Originally Posted by LifetimeGS

This is not a cogent argument, There are lots of things that are not in the actual contract of carriage, including getting you there on time, assigned seats, and service levels that are nonetheless part of a set of passenger expectations which United has shown a vested interest in meeting; hence compensation when a flight is late, catering fails, premium lie-flat seats don't work as they should..... none of these are in 'the contract'