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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Will airline service ever be great again?

    The "back of the bus" has turned into the back of the plane — with discrimination based on class, social status… and money. When airlines sell more seats than a plane will hold, they're allowed to force one paid passenger to give up a seat to another.

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    By Warren Olney • Apr 14, 2017 • 1 min read

    The "back of the bus" has turned into the back of the plane — with discrimination based on class, social status… and money. When airlines sell more seats than a plane will hold, they're allowed to force one paid passenger to give up a seat to another.

    Video of a doctor dragged screaming down the aisle or United Airlines plane is evidence of an increasingly common practice. And First Class isn't immune. With just four main carriers left because of consolidation, passenger service is a casualty of the drive for profit and America's increased wealth inequality.

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    The flight bumping heard around 'round the world
    1. 1:22Vote could edge Turkey closer to dictatorship
    2. 7:57Will airline service ever be great again?You’re reading this
    3. 41:04InfoWars and the politics of health conspiracies
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Sáša Woodruff

      Producer, 'To the Point'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Evan George

      Director of Content, News

    • KCRW placeholder

      David Lazarus

      consumer columnist at the LA Times

    • KCRW placeholder

      William McGee

      Consumer Reports

    • KCRW placeholder

      Brett Snyder

      Cranky Flier

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    The flight bumping heard around 'round the world
    1. 1:22Vote could edge Turkey closer to dictatorship
    2. 7:57Will airline service ever be great again?You’re reading this
    3. 41:04InfoWars and the politics of health conspiracies
    Back to To the Point