If you haven’t seen something in the news related to United Airlines, I would be surprised. The airline has been talked about at least three separate times in the past few weeks, and not in a good way. United’s PR department must be pretty busy defending themselves to the press. Here’s the scoop on what has happened.
It first started with an outrage when two teenage girls were not allowed to board the plane for wearing leggings. United Airlines stood by their decision as the leggings “violated the company’s dress code policy for “pass travelers,” a company benefit that allows United employees and their dependents to travel on a stand-by basis.”
Next came a video of a man being dragged off the plane after he refused to give up his seat on an overbooked flight. The sold-out flight from Chicago to Louisville needed to make way for four crew members who were needed at the destination. When no one gave up their seat, attendants randomly chose four passengers. As David Dao refused to give up his seat, security was called to remove him. United Airlines CEO has apologized for the incident and has taken full responsibility to make the situation right. A recent letter from United’s 12,500 pilots explains their fury over the event. They state that safety is their highest concern for passengers, and the situation should not have escalated that quickly. The letter attempts to shift some of the blame away from United by addressing the response by the Chicago Department of Aviation. Be sure to pay attention as this story escalates.
In a most recent post, a Canadian man was stung by a scorpion while traveling from Houston. He was treated at a nearby hospital shortly after landing. United has offered compensation for him as well.
United Airlines can’t seem to catch a break. After the video of the man being dragged went viral, United’s stock plummeted 6.3%, dropping $1.4 billion from their $21 billion market cap. There isn’t any sign of ticket sales decreasing, but who knows what’s to come. How will United Airlines pull out of this PR nightmare?
