag, suddenly that's 2 checked bags - that's $60. There's a saying in Russian, that roughly translates to "the cheapskate pays twice". Sure, there will be plenty of stupid people that will see the United ticket as "cheaper", but depending on what you need to bring, you won't be saving any money.

That's just typical airline pricing BS, though, and doesn't speak to whether there will be a material lasting effect from this incident.

em2nought · Post by **em2nought** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 2:00 pm

hepcat wrote:
em2nought wrote:The guy is 69, I wonder if maybe he's in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's with sundowning? Would explain why he was so non-compliant.
Or, you know, he might just have felt the airline was in the wrong and was standing his ground.

I suppose he could be related to this guy. Dao loosely translating as balls of steel maybe.

Paingod · Post by **Paingod** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 2:29 pm

em2nought wrote:
hepcat wrote:
em2nought wrote:The guy is 69, I wonder if maybe he's in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's with sundowning? Would explain why he was so non-compliant.
Or, you know, he might just have felt the airline was in the wrong and was standing his ground.
I suppose he could be related to this guy. Dao loosely translating as balls of steel maybe.

I think it might be more along the lines of "I'm a doctor, I don't have to put up with this crap"

Articles seem to indicate that he was insisting that he needed to get back to work and see his patients. Patients can be rescheduled or visit with other doctors. Attitudes, not so much.

tgb · Post by **tgb** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 2:40 pm

hepcat wrote:How the hell are all these crazy people rich enough to afford flights?

Have you been hibernating?

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 3:18 pm

Must buy cheese puffs.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 3:19 pm

The victim smearing has begun.

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 3:26 pm

Isgrimnur wrote:The victim smearing has begun.

Just imagine if he had a MAGA tee-shirt or hat on.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 3:28 pm

Being a foreigner is bad enough.

Carpet_pissr · Post by **Carpet_pissr** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 3:30 pm

A red capped, MAGA shirt wearing, Christian doctor who was carrying a flag proclaiming his love of Christmas.

Grifman · Post by **Grifman** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 4:09 pm

Isgrimnur wrote:The victim smearing has begun.

Crucified man had prior run-in with authorities

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/co ... 61aea101ee

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 4:59 pm

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 5:08 pm

Pyperkub · Post by **Pyperkub** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 5:26 pm

Isgrimnur wrote:

What movie is that again?

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 5:35 pm

Old School.

Punisher · Post by **Punisher** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 8:12 pm

just wanted to give an update in case anyone was concerned that I was beaten and left on the side of the tarmac...
Made it to Orlando with no issues on United.. In fact I was surprised when they had a decent selection of recent movies available for free... ALL previous flights I've been on have either had the forced "whatever we decided to show" option or decent selections, but you had to pay for them..

However, I get to fly back to Jersey next week so there is still time for me to become a YouTube Star...

On a side, derailing note... My drop rapidly spiraled down from there...
I get off the plane and find out where I am supposed to go for my Rental car shuttle.. A few shuttles come and go in the spot so I ask a driver to confirm if I am in the Right spot for "Economy Rentals" He says yes, but the huttle is called Green Motion. OK, no biggie... it eventually shows up and we get to the rental place and realize that the rental place is Green Motion... I ask about Economy and find out that they went out of business about 2 weeks ago..

This company is honoring their reservations somewhat, but did not buy out or absorb them... and they have a different policy regarding rentals. I brought my own insurance declaration page and in order to use them, I need to leave a deposit of $500 (The other company did not have this..) It's either that or I buy their insurance and leave $150 deposit... Needless to say I was very upset, but at this point it's already very late and it's an off airport rental service. I ended up buying their insurance since it only cost me $300 (including the deposit) instead of $500 and I didn't have the $500 available...
Then I get to the hotel and it seems that they did not actually reserve the room I paid for... I paid for a kids suite since I have 3 more people coming down and needed the extra beds. They had reserved us for a room with 2 queen beds instead.. and... there is no manger on duty at night.. and.. I was not the only one who had reserved the kids suite and didn't get it..
It was late and we were tired so we took what they had and get everything sorted out the next day. no charge for Monday nights room either. BLAH..
Anyway, tomorrow starts Star Wars Celebration so hopefully that will cheer me up..

hentzau · Post by **hentzau** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 10:51 am

You're going to Celebration? We expect a detailed AAR!

