Michael Hohl and his fiancée Amber Maxwell were the last passengers to board Flight 1737.
According to Hohl, they noticed a man was spread across their row napping when they approached their seats, 24 B and C. Not wanting to wake the man, Hohl said they decided to sit three rows up in seats 21 B and C. He said they didn’t think it would matter because the flight was half full with multiple empty rows.
We thought not a big deal, it’s not like we are trying to jump up into a first-class seat,” said Hohl.“We were simply in an economy row a few rows above our economy seat.” In a Boeing 737-800 like the one the couple was on, United considers Row 21 “economy plus,” an upgrade.”
A flight attendant approached the couple and asked them if they were in their ticketed seats. Hohl explained the situation and asked if they could get the upgrade. The attendant then told them to go back to their assigned seats.
Not long afterward, a U.S. Marshall boarded the plane and told them they would have to get off the flight. The couple complied, but were perplexed.
While Hohl maintains the airline told him he was being “disorderly” and a “hazard” to the flight, United maintains that the couple “repeatedly” tried to sit in the upgraded area and that they would not follow crew instructions.
The airline issued a statement on Saturday that indicated what further action was being taken.
We’re disappointed anytime a customer has an experience that doesn’t measure up to their expectations. These passengers repeatedly attempted to sit in upgraded seating, which they did not purchase, and they would not follow crew instructions to return to their assigned seats. We’ve been in touch with them and have rebooked them on flights tomorrow.”
United rebooked the couple on another flight the next morning, so they won’t be late for their Thursday wedding in Costa Rica.
Hohl said his days of flying United are over, and described the entire incident as “quite strange” and “absurd.”
It seems the entire brouhaha could have been avoided if a little more common sense came into play. Other airlines have been known to reseat couples on their way to their wedding without following the rules so strictly.
Coming on the heels of the other recent incidents, the latest United fiasco suggests that the airline has a serious customer service training problem and its crews at times may lack the finesse needed to provide a satisfactory passenger experience. Interestingly enough, two of the three recent controversies originated in Houston.
Source: Zero Hedge
I was flying United, I was travelling with two elderly women on the last hop to our destination. The two “Grandmothers” I had in tow where two row’s back from my seat. As I sat, I opened my lap top. The$#%&!@*flight attendant immediately came to my seat and said: close it. I did as told. Then, things heated up. She said YOUR MAD! I was staring out the window, not at her. She said: I’m going to have you leave this flight!! I continued to stare out the window. She continued: We cannot have you on this flight! YOUR disrupting the passengers! The entire time I sat there, I did NOTHING to bring on this rage! She was out of control with anger. A woman sitting directly behind me, told the$#%&!@* YOUR the one causing the problem!!! Leave him alone! She seemed to collapse for a second then moved on. To this day, I’ve not figured out what upset her so much. I’ve not flown UN-United sense.
Exactly, Sounds like to me, people are trying to take advantage of everyting going on. I think it sucks. It’s making it worse for everyone flying.
They were asked to move several times by the flight crew, to no avail. If you don’t follow the lawful directions of the flight crew you will be escorted off the plane! Don’t care what the squeak is about, solve it off the plane after you do what you’re asked!
Well duh, your supposed to sit in assigned seat not where you choose
They broke the rules, United Airlines was justified. Next time they should ask before seeking and automatic upgrade.
“Finesse” is not in any of their job descriptions…
People get pissy. Expecially traveling. They gets the “I want it freeeeee” syndrome.