Man Dragged off United Airlines/Flight Overbooked, April 2017

[JanetElaine]

Yes of course. But who would fly UA unless they absolutely had to after this fiasco? I wouldn't lol. I have flown lots of times but never had any probs.

We sure won't. I've had it with them. We've just booked three trans-Atlantic flights and one domestic flight (for my daughter, all round trips) specifically not on United. I've got enough to be concerned about while she travels without having to worry about their baloney.

When bad customer service happens too often to you, and then spirals out of control like in the case of passenger Dao, people are going to look elsewhere. In our case, we've had good experiences with other airlines over the years, so that's who we're going with.

Not everyone's main objective is the cheapest ticket out there, and this may sound counter-intuitive, but it is exactly because we do fly so often that I don't mind shelling out a bit more if needed to fly with a more customer friendly airline. It's costing us an actual crapton of money anyway, I don't want to have to spend all my travel time being kicked around like worthless riff raff on top of that.

My family and I are definitely not spoiled brats - but even having to say that points to the absurdity of the iron grip these big dollar companies have on people these days. Expecting to be treated with respect, and receive the service/item/object you paid for, gets you painted as an entitled spoiled brat by many nowadays (I'm referring to comments I've read on social media, not here on WS - where people can differ in opinion but remain respectful).
It's sad and completely baffling.

As always, all MOO.

 

[KaaBoom]

Here we go again. This time with American.

American Airlines flight attendant accused of smacking woman with baby stroller

An American Airlines attendant has been suspended after smacking a mother with a baby stroller onboard a domestic flight Friday afternoon, according to passengers.

The woman had just boarded a 2:18 p.m. flight from San Francisco to Dallas when the shocking incident occurred.

A video posted to Facebook by Surian Adyanthaya caught the tumultuous aftermath.

SEE IT: American Airlines flight attendant accused of smacking woman with baby stroller

 

[CARIIS]

Here we go again. This time with American.



SEE IT: American Airlines flight attendant accused of smacking woman with baby stroller

I saw this earlier but was confused about what actually happened - what did ?

It was like there was no context to the story??

It looked and sounded like they were in flight??

 

[CARIIS]

+Makes sense ! I have noticed that there are a lot of frequent flyers on this thread! Check out rule 260 for whoever you fly most!!

 

[Jax49]

I saw this earlier but was confused about what actually happened - what did ?

It was like there was no context to the story??

It looked and sounded like they were in flight??

W/S has a thread. They were boarding when it happened.

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...rlines-altercation-with-mother-of-twin-babies

 

[KaaBoom]

I saw this earlier but was confused about what actually happened - what did ?

It was like there was no context to the story??

It looked and sounded like they were in flight??

Apparently as the flight was boarding, the FA tried to take a baby stroller away from a woman, and hit her in the process. Then he got into an altercation with another passenger, who didn't take kindly to his behavior. The woman was removed and put on a later flight. The FA was suspended after the video was posted.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

Strollers are not allowed on planes. You have to check them or if it's a small stroller you are allowed to gate check them. I haven't seen the video where the FA hits the woman. I wonder if the FA aggressively pried the stroller from the mother and hit her in the process or did he take the stroller then hit her with it.

The mom seems hysterical and the FA seems to have had no patience. I don't have a problem with the passenger intervening on behalf of the woman but I draw the line at the threats he made. JMO

 

[Rocco]

Strollers are not allowed on planes. You have to check them or if it's a small stroller you are allowed to gate check them. I haven't seen the video where the FA hits the woman. I wonder if the FA aggressively pried the stroller from the mother and hit her in the process or did he take the stroller then hit her with it.

The mom seems hysterical and the FA seems to have had no patience. I don't have a problem with the passenger intervening on behalf of the woman but I draw the line at the threats he made. JMO

That passenger just escalated the situation. Even the woman he's with is pulling on his arm and trying to get him to sit back down. He was a hot head, just like the FA.

Here's apparently what happened:

"We're told the woman had the stroller tagged by employees at gate check-in and was asked to leave it at the bottom of the jet bridge before boarding the flight so it could be stored underneath the plane.

Our sources say the woman tried to get the double wide stroller inside the narrow plane and employees attempted to remove it. We're told in removing the stroller, the woman was struck while holding her baby ... and nearly ignited a brawl between the employee and another passenger."

http://www.tmz.com/2017/04/22/american-airlines-video-stroller-mother-twins-employee/

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

That passenger just escalated the situation. Even the woman he's with is pulling on his arm and trying to get him to sit back down. He was a hot head, just like the FA.

Here's apparently what happened:

"We're told the woman had the stroller tagged by employees at gate check-in and was asked to leave it at the bottom of the jet bridge before boarding the flight so it could be stored underneath the plane.

Our sources say the woman tried to get the double wide stroller inside the narrow plane and employees attempted to remove it. We're told in removing the stroller, the woman was struck while holding her baby ... and nearly ignited a brawl between the employee and another passenger."

http://www.tmz.com/2017/04/22/american-airlines-video-stroller-mother-twins-employee/

According to that article it sounds like an accident. The sensationalism by the media makes it sound like the FA intentionally hit the woman with the stroller.

 

[KaaBoom]

According to that article it sounds like an accident. The sensationalism by the media makes it sound like the FA intentionally hit the woman with the stroller.

