United Airlines has changed its rule on commuting employees boarding its flights while not on duty after an incident which saw a passenger dragged off an overbooked flight in Chicago.
CNN reported on Saturday that crew members and staff taking a United flight to get to another city for work will be required to check in one hour before departure.
This is meant to prevent ticketed passengers being asked to leave the plane after having taken their seats, a United spokeswoman told CNN.
The incident on Sunday on a flight preparing to leave Chicago's O'Hare International Airport has sparked widespread outrage, calls for congressional hearings and a petition urging the airline's chief executive to resign despite apologising to the passenger, his family and passengers on the flight.
The passenger in question was one of several chosen at random to leave the flight. His lawyer Thomas Demetrio said David Dao suffered a concussion, a broken nose, and lost two teeth.
A lawsuit has not been filed, but Demetrio has indicated one is forthcoming.
The airline also has refunded passengers the cost of their tickets, a spokesman for United told dpa.
The incident has prompted a US congressman to propose legislation to prohibit airlines from forcibly removing passengers from flights to make room for other customers after they have already boarded the plane.
