All true, but my point is more that graduates of the same tiny elitist educational establishments will tend to have similar mindsets- and it's not good if that mindset dominates countries, politically, for decades. The result is stasis, as we see in France.
France needs to think outside the box. That box is the ENA. Macron is another one straight from the box.
I agree to some degree, although I do think there's a danger that the reason some people are outside the box is that they are completely unsuitable while others, because they've never been in the box, don't really understand how to achieve things.
America very much thought outside the box with Trump but, if you were a conservative who wanted rid of Obamacare, with hindsight you'd probably have done it with Cruz or Rubio. In other words, you'd have got the more radical outcome with the somewhat less radical candidate.
If you look at other conservative radicals, like Thatcher or Reagan, whilst they had an "outsider" story (the former as a woman in a man's world, the latter as an actor "playing" at politics) that disguised the fact that they actually had pretty conventional political backgrounds. Thatcher had been an MP for 20 years and worked her way up through ministerial ranks, while Reagan had been politically involved for even longer, had a decent stretch as Governor of the largest state in the union, and was on his third Presidential tilt in 1980.
Generally, though, I'm not a fan of the French ultra-elite system. Ideally, politicians need to be sharp people, but not top 0.1% intellects. And the statist group-think of the ENA is unhelpful as you say.
I think the issue is that some of our 'obligations' may not actually be obligations. There was a research paper doing the rounds not so long ago that suggested hardly any of them were binding.
The House of Lords EU Financial Affairs Committee seems to have reached a similar conclusion.
Yes, I think that is the point - especially since by extension if the UK is not obliged to pay up, then neither is anyone else, and the EU's credit rating turns out to be built on sand. If that's what they mean, then it makes perfect sense, but it's not what they say in that piece.
It's actually a strong incentive to the EU not to press the point too much.
Roll the dice Ms JGP. Don't make the mistake of supposing that the Tories are not just as much a coalition of the sane bound up with their own frothers, lunatics, weirdos and obsessives as any other party.
The difference is that the frothers, lunatics, weirdos and obsessives aren't running the party.
Roll the dice Ms JGP. Don't make the mistake of supposing that the Tories are not just as much a coalition of the sane bound up with their own frothers, lunatics, weirdos and obsessives as any other party.
The difference is that the frothers, lunatics, weirdos and obsessives aren't running the party.
I think the issue is that some of our 'obligations' may not actually be obligations. There was a research paper doing the rounds not so long ago that suggested hardly any of them were binding.
The House of Lords EU Financial Affairs Committee seems to have reached a similar conclusion.
Yes, I think that is the point - especially since by extension if the UK is not obliged to pay up, then neither is anyone else, and the EU's credit rating turns out to be built on sand. If that's what they mean, then it makes perfect sense, but it's not what they say in that piece.
It's actually a strong incentive to the EU not to press the point too much.
Are they trying desperately to find a form of words that gives the hint that the EU's credit rating is built on sand?
I'm not saying the Emperor's new clothes aren't wonderful, I'm just saying I'd have chosen different clothes myself.
Of course the UK will pay its obligations, it's just that after we leave the EU it doesn't have any.
I would be interested to know how large the vehicle financing element of overall consumer credit is. You can't drive past exceedingly modest houses these days without seeing a brand spanking new Evoque parked outside.
New car purchases have been rising for past x years, despite squeeze on wages. You have to believe that finance and increasingly personal lease contracts are behind that.
I would suggest that not renegotiating A50 would be one positive for the Conservatives and a big one at that.
I would suggest that in a scenario where the Conservatives have lost seats and votes the renegotiation of the Brexit Treaty might not be a bad idea at all.
Perhaps if the Conservatives had done a decent job they wouldn't have lost seats and votes in this scenario.
I think the issue is that some of our 'obligations' may not actually be obligations. There was a research paper doing the rounds not so long ago that suggested hardly any of them were binding.
The House of Lords EU Financial Affairs Committee seems to have reached a similar conclusion.
Yes, I think that is the point - especially since by extension if the UK is not obliged to pay up, then neither is anyone else, and the EU's credit rating turns out to be built on sand. If that's what they mean, then it makes perfect sense, but it's not what they say in that piece.
It's actually a strong incentive to the EU not to press the point too much.
Good point, well made. – Presumably it will have come as quite a shock to the remaining 27 countries that the true cost of membership per annum is many £millions more than claimed and accruing every year they remain.
I think the issue is that some of our 'obligations' may not actually be obligations. There was a research paper doing the rounds not so long ago that suggested hardly any of them were binding.
The House of Lords EU Financial Affairs Committee seems to have reached a similar conclusion.
Yes, I think that is the point - especially since by extension if the UK is not obliged to pay up, then neither is anyone else, and the EU's credit rating turns out to be built on sand. If that's what they mean, then it makes perfect sense, but it's not what they say in that piece.
It's actually a strong incentive to the EU not to press the point too much.
Are they trying desperately to find a form of words that gives the hint that the EU's credit rating is built on sand?
I'm not saying the Emperor's new clothes aren't wonderful, I'm just saying I'd have chosen different clothes myself.
Of course the UK will pay its obligations, it's just that after we leave the EU it doesn't have any.
The EU has almost no outstanding bonds, and i don't even know if it had a formal credit rating.
" In a statement United airlines told the BBC: "Flight 3411 from Chicago to Louisville was overbooked."
"After our team looked for volunteers, one customer refused to leave the aircraft voluntarily and law enforcement was asked to come to the gate," the airline added"
Wasn't much of a voluntary process was it
Mindless from the airline - they should have offered more incentive $$$ for someone to leave.
" In a statement United airlines told the BBC: "Flight 3411 from Chicago to Louisville was overbooked."
