If it was just bumping the person, that would be a little different. But, they sold and ‘delivered’ a service, then stole that service back, using force. They didn’t even stop this person at the gate. They waited until the person was seated, then bloodied him up getting him out. All so that they could take back what was rightfully his. The sale had been made, transaction completed, service all but rendered. He did nothing to break contract. It was all on them. They may get away with it, but no, they don’t have the right to do what they did.
You know, sadly you are right; they actually did not follow their Contract of Carriage to the T, but that actually goes to prove my point: they can break their own contract and it won’t set them back. I had assumed they at least covered their own ass with the contract, but even better: they stand in breach of the contract and it still doesn’t matter.
I mean you have to get undressed, groped, scanned, background checked and you get to fiscally bail the whole system out if it goes wrong… surely you can be bloodied and dragged off the plane if you don’t follow your orders? I think it’s kind of silly people didn’t get that to begin with; did you really think you have any say at all at an airport?? Once you are in that system you are no different than the luggage you brought:
you have to admit, after watching this video, David Dao and the luggage are being man-handled in a strikingly similar fashion.
Ahh, me thinks this breach of contract will set them back (just a smidgen)
As far as long term damage, no, only because of the rigged small choice airline system.
6 months from now, no one will remember.
Glad to see the guy already starting the lawsuit process. Hang em’ High!
What bothered me was that the CEO was trying to put the blame on the passenger saying he was being difficult and obnoxious.
He was on the plane legally, shown to his seat by airline staff and there was no issue whatsoever. The issue arose due to staff needing seats.
The fault lays entirely with the airline and it is unforgivable that they tried to blame the passenger. They could have had an employee drive those 3 or 4 members of staff on that 4 hour journey for much cheaper and without all the drama.
It’s going to be an expensive mess for the airline.
According to the news last night, US Federal law requires the people who were bumped were entitled to $1,350 from the airline plus should have immediately been given a written notice advising them of their rights.
Unless I’m misunderstanding the situation, all they do is offer vouchers to anyone who’s willing to voluntarily step off. Which is fine if you fly often, but I’d want cash. Gimme back a big chunk o’ change, or let me wait for the next flight and ride for free.
It’s like going to a horrible restaurant, and they offer you a discount coupon for your next meal. What if you have no intention of ever going back there, especially if it’s horrible?
I honestly don’t know. I just kept hearing “vouchers”, “vouchers”, “vouchers”.
Like “airline miles”, they’re meaningless but to those who fly frequently.
But it’s a similar situation to certain companies bemoaning an “engineering shortage”, or “lack of qualified applicants”. Sure, if you pay only subsistence wages. You want to attract skilled talent? Offer enough to make it worthwhile for them (not you), and you’ll have ’em lined up around the block.
Here, if they offer X and no one’s biting, Hell, offer 2X and see if that stays the same. Up the ante, and at some point you will have volunteers.
That would’ve been cheaper than all the lawsuits and bad press that’ll inevitably result instead.
First time the story came out the offers reportedly went something like $600 + free flight, + hotel because the next flight was the next day. Nobody took it so they upped the cash to $800, still no takers. Then it got nastier, random selection of 4 people to be kicked off and victim #1 squealing like the chubby guy in Deliverance.
I was bumped from business to economy once (Stockholm to London) in the mid 80:s when business was full (the airline had overbooked). Got the equivalent of a couple of hundred dollars in CASH.
Couldn’t complain since my company had paid for the ticket, I arrived on the same flight and the difference between business and economy was small back then (nothing that mattered on a 2 hour flight). It only made me more loyal to the airline in question.
I happen to totally disagree.
The right way to solve the problem is to, peacefully, offer enough money (and the sky IS the limit) to someone who is willing to take the next flight instead.
It’s not about legal contracts or “safety”.
It’s about humans and customers.
Show some respect or your company will take a serious hit.