And Like That United Airlines Decides to Change Their Policy
Many of those critical of the now famous Dr. David Dao said he got what he deserved and he should have just “complied”. If he complies he avoids getting his teeth knocked out, but United has no motivation to change a crap policy if he complies and theres no media disaster. If we want to believe that corporations are people (in the eyes of the court), then sometimes as people we have to accept we don’t always get what we want, i.e. major airline can’t boot paid and boarded passengers off a plane for employees. There needs to be a line between profit and customer service, and as our society changes that line may not always be clear. Good job United even if you had to be brow beaten into making a bad policy, better.
United Airlines is changing its policy on giving staff last-minute seats on full flights after a man was dragged screaming from an overbooked plane.
The airline said that in future crew members would be allocated seats at least an hour before departure.
It comes after passenger Dr David Dao lost two front teeth and suffered a broken nose when he was forcibly removed from a flight last Sunday.
United Airlines said the move was aimed at improving its customer services.
The incident involving Dr Dao caused outrage and widespread condemnation of the airline after shocking footage was shared and watched by millions of people online.
His daughter, Crystal Dao Pepper, later told a news conference in Chicago that the family had been “sickened” by what had happened.
Law enforcement officials dragged Dr Dao off a flight departing from Chicago for Louisville, Kentucky, because it was fully booked, and the airline wanted four passengers to make way for staff members.
The 69-year-old Vietnamese-American physician had refused to leave, saying he needed to go home to see his patients. He was then dragged down the aisle of the aircraft.
His lawyer later said that Dr Dao found the experience “more horrifying and harrowing than what he experienced when leaving Vietnam”.
The ordeal led to demonstrations at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and turned into a public relations disaster for United Airlines.
The situation escalated when a response from the airline’s chief executive, Oscar Munoz, failed to mention any use of excessive force.
“This is an upsetting event to all of us here at United. I apologise for having to re-accommodate these customers,” he said in a statement. He also said that Dr Dao was “disruptive and belligerent”.
Days later Mr Munoz, who was facing calls to resign from online petitions that had received thousands of signatures, said he felt “shame and embarrassment” and vowed that it would never happen again.
Steve
Steve is an affordable multifamily housing professional that is also the co-founder of Whiskey Congress. Steve has written for national publications such as The National Marijuana News and other outlets as a guest blogger on topics covering sports, politics, and cannabis. Steve loves whiskey, cigars, and uses powerlifting as an outlet to deal with the fact that no one listens to his brilliant ideas.