"After our team looked for volunteers, one customer refused to leave the aircraft voluntarily and law enforcement was asked to come to the gate," the airline added"
Wasn't much of a voluntary process was it
Mindless from the airline - they should have offered more incentive $$$ for someone to leave.
Mindless from the airline - they should have offered more incentive $$$ for someone to leave.
It's appalling. United are normally very good at incentivising people to change flights.
Virgin Atlantic offer huge quantities of airmiles to people to change down class when they are overbooked and I've frequently been awarded miles just for offering to go on the list of possibles even when I haven't had to move.
For a few hundred $$$ of United vouchers this could all have been avoided...
Mindless from the airline - they should have offered more incentive $$$ for someone to leave.
It's appalling. United are normally very good at incentivising people to change flights.
They offered $800 and a hotel. No one bit. Instead of upping the offer, or finding alternative transport for the United cabin attendents flying on standby, they "used a computer" to "randomly select" four passengers. On of the random selectees was non-plused, as you can see in the video.
PR disaster of epic proportions.
As RobD said, how the hell did they end up with more people on the plane than there were seats?
I have never heard an airline do that. Normally the incentives are just made more attractive, until it is idiotic for somebody not to take it.
On a particularly overcrowded flight from San Francisco, I was once offered free return flights to Australia, plus overnight hotel and food in San Fran, to give up my seat until the next day.
Labour would need to make about 50 gains from the Tories (in England and Wales) to be in with a shout of forming a government with the SNP in GE2020.
To do it outright, they'd need close on one hundred. After the boundary changes, it'll be an even bigger number.
Where are these going to come from?
Labour need not make a single gain at the next election to form the next government.
30 Lib Dem gains from the Blues makes a Rainbow Alliance government viable.
If voters in Tory-Lib Dem marginal think for one moment that voting Lib Dem might put Jezza into Number 10, they'll vote Tory.
It really annoys me that ever since I've lived in a place where my vote might make a difference, voting Labour/Lib Dem has been (IMHO) for the birds (Mr Brown, Mr Miliband ...).
It annoys me even more that this fluke of fate has labelled me a "loyal" Conservative voter.
After all those years living in constituencies where I could happily vote Pro-Life or MRLP or anything at all, really, because it was Dead Donkey in a blue rosette territory.
Grrrr.
And good afternoon, everybody.
Roll the dice Ms JGP. Don't make the mistake of supposing that the Tories are not just as much a coalition of the sane bound up with their own frothers, lunatics, weirdos and obsessives as any other party.
An ideal of a 1950s society in 2020 is just as dangerous as Jez's socialist paradise imho.
I know they are a coalition. I prefer coalitions to be sorted out before the voters get to pick which set they're prepared to trust for a while.
Mindless from the airline - they should have offered more incentive $$$ for someone to leave.
It's appalling. United are normally very good at incentivising people to change flights.
Virgin Atlantic offer huge quantities of airmiles to people to change down class when they are overbooked and I've frequently been awarded miles just for offering to go on the list of possibles even when I haven't had to move.
For a few hundred $$$ of United vouchers this could all have been avoided...
I have never heard an airline do that. Normally the incentives are just made more attractive, until it is idiotic for somebody not to take it.
On a particularly overcrowded flight from San Francisco, I was once offered free return flights to Australia, plus overnight hotel and food in San Fran, to give up my seat until the next day.
I have never heard an airline do that. Normally the incentives are just made more attractive, until it is idiotic for somebody not to take it.
On a particularly overcrowded flight from San Francisco, I was once offered free return flights to Australia, plus overnight hotel and food in San Fran, to give up my seat until the next day.
Can only think that United had a cap for a domestic flight at $800 - why there isn't a process in place for what happens next is baffling. To turf passengers off for crew is doubling down on stupidity.
Mindless from the airline - they should have offered more incentive $$$ for someone to leave.
It's appalling. United are normally very good at incentivising people to change flights.
They offered $800 and a hotel. No one bit. Instead of upping the offer, or finding alternative transport for the United cabin attendents flying on standby, they "used a computer" to "randomly select" four passengers. On of the random selectees was non-plused, as you can see in the video.
PR disaster of epic proportions.
As RobD said, how the hell did they end up with more people on the plane than there were seats?
I believe they were dead heading, they needed to get to the next airport for work. As for overselling, most if not all airlines do it.
I have never heard an airline do that. Normally the incentives are just made more attractive, until it is idiotic for somebody not to take it.
On a particularly overcrowded flight from San Francisco, I was once offered free return flights to Australia, plus overnight hotel and food in San Fran, to give up my seat until the next day.
A couple of weeks ago, Ryanair were doing this at the gate. I was almost tempted just see what Michael O'Leary considers is an adequate "incentive"
The worst thing I had happen to me was as a student backpacking, I offered to give up my seat in return for free flights and some spending money. My bags were not loaded on and they said I was the only one they were bumping off and of all those who had checked in they had 1 too many.
They asked I wait in the departure area until the flight went just on the very unlikely off chance that somebody managed to get lost on the way from security to the gate.
So I sat there, last call, another last call, very very last call for a specific individual, no sign. Absolutely utter last call (flight now really late)....nobody...
I get tapped on the shoulder, Mr Urquhart please make your way onto the aircraft....
I soon realise my seat is the very back row, so I have to walk past every single passenger with them all believing I am the arsehole that has made the flight so late. I got more nasty looks than Trump attending a conference for CNN employees....
I have never heard an airline do that. Normally the incentives are just made more attractive, until it is idiotic for somebody not to take it.
On a particularly overcrowded flight from San Francisco, I was once offered free return flights to Australia, plus overnight hotel and food in San Fran, to give up my seat until the next day.
