Although regularly overbooking flights may seen like a counterintuitive practice, it's standard in the airline industry and, in the end, it all comes down to how the situation is handled.
In any case, United now seems to have recognized the error of its ways, or else, certainly, the mighty extent of the media shitstorm it has dragged itself into, and is taking steps to make amends.
The airline said it would ensure that off-duty crew travelling on its aircraft were allocated seats at least one hour before departure to avoid customers being turfed off flights after boarding. American Airlines updated its rules to say that no passenger who has boarded the plane will be removed to give the seat to someone else.
Dao suffered a broken nose and concussion during the incident and spent several days in the hospital, his attorney Thomas Demetrio said Thursday.
When flights are overbooked, the airlines generally conduct auctions to get passengers to give up their seats voluntarily.
Dao, 69, was on United Express Flight 3411, operated by regional carrier Republic Airlines, from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Louisville.
When United could not get four volunteers to leave the plane, they selected four.
Foreign Office concern at North Korea missile test bid
Trump has been leaning on China to put pressure on North Korea, but has also threatened to take on the country alone if necessary. North Korea watchers remained on high alert, as leader Kim Jong-un was reportedly poised to conduct a sixth nuclear test.
As a result, it had the lowest rate among the largest US airlines of bumping people off flights against their will - something that is legal but alienates customers and requires the airline to pay compensation of up to $1,350 per person.
United Airlines chief executive Oscar Munoz. When nobody offered, the airline randomly chose passengers.
United Airlines just made another policy change aimed at preventing a fiasco like the one it endured this week.
One of Dao's daughters, Crystal Dao Pepper, also appeared at the press conference to speak about her father.
Now, things have taken another unexpected turn with a passenger on another United Airline flight being allegedly stung by a scorpion.
Overbooking is also beneficial to consumers because it allows the more flexibility in their travel plans, Vinay Bhaskara, Airways senior business analyst, told to Business Insider.
Comments