quote:

Read the links and stop making things up.

They have less training and are not allowed weapons.

I have read all about it. You're referring to their policies. I'm referring to the fact that they have attended the police academy, per state law, and are licensed as officers by the state.

I'm not making anything up. I'm also not conveniently ignoring the facts that don't support my assertions.

quote:

What this smells like is that the City wanted a police force, but none of the responsibility or liability. How's that working out for them?

It seems similar to how things are around the St. Louis area. Small departments that quality candidates don't really want to work for are used to gain the experience to get on at more established departments. These departments take on the new recruits, and those who can't cut it with the big boys.

What you get is the occasional clusters like those that happened here. It seems that more and more of them disappear and get taken over by our well respected county police.

quote:

Originally posted by Lord Vaalic:
I see United had issued new rules

Once on the plane you can't be removed

If flight crew has to fly they have to arrive an hour early or take the next flight. Which is interesting since we have been told in this thread this was impossible.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireS...-passengers-46830554

I was curious about this as well.

It's like United Airlines just can't help itself. LINK

Clearly, United hates their customers.

I don't know what to believe in that story. Obviously someone is lying but unless there are witnesses coming forward to corroborate the couples story, I would have to side with the crew in that one.

I suspect United is going to have to endure a lot of this stuff in the future, and without the sympathy and support of the public.

quote:

Originally posted by Paten:
I don't know what to believe in that story. Obviously someone is lying but unless there are witnesses coming forward to corroborate the couples story, I would have to side with the crew in that one.

I agree. I actually tend to believe UA's side. Story was written slanted for the passengers. Acted like they were so blameless. "Hey, we only did it once, and we complied right away and returned to our seats once asked. Don't know why we were kicked off". Yeah right. I can guarantee you that they just don't call the U.S. Marshall, if you only did it once and complied right away.

It seems to me, the 'bride & groom' repeatedly tried to put themselves in 'economy plus' seats, after having paid for regular economy seats. Even on a mostly empty plane this is a no-no.

It's the more mild version of trying to sit in 1st class, since there are open seats.

When this happens & they are told once, no real biggie. If they want to make a stink about it, another story. Even moving to 'economy plus' after airborne is not allowed. The person sitting next to you would of paid a few more $$ for that seat. Yes, it's just a few more inches, no real big gain.

I think they will end up with goose eggs on this venture, no $$$.

If you are on a half full flight are you allowed to move to an empty seat, not economy to first class of course?
You used to be able to do that. My days of flying last occurred before exit seating became economy plus.

From the OP's linked story: "The couple, along with their friends, were flying . . . ."

No incriminating video from the friends?

quote:

Originally posted by walkinghorse:
If you are on a half full flight are you allowed to move to an empty seat, not economy to first class of course?
You used to be able to do that. My days of flying last occurred before exit seating became economy plus.

Yes, but you typically can't change your class of service, i.e. Coach to Economy Plus or either of those to First Class. At least without paying, because those seats cost more - and with inflight internet / connectivity, you can easily give them your credit card to upgrade class of service, if they allow it.

TSA people are called "officers" that doesn't make them police. No gun on your side and no arrest authority, as in being sworn in, to me means you are not police. You may be an officer but not a police officer.

If you can't carry a gun and can't arrest people you shouldn't be wearing anything that says Police.

quote:

Originally posted by mikeyspizza:
From the OP's linked story: "The couple, along with their friends, were flying . . . ."

No incriminating video from the friends?

I fly a good bit but their story is full of holes. No way the US Marshalls are showing up for moving seats.

They were just looking for (1) better and free seats, and / or (2) publicity / payday.

"Oh, some guy just fell asleep in our seats while we were in the bathroom".

Yeah, right.

quote:

Originally posted by Paten:
I don't know what to believe in that story. Obviously someone is lying but unless there are witnesses coming forward to corroborate the couples story, I would have to side with the crew in that one.

Yeah, I read it on Fox, and my BS meter is pinging like crazy.

