Thread: man was forcibly removed from overbooked United Airlines flight because he wouldn't give up his seat

LOUISVILLE — A video posted on Facebook late Sunday evening shows a passenger on a United Airlines flight being forcibly removed from the plane before takeoff at O’Hare International Airport.

The video, posted by Audra D. Bridges at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, is taken from an aisle seat on a commercial airplane that appears to be preparing to take flight. The 31-second clip shows three men wearing radio equipment and security jackets speaking with a man seated on the plane. After a few seconds, one of the men grabs the passenger, who screams, and drags him by his arms toward the front of the plane. The video ends before anything else is shown.

A United spokesperson confirmed in an email Sunday night that a passenger had been taken off a flight in Chicago.

More: https://www.usatoday.com/story/trave...ght/100276054/

I would have taken the $800 and a hotel.

Originally Posted by Al Wilson 4 Mayor

I would have taken the $800 and a hotel.

depends on the situation and what you are travelling for and who you are with. On our way to New Orleans they offered 3 people $350 flight credits and a meal to wait until the next flight which was 2 hours later, there were 4 of us and we offered to wait and they told us they only needed 3.

Originally Posted by weazel

depends on the situation and what you are travelling for and who you are with. On our way to New Orleans they offered 3 people $350 flight credits and a meal to wait until the next flight which was 2 hours later, there were 4 of us and we offered to wait and they told us they only needed 3.

I volunteered once, got delayed by five hours in Salt Lake City, flew first class the rest of the way home, got a free flight at another date, and met a girl in an airport bar that I wound up going on a few dates with.

Either way, forcibly removing this man is absolutely ridiculous. He paid for his seat. If United has that hard of a time scheduling their flight crews maybe they need less passengers overall...

I wonder how they decided which passenger they would yank off the plane?

Originally Posted by slim

I wonder how they decided which passenger they would yank off the plane?

A computer supposedly picked the four people.

I can't help but think there is more to this story. If not, I'm sure he'll have no problem finding an attorney who can claim some sort of discrimination.

Reports say the man was a doctor, and he needed to be at the hospital first thing the next morning......probably why he didn't volunteer for the layover and $$$.

Originally Posted by Davii

A computer supposedly picked the four people.

I think the original offer was $400.00. When nobody accepted they bumped it to $800.00. When nobody accepted that they said they would randomly select 4 people.

Originally Posted by WTE

I think the original offer was $400.00. When nobody accepted they bumped it to $800.00. When nobody accepted that they said they would randomly select 4 people.

That's what I read

There will be lawsuits against the airline, the police, the security and not just by the man tossed off the plane, by his patients as well.

Originally Posted by PatriotsGuy

That's what I read

Travel experts will say do not accept the airlines compensation offer if the flight is overbooked. Instead, wait for them to force you off then your compensation is much higher. Up to $1,300 plus a full refund of your original ticket.

Airlines have mastered the game of overbooking. They have the customers compete against each other for their voucher offers and will take the lowest bidders if it comes to that. If nobody allowed themselves to be bumped in the first place the airlines would be forced to pay a much higher fee for customers to get bumped.

Originally Posted by weazel

There will be lawsuits against the airline, the police, the security and not just by the man tossed off the plane, by his patients as well.

He was going to be late for that nut check.

Originally Posted by Nomad

Reports say the man was a doctor, and he needed to be at the hospital first thing the next morning......probably why he didn't volunteer for the layover and $$$.

Exactly, I'm no doctor 😆

Originally Posted by Nomad

Reports say the man was a doctor, and he needed to be at the hospital first thing the next morning......probably why he didn't volunteer for the layover and $$$.

Recently, my girlfriend (a doctor) and I went on a trip with her family to Palm Springs. I was fortunate enough to fly standby for a cheap price, but she opted to buy her ticket so she would be be guaranteed (or more likely guaranteed) to get back in time for work. Even though she avoids conflict at all cost, I know she'd put up a similar fight if this happened to her.

In all honesty, a doctor's job is a lot more important than mine. I hate missing work, but it's not nearly as important as the work she does. I think it would make sense to prioritize certain people's situations like this man, especially if other lives depend on that person.