Overbooking airline seats should be outlawed

On my way to Miami I got stuck for nearly two days in Newark thanks to poor management by United Airlines (read the full article on flying their “friendly” skies here). I usually enjoy hanging out at the airport, but two days on seven dollar meal vouchers is, even for me, too much. If I have a choice in future I won’t fly United again as we seem to have an ongoing difference of opinion on what “friendly” means. But after spending significant time in their departure lounges waiting for non-existing planes, stewardesses, pilots and first officers there’s one other thing that stuck with me: the screens and announcements informing paying passengers on nearly every flight “This flight is overbooked.”

In every departure lounge there was what resembled a bidding war going on by the airline, trying to pay people to get off the plane. Offers started as low as 50 bucks. They would make announcements over the intercom, “This flight is overbooked. We’ll start with $50.” It sounded like an auction.…