I'd be surprised if it was random choice, and if it was, it was a bad random choice - airlines used to target soldiers and old people travelling as a couple, IIRC, as they were least likely to kick up a fuss. Professional couples, meanwhile, I would say are most likely to object.
Mindless from the airline - they should have offered more incentive $$$ for someone to leave.
It's appalling. United are normally very good at incentivising people to change flights.
They offered $800 and a hotel. No one bit. Instead of upping the offer, or finding alternative transport for the United cabin attendents flying on standby, they "used a computer" to "randomly select" four passengers. On of the random selectees was non-plused, as you can see in the video.
PR disaster of epic proportions.
As RobD said, how the hell did they end up with more people on the plane than there were seats?
I believe they were dead heading, they needed to get to the next airport for work. As for overselling, most if not all airlines do it.
I've witnessed a few ding-dongs in my time over the same issue, usually at the gate, but also at check-in. Only one airline I'm aware of has had to forcibly remove overbooked passengers from the cabin itself.
There's usually a jump seat or two spare in the cabin, and one in the cockpit. No idea why the deadheading crew couldn't use those for the 4-hour flight.
Mindless from the airline - they should have offered more incentive $$$ for someone to leave.
It's appalling. United are normally very good at incentivising people to change flights.
They offered $800 and a hotel. No one bit. Instead of upping the offer, or finding alternative transport for the United cabin attendents flying on standby, they "used a computer" to "randomly select" four passengers. On of the random selectees was non-plused, as you can see in the video.
PR disaster of epic proportions.
As RobD said, how the hell did they end up with more people on the plane than there were seats?
I believe they were dead heading, they needed to get to the next airport for work. As for overselling, most if not all airlines do it.
I've witnessed a few ding-dongs in my time over the same issue, usually at the gate, but also at check-in. Only one airline I'm aware of has had to forcibly remove overbooked passengers from the flight.
There's usually a jump seat or two spare in the cabin, and one in the cockpit. No idea why the deadheading crew couldn't use those for the 4-hour flight.
If they do this often enough, there's always going to be an odd incident that gets out of control.
Moscow populism and pandering to the ultra-nationalists? Or an quasi-independent effort motivated by Islamic teachings in muslim-dominated Chechnya? Or Moscow allowing it to appease the local population, rather than at a national level?
The support levels for May/Davidson at 33/35% suggest the Tory revival in Scotland is continuing to go very well. If they were to poll anywhere near that level [30%] in an election they'd gain 5/6 seats on Baxter
After last week's reaffirmation of the Tory party as the Nasty party I think they'll be lucky to hold onto 20% support let alone hit 30% !! - Unlike the rUK voters in Scotland are spoilt for alternatives.
What gave you that idea. I mean we like never ever have discussions of air travel on this forum...Nor leaving a review of a posh restaurant or a decent bottle of plonk.
Good to see Don trolling the PB tories in this post. I wish he'd hang around to contribute to discussion.
However, I don't see LibDems as that likely to get involved in any coalitions in the near term. With either Labour or Tories. The only exception I would see as worthwhile would be on the basis of an agreement to progress electoral reform. No bullshit referenda, a straight agreement involving support in exchange for Lords Reform and the introduction of PR.
Yet more "Liberal" "Democrat" contempt for democracy.
Mindless from the airline - they should have offered more incentive $$$ for someone to leave.
It's appalling. United are normally very good at incentivising people to change flights.
Virgin Atlantic offer huge quantities of airmiles to people to change down class when they are overbooked and I've frequently been awarded miles just for offering to go on the list of possibles even when I haven't had to move.
For a few hundred $$$ of United vouchers this could all have been avoided...
They offered $800 at the gate.
Wasn't enough was it.
Though compared with the bad PR it was a pittance.
Meanwhile .... Perhaps I might garner an opinion or several from the collective knowledge of the PB petrol-heads.
Audi SQ7
Content Or Not Content ?
Will the good Lady JackW be able to get enough new shoes in the back after a trip to the shops?
I offered a similar view and was met with a countenance that would have stopped Attila The Hun stone dead. It could be so much worse. Some months back Mrs JackW was transported in a Bentley Bentayga with an interior, she informed me, that matched several outfits. I fear she wasn't entirely being frivolous.
That said the SQ7 advice is for a relative of Mrs JackW with numerous young offspring.
Just taken delivery of a Jaguar F Pace SUV 3 litre diesel. Excellent.
Admittedly a second slower than the Audi SQ7 at 6 secs 0-60 and 5mph slower at 150 mph but built in the Midlands.
Tried a Cayenne which is slightly bigger but does not drive as well as the Jaguar - and built in Volkswagen's Slovakia factory like the Audi SQ7.
Note there is an extra £300 pa Vehicle Excise duty on new cars over £40,000 registered after 1st April just gone.
Thank you David. They are in the market from September onward so I would be grateful of your continuing impressions over the next few months. Neither parent are "car" people so will rely on recommendations.
Mindless from the airline - they should have offered more incentive $$$ for someone to leave.
It's appalling. United are normally very good at incentivising people to change flights.
Virgin Atlantic offer huge quantities of airmiles to people to change down class when they are overbooked and I've frequently been awarded miles just for offering to go on the list of possibles even when I haven't had to move.
For a few hundred $$$ of United vouchers this could all have been avoided...
They offered $800 at the gate.
Wasn't enough was it.
Though compared with the bad PR it was a pittance.
TSE will probably still tell us they aren't as bad as BA...
A nice little piece of Peak Guardian here; the comments are a treat.
This week’s question:
My parents never got us Easter eggs as kids and it didn’t harm us. Now my wife says we have to buy our four-year-old daughter one, but I resent having to take part in the annual sugar-fest that is Easter. Am I alone in feeling this way? Should I stick to my guns?
Mindless from the airline - they should have offered more incentive $$$ for someone to leave.