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 5:49 pm

Lawyers for dragged passenger say he lost 2 teeth and got a broken nose.

Moliere · Post by **Moliere** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 6:10 pm

Daehawk wrote:Lawyers for dragged passenger say he lost 2 teeth and got a broken nose.

Those armrests are hard plastic.

All I know is that if I had this kind of high publicity easy to win case against a multi-billion dollar company I would force my lawyers to take a smaller cut. No way I'm giving away 33% or 40%.

Pyperkub · Post by **Pyperkub** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 6:17 pm

Isgrimnur wrote:Old School.

Stiffler threw me off (kind of like United, ba dump bump bump!)

Moliere · Post by **Moliere** » Thu Apr 13, 2017 6:28 pm

United now using scorpians against unruly passengers.

Moliere · Post by **Moliere** » Tue Apr 18, 2017 10:14 am

Saigon singer circa 1975.

Remus West · Post by **Remus West** » Tue Apr 18, 2017 10:27 am

Moliere wrote:
Daehawk wrote:Lawyers for dragged passenger say he lost 2 teeth and got a broken nose.
Those armrests are hard plastic.

All I know is that if I had this kind of high publicity easy to win case against a multi-billion dollar company I would force my lawyers to take a smaller cut. No way I'm giving away 33% or 40%.

The settlement he is likely to get you probably wouldn't notice splitting it 50/50 with your lawyer. You'd be to busy building a Scrooge McDuck swimming pool.

Zarathud · Post by **Zarathud** » Tue Apr 18, 2017 10:53 am

Corboy & Demetrio is a great, high profile plaintiffs injury firm. They're worth the percentage.

Moliere · Post by **Moliere** » Wed Apr 19, 2017 3:45 pm

Father flying on United with his young daughter. He must be a sex trafficker!

Long story short: A dad returning from Mexico with his 3-year-old daughter who has lighter skin than his is suspected of sex trafficking her. (And not to pile on, but it was a United flight.) Despite papa having her passport, his passport, AND a notarized letter from the mom saying that she gave them her permission to travel, the authorities felt compelled to act upon a “tip” — a tip that was nothing more than a passenger’s hunch fueled by the hysteria of the moment: That 3-year-olds are being trafficked right and left in the USA.

Thanks United. The gift that keeps on giving.

Punisher · Post by **Punisher** » Thu Apr 20, 2017 1:03 am

Just following up.. Safe back in Jersey with no incidents. I did get a nice bonus for me and was able to get moved to the emergency door section, so I had extra room on this leg of the trip. Downside was that unlike the Newark to Orlando flight, this one did not offer free movies so it was a good thing that I brought a magazine and some books.
Guess my YouTube fame and fortune will have to wait.

tgb · Post by **tgb** » Wed Apr 26, 2017 3:51 pm

In other news, United announced today that it plans to improve meal service on it's flights by serving Lapin A La Cocotte along with other classical French fare.

"We are tewibly saddened by this howwable twagedy", said United spokesman Eric-Louis "Elmer" Fudderson. "We awayse twy to be vewwy wespectful of all of our passengers, even the fuwwy ones. I know that on this pawticuar fwight, the crew went out of their way to be vewwy vewwy quiet".

Z-Corn · Post by **Z-Corn** » Wed Apr 26, 2017 6:59 pm

That's some bullshit. That was a fine looking rabbit. Fuck United.

em2nought · Post by **em2nought** » Wed Apr 26, 2017 11:21 pm

tgb wrote:In other news, United announced today that it plans to improve meal service on it's flights by serving Lapin A La Cocotte along with other classical French fare.

"We are tewibly saddened by this howwable twagedy", said United spokesman Eric-Louis "Elmer" Fudderson. "We awayse twy to be vewwy wespectful of all of our passengers, even the fuwwy ones. I know that on this pawticuar fwight, the crew went out of their way to be vewwy vewwy quiet".

I just had that very dish for the first time last week, it was delicious. I'd be very happy to be served Wabbit next year on United if I'm not dragged off the flight.

