Is this a case of overbooking? Everything that I've read says that United removed 4 seated passengers to make room for staff. That's not overbooking, that's a mistake made by United. On any normal night, loyal customers would pay for United's mistake by being hugely inconvenienced, missing weddings or funerals, and being stuck in a random city for an extra night. It didn't work out this time.

I don't think we should be calling it overbooking, despite what United claims. All reports indicate that EVERY passenger was boarded and seated. United decided to fuck over 4 people because of their logistical mistake (staff not being where they're needed).

Overbooking is sort of understandable. This is United fucking up and forcing customers to pay for that fuck up, as usual.