dakinetalk...Live from Kaua'i,Hawai'i: 04/17/17

Monday, April 17, 2017

"United's nightmare becomes the good doctors fantasy-Epilogue..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen' (Kimo's world #180)

James "Kimo" Rosen is a retired professional photographer
and amongst other things lived in a tent outdoors for 7 years.
Rosen currently resides on the tropical island of Kaua'i
with his best friend and spiritual adviser

Photo above of James "Kimo"Rosen
at Chicago O'Hare Airport during a United Airlines
10 hour flight delay back in September 2015.
United only gave out meal vouchers. I wound
up missing my connection in Honolulu for Kauai
and was given a Hotel voucher but had to be back to the airport in
3 hours. They said I had to take the next available flight.
United was not very accommodating.

Finally on my connecting flight the following morning
a Hawaiian airlines jet with a rainbow.
I knew my day would be better!

Kimo's world #180~Blog #1924

Publishers note,
On April 10 I heard of a story on Facebook of a man being dragged by force
with blood on his face from a United airlines flight. I thought it was fake news.
I checked on many of the fact checking websites and found it to be true. Since then this story has gone viral world wide. It is a nice diversion from everything Trump. I hope you enjoy my take on this story.

http://www.snopes.com/2017/04/10/passenger-force-united-flight/
James "Kimo" Rosen
Publisher/Blogger-n-chief, dakinetalk blog

United's nightmare becomes the good doctors fantasy
An edited version of this blog appeared in the 4-14-17
edition of the Kauai Garden Island news;
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-friday-april/article_af98ecb7-81c9-588f-8f03-02fd7569d90c.html

Imagine prepaying for a meal at your favorite restaurant, already seated and then being asked to leave in favor of one of the restaurant's employees to be seated for a meal? If you don't leave the restaurant brings in security to pull you out?
https://www.facebook.com/TheConservativePunk/videos/vb.438987046299274/633961390135171/?type=2&theater (United Airlines Training Video-Funny, check it out!)
A similar scenario recently happened on United airlines overbooked flight #3411 from Chicago to Louisville.

Dr. David Dao refused to leave when randomly picked after passengers were originally offered $400.00 to give up their seats which was later bumped to $800.00 and when there were no takers a final offer of $1,000.000 was offered to give up their seat to take a later flight and over night in a hotel and a meal voucher!
http://www.tmz.com/2017/04/10/united-airlines-yanks-passenger-from-flight/
I can't imagine passengers not willing to go on a later flight and be compensated $1,000 plus a hotel room and meal voucher to leave the following morning. This flight must had been full of affluent and wealthy people with the last name of Trump. I would had jumped on a deal like that.

None the less it looks like Dr.Dao is going to have a huge pay day thanks to the person who took the smart phone video that went viral. The good doctor is a poker player and it looks like his poker move of resisting leaving his seat may have paid off in the millions.

What becomes a nightmare for United Airlines has become a fantasy dream come true for the good Dr.Dao.

I am guessing this will settle out of court to avoid even more negative publicity with reporters at court every day with more headlines. Dr. Dao will probably be offered free airfares for life, stock and a good amount of cash. Good move Doc!

I sure hope the good doc tips the the person very generously who shot the video that went viral.

Now imagine the world without smart phones? What a boring world it would be.

Epilogue;
Back in the 1980's a good friend of mine was a travel agent, Herbert has since passed away. I would always book my flights with Herbert and would always ask Herbert to make my reservations on the most over-booked flights he could find. When I would I get to the gate I would always ask the ticket agents if your looking for any volunteer denied boarders I am your guy. They would thank me, take my name and call me should they have the need.

Many times I got an upgrade to first class and there was a period of 3-4 years that I had acquired 7-8 round-trip bumped airfares to anywhere in the United stated including Alaska since most my flights had originated in Alaska.

I was never offered money in those days. Now if you have the time and the way flights are being overbooked, and if you play your cards right you can make some good cash.

They are now talking about offering up to $10,000 to give up your seat! I am willing to bet there will be many people playing the same game I played with Herbert back in the 1980's now that the perks have increased for giving up your seat. You can Thank the good Dr. Dao for that!

I only wish I was healthy enough to sit and stand for prolong periods of times, I'd be on the next overbooked flight to somewhere flying high over the friendly or even the unfriendly skies!

An edited version of this blog appeared in the 4-14-17
edition of the Kauai Garden Island news;
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-friday-april/article_af98ecb7-81c9-588f-8f03-02fd7569d90c.html