I haven't flown United since the David Dao incident. Anecdotally, most international airlines are orders of magnitude better in terms of quality of service, cleanliness, flight crew friendliness, and so on. As a person of color, the latter attributes are quite important for me, since I'd rather not get singled out for wilful mistreatment on a transatlantic flight.
"We are providing compensation as a goodwill gesture."
As a "goodwill" gesture?? This makes it sound like she is lucky they might be providing any sort of compensation at all to her. Seems to me that she is due a full refund, since her son was not able to use the seat that she paid for. I don't think the article reveals the age of the child, as I think that would provide some bearing as to the airline's responsibility to provide full refund or not? Once again, airlines (or is it just United) making boneheaded decisions.
"Once again, airlines (or is it just United) making boneheaded decisions."
This is a United problem. I've refused to fly them for several years now (and even paid more because of it). I'm not surprised this happened again. Their employees simply do not care about passengers, period.
I suspect this is a cultural issue mixed with some self-preservation because of the merger.
Needless to say: I will continue to not fly with them.
"Rob Bradford, United's managing director of customer solutions, telephoned Carroll to apologize for the incident and to ask for permission to use the video for internal training. United claimed that it "hoped" to learn from the incident, and to change its customer service policy accordingly"
I don't think it's coincidental that Korean is rarely the cheapest ticket. And they have the worst frequent flyer rewards program.[1] They were one of the latest to have a co-branded credit card, I think. In other words, they focus on a consistent, quality product, without trying to hide the ball.
I think they've begun adding more frequent-flyer frills, which I expect to be detrimental to overall quality. I don't doubt it'll boost revenue. They have a long way to fall and hopefully they'll stop short of mimicking the typical industry model.
[1] They're part of SkyMiles but given their point valuations I never found it worthwhile to upgrade. It's been a few years since I cared to check, though.
korean is also the only airline i've ever flown where i thought the food was good (not just "good for airline food", which a handful of other airlines do manage, but good as in i'd have been happy to eat it at any time)
[+] [-] muggermuch|8 years ago|reply
Delta has been good to me so far over the years.
[+] [-] relaxitup|8 years ago|reply
As a "goodwill" gesture?? This makes it sound like she is lucky they might be providing any sort of compensation at all to her. Seems to me that she is due a full refund, since her son was not able to use the seat that she paid for. I don't think the article reveals the age of the child, as I think that would provide some bearing as to the airline's responsibility to provide full refund or not? Once again, airlines (or is it just United) making boneheaded decisions.
[+] [-] fergbrain|8 years ago|reply
This is a United problem. I've refused to fly them for several years now (and even paid more because of it). I'm not surprised this happened again. Their employees simply do not care about passengers, period.
I suspect this is a cultural issue mixed with some self-preservation because of the merger.
Needless to say: I will continue to not fly with them.
[+] [-] FTA|8 years ago|reply
http://fortune.com/2017/07/05/united-airlines-shirley-yamauc... http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/35811846/hawaii-teacher-f... http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/united-airlines-forces-m... http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2017/07/05/united-airlines-giv...
[+] [-] unknown|8 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] EpicEng|8 years ago|reply
> The FAA recommends havinga child strapped into a seat for the duration of a flight.
...have the people who wrote that _ever_ flown with a toddler? I mean, yeah, I agree, but good luck with that!
[+] [-] ajarmst|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] atesti|8 years ago|reply
"Rob Bradford, United's managing director of customer solutions, telephoned Carroll to apologize for the incident and to ask for permission to use the video for internal training. United claimed that it "hoped" to learn from the incident, and to change its customer service policy accordingly"
Didn't help apparently
[+] [-] putsteadywere|8 years ago|reply
United was easily the worst, Korean was easily the best.
China Eastern wasn't great either - yet it still had better customer service, amenities, and a more comfortable seat and landing.
[+] [-] wahern|8 years ago|reply
I think they've begun adding more frequent-flyer frills, which I expect to be detrimental to overall quality. I don't doubt it'll boost revenue. They have a long way to fall and hopefully they'll stop short of mimicking the typical industry model.
[1] They're part of SkyMiles but given their point valuations I never found it worthwhile to upgrade. It's been a few years since I cared to check, though.
[+] [-] zem|8 years ago|reply