It's appalling. United are normally very good at incentivising people to change flights.
Virgin Atlantic offer huge quantities of airmiles to people to change down class when they are overbooked and I've frequently been awarded miles just for offering to go on the list of possibles even when I haven't had to move.
For a few hundred $$$ of United vouchers this could all have been avoided...
They offered $800 at the gate.
Wasn't enough was it.
Though compared with the bad PR it was a pittance.
Yep! Suspect it may be adjusted. Even $2k would have been cheap compared to this bad PR, and undoubtedly someone would have nibbled.
What gave you that idea. I mean we like never ever have discussions of air travel on this forum...Nor leaving a review of a posh restaurant or a decent bottle of plonk.
That would really have got the conversation going: "PB Air had overbooked, and I was asked to give up a seat for a Mr Corbyn. I was offered dinner for two at the Savoy and a bottle of 1970 Cheval Blanc. I refused, and they forced me to stay in a ... Holiday Inn just off the North Circular!"
Mindless from the airline - they should have offered more incentive $$$ for someone to leave.
It's appalling. United are normally very good at incentivising people to change flights.
Virgin Atlantic offer huge quantities of airmiles to people to change down class when they are overbooked and I've frequently been awarded miles just for offering to go on the list of possibles even when I haven't had to move.
For a few hundred $$$ of United vouchers this could all have been avoided...
They offered $800 at the gate.
Wasn't enough was it.
Though compared with the bad PR it was a pittance.
Yep! Suspect it may be adjusted. Even $2k would have been cheap compared to this bad PR, and undoubtedly someone would have nibbled.
Mindless from the airline - they should have offered more incentive $$$ for someone to leave.
It's appalling. United are normally very good at incentivising people to change flights.
Virgin Atlantic offer huge quantities of airmiles to people to change down class when they are overbooked and I've frequently been awarded miles just for offering to go on the list of possibles even when I haven't had to move.
For a few hundred $$$ of United vouchers this could all have been avoided...
They offered $800 at the gate.
Wasn't enough was it.
Though compared with the bad PR it was a pittance.
Yep! Suspect it may be adjusted. Even $2k would have been cheap compared to this bad PR, and undoubtedly someone would have nibbled.
Me
Given the man was a doctor and needed to be in hospital the following morning you can see why he wasn't willing to take the money. This is absolutely terrible PR for United.
Mindless from the airline - they should have offered more incentive $$$ for someone to leave.
It's appalling. United are normally very good at incentivising people to change flights.
Virgin Atlantic offer huge quantities of airmiles to people to change down class when they are overbooked and I've frequently been awarded miles just for offering to go on the list of possibles even when I haven't had to move.
For a few hundred $$$ of United vouchers this could all have been avoided...
They offered $800 at the gate.
Wasn't enough was it.
Though compared with the bad PR it was a pittance.
Yep! Suspect it may be adjusted. Even $2k would have been cheap compared to this bad PR, and undoubtedly someone would have nibbled.
At that level of compensation they'd stop overbooking, so then they could reduce it again as it was happening so infrequently, and then it would be economic to overbook more, and then they'd have to increase the compensation again, and then ...
Mindless from the airline - they should have offered more incentive $$$ for someone to leave.
It's appalling. United are normally very good at incentivising people to change flights.
Virgin Atlantic offer huge quantities of airmiles to people to change down class when they are overbooked and I've frequently been awarded miles just for offering to go on the list of possibles even when I haven't had to move.
For a few hundred $$$ of United vouchers this could all have been avoided...
They offered $800 at the gate.
Wasn't enough was it.
Though compared with the bad PR it was a pittance.
Yep! Suspect it may be adjusted. Even $2k would have been cheap compared to this bad PR, and undoubtedly someone would have nibbled.
Me
Given the man was a doctor and needed to be in hospital the following morning you can see why he wasn't willing to take the money. This is absolutely terrible PR for United.
It'll cost them alot more than $800 in legal costs too.
A nice little piece of Peak Guardian here; the comments are a treat.
This week’s question:
My parents never got us Easter eggs as kids and it didn’t harm us. Now my wife says we have to buy our four-year-old daughter one, but I resent having to take part in the annual sugar-fest that is Easter. Am I alone in feeling this way? Should I stick to my guns?
On a similar seasonal note, I was somewhat surprised to see a big sign outside our local family-friendly garden centre advertising their EASTER RABBIT HUNT!
Admittedly, rabbits are a serious nuisance round our way, but even so...
Mindless from the airline - they should have offered more incentive $$$ for someone to leave.
It's appalling. United are normally very good at incentivising people to change flights.
Virgin Atlantic offer huge quantities of airmiles to people to change down class when they are overbooked and I've frequently been awarded miles just for offering to go on the list of possibles even when I haven't had to move.
For a few hundred $$$ of United vouchers this could all have been avoided...
They offered $800 at the gate.
Wasn't enough was it.
Though compared with the bad PR it was a pittance.
TSE will probably still tell us they aren't as bad as BA...
United Airlines gave better customer service in that video than BA have ever given me.
What gave you that idea. I mean we like never ever have discussions of air travel on this forum...Nor leaving a review of a posh restaurant or a decent bottle of plonk.
That would really have got the conversation going: "PB Air had overbooked, and I was asked to give up a seat for a Mr Corbyn. I was offered dinner for two at the Savoy and a bottle of 1970 Cheval Blanc. I refused, and they forced me to stay in a ... Holiday Inn just off the North Circular!"
Corbyn will probably get himself photographed lying down in the aisle of an Easyjet to highlight the problems of overbooking.
Mindless from the airline - they should have offered more incentive $$$ for someone to leave.
It's appalling. United are normally very good at incentivising people to change flights.
