In a report issued Thursday about the April 9 dragging incident involving a passenger on an overcrowded United Express plane, United spelled out how it selects passengers for involuntary bumping.
United says the process is automated — gate agents don't decide who stays and who goes.
• First, anyone without a seat assignment is denied boarding.
• Passengers who paid the least for their ticket top the list for being bumped involuntarily.
• Passengers who paid the same fare are sorted by when they checked in for the flight.
• Customers with status in United's MileagePlus frequent-flyer program won't be bumped unless everyone on the plane has status, in which case the people with the lowest status get bumped first.
• Unaccompanied minors and passengers with disabilities won't be bumped.
Source: Company's "United Express Flight 3411 Review and Action Report"
Donate to the newsroom now. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax deductible