The video of the 69 year old passenger being dragged to the front of a United Express plane went viral, a shocking fact has come under the light. It is legal for flights to overbook their seats. The airlines can ask their passengers to leave their seats voluntarily in return for vouchers, or money. The treatment of the passenger drew outrage and scorn on social media and prompted a backlash against United from passengers as the busy summer travel season begins. But on the flipside, there was another passenger who made money out of the same situation (flying from different airline). Laura Begley Bloom, a Forbes columnist and her family were paid $11,000 in gift cards by Delta Airlines for giving up their seats. They were trying to fly from New York to Florida to visit family for the weekend when they earned money for their seats.