They offered $800 and a hotel. No one bit. Instead of upping the offer, or finding alternative transport for the United cabin attendents flying on standby, they "used a computer" to "randomly select" four passengers. On of the random selectees was non-plused, as you can see in the video.
PR disaster of epic proportions.
As RobD said, how the hell did they end up with more people on the plane than there were seats?
Flights are regularly overbooked. A given percentage of passengers routinely fail to show so Airlines have a formula that tells them how much they can overbook flights depending on route/time/cabin class etc.
The support levels for May/Davidson at 33/35% suggest the Tory revival in Scotland is continuing to go very well. If they were to poll anywhere near that level [30%] in an election they'd gain 5/6 seats on Baxter
After last week's reaffirmation of the Tory party as the Nasty party I think they'll be lucky to hold onto 20% support let alone hit 30% !! - Unlike the rUK voters in Scotland are spoilt for alternatives.
Given its nothing to do with voting but an opinion on particular politicians it suggests nothing of eth sort. The nasty party will go backwards as you say. Personal popularity and she is behind a German politician , no endorsement.
A nice little piece of Peak Guardian here; the comments are a treat.
This week’s question:
My parents never got us Easter eggs as kids and it didn’t harm us. Now my wife says we have to buy our four-year-old daughter one, but I resent having to take part in the annual sugar-fest that is Easter. Am I alone in feeling this way? Should I stick to my guns?
What gave you that idea. I mean we like never ever have discussions of air travel on this forum...Nor leaving a review of a posh restaurant or a decent bottle of plonk.
That would really have got the conversation going: "PB Air had overbooked, and I was asked to give up a seat for a Mr Corbyn. I was offered dinner for two at the Savoy and a bottle of 1970 Cheval Blanc. I refused, and they forced me to stay in a ... Holiday Inn just off the North Circular!"
Corbyn will probably get himself photographed lying down in the aisle of an Easyjet to highlight the problems of overbooking.
A friend of mine has a very dodgy back, and flies very frequently. His back spasmed on a flight back from China, and he was in immense pain. He lay down in the aisle, after which they magically found him a fold-down bed in first class!
A nice little piece of Peak Guardian here; the comments are a treat.
This week’s question:
My parents never got us Easter eggs as kids and it didn’t harm us. Now my wife says we have to buy our four-year-old daughter one, but I resent having to take part in the annual sugar-fest that is Easter. Am I alone in feeling this way? Should I stick to my guns?
A nice little piece of Peak Guardian here; the comments are a treat.
This week’s question:
My parents never got us Easter eggs as kids and it didn’t harm us. Now my wife says we have to buy our four-year-old daughter one, but I resent having to take part in the annual sugar-fest that is Easter. Am I alone in feeling this way? Should I stick to my guns?
Mindless from the airline - they should have offered more incentive $$$ for someone to leave.
It's appalling. United are normally very good at incentivising people to change flights.
Virgin Atlantic offer huge quantities of airmiles to people to change down class when they are overbooked and I've frequently been awarded miles just for offering to go on the list of possibles even when I haven't had to move.
For a few hundred $$$ of United vouchers this could all have been avoided...
They offered $800 at the gate.
Wasn't enough was it.
Though compared with the bad PR it was a pittance.
Yep! Suspect it may be adjusted. Even $2k would have been cheap compared to this bad PR, and undoubtedly someone would have nibbled.
At that level of compensation they'd stop overbooking, so then they could reduce it again as it was happening so infrequently, and then it would be economic to overbook more, and then they'd have to increase the compensation again, and then ...
Good point. No doubt they have teams of people (or an algorithm) to work out precisely how much they should overbook. I would have thought extreme cases like these were factored in, but who knows!
Meanwhile .... Perhaps I might garner an opinion or several from the collective knowledge of the PB petrol-heads.
Audi SQ7
Content Or Not Content ?
Will the good Lady JackW be able to get enough new shoes in the back after a trip to the shops?
I offered a similar view and was met with a countenance that would have stopped Attila The Hun stone dead. It could be so much worse. Some months back Mrs JackW was transported in a Bentley Bentayga with an interior, she informed me, that matched several outfits. I fear she wasn't entirely being frivolous.
That said the SQ7 advice is for a relative of Mrs JackW with numerous young offspring.
Just taken delivery of a Jaguar F Pace SUV 3 litre diesel. Excellent.
Admittedly a second slower than the Audi SQ7 at 6 secs 0-60 and 5mph slower at 150 mph but built in the Midlands.
Tried a Cayenne which is slightly bigger but does not drive as well as the Jaguar - and built in Volkswagen's Slovakia factory like the Audi SQ7.
Note there is an extra £300 pa Vehicle Excise duty on new cars over £40,000 registered after 1st April just gone.
Thank you David. They are in the market from September onward so I would be grateful of your continuing impressions over the next few months. Neither parent are "car" people so will rely on recommendations.
If they are not car people then they probably should not be going for the faster 'S' versions of SUVs.
I remember being at Aberdeen airport and the flight was overbooked. They asked for volunteers. No-one budged. They asked again. No-one budged. They then said there was a payment of £42 to those who volunteered. I was nearly trampled to death in the rush.
Offered as a true story, not to reinforce the stereotype of Scots being tight bastards.
Meanwhile .... Perhaps I might garner an opinion or several from the collective knowledge of the PB petrol-heads.
Audi SQ7
Content Or Not Content ?
Will the good Lady JackW be able to get enough new shoes in the back after a trip to the shops?
I offered a similar view and was met with a countenance that would have stopped Attila The Hun stone dead. It could be so much worse. Some months back Mrs JackW was transported in a Bentley Bentayga with an interior, she informed me, that matched several outfits. I fear she wasn't entirely being frivolous.
That said the SQ7 advice is for a relative of Mrs JackW with numerous young offspring.