Moliere · Post by **Moliere** » Thu Apr 27, 2017 11:25 am

Changes to Improve Customer Experience

Limit use of law enforcement to safety and security issues only.
Not require customers seated on the plane to give up their seat involuntarily unless safety or security is at risk.
Increase customer compensation incentives for voluntary denied boarding up to $10,000.
Establish a customer solutions team to provide agents with creative solutions such as using nearby airports, other airlines or ground transportations to get customers to their final destination.
Ensure crews are booked onto a flight at least 60 minutes prior to departure.
Provide employees with additional annual training.
Create an automated system for soliciting volunteers to change travel plans.
Reduce the amount of overbooking.
Empower employees to resolve customer service issues in the moment.
Eliminate the red tape on permanently lost bags by adopting a "no questions asked" policy on lost luggage.

These are actually good ideas. I hope they get implemented.

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Thu Apr 27, 2017 5:16 pm

Passenger dragged off United Airlines plane wins settlement

The Kentucky doctor dragged off a United Airlines flight from Chicago earlier this month has received a financial settlement from the airline.

Lawyers for Dr David Dao, 69, say a condition of the payout is that the "amount remain confidential".

United boss Oscar Munoz "said he was going to do the right thing and he has", Dr Dao's lawyers said.

I'm guessing the settlement was substantial, if Dao's lawyers are saying nice things about Munoz.

GreenGoo · Post by **GreenGoo** » Fri Apr 28, 2017 10:17 am

I heard the settlement was "amicable".

Man, can you imagine being the employee responsible for the actions that caused your company millions of dollars in lawsuit money? Ouch.

GreenGoo · Post by **GreenGoo** » Fri Apr 28, 2017 10:22 am

I'll just drop this British Airways story about tying a passenger down to their seat when he moved into business class without permission and refused to leave.

Apparently this is standard procedure as here is an article from 2015 where United does the same thing, albeit under different and more threatening circumstances.

United ties passenger down.

tgb · Post by **tgb** » Fri Apr 28, 2017 11:01 am

I started pricing tickets today for a trip back East in mid-August for a family event. United has the best pricing, by a wide margin.

Get thee behind me, Satan.

gilraen · Post by **gilraen** » Fri Apr 28, 2017 2:22 pm

tgb wrote:I started pricing tickets today for a trip back East in mid-August for a family event. United has the best pricing, by a wide margin.

But is that their "basic economy" seating, where you don't get to bring a carry-on bag, select or change your seat, etc.? By the time you're done paying baggage fees with that, the price may not look nearly as attractive.

McNutt · Post by **McNutt** » Fri Apr 28, 2017 2:31 pm

Factoring in luggage for the family usually makes Southwest a good bit cheaper.

tgb · Post by **tgb** » Fri Apr 28, 2017 2:41 pm

I always compare fares with Southwest, but since it's just two of us and one bag, sometimes it still isn't competitive.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 4:08 pm

Doctor who was dragged, screaming, from United Airlines flight finally breaks silence

Dao said he decided to speak out publicly as a way to thank those who stood behind him.
...
Dao told ABC News on Tuesday that he woke up in a hospital and, for a while, did not know his story had gone viral.

Then, amid widespread outcry, slipping stock prices and a settlement with the airline, he said the media attention became too much for him to handle. “Get to the point, I have to hide,” he told ABC News, explaining that he had to go underground. “I stay for months — months in house.”

United Airlines said in a statement Tuesday to The Post that the incident was “a defining moment” for the company.

“It is our responsibility to make sure we as a company and all of our 90,000 employees continue to learn from that experience,” Megan McCarthy, a spokeswoman for the airline, said in the statement.

“The changes we have implemented since that incident better serve our customers and further empower our employees. This year, we are focused more than ever on our commitment to our customers, looking at every aspect of our business to ensure that we keep their best interests at the center of everything that we do. As our CEO Oscar Munoz has said, we at United never want anyone in the United family to forget the experience of Flight 3411. It makes us a better airline, a more caring company and a stronger team.”

In the interview with ABC News, Dao said he is glad the airline has taken action.