General Discussion

hunter

(40,703 posts)

73. I once sat next to a floppy-headed snorer on an overnight airline flight.

Mon Apr 10, 2017, 11:25 PM

Apr 2017

He wouldn't have been any closer if he'd been in bed with me.

I was flying to my brother's wedding. I was trapped by my work schedule, no other options but flying...

The day of the wedding I was coming down with a horrific cold that I'm certain I caught on that flight.

My other brothers filled me up with tequila and pseudoephedrine and something possibly illicit they said would stop me coughing, and it worked, more or less.

The day after the wedding they took me to the airport, bought me two bloody marys at an LAX bar, and made sure I got onto the plane to Chicago. I was some kind of zombie when my wife picked me up.

That's not my worst flying story.

A mental health therapist of mine called it stinkin' thinkin' that I expect bad things every time I'm stuffed into an airplane, as if I'm bringing misery upon myself, but I'm convinced flying really does suck. I can easily picture myself as that doctor...

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The United Airline assault on a passenger is just another symptom of authoritarianism [View all] nadine_mn Apr 2017 OP

Disgraceful. Im still speechless behind this.Poor man. SummerSnow Apr 2017 #1

There's probably some small print that says "we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone"... NurseJackie Apr 2017 #2

They issued a boarding pass Mosby Apr 2017 #10

Well, there is the right to refuse service vs the right not to leave bloodied nadine_mn Apr 2017 #13

Yep... they've got something to prove. I can easily imagine... NurseJackie Apr 2017 #14

IIRC, the people who removed him had vests marked "Police"... JHB Apr 2017 #72

I'm fine with rights to refuse service (provided not a protected class), but bekkilyn Apr 2017 #20

Actually, according to their own contract... regnaD kciN Apr 2017 #163

It's actually up about 0.90% for today n/t discntnt_irny_srcsm Apr 2017 #26

Their stock is being re-accommodated. nt JTFrog Apr 2017 #153

United has treated me no better CountAllVotes Apr 2017 #3

Hear hear Rollo Apr 2017 #57

They are disgusting! CountAllVotes Apr 2017 #128

People with right-wing authoritarian tendencies chia Apr 2017 #4

Wrestlers, Dawson Leery Apr 2017 #31

Yeah but we fight back C_U_L8R Apr 2017 #5

+1,000 malaise Apr 2017 #6

RESIST. nt No Vested Interest Apr 2017 #7

I'm not a lawyer Mosby Apr 2017 #8

Eh I kinda am (went to law school, passed the bar but never practiced) nadine_mn Apr 2017 #11

The needed to go to court for an affirmative injunction treestar Apr 2017 #118

Maybe if they would have offered cash instead of a voucher, someone would have taken it. (nt) bekkilyn Apr 2017 #121

In the situation, they should have treestar Apr 2017 #122

Tell you what mythology Apr 2017 #15

Wait - he was trespassing? nadine_mn Apr 2017 #21

No he wasn't tresspassing bekkilyn Apr 2017 #24

Your ticket is conditional. If ordered to leave the plane you are legally obligated to leave Statistical Apr 2017 #33

He still wasn't tresspassing bekkilyn Apr 2017 #37

So, this is a totally legit way to run a business then. kcr Apr 2017 #105

Did that business rob me of the service I already paid for like United did to this gentleman? bekkilyn Apr 2017 #23

He had a firm and binding contractual agreement. Foamfollower Apr 2017 #71

Like a theater? Or a hotel? athena Apr 2017 #93

What bit of irrational absurdity leads you to believe he was trespassing? LanternWaste Apr 2017 #182

FYI: 14 CFR 91.11 - Prohibition on interference with crewmembers. discntnt_irny_srcsm Apr 2017 #28