Just taken delivery of a Jaguar F Pace SUV 3 litre diesel. Excellent.
Admittedly a second slower than the Audi SQ7 at 6 secs 0-60 and 5mph slower at 150 mph but built in the Midlands.
Tried a Cayenne which is slightly bigger but does not drive as well as the Jaguar - and built in Volkswagen's Slovakia factory like the Audi SQ7.
Note there is an extra £300 pa Vehicle Excise duty on new cars over £40,000 registered after 1st April just gone.
Thank you David. They are in the market from September onward so I would be grateful of your continuing impressions over the next few months. Neither parent are "car" people so will rely on recommendations.
If they are not car people then they probably should not be going for the faster 'S' versions of SUVs.
Logically yes. However that has never stopped them in the past buying at the top end once the decision on the make and model was settled ....
Mrs JackW has the same weakness for high end personal tootsie mobility coverings ....
Mr. Mark, few days ago now but cheers for posting that interesting anecdote on Meatloaf. [I'd left before you posted it, hence my absence of a response at the time].
In the official tables - without cherry picking subsamples and making up a table to suit your narrative :
Nicla has a mean score of 32.35 Ruth has a mean score of 38.13 Even Phil Hammond scores 36.66
Nicla - less popular than the NICs shambles chancellor..
He is -44% to her +11% , ie Hammond 55 behind Sturgeon
No, he is 36.66 to her 32.35, ie 4.31% ahead.
You are trying to extract numbers from the published table but as they are not themselves published the numbers produced are meaningless. It's the same as when people insisted on trying to draw VI numbers from ComRes polls that weren't there.
Moscow populism and pandering to the ultra-nationalists? Or an quasi-independent effort motivated by Islamic teachings in muslim-dominated Chechnya? Or Moscow allowing it to appease the local population, rather than at a national level?
Place your bets. Lovely place, Russia.
a Chechen government spokesperson denied that there are any gay people to detain, insisting that “you can’t detain and harass someone who doesn’t exist in the republic”
What gave you that idea. I mean we like never ever have discussions of air travel on this forum...Nor leaving a review of a posh restaurant or a decent bottle of plonk.
That would really have got the conversation going: "PB Air had overbooked, and I was asked to give up a seat for a Mr Corbyn. I was offered dinner for two at the Savoy and a bottle of 1970 Cheval Blanc. I refused, and they forced me to stay in a ... Holiday Inn just off the North Circular!"
Corbyn will probably get himself photographed lying down in the aisle of an Easyjet to highlight the problems of overbooking.
A friend of mine has a very dodgy back, and flies very frequently. His back spasmed on a flight back from China, and he was in immense pain. He lay down in the aisle, after which they magically found him a fold-down bed in first class!
He's always wanted to try the trick again.
The one and only time I was given gas'n'air as pain relief was not during childbirth but when my back went into spasm while driving a car. The pain was atrocious. I could not move and only some marvelous ambulance men and being drugged up to the eyeballs got me out.
Mind you, childbirth is an absolute doddle compared to having erythromycin injected into your veins four times a day for a week or a venography when you have a DVT.
As for Mr Staley - there is something we aren't being told about this story.
I remember being at Aberdeen airport and the flight was overbooked. They asked for volunteers. No-one budged. They asked again. No-one budged. They then said there was a payment of £42 to those who volunteered. I was nearly trampled to death in the rush.
I remember being at Aberdeen airport and the flight was overbooked. They asked for volunteers. No-one budged. They asked again. No-one budged. They then said there was a payment of £42 to those who volunteered. I was nearly trampled to death in the rush.
Offered as a true story, not to reinforce the stereotype of Scots being tight bastards.
Just before taking over as CEO [in 2015] he took a flight from Chicago, one of United Airlines’ major hubs. Munoz watched as two people were denied boarding because the flight had been oversold.
He sat in a cramped 50-seat regional jet for 30 minutes because the plane was delayed on the tarmac, and waited at the other end too because of backups at the gate. He then waited five hours for his luggage. He struck up a conversation with other passengers – baiting them about the long delays.
They agreed, but to his surprise they immediately followed up with: “Wasn’t that woman nice on that flight?” They were speaking of the flight attendant, Jenna. Oscar realised that Jenna’s good grace and excellent manners had been the highlight of an otherwise terrible flight.
Mr. Mark, few days ago now but cheers for posting that interesting anecdote on Meatloaf. [I'd left before you posted it, hence my absence of a response at the time].
What gave you that idea. I mean we like never ever have discussions of air travel on this forum...Nor leaving a review of a posh restaurant or a decent bottle of plonk.
That would really have got the conversation going: "PB Air had overbooked, and I was asked to give up a seat for a Mr Corbyn. I was offered dinner for two at the Savoy and a bottle of 1970 Cheval Blanc. I refused, and they forced me to stay in a ... Holiday Inn just off the North Circular!"
Corbyn will probably get himself photographed lying down in the aisle of an Easyjet to highlight the problems of overbooking.
A friend of mine has a very dodgy back, and flies very frequently. His back spasmed on a flight back from China, and he was in immense pain. He lay down in the aisle, after which they magically found him a fold-down bed in first class!
He's always wanted to try the trick again.
The one and only time I was given gas'n'air as pain relief was not during childbirth but when my back went into spasm while driving a car. The pain was atrocious. I could not move and only some marvelous ambulance men and being drugged up to the eyeballs got me out.
Mind you, childbirth is an absolute doddle compared to having erythromycin injected into your veins four times a day for a week or a venography when you have a DVT.
As for Mr Staley - there is something we aren't being told about this story.
Sympathies. Back pain is hideous.
