United CEO Munoz Gives Up First Class Seat
Jennifer Billock December 03, 2018
While still trying to save its image from dragging a doctor off a plane in 2017, United’s CEO Oscar Munoz paid it forward with a touching move that put an elderly women in the first class cabin while he took her seat back in economy; another passenger documented the event on a Facebook post praising the CEO.
On November 26, one elderly woman had the lucky chance of flying with United Airlines’ CEO Oscar Munoz. Before boarding the plane, Munoz noticed the woman at the gate and went to have a chat with her. Once on the place, that woman was shown to Munoz’s first class seat.
Fellow passenger Rebecca Kuchar Krutz saw the exchange and documented it on Facebook. Krutz saw Munoz speak to the woman at the gate, and then the elderly woman ended up sitting in front of Krutz in the first class cabin. The woman, according to Krutz in an article written by the Chicago Business Journal, was astonished and touched by Munoz’s gesture.
Typically, Munoz and other United executives are automatically given first-class seats on any flight they take. But, it’s up to those executives what they want to do with that reservation – even if that means switching seats with someone who appears to need it more than they do.
Krutz closed out her Facebook post with a short reflection on the situation and what it means for the rest of us: “That, ladies and gentlemen, is how it should be done. Treat our elders with the respect and care they deserve.”
[Photo: United Airlines]
Was it an overnight from SFO to MIA or was it Houston to Dallas?
I’m with the folks who judge this act of kindness for what it was, a simple act of kindness. How many of us have seen elderly folks struggle to find their way to the rear of the plane and momentarily thought, I should trade my seat, but never acted. I’m afraid to say I’ve had this thought in the past and not acted on it. We could all be kinder to the elderly and disabled. I appreciate the gesture for what it was, a simple act of kindness.
I agree with jonsail and andrewgill, Unfortunately there are always the whiners such as UncleDude and jrm68 who can't see any good in anything.
Localady, there was a Friday afternoon Delta flight from ATL to SFO and there were ONLY two people on the upgrade list? Most flights out of Atlanta have half the cabin on the upgrade list.
@jonsail : totally agree with you here. good news is very underrated and under reported