Upset with all the attention Pepsi got over the weekend with their commercial, United took extreme measures to get some of their own.
@United overbook #flight3411 and decided to force random passengers off the plane. Here's how they did it: pic.twitter.com/QfefM8X2cW
— Jayse D. Anspach (@JayseDavid) April 10, 2017
Here’s the story: United overbooked the flight and asked for volunteers to exit the plane so the crew could fly. Because no one books a flight and then voluntarily decides to spend more hours at an airport, no one took this offer. So, United just decided to force people off the plane because they overbooked the flight and passengers must pay, damnit.
They chose an Asian doctor, forced him out of his seat, where his face smashed into the armrest, and then dragged him off the plane.
But, like any good doctor, this man would not be denied.
@united @CNN @FoxNews @WHAS11 Man forcibly removed from plane somehow gets back on still bloody from being removed pic.twitter.com/njS3nC0pDl
— Tyler Bridges (@Tyler_Bridges) April 10, 2017
United issued a statement, that did nothing to clear up the situation.
Flight 3411 from Chicago to Louisville was overbooked. After our team looked for volunteers, one customer refused to leave the aircraft voluntarily and law enforcement was asked to come to the gate.
We apologize for the overbook situation. Further details on the removed customer should be directed to authorities.
At least they apologized for overbooking?
United CEO Oscar Munoz also issued a statement.
United CEO response to United Express Flight 3411. pic.twitter.com/rF5gNIvVd0
— United Airlines (@united) April 10, 2017
As you can imagine, people weren’t too pleased with how United handled things.
Hey @united, smart move. You no longer need to worry about overbooking flights anymore. #BoycottUnitedAirlines
— theharpist (@theharpist) April 10, 2017
It’s going to take a long time for @United to erase this image from customers’… https://t.co/yBieI1qEC9 by #raulcanay via @c0nvey pic.twitter.com/vFX44C2mo1
— shany ventre (@shanyventre) April 10, 2017
Other airlines must be so happy right now. I have a flight tomorrow and I immediately checked to see if it was with United because I was really worried for a second. Luckily, it’s with Delta. I would imagine that plenty of people are going to change/cancel/not bother to book with United for the time being.
However, other airlines must now be careful. They cannot make the same mistake United did in overbooking their flights. That’s really the only mistake United made here, right? That’s all they apologized for, so it must be their only mistake. If the flight wasn’t overbooked, none of this happens. Now that United will be out of business in a month, other airlines must take extreme measures to ensure that overbooking doesn’t take place.
Maybe, when you book your flight, have a little box that says, “If by chance the flight is overbooked, would you be willing to volunteer as tribute?” That way, if there is an overbooking situation, you already know who would be willing to leave.
If nothing else, United solved all overbooking problems today.
They overbook because passengers don’t show up for their flights. They don’t however, refund those passengers that don’t show up. This way the airline gets paid twice for the same seat. Corporate greed in America!