Transport always does it for my friend. He has a stand-up station at work (and has lost several stone in weight since he got one), but has had his back go several times whilst driving and even on a ferry to Northern Ireland. Lying down helps, and he once rolled out of the car and lay down in the tarmac at a motorway services as his wife blocked off the space to other cars!
I wondered what your view would be on the Staley story. The write-ups of it insinuate there is more to it, but IMV it stinks. There'd need to be some really good extenuating circumstances to excuse him ...
Just before taking over as CEO [in 2015] he took a flight from Chicago, one of United Airlines’ major hubs. Munoz watched as two people were denied boarding because the flight had been oversold.
He sat in a cramped 50-seat regional jet for 30 minutes because the plane was delayed on the tarmac, and waited at the other end too because of backups at the gate. He then waited five hours for his luggage. He struck up a conversation with other passengers – baiting them about the long delays.
They agreed, but to his surprise they immediately followed up with: “Wasn’t that woman nice on that flight?” They were speaking of the flight attendant, Jenna. Oscar realised that Jenna’s good grace and excellent manners had been the highlight of an otherwise terrible flight.
Just before taking over as CEO [in 2015] he took a flight from Chicago, one of United Airlines’ major hubs. Munoz watched as two people were denied boarding because the flight had been oversold.
He sat in a cramped 50-seat regional jet for 30 minutes because the plane was delayed on the tarmac, and waited at the other end too because of backups at the gate. He then waited five hours for his luggage. He struck up a conversation with other passengers – baiting them about the long delays.
They agreed, but to his surprise they immediately followed up with: “Wasn’t that woman nice on that flight?” They were speaking of the flight attendant, Jenna. Oscar realised that Jenna’s good grace and excellent manners had been the highlight of an otherwise terrible flight.
It was a watershed moment for Oscar.
"watershed moment" - UGH.
Quite. I do remember, however, when walking the Lairig Ghru some years ago that there is a smallish loch in the middle with a stream coming out of each end, one going to the north sea and one going to the north Atlantic. It was a genuine watershed and quite something to see.
Meanwhile .... Perhaps I might garner an opinion or several from the collective knowledge of the PB petrol-heads.
Audi SQ7
Content Or Not Content ?
Will the good Lady JackW be able to get enough new shoes in the back after a trip to the shops?
I offered a similar view and was met with a countenance that would have stopped Attila The Hun stone dead. It could be so much worse. Some months back Mrs JackW was transported in a Bentley Bentayga with an interior, she informed me, that matched several outfits. I fear she wasn't entirely being frivolous.
That said the SQ7 advice is for a relative of Mrs JackW with numerous young offspring.
Just taken delivery of a Jaguar F Pace SUV 3 litre diesel. Excellent.
Admittedly a second slower than the Audi SQ7 at 6 secs 0-60 and 5mph slower at 150 mph but built in the Midlands.
Tried a Cayenne which is slightly bigger but does not drive as well as the Jaguar - and built in Volkswagen's Slovakia factory like the Audi SQ7.
Note there is an extra £300 pa Vehicle Excise duty on new cars over £40,000 registered after 1st April just gone.
Thank you David. They are in the market from September onward so I would be grateful of your continuing impressions over the next few months. Neither parent are "car" people so will rely on recommendations.
If they are not car people then they probably should not be going for the faster 'S' versions of SUVs.
Unless they have inherited a profitable pie works, they would be well advised to steer clear of a diesel. The congestion charges are going to be horrific. Perhaps look at hybrids.
What gave you that idea. I mean we like never ever have discussions of air travel on this forum...Nor leaving a review of a posh restaurant or a decent bottle of plonk.
In this case someone screwed up big time. If they unloaded someone who had already boarded for their own reason (he wasn't drunk, disruptive etc) then they'll have the book thrown at them.
If $800 wasn't enough, then they should have made it $1000, a night in the best hotel in town and a first class upgrade the next day.
These things aren't difficult to do, if you give the person in charge on the ground sufficient authority to deal with the unexpected.if you employ a 'customer service manager', then give him permission to do whatever needs doing to diffuse a situation like this. That the CEO had to get involved says this cost a LOT more than $800.
Comments
America very much thought outside the box with Trump but, if you were a conservative who wanted rid of Obamacare, with hindsight you'd probably have done it with Cruz or Rubio. In other words, you'd have got the more radical outcome with the somewhat less radical candidate.
If you look at other conservative radicals, like Thatcher or Reagan, whilst they had an "outsider" story (the former as a woman in a man's world, the latter as an actor "playing" at politics) that disguised the fact that they actually had pretty conventional political backgrounds. Thatcher had been an MP for 20 years and worked her way up through ministerial ranks, while Reagan had been politically involved for even longer, had a decent stretch as Governor of the largest state in the union, and was on his third Presidential tilt in 1980.
Generally, though, I'm not a fan of the French ultra-elite system. Ideally, politicians need to be sharp people, but not top 0.1% intellects. And the statist group-think of the ENA is unhelpful as you say.
It's actually a strong incentive to the EU not to press the point too much.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39554421
I'm not saying the Emperor's new clothes aren't wonderful, I'm just saying I'd have chosen different clothes myself.
Of course the UK will pay its obligations, it's just that after we leave the EU it doesn't have any.
It's Corbyn levels of PR management.
Perhaps if the Conservatives had done a decent job they wouldn't have lost seats and votes in this scenario.
In a statement United airlines told the BBC: "Flight 3411 from Chicago to Louisville was overbooked."
