Strange check-in experience; United’s take on it
#49
Join Date: Nov 2015
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 183
This. I tend to be pretty laid back. I am female, live alone, regularly leave windows/doors open and unlocked. Run, cycle, hike, ski, camp alone with only a basic set of precautions. This would have freaked me out and I would have immediately been alerting TSA, police, any official I could summon. I have friends that are FAMs and would have been texting them if I didn't get the response I felt necessary. I would not have cared if I missed a flight and I would be confident that UA would have properly dealt with accommodating me on a later flight whether on their flights or another airline. Being late for whatever I was flying for is better than being dead.
#50
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Delaware
Programs: UA Mileage Plus, Amtrak Guest Rewards
Posts: 1,393
I may be in the minority here, but I feel that contacting ANY employee who works at the airport to be sufficient, and that includes airline customer service employees. While they are not security themselves, I would certainly hope that they are trained on how to handle a potential threat and who to contact. I work in public transportation (behind the scene) and while I am not security to police, if someone were to see my ID and come to me with a concern, I am definitely trained on some of the basics and know where to find security and police.
As for urgent notifications via social media, my issue is you don't know if they are continuously monitored.
#51
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 304
#52
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: UA MM | BA Silver
Posts: 7,193
I don't think the OP screwed up at all. He was the only one there and called the play the best he could.
Also:
Also:
- TSA even says don't call 911. Call some random 10 digit number
- The United agent wasn't calling the cops (or perhaps they know the 10 digit phone number for mall security) and was not acting as if it was an emergency
- Not everyone likes cops, or feels safe in their presence or feel that level of escalation is the first response
- In real time people respond without clarity of thought and purpose.
- Some of the most adamant people on this thread who are security experts who work for I can't name it on FlyerTalk are giving bad advice
That being said, without any martial arts training I would have perfectly roundhouse kicked that guy in the face and detained him with my homemade restraints made out of duct tape while calling for SWAT backup with my free hand. Not one drop of my hurricane would have touched the floor. It's cool, I know what I'm doing. I'm an Eagle Scout.
#54
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,969
I think this is sort of like people coming to Flyertalk with questions that they can easily figure out on the web. Then wasn't there a recent thread where a piece of the seal fell of from the wing on takeoff and the FT member posted here while in-flight to ask us if that is OK? Or, I have friends calling me when their flights go MX or they are stuck during major WX - as if I could fix it for them?
I think people somehow just revert to whatever they are most comfortable with first in a panic even though it might not be the most ideal way?
I think people somehow just revert to whatever they are most comfortable with first in a panic even though it might not be the most ideal way?
#56
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,351
I recall instances on FT where satisfactory resolutions WERE indeed reached using United's Twitter account.
If some think that is the ONLY way United will actually listen, I could definitely understand why that avenue would be pursued.
(Although in this case it really did scream for a LEO to be immediately contacted, IMO)
If some think that is the ONLY way United will actually listen, I could definitely understand why that avenue would be pursued.
(Although in this case it really did scream for a LEO to be immediately contacted, IMO)
#57
Join Date: Oct 2015
Programs: SWA CP, UA MP, Hilton G, SPG G
Posts: 69
I recall instances on FT where satisfactory resolutions WERE indeed reached using United's Twitter account.
If some think that is the ONLY way United will actually listen, I could definitely understand why that avenue would be pursued.
(Although in this case it really did scream for a LEO to be immediately contacted, IMO)
If some think that is the ONLY way United will actually listen, I could definitely understand why that avenue would be pursued.
(Although in this case it really did scream for a LEO to be immediately contacted, IMO)
CALL THE PO-LEESE! SIMPLE EASY! DONE!
A kid my neighborhood was getting kidnapped so I tweeted my HOA about it. There was no resolution. I just don’t understand why!
#58
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,239
a customer service complaint is an entirely separate issue than a security issue. This isn’t even in the same ball park!
CALL THE PO-LEESE! SIMPLE EASY! DONE!
A kid my neighborhood was getting kidnapped so I tweeted my HOA about it. There was no resolution. I just don’t understand why!