The change comes after a passenger, Dr. David Dao, was dragged from a fully-booked United Express flight in Chicago because he refused to give up his seat to make room for crew members.
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Cellphone video of the incident sparked widespread outrage and created a public-relations nightmare for United.
VIDEO: United Airlines passenger dragged off overcrowded flight
Under the change outlined in an internal email dated April 14, a crew member must make must-ride bookings at least 60 minutes prior to departure.
Previously, the crew could be booked until the time of departure.
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United spokeswoman Maggie Schmerin said in an email Sunday that the change is an initial step in a review of policies, and it's meant to ensure that situations like Dao's never happen again.
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