United Airlines Kicks Elderly Professor Couple Off Late-Night Flight
Sep 13, 2019, 6:37 am
#16
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One would also think that the boarding pass scanner would have beeped when the late group passenger tried to board for the same seat assignment as the retired faculty couple who had already boarded. However, some GAs are lazy and just override the beep without checking out what the problem is.
Sep 13, 2019, 6:59 am
#17
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One would also think that the boarding pass scanner would have beeped when the late group passenger tried to board for the same seat assignment as the retired faculty couple who had already boarded. However, some GAs are lazy and just override the beep without checking out what the problem is.
This is the most usual encounter with this type of situation (duplicate BP) and has happened numerous times to me. It would NOT trigger the "beep" as it's done deliberately.
Sep 13, 2019, 7:00 am
#18
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To some earlier comments...
1 - Since this is a Forbes story, it is understandable the author disclosed his stock holdings for possible conflict of interest
2 - Yes, we only got 1/2 of the story but the author could not get UA to respond
3 - It also sounds to me the FA overreacted/wanted to cover her mistake
4 - In all cases, you just don't treat customers like this - especially 2 with statuses
5 - I can see the couple was hoping the UA internal process would clear them but it seemed to have made their lives worse. So, they decided to go public. Imagine if you have built up status and miles with UA and now UA treats you as enemy...
1 - Since this is a Forbes story, it is understandable the author disclosed his stock holdings for possible conflict of interest
2 - Yes, we only got 1/2 of the story but the author could not get UA to respond
3 - It also sounds to me the FA overreacted/wanted to cover her mistake
4 - In all cases, you just don't treat customers like this - especially 2 with statuses
5 - I can see the couple was hoping the UA internal process would clear them but it seemed to have made their lives worse. So, they decided to go public. Imagine if you have built up status and miles with UA and now UA treats you as enemy...
Sep 13, 2019, 7:01 am
#19
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Then the FA/GA should have moved the original 24A up when the boarding passes were shown instead of just relocating the new 24A.
Sep 13, 2019, 7:16 am
#21
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The gate agent only goes by what the computer system gives them for seat assignments, so it wasn't the gate agent that actually assigned dupe seats. May have been a software/computer glitch or something.....I fly twice a week on United and I can't EVER remember seeing dupe seat assignments, except when a PAX is looking at their connecting flight boarding pass in error or back in the old days before the computer assignments.
Sep 13, 2019, 7:17 am
#22
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Just noticed (they posted the FULL boarding pass, which is indeed ridiculous!), they were both on the upgrade standby list!
Their MAIN point of contention might have been that a Silver got upgraded before a Gold!
Last edited by narvik; Sep 13, 2019 at 8:56 am
Sep 13, 2019, 7:39 am
#23
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TBH I don't find them crazy. If I were them, I'd say go ahead and deplane everyone. If you want to be unreasonable, so will I. And UA doesn't cancel the flight as someone above said. They deplane everyone but the "offender," then drag them off sans iPhones, then reboard the flight.
But the thing I'm most troubled about is the Orwellian Passenger Incident Review Committee (PIRC). I've never heard of this in my life! Although a quick search suggests it's been around since at least 2012. Anyone ever get caught in their crosshairs?
Edit: Looks like UA's PIRC started in 2007.
But the thing I'm most troubled about is the Orwellian Passenger Incident Review Committee (PIRC). I've never heard of this in my life! Although a quick search suggests it's been around since at least 2012. Anyone ever get caught in their crosshairs?
Edit: Looks like UA's PIRC started in 2007.
Last edited by sexykitten7; Sep 13, 2019 at 7:50 am Reason: added links
Sep 13, 2019, 7:47 am
#24
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But the thing I'm most troubled about is the Orwellian Passenger Incident Review Committee (PIRC). I've never heard of this in my life!
<snip>. Anyone ever get caught in their crosshairs?
<snip>. Anyone ever get caught in their crosshairs?
Crosshairs indeed!
Sep 13, 2019, 8:05 am
#26
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My favorite part of this article is "(Full disclosure: I own stock in American, JetBlue and Southwestern Airlines.)"
Sorry this article doesn't strike me as anything close to what Dao faced. Third party validation would be great.
Sorry this article doesn't strike me as anything close to what Dao faced. Third party validation would be great.
Sep 13, 2019, 9:01 am
#28
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No, it doesn’t. Not even close.
Interesting how this couple referenced Dao repeatedly during the interview, though.
Also, like how the Forbes writer had to mention that he’s won several journalism awards, with no specificity.
Now, back to your regularly scheduled assumptions and speculation.
Interesting how this couple referenced Dao repeatedly during the interview, though.
Also, like how the Forbes writer had to mention that he’s won several journalism awards, with no specificity.
Now, back to your regularly scheduled assumptions and speculation.
Sep 13, 2019, 9:01 am
#29
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There's a long history of UA FAs overreacting and abusing their authority in situations like this. OTOH, there are usually third party witnesses willing to step up and support the passengers, and I don't see reference to that here. So who knows what really happened.
And btw, the reference to the author's airline stock holdings is undoubtedly mandated by Forbes' disclosure policies. That some here believe that somehow reflects on the quality of the journalism is [deleted to conform to FT rules].
And btw, the reference to the author's airline stock holdings is undoubtedly mandated by Forbes' disclosure policies. That some here believe that somehow reflects on the quality of the journalism is [deleted to conform to FT rules].
Sep 13, 2019, 9:26 am
#30
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That belief might be strengthened by the mere fact that the disclosure only happens mid-article and immediately following a reference to the Dao incident.
I may be wrong, but I always thought such disclosures happened at the very beginning of articles.
Last edited by narvik; Sep 13, 2019 at 9:31 am