United Airlines has come under fire after a video showing a passenger being dragged from an overbooked aircraft went viral. But if you find United’s treatment of a paying customer extreme, you’ve probably never flown in China.
Last year a similar event took place in Shanghai. But instead of one passenger being “bumped” from the China Eastern flight, no fewer than 48 people were told to give up their seats.
To make things worse, the airline’s manager-on-duty reportedly offered the stranded passengers compensation of 200 yuan (US$28) – provided they sign a waiver absolving the airline of liability. Most passengers refused.
Overbooking by airlines has for years been a headache in China. According to state-run Xinhua news agency, it’s common for Chinese airlines to oversell 5% of their available seats, roughly 3 percentage points above the international standard.
In 2011, China Eastern prevented a pregnant lady from boarding only 50 minutes before departure time, provoking national outrage.
China’s aviation authorities have sharpened their tone in urging airlines to set up or clarify overbooking and compensation policies.
The country’s flag carrier Air China says on its website that it “may occasionally overbook certain flights” that are likely to have empty seats. “We will limit the number of oversold tickets and therefore, passengers with confirmed reservations rarely will be denied boarding.”
Cold comfort for those that do get bumped.
What’s more, the phenomena of “air rage” is probably more common in China than in any other nation, with media frequently reporting on violent incidents both in the planes and before boarding.
Last year, a man attacked an airline check-in clerk, leaving her lying in a pool of blood. In another incident, police arrested two men who charged the cockpit as their flight was taxiing for takeoff.
Indeed, traveling by air in China can be a turbulent experience even before getting airborne.
bullshit story
What revelance does this have to the current issue in the US? Ans: None. Perhaps the author is thinking the passenger was of Asian heritage (Vietnamese?) but still. The author writes air rage is probably more common there than any other nation. Perhaps true but that’s quite a statement, has he quoted any studies? Per capita? I bet no. In other words its a meaningless statment just to bash. Atimes is becoming a tabloid.
Is that a joke? It is one thing to be "bump" off a flight, it is entirely another to be physically dragged off the plane covered in blood after one is already seated. Some people lack common sense.
Seems like the writer defending the United airlines…if it s common in china so you mean??? Its just ok to happen everywhere??sounds like racist…
The writer must be on the United payroll
The piece is written in bad taste. Surprised the editors let it pass.
Author seems utterly depraved to be making such a comparison.
Perhaps he’s suggesting that United didn’t rough him up enough … and the Chinese would have done a "better" job?