I am not seeing a definition of "interference" nadine_mn Apr 2017 #52

AFAIK, if you don't cooperate with crew instructions, you're interfering n/t discntnt_irny_srcsm Apr 2017 #103

however - that is not listed in the statute nadine_mn Apr 2017 #104

I have no legal background and can't point to any precedents discntnt_irny_srcsm Apr 2017 #147

How would sitting in your seat (not even an aisle avebury Apr 2017 #116

That would not apply treestar Apr 2017 #120

First, I'm not a lawyer discntnt_irny_srcsm Apr 2017 #146

The individual who assaulted him should go to jail. Throck Apr 2017 #101

For a good laugh, watch this video about United from a few years ago, over 16,000,000 Views PuppyBismark Apr 2017 #9

Hilarious - and sad nadine_mn Apr 2017 #12

Every guitarist in America has seen this DFW Apr 2017 #17

and they still haven't learned mountain grammy Apr 2017 #124

Makes United look like a flying prison. wonder what their training is like. delisen Apr 2017 #155

The airline has the right to ask you to leave the plane perdita9 Apr 2017 #16

You can be asked to leave but there is excessive force used here nadine_mn Apr 2017 #19

I agree the force was excessive but what should have been done? Statistical Apr 2017 #29

Obviously $800 wasn't enough of an incentive to anyone bekkilyn Apr 2017 #38

The problem isn't the money they offer. It's the uncertainty of knowing when you'll get out. LisaM Apr 2017 #41

They could have offered something that *someone* would have taken though bekkilyn Apr 2017 #43

I'm just explaining why I generally never take the offer. LisaM Apr 2017 #45

Probably the same for many bekkilyn Apr 2017 #50

$5000 in cash. athena Apr 2017 #60

Well even I would take that! LisaM Apr 2017 #64

It's not even pocket change for United. athena Apr 2017 #74

Definitely. LisaM Apr 2017 #79

I heard.... MountainMama Apr 2017 #159

And that's the problem with being bumped. LisaM Apr 2017 #164

Exactly. If it takes 2 round-trip tickets in first class to Hawaii, so be it. cos dem Apr 2017 #70

They messed up by not having standby crew in Louisville. LisaM Apr 2017 #42

no, it is NOT new Skittles Apr 2017 #56

Let me be a little more specific. LisaM Apr 2017 #63

The FAA rest requirements are indeed new jberryhill Apr 2017 #78

It's the new FAA rest requirements jberryhill Apr 2017 #77

I had a flight delayed because they did not have a plane LeftInTX Apr 2017 #142

yup Skittles Apr 2017 #55

They told people at the gate that they needed 4 people to give up seats and still boarded them nadine_mn Apr 2017 #65

Exactly! perdita9 Apr 2017 #148

It isn't... regnaD kciN Apr 2017 #166

After that first mistake of boarding all passengers, when the man refused to surrender his seat delisen Apr 2017 #162

Why should the airline have that right? athena Apr 2017 #96

Calm down! perdita9 Apr 2017 #149

The ends don't justify the means bekkilyn Apr 2017 #171

Yeah. A plan we paid them to be on! kcr Apr 2017 #106

Stop lying perdita9 Apr 2017 #150

That would be the laws written by the airline's lobbyists? annabanana Apr 2017 #137

FAA regulations perdita9 Apr 2017 #151

And this makes it NOT authoritarianism HOW exactly? 6000eliot Apr 2017 #144

the law was once on the side of refusing service in public accommodations delisen Apr 2017 #156

WRONG! regnaD kciN Apr 2017 #165

The worst flight I ever had was on United. I promised myself to never use them again. nt C Moon Apr 2017 #18

For what it's worth, I just called this shitty airline and told them I would NEVER fly with them BigDemVoter Apr 2017 #22

I was stranded in O'Hare for two f***ing days by United. Girard442 Apr 2017 #25

My wife and I once got stuck at O'Hare with a kid in diapers. hunter Apr 2017 #58

