Well, maybe you're right but... not sure if United will be able to walk back the very public images of the doc being hauled off the plane screaming tho. When it first happened, the company's stock value fell almost a billion bucks. As I said before, I'll bet their policy will change, and 3-4 seats will always be left available (when fully booked) for moving crews around. Especially, if they actually get fined if they don't have a crew available. My 2 cents...
Mrs. Beetle- Kill in reply mode here- she has the stage... Helloooooooooooooooo (as Mrs. Doubtfire would say). Thankfully I wasn't the gate agent working the trip. I heard about it afterwards, as we we're driving back from Nebraska, I read it on facebook, (imagine that). I knew exactly what happened because it happens a lot when it comes to positive space crew. They had to be there to fly a trip out the next day or that flight would have cancelled. I know it's not fair to our customers but it had to be done. We have a new policy now when it comes to booking positive space crew, thank God. Being a employee for United for over 32 years I've seen a lot. Remember the pilot strike and then 9/11. I've seen good and bad. But I thank all for travelling with us. Helps me support Mr. Beetle-kill, and all his bad habits. I'm open for questions. Mrs. Bk.
Positive space deadhead crews need to be booked at least an hour prior to departure. That allows the gate agents to know who is supposed to be on the plane PRIOR to boarding.
And... the news just reported United's policy going forward now will be they will not bump passengers already seated on the plane (for employees, etc). And, that other carriers are doing the same. I think they said seasoned airline folks are calling this whole thing an epic PR disaster. United stock is now down 1.1 billion. Will be interesting now to see how much the doc gets, out of court. Maybe we'll never know.
That's the reason for having those folks booked an hour prior. Then the only people who would be able to bump already boarded and seated passengers would be law enforcement (Federal Air Marshals, Secret Service, etc) or the FAA. He will get 5-10mil in my opinion. The airline will recover just fine. Warren Buffett will use this as an opportunity to increase his investment. The airlines have become the bullies that just needed a punch in the nose and that's what the doc gave 'em. While getting his nose broken himself. How ironic.
It would certainly get a quicker response. Grab 'n' Go!!! It would be fun to be the airline money guy..... "Attention in the terminal, the Dallas flight is in need of the Cash Man at gate 34 so as to ensure an on time departure."
This is how I see it also, saw on one of local stations.. this doctor had his license removed for trading narcotics for sexual favors but have not seen that since... but once media gets hold of it I stop watching because it's media not all the facts.. Sad part is this guy will get for acting like an imbecile which just goes to encourage others to do the same... imagine numbers 1 thru 3 oh we got off plane healthy.... guy 4 got his but kicked and a million dollars and notorious...
Oh don't do that not only is it entertaining and informational but I didn't even hear about it (no tv and all) how does she do it? perhaps a good time to buy UA stock?
I'm not up on the federal laws on that side of the game. Back when I worked for the airline, on time performance was important. Be too late leaving the gate more than a certain number of times, and the FAA got involved. Have flights cancelled for crew reasons and the feds get all over your operation. A regional like republic can't let that happen as they are operating for the mainline carrier. Not only will they face federal problems, but gaffes like that put them in jeopardy with United, the one paying them to fly. Republic Flys for the big three, so they can't risk issues like this.
I expect nothing will really change, except higher offers to get off. The crew that had to go was booked on another flight that cancelled at the last minute for a mechanical failure, IIRC. You can't change things like that, and in the long run, it's better to drag one punk off than leave 100 stranded. He might get some money, but if republic and united play it right it will all be up to the tax payers of Chicago to pay off this quack.
Stocks are funny things. Almost none of a companies stock is actually boughtor sold in any given day. The few shares that do sell, set the value of the rest. So a few idiots sold some shares for whatever reason, and found they got a low price for it. the smart money waited until the few shares being moved started to get higher prices, and then bought stock in United. Since this was actually a Republic flight operated for United, the media ruined the value of the wrong company. Typical!