Will.i.am Bounced From United Flight After Arriving 45 Minutes Before Takeoff

Apparently Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.i.am didn't get the message that showing up for an international flight 45 minutes early doesn't leave you nearly enough time to check in and make it through security. Daily Mail reported that United Airlines bounced him from his seat on a New York to China flight after he did just that, and now he's venting his frustrations about the carrier--publicly.
Tweeting to his 12.5M followers, the singer and rapper wrote:
Make sure when you fly to china via @united you get to the airport 1day before because they'll give your seats away pic.twitter.com/2xpLEeXlvx
- will.i.am (@iamwill) October 7, 2014
For the record, United recommends passengers arrive at the airport at least an hour before their departure time. But as any seasoned traveler will tell you, even an hour is probably pushing it. 45 minutes, on the other hand? Good luck, buddy.Plane leave at 1:15 I got to the airport at 12:30...@united is the worse...I should have learned from the last @united experience
- will.i.am (@iamwill) October 7, 2014
That would be a reference to an incident at United's Global First Lounge earlier this year, where he was removed after a staffer suspected he was carrying a phony membership card.Will.i.am, whose real name is William Adams, also tweeted that other airlines, including Qantas, Korean Air, and Air Singapore all wait for premium passengers and don't give away customers' seats.
Twitter's response to Adams' experience was generally sympathetic. Except for this user:
@iamwill@united don't be so spoiled.....45 mins b4 a transatlantic flight due to leave is not enough..needs to be 1 hr 30 mins!
- Mhairi Hay (@Mhairi72) October 7, 2014