This was no accident. This was an out of control airline worker assaulting and threatening passengers. He has been suspended for it.

 

[Morag]

Was there not an airline employee there to tell the (non-English-speaking, struggling-with-two-babies-and-a-giant-stroller) passenger that she couldn't board like that? And spoken in a gentle and helpful tone?

Or did she struggle down the aisle, only to have a flight attendant pull the stroller away from her in a rough and rude manner? And all this happened in front of shocked passengers who immediately protested the woman's treatment?

Plenty of witnesses, including the white-shirted AA employee who did not remove the man who was defending the twins' mother....

This is a case of an employee who, for whatever reasons, decided to mistreat a customer. No excuse for that suspended employee's bad behavior.

 

[Rocco]

Was there not an airline employee there to tell the (non-English-speaking, struggling-with-two-babies-and-a-giant-stroller) passenger that she couldn't board like that? And spoken in a gentle and helpful tone?

Or did she struggle down the aisle, only to have a flight attendant pull the stroller away from her in a rough and rude manner? And all this happened in front of shocked passengers who immediately protested the woman's treatment?

Plenty of witnesses, including the white-shirted AA employee who did not remove the man who was defending the twins' mother....

This is a case of an employee who, for whatever reasons, decided to mistreat a customer. No excuse for that suspended employee's bad behavior.

Non English speaking? The woman clearly says "Just give me back my stroller please" .

 

[Morag]

Non English speaking? The woman clearly says "Just give me back my stroller please" .

Sorry, I thought English was her second language. So there's no reason that the FA couldn't have gently and courteously explained, "You'll be able to pick up your stroller planeside when you arrive at your destination. In the meantime, I'll stow it away for you while you and your babies get settled."

There are apparently a number of witnesses who can describe exactly what happened.

 

[al66pine]

Sorry, I thought English was her second language. So there's no reason that the FA couldn't have gently and courteously explained, "You'll be able to pick up your stroller planeside when you arrive at your destination. In the meantime, I'll stow it away for you while you and your babies get settled."
There are apparently a number of witnesses who can describe exactly what happened.

When a random person posts to soc media, sometimes the vid's action starts after critical events occurred.

^ re bbm & ibm ^ Did a U/A employee tell Mom (essentially) the ^ info in italics?
For example, a curbside airline employee or baggage handler might have told her - no stroller carry-on.
Or agent at airline ticket counter.
Or agent at airline gate?
Or flight attendant at end of jetway, before Mom stepped into plane? Or a diff F/A, just after Mom stepped aboard.
Or all the above. On none of the above. IDK.

Not saying any of the above ppl did 'gently and courteously' explain policy to her.
Or maybe they shouted, scowled, and shook fists at her. IDK.
Maybe Mom searched online or called airline about stroller, knew of policy, and tried to board w it anyway.

Emphasis: IDK, but not drawing conclusions about situation based on 10 sec or 1 min vid, without knowing about prior events.
Appears few, if any, were on good behavior during that short vid.

US commercial air travel ain't what it used to be. Sympathy for all flyers, passengers, cabin crew, and cockpit crew.

 

[JohnPaul]

When a random person posts to soc media, sometimes the vid's action starts after critical events occurred.

agreed 100%....people see an altercation beginning....THEN they start filming

US commercial air travel ain't what it used to be..

sure it is,

the only difference is technology now gives any individual on the planet the ability to spread "news" worldwide in a matter of minutes,

in years prior to the internet, cell phones, facebook, twitter, etc etc, 99% of the public/world probably would never even hear about these events,

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Apr 24 2017, 9:51 am ET

Lawyer Representing David Dao Now Working With Woman in American Airlines Incident

by Daniella Silva

The lawyer representing the United Airlines passenger who was dragged off a flight in a viral video has taken up a new client against the airline industry.

Attorney Thomas Demetrio is now representing the woman in another incident caught on video showing an argument that broke out on an American Airlines flight after a male flight attendant allegedly forcibly took the woman's stroller — nearly striking her and her baby.

In an exclusive interview with the TODAY Show Monday morning, Demetrio called the American Airlines incident a "microcosm of the entire problem." ...

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...king-woman-american-airlines-incident-n750081

 

[FelicityLemon]

If strollers are supposed to be checked into baggage or at the gate (I read in one article) how did she get to board past three points: checking in, the gate person and finally the FA who greets/shepherds passengers at the door of the plane itself?

ETA
I need to read before posting, lol - I just saw al66pine said it first!

 

[FelicityLemon]

In reference to inflight security cameras where every ounce of weight counts: that volatile FA (stroller guy) - trade some of his excess baggage in for SECURITY coverage of mere ounces.

Disclaimer: this weight remark is coming to you from a morbidly obese person, no fat-shaming intended, just observation of facts.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

Aviation officer gives his version of United flight removal

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/aviation-officer-gives-version-united-flight-removal-220611362.html

 

[JerseyGirl]

in other news....

Mystery as world's-biggest-rabbit contender dies on United Airlines flight to O'Hare

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...-giant-rabbits-death-united-flight/100920770/

A giant rabbit died in unexplained circumstances on a United Airlines flight from Britain to Chicago in the latest unfortunate incident to hit the beleaguered airline.