Isolating? BannonsLiver Apr 2017 #68

I once sat next to a floppy-headed snorer on an overnight airline flight. hunter Apr 2017 #73

If corporations are people this is assault and battery Hokie Apr 2017 #27

Or if you sold them something athena Apr 2017 #82

Depends on the jurisdiction Azathoth Apr 2017 #87

It's boycott time. Dawson Leery Apr 2017 #30

It sure as hell is!! AgadorSparticus Apr 2017 #98

Its also not OK not to leave. Algernon Moncrieff Apr 2017 #32

Yeah, I suspect if they had raised the buyout again, Ilsa Apr 2017 #35

Being honest, they'd have probably had me at $400 Algernon Moncrieff Apr 2017 #39

I mean honestly - they could have really offered a sweet deal at really no cost to the airline nadine_mn Apr 2017 #46

Yeah, that potential $1,000 buyout Ilsa Apr 2017 #48

No one agrees to be physically assaulted or forcibly removed from their seat nadine_mn Apr 2017 #49

You make the passenger sound like a blameless victim Algernon Moncrieff Apr 2017 #62

And Rosa Parks refused a lawful order to move to the back of the bus bekkilyn Apr 2017 #66

This ain't that Algernon Moncrieff Apr 2017 #86

It's the same idea bekkilyn Apr 2017 #107

Divided Airlines -I guess they figure it's them vs. us. Something about the tone of the delisen Apr 2017 #160

That doesn't require a violent response nadine_mn Apr 2017 #67

Well stated.. Mahalo, nadine Cha Apr 2017 #75

Yes he did. He said "no" Algernon Moncrieff Apr 2017 #88

No, he does not become a stowaway and no he doesn't deserve to get nadine_mn Apr 2017 #91

I'm a big guy. Algernon Moncrieff Apr 2017 #95

You've allowed yourself to be normalized to their objectionable behavior bekkilyn Apr 2017 #110

No - I just don't find the behavior objectionable Algernon Moncrieff Apr 2017 #135

I'd be just as outraged had it happened to any of the passengers. bekkilyn Apr 2017 #139

The issue is level of force - and I am stunned that you think this situation nadine_mn Apr 2017 #132

No. He did not legally become a stowaway. kcr Apr 2017 #108

By law, a valid ticket means he CANNOT be a stowaway just for future reference nadine_mn Apr 2017 #133

He still failed to follow the commands of flight crew members Algernon Moncrieff Apr 2017 #136

Sometimes the law bumps up against human rights. delisen Apr 2017 #158

as did many in the Civil Rights movement. some had the nerve to delisen Apr 2017 #157

what was LAWFUL about an order to remove himself from a seat he had paid for and niyad Apr 2017 #174

Wrong, wrong, wrong... regnaD kciN Apr 2017 #167

All the more reason not to fly. NT. warmfeet Apr 2017 #34

Trump should buy the airline Angry Dragon Apr 2017 #36

Well said! CanonRay Apr 2017 #40

I fly standby all the time and am appalled they took paying passengers off to accommodate kimbutgar Apr 2017 #44

They told people at the gate that they needed 4 people to give up seats nadine_mn Apr 2017 #47

Yup, first come, first served TexasBushwhacker Apr 2017 #131

so they only offered $800 and then decided to rip a an from his seat Takket Apr 2017 #51

It's not even $800 in cash. It's $800 in useless vouchers athena Apr 2017 #61

And most people don't read the fine print dalton99a Apr 2017 #83

United Airlines: "Do what we say or we'll beat you up" dalton99a Apr 2017 #53

this is not a new policy Skittles Apr 2017 #54

I agree. There is no excuse for this. It's sickening. yardwork Apr 2017 #59

I can guarantee, if United had offered ENOUGH money to give up a seat.... steve2470 Apr 2017 #69

