The problem with this train of thought is that it encourages airline companies to continue (regardless if its knowingly or unknowingly) violating passengers' rights. After all, if a passenger is wrongly escorted off a plane, what's the potential downside for the offending airline? A few thousand dollars and no bad publicity? That's ideal for them, and it won't deter future improper removals. Let me ask you this. Going forward, do you think airlines will pay greater attention to whether or not they can rightfully remove a passenger? If so, do you consider that to be a positive or negative development? If you consider to be a positive development, then how can you begrudge an action that brings about positive change?
The passenger may be getting the outpouring but he acted like a child who had his toy taken away. He did not handle this like an adult would reasonably be expected to act. And, now he gets a hefty reward for it.
Anyone who is arguing whether his rights were violated or not are a fool. What you are advocating is that if one *thinks* their right is being violated, then they are justified getting into a physical altercation to protect their right. Of course you're going to deny that, but the alternative is for both parties to sit on the plane until a court decides who is right or wrong. Again, you're going to deny that. So what is the solution when an uneducated crew is violating the rights of a passenger and neither party is willing to concede? Its pretty damn simple. GTFO off the plane and take the drama in private. If a passengers rights are indeed violated, then corporate or a court can decide a settlement. Just because you have a right doesn't mean it will never be violated. If this was the case, we would not need a judicial system in the first place.
By that logic, if the judicial system was perfect.... flawed systems (whether it be government, state, or private run companies) would never be exposed as flawed (presuming they were technically 'legal'), and progressive improvement could be stifled. Like the above poster said.... if this action induces much required change as to how the airlines (and all private companies) handle customer service in these particular types of situations... is it really a bad thing? And anybody who feels that you have no rights simply because you're on an airplane is the bigger fool.
First off, the airline did nothing. It was the crew. Yes, the airline needs to take responsibility and they will. That said, no amount of policy in the world is going to stop lowly paid employees from making stupid decisions. This is why the passengers right is largely irrelevant in the heat of the moment when you have a crew who is refusing to acknowledge it. Which do you think is going to happen? Better training on how to handle the same exact situation or ALL airlines reviewing and revising their policies to reflect their best interest? And the beauty of it all ... people are violated everyday on airlines in a much more serious manner but you and nobody else cares one bit because they resolved the issue in a civil manner instead of tripping, falling and busting their nose and going postal.
I'd venture to predict that after $1.5 billion in losses, AND the public ****-stain that this story has permeated around the world... that there is a tad bit more visible change as a result of this (with united and ALL airlines who operate in a similar fashion), vs. any of the numerous violations you just brought up. You also continue to believe the airlines did nothing wrong? If you keep wanting to have that argument, not sure if you're going to have many takers at this point...
i fail to see your reasoning. People's right are violated everyday and airlines are getting away with it since nobody argues or fight for their right. When someone does, it brings awareness and shows an airline the damages it can do to their airline if they aren't following protocol. Uhh that's bad how? Also, it was a flight manager so it wasn't a low paying employee, who should be aware of what he/she can do in that situation.
If those stupid decisions continually cost the airline material sums of money, you can bet the airline will take measures to prevent them. I think most people care but simply don't know about it. Don't equate ignorance with indifference.
fake news for the win! Now if they just make the connection between a UAL executive and the libelous source that leaked this.... wow.
I'm surprised there are so many here that support United. Must love eating that corporate BS and enjoy statist control over their lives.
I think it's just the internet. People will take a contrary position on anything, especially if it's with someone they've had a beef with previously. Or if it's with someone perceived to belong to a rival "tribe". So tedious. But then there are also people like Donny Most who aren't pro-United but just observing that the guy was at least a little part of this and that the real crime is the fine print each time one of us buys what we think is the right to fly to another city.
United has already admitted they were at fault. So continuing to defend them is pointless. The only questions are (1) how much the wronged passenger will get (and we will never know, since United will require its confidential) and (2) what changes United and the airline industry will need to make as politicians from both parties jump on the train.
He is well known to the local media. They didn't dig up dirt. It was a huge story. It is the same guy.
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices...sex-court-documents-oscar-munoz-a7680221.html One is from Kentucky. One is from New Orleans.
I really don't agree with this defeatist attitude. You can bet your ass that after this incident ALL airlines (even down to the "lowly paid employees") are going to be more careful when it comes to violating passenger rights. The guy could have gone away quietly and resolved this privately but all that would have done was save United the embarassment and hid their violation of passenger rights from the public. What this guy did actually will end up doing a whole lot of public good for all future travellers. I don't get why you're so against that. Obviously civil rights is a much bigger scale issue, but its an exact analogous situation. How might the world look today if Rosa Parks got off the bus and "settled" the matter privately?
