[StolarStorm]

From what I understand (and was a former employee..) the 4 employees were not flying for free (non rev). They were needed to crew another flight. If they had not made it to their destination an entire plane (and the passengers) would not have gotten off the ground.

Not excusing it, as in the days I worked there they would have handled it differently (like increasing the voucher amount until someone did take the offer to change flights).

The actions of the police officer was also out of line. He went way too far and should be fired.

Complete failure of overbooking analysis, crew manpower planning and customer service. I would have fired all involved. But I don't work there anymore and it's since turned into a turd.

[Swordmaker]

From what I understand (and was a former employee..) the 4 employees were not flying for free (non rev). They were needed to crew another flight. If they had not made it to their destination an entire plane (and the passengers) would not have gotten off the ground.

I thought it was something like that. . . and they should have kept upping the reward to include cash and vouchers until someone volunteered to wait another flight.

[chaosagent]

It’s only a 4 hour drive from Chicago to Louisville. I’ve driven it before.

Why didn’t the four employees just drive down to Louisville? As it is the flight itself is over an hour long.

Now instead, United has millions of dollars of bad publicity for being too cheap to rent a car.

[GOP Poet]

Great points and yes. Once they see how much this is going to cost them in money, time, job loss and weigh that against the voucher offered. Well let's just say. You're right StolarStorm. On a side note. I flew home last Sunday first class with United and was treated quite well. lol.

Seems also very late to have to take this action. Why wasn't this dealt with preboarding? They should not have boarded with out this resolved as I would seem very difficult once everyone is seated to get someone to uproot. Preboarding the passengers are still in a state of flux. So easier to entice them off with larger vouchers etc. Really horrendous management all around. I guess it's obvious but hope the critical heads roll on this one and not people that really had no impact either way on the outcome or policies that led to this.

[grania]

What I find appalling is that it was a flight from Chicago to Louisville. That's 298 miles. They could've put four people in a rental car

File in the file "nobody is in charge of common sense anymore".

[BradyLS]

I agree, they should have sweetened the reward until folks bit. They may be wishing they’d paid someone $10K (or more!) to walk simply walk off the plane before it’s over.

[katana]

If it wasn’t part of Star Alliance with several truly great airlines I’d not have flown with UA as much as I did. The deterioration in service over the years was noticeable. But then again, I cut my teeth on Pan Am 747 trans-Pacific Clippers in the 80’s and started out spoiled.

[PLMerite]

They probably could have chartered a plane to shuttle them down there for less than what they were willing to pay, certainly much less than what this is going to *cost* them now.