IMO, they were probably trying to milk the situation for publicity/payoff, since the general public is already PO'd with United.

And I agree - that if this were REALLY a major mess, there would be video everywhere.

What happened to the guy sleeping in their seats?

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:

quote:

Originally posted by mikeyspizza:
From the OP's linked story: "The couple, along with their friends, were flying . . . ."

No incriminating video from the friends?

I fly a good bit but their story is full of holes. No way the US Marshalls are showing up for moving seats.

They were just looking for (1) better and free seats, and / or (2) publicity / payday.

"Oh, some guy just fell asleep in our seats while we were in the bathroom".

Yeah, right.

This, for sure. The couple is full of shit.

ETA: I would almost guarantee if the plane was fully boarded and they told the FA they were on the honeymoon, they may have been given the ok to move. They are looking for a check or looking to sensationalize their bullshit story.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeGLI:....ETA: I would almost guarantee if the plane was fully boarded and they told the FA they were on the honeymoon, they may have been given the ok to move. They are looking for a check or looking to sensationalize their bullshit story.

Seems to me every party involved has a reason to exaggerate/lie about what happened.

quote:

Originally posted by Scoutmaster:

Seems to me every party involved has a reason to exaggerate/lie about what happened.

Yeah, but this doesn't mean that UAL is lying. As much as I disagree with their handling of Dr Dao, that doesn't mean that there is ANY credence to THIS story and I am siding with United here. The story just reeks of BS. Air Marshal getting involved in a seating dispute, IF the couple was as innocent as they claim to be?

I think they were trolling the flight crew. Either so they could:

A) Get away with a free seating upgrade

or

B) Get video of the jack-boot-thugs dragging them off the plane so THEY could get their 7-figure settlement

Either of the above, IMO, was based on the current anger directed towards UAL; thinking that they could take advantage of UAL's situation, on the assumption that UAL wouldn't want to stick up for the rules and cause another 'incident.'

It seems to me that this one won't go the distance. It will burn out quickly, IMO.

Besides, this was BOUND to happen before too long. Too much money that sleezy people will think is 'up for grabs.'

quote:

Originally posted by walkinghorse:
If you are on a half full flight are you allowed to move to an empty seat, not economy to first class of course?
You used to be able to do that. My days of flying last occurred before exit seating became economy plus.

I'll just reiterate, yes you can do that. You can move to an empty seat as long as it's in your same class of service.

Flying to France last year, some young French hooligan tried to move from his crappy economy seat up to business class with the lie flat seats. The FA's weren't having any of that. I guess it doesn't hurt to at least try once.

summary of airline changes so far:

https://www.washingtonpost.com...g-bumped-passengers/

United said its new policy requires airline crews to check in at least an hour before a flight leaves to avoid having to find a seat for a crew member after all passengers have already boarded. The airline would not disclose its current compensation limit.

Delta said in an internal memo that it is letting employees offer customers up to $9,950 in compensation to give up seats on overbooked flights. A spokesman confirmed the changes.

American updated its Conditions of Carriage after the United incident, stating that it will not involuntarily remove a revenue passenger, who has already boarded, in order to give a seat to another passenger. An airline spokesman said the airline does not set a cap on compensation for passengers, but said gate agents work with customers to ensure they set compensation amounts properly in order to obtain the correct number of volunteers.

quote:

Originally posted by walkinghorse:
If you are on a half full flight are you allowed to move to an empty seat, not economy to first class of course?
You used to be able to do that. My days of flying last occurred before exit seating became economy plus.

Indeed, the exit row seats are now considered "premium" and a different class of service than a regular seat.

I was on a flight once with a semi altercation where a customer in steerage wanted to move up to an exit row seat. Eventually, the flight attendant asked for his credit card so he could pay the difference in fare. He turns five shades of red and was ready to burst a valve. The flight attendant then explained that the exit row seats are a "different cabin". That seem like an exaggeration, but it got the point across. Since then, most airlines have clearly and plainly marked the seats as being "premium", probably to try to reduce people re-seating themselves.