Or even $1500 or 1K.. they weren't being smart business Cha Apr 2017 #76

It's illegal to offer more than $1350 jberryhill Apr 2017 #80

This law can be changed, and should be changed to a much higher amount. No Vested Interest Apr 2017 #99

ah ok nt steve2470 Apr 2017 #100

You don't have an inviolable right to sit on someone else's airplane Azathoth Apr 2017 #81

You would have a point if the person did not have a ticket to sit on the plane. athena Apr 2017 #84

I suggest you read the DOT regulations Azathoth Apr 2017 #89

And I suggest YOU read United's Contract of Carriage... regnaD kciN Apr 2017 #168

Yes, I understand this is the new talking point Azathoth Apr 2017 #179

This wasn't an overbooked flight. They wanted to bump a paying customer for their staff. AgadorSparticus Apr 2017 #90

Then you may have a lawsuit against them, not an inviolable right to sit on their plane Azathoth Apr 2017 #92

Private property does not mean they can treat you however they want to. AgadorSparticus Apr 2017 #97

+1,000 !! CountAllVotes Apr 2017 #134

Passenger was contractually on plane, contract did not provide for removal in this manner. NutmegYankee Apr 2017 #170

No, removal of properly boarded passengers requires specific causes Azathoth Apr 2017 #180

the flight was not "overbooked", it was full, and the airline wanted four of its employees niyad Apr 2017 #176

It's all about THE RULES! The RULES cannot be wrong, the RULES must always be obeyed. Warren DeMontague Apr 2017 #85

And: Trump won according to The Rules dalton99a Apr 2017 #94

It's a very authoritarian stance (nt) bekkilyn Apr 2017 #112

And when THE RULES say the exact opposite thing, who cares? regnaD kciN Apr 2017 #169

A simple solution would be to up the financial incentive to the next person being bumped. Throck Apr 2017 #102

To me the point that is being lost is... Heartstrings Apr 2017 #109

I 100% agree with you nadine_mn Apr 2017 #111

Unfortunately it seems to be Heartstrings Apr 2017 #115

This norm needs to be changed regardless of what "the rules" say. (nt) bekkilyn Apr 2017 #119

I agree 100% Heartstrings Apr 2017 #123

I suppose more customer resistance and outrage in the meantime bekkilyn Apr 2017 #125

Yes! Resist is the name of the game at this point in time...nt Heartstrings Apr 2017 #129

+1 (nt) bekkilyn Apr 2017 #113

+1, it wasn't needed... they could've done something else and that would've been easier uponit7771 Apr 2017 #138

Speak with your wallet, it's all we have in a corpocracy HAB911 Apr 2017 #114

Yep, right wingers treestar Apr 2017 #117

You see them in spectacular display here too. Crazy... AgadorSparticus Apr 2017 #141

Agree Johnny2X2X Apr 2017 #126

You know what's really nuts? TexasBushwhacker Apr 2017 #127

The flight was delayed over 2 hrs (in part so they could "clean up") nadine_mn Apr 2017 #130

I agree we've become so use to it TNLib Apr 2017 #140

It especially happens to people of color. 6000eliot Apr 2017 #143

and the justifications for the "officers" behaviour, even on this board, is disgusting. niyad Apr 2017 #145

There are authoritarians on the left as well as the rights. Just follow orders. Obey. delisen Apr 2017 #161

I know, but it is depressing all the same to see it on the left. niyad Apr 2017 #172

I agree. delisen Apr 2017 #173

This is a fine analysis. United had so many options at so many points delisen Apr 2017 #152

There are companies that truly want to make a customer happy nadine_mn Apr 2017 #177

Standing tall against the customer is usually a mistake. Yeah there is some rule, but to go all The_Casual_Observer Apr 2017 #154

the pretzel twisted defense of the airline on this board has been disgusting. niyad Apr 2017 #175

I think that is why I am so upset about this nadine_mn Apr 2017 #178

we have had many socks and puppets in the past. and, I agree with you that the ready niyad Apr 2017 #181