Originally Posted by
raehl311
The actual answer is:
The current IDB system is EXCELLENT. It allows airlines to inconvenience the least number of passengers possible given the finicky nature of safe air travel.
Looking at the IDB/VDB ratios, I would say United's system is pretty bad compared to Delta's. To call it excellent is tolerating mediocrity.
There is no reason to change it because of one criminal getting hurt when he forced law enforcement to use force against him.
The only "criminal" here is United Airlines. They were being criminally cheap that is.
And if you think there is, especially as the frequent traveler you are:
- Do you want entire flights canceled because airlines can't move crew around? Entire series of flights operated by an aircraft delayed throughout the day?
I don't see any direct cause and effect here. Improving the IDB process i.e. being able to find four volunteers quickly would have enabled those deadheading crew to reach SDF without a 2 hour delay and no current mess.
- Do you want flights delayed because passengers think they can simply refuse to leave a plane when asked and there will never be forced used? Even if that passenger is a threat, like drunk, or sitting next to you and touching you inappropriately, or is so large they can't fit in one seat? Or would you rather fly with those people than have them forcibly removed from your plane?
Completely irrelevant. The refusal of transport would still apply in those scenarios. None of which has anything to do with what happened on this past Sunday or the IDB process.
- Do you want airlines to no longer have the option to overbook, and because they are forced to fly your seat empty when you noshow, require you to buy a new ticket for any flight you miss?
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I don't see how having a process to reduce the IDB/VDB ratio would make the overbooking process a dinosaur. As Ed Bastian of Delta said today: "overbooking is fine, it's all about how you manage an overbooking situation."