Originally Posted by STS-134

Breach of contract isn't illegal? In this case, it wasn't VDB nor IDB, because pax had already been boarded. The CoC does not, AFAIK, contain provisions stating that pax can be removed from the plane for reasons other than being a security threat, after they have been boarded.

UA is under fire because it didn't do the sensible thing and just keep upping the amount of money until it got enough volunteers. Part of the issue is that UA was already perceived as an airline whose management is "cheap" and nickel and dimes passengers for every cent it can, before this incident. This incident reinforces that perception.