[Ezekiel]

When no one took the offer, the airline used a computer to choose “volunteers” at random. One man chosen refused, saying he was a doctor who had to see patients in the morning. That’s when police were called and the man was physically dragged down the aisle and off the plane.

United chose... poorly

[mjustice]

From the way it reads this is United’s fault for overbooking and then deciding that they needed to seat four employees. While I’d imagine tat their terms of carriage allow them to do that, they could have avoided all of this by putting their employees on a later flight.

[brucedickinson]

yeah it’s a great commercial for them. there is no way in hell Im ever going to fly United

[MrEdd]

The Doctor chose extremely well, and his education was superb.

Now if there is resultant malpractice case regarding his patients the airlines will be the deep pockets.

Golf clap.

[dinodino]

Absolutely unbelievable! I would sue the sh!t out of UA for that.

[sinsofsolarempirefan]

I’d have taken the $800 and free hotel room...

[Darksheare]

Yeah, fly United! After the sexual assaults and prostate exam by TSA, get to your​ flight just to be told that because the airline screwed up, they're now going to screw you too!

[bk1000]

Doubt they actually offered cash. Probably credit or some kind of company script. Someone would have taken the cash, if they offered cash.

[ClearCase_guy]

I feel like I’m living in a bad science fiction novel.

If I buy a Kindle edition of a book from Amazon, I don’t really own it — Amazon can take it back if they “have a reason”.
If I buy a ticket on an airliner, I don’t really have a seat — the airline can kick me off if they “have a reason”.
If a business screws up and can’t shift workers to where they are needed, they can just call the cops who will use violence to “fix things”.

What the hell happened to this country?

[captain_dave]

If the police were smart they would’ve refused to act

[MHT]

Am floored by this and haven't gotten it off my mind. The doctor's flight was just as important as the flight crew's. And roughing him up sounds like the basis of a great lawsuit. Surgery versus serving beverages. Who has a greater right to that seat? And the entire plane was delayed for two hours because United couldn't handle a scheduling problem for another flight the next day? Really? What a truly insufferable bunch of jerks.

Years ago they wanted to be known as the "gay airline" and gave gay passengers priority. If possible, I will avoid United. My husband already does and doesn't miss them. They make Delta and American look good.

[LambSlave]

This is actually hard to believe; how stupid can someone be?!? This will hurt United for a long time.

[sten]

United over sold the flight.

which actually means they sold something they could not provide.

that’s fraud

[Yo-Yo]

Read the terms of service agreement that came with the ticket. United Airlines Contract of Carriage.

Rule 5-G: All of UA’s flights are subject to overbooking which could result in UA’s inability to provide previously confirmed reserved space for a given flight or for the class of service reserved. In that event, UA’s obligation to the Passenger is governed by Rule 25.

Rule 25-4-A: Compensation for Passengers Denied Boarding Involuntarily

For passengers traveling in interstate transportation between points within the United States, subject to the EXCEPTIONS in section d) below, UA shall pay compensation to Passengers denied boarding involuntarily from an Oversold Flight at the rate of 200% of the fare to the Passenger’s first Stopover or, if none, Destination, with a maximum of 675 USD if UA offers Alternate Transportation that, at the time the arrangement is made, is planned to arrive at the Passenger’s Destination or first Stopover more than one hour but less than two hours after the planned arrival time of the Passenger’s original flight. If UA offers Alternate Transportation that, at the time the arrangement is made, is planned to arrive at the Passenger’s Destination or first Stopover more than two hours after the planned arrival time of the Passenger’s original flight, UA shall pay compensation to Passengers denied boarding involuntarily from an Oversold Flight at the rate of 400% of the fare to the Passenger’s first Stopover or, if none, Destination with a maximum of 1350 USD.

[Blue Jays]

"...police dragged the man..."

---

I think the doctor can make a decent case the airline didn't try hard enough.
It was a 300-mile journey. They could have offered $1000.00 for inconvenience and a 4-hour limousine ride to the destination to sweeten the deal.
Everything has a price and someone would have jumped for it.

[Red Badger]

United Airlines said they needed the seats for airline employees who had to be in Louisville on Monday for their jobs.

Failure to plan on YOUR part does not constitute and 'emergency' on MY part. .......................

[Larry Lucido]

United Airlines president: “Where’s the doctor who’s supposed to be doing my heart transplant??”

United Airlines employee: “Well......it’s like this....”

[Alberta's Child]

This is why I have two basic rules when it comes to airline travel:

1. For business travel, I drive to any destination I can reach in one day's drive (15+ hours for me).

2. For personal travel, I drive to any destination I can reach on a paved road.

A few years ago I faced a situation very similar to what the people in this article went through. In my case, the airline didn't even give anyone the option to voluntarily give up their seat. They just picked five random people and told them they were going to get a free night in a local hotel and tickets to a Broadway show that night ... and they'd fly out the next morning.

Most of the people were thrilled to get that deal, but I was living -- because I had to be sitting in a client's office at 8:00 AM the next morning.

[arkfreepdom]

Give me the money and pay for my rental car and I’ll drive home

[bboop]

And the vid is unbelievable - you’d have thought the guy was a terrorist!