"After our team looked for volunteers, one customer refused to leave the aircraft voluntarily and law enforcement was asked to come to the gate," the airline added"
Wasn't much of a voluntary process was it
Mindless from the airline - they should have offered more incentive $$$ for someone to leave.
https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/economic-and-fiscal-policy-coordination/eu-financial-assistance/eu-borrower/funding-characteristics-eu_en
Some interesting stuff here too:
https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/economic-and-fiscal-policy-coordination/eu-financial-assistance/eu-borrower/eus-credit-rating_en
Le Pen 24 (-0.5)
Macron 23 (-0.5)
Fillon 18.5 (=)
Melenchon 18 (+1)
http://www.parismatch.com/La-presidentielle-en-temps-reel
https://twitter.com/St_Anderson38/status/851393995372736512/photo/1
For a few hundred $$$ of United vouchers this could all have been avoided...
PR disaster of epic proportions.
As RobD said, how the hell did they end up with more people on the plane than there were seats?
On a particularly overcrowded flight from San Francisco, I was once offered free return flights to Australia, plus overnight hotel and food in San Fran, to give up my seat until the next day.
They asked I wait in the departure area until the flight went just on the very unlikely off chance that somebody managed to get lost on the way from security to the gate.
So I sat there, last call, another last call, very very last call for a specific individual, no sign. Absolutely utter last call (flight now really late)....nobody...
I get tapped on the shoulder, Mr Urquhart please make your way onto the aircraft....
I soon realise my seat is the very back row, so I have to walk past every single passenger with them all believing I am the arsehole that has made the flight so late. I got more nasty looks than Trump attending a conference for CNN employees....
There's usually a jump seat or two spare in the cabin, and one in the cockpit. No idea why the deadheading crew couldn't use those for the 4-hour flight.
If they do this often enough, there's always going to be an odd incident that gets out of control.
But in other news, can anyone think why Barclays' boss Jes Staley shouldn't be sacked?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39551691
Place your bets. Lovely place, Russia.
http://lordashcroftpolls.com/2017/04/more-from-my-brexit-research/#more-15143
Hammond scores better than Sturgeon
http://lordashcroftpolls.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/New-Landscape-Full-data-tables-March-2017.pdf
In the official tables - without cherry picking subsamples and making up a table to suit your narrative :
Nicla has a mean score of 32.35
Ruth has a mean score of 38.13
Even Phil Hammond scores 36.66
Nicla - less popular than the NICs shambles chancellor..
Though compared with the bad PR it was a pittance.
Mr. Anorak, it's deeply disturbing.
This week’s question:
My parents never got us Easter eggs as kids and it didn’t harm us. Now my wife says we have to buy our four-year-old daughter one, but I resent having to take part in the annual sugar-fest that is Easter. Am I alone in feeling this way? Should I stick to my guns?
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/apr/08/imho-why-buy-easter-chocolate-eggs-children
LondonMoscow-Bob I haven't seen for ages. Contract...expired?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WT9wONW5UY
On a similar seasonal note, I was somewhat surprised to see a big sign outside our local family-friendly garden centre advertising their EASTER RABBIT HUNT!
Admittedly, rabbits are a serious nuisance round our way, but even so...
United Airlines = Liz Hurley
BA = Divine Brown
1) In a family of diabetics, it isn't a good thing
2) Easter eggs pound for pound are really expensive, compare the price of a mars bar per gram to the price per gram of a Mars bar easter egg,
I prefer to tell my kids that Jesus was the first zombie.
He's always wanted to try the trick again.
https://twitter.com/united/status/851471781827420160
But the wise men know he was the Vampire Lord, undead master of the dread rabbit:
http://thaddeuswhite.weebly.com/writing-blog/sir-edric-and-the-vampire-lord
http://lordashcroftpolls.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/ALL-CHANGE-Lord-Ashcroft-Polls-April-2017.pdf
Offered as a true story, not to reinforce the stereotype of Scots being tight bastards.
Mrs JackW has the same weakness for high end personal tootsie mobility coverings ....
Edited extra bit: Meatloaf/your wife, obviously.
Those being two separate people.
You are trying to extract numbers from the published table but as they are not themselves published the numbers produced are meaningless. It's the same as when people insisted on trying to draw VI numbers from ComRes polls that weren't there.
Chilling.
Mind you, childbirth is an absolute doddle compared to having erythromycin injected into your veins four times a day for a week or a venography when you have a DVT.
As for Mr Staley - there is something we aren't being told about this story.
The power of social media
Just before taking over as CEO [in 2015] he took a flight from Chicago, one of United Airlines’ major hubs. Munoz watched as two people were denied boarding because the flight had been oversold.
He sat in a cramped 50-seat regional jet for 30 minutes because the plane was delayed on the tarmac, and waited at the other end too because of backups at the gate. He then waited five hours for his luggage. He struck up a conversation with other passengers – baiting them about the long delays.
They agreed, but to his surprise they immediately followed up with: “Wasn’t that woman nice on that flight?” They were speaking of the flight attendant, Jenna. Oscar realised that Jenna’s good grace and excellent manners had been the highlight of an otherwise terrible flight.
It was a watershed moment for Oscar.
Transport always does it for my friend. He has a stand-up station at work (and has lost several stone in weight since he got one), but has had his back go several times whilst driving and even on a ferry to Northern Ireland. Lying down helps, and he once rolled out of the car and lay down in the tarmac at a motorway services as his wife blocked off the space to other cars!
I wondered what your view would be on the Staley story. The write-ups of it insinuate there is more to it, but IMV it stinks. There'd need to be some really good extenuating circumstances to excuse him ...
https://www.lexus.co.uk/car-models/rx/rx-450h/#Introduction
Though SUV's are not for me.
If $800 wasn't enough, then they should have made it $1000, a night in the best hotel in town and a first class upgrade the next day.
These things aren't difficult to do, if you give the person in charge on the ground sufficient authority to deal with the unexpected.if you employ a 'customer service manager', then give him permission to do whatever needs doing to diffuse a situation like this. That the CEO had to get involved says this cost a LOT more than $800.