United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - How to get compensation for canceled flights?

I've had three flights outright canceled in the last two months, where I had to take a different airline to get home. In the past, United would give me some kind of compensation for this or less bad events (usually a $350 domestic certificate, which always seemed weird when the problem was on an international flight, but is better than nothing).

Pre-merger, I used to submit requests for compensation on the web site. However, more recently I have tried the "MileagePlus > MileagePlus Service Center > Contact MileagePlus > email MileagePlus" option on the web page, and I get automated email saying someone from United will contact me, but nothing beyond that. I've also tried http://united.com/appreciation, and there I don't even get the automated email and just never hear back. Is there some other way to get compensation, or is this just not something United does any more.

Pre-merger, we would hear stories of $350 vouchers given out for broken entertainment systems, which is maybe excessive. However, I think it's reasonable to expect some compensation for non-weather-related cancellations. "Operations" shouldn't be a legitimate excuse when other airlines are operating just fine, and mechanical failure should never be excusable. A canceled flight is a significant inconvenience. If one can't get rebooked the same day, one can incur additional taxi fees or miss another flight on a different airline the next day, and miss important events. Moreover, a walk-up fare on another airline to get home is often more expensive than the value of the canceled United leg. Today, I couldn't even find a last-minute flight to SFO. I ended up flying to SJC, costing me a nearly $200 taxi fare!

To be fair, United always offers some kind of alternative, but it's usually a different routing that adds a stop-over, not to mention getting me home significantly later. Given how insanely unlucky I've been, I just don't want to risk getting stranded at a stop-over location again, particularly if I have an early morning flight the next day. (I already experienced an unwanted night in FRA last month...)

On a related note, I may not qualify for 1K next year because of this. Even though I'll likely end up having booked 100K miles on United, about 10K of those miles were on canceled flights for which I ended up taking a different carrier. Anyone else in a similar position? Is there anything I can do about it? Is it a blessing in disguise (less incentive to fly United without SWUs)?

Yes, I remember getting certs.

I also remembers getting emails saying that they were sorry the flight was delayed and would give me a cert. It is safe to assume those days are gone!

I've had three flights outright canceled in the last two months, where I had to take a different airline to get home. In the past, United would give me some kind of compensation for this or less bad events (usually a $350 domestic certificate, which always seemed weird when the problem was on an international flight, but is better than nothing).

Pre-merger, I used to submit requests for compensation on the web site. However, more recently I have tried the "MileagePlus > MileagePlus Service Center > Contact MileagePlus > email MileagePlus" option on the web page, and I get automated email saying someone from United will contact me, but nothing beyond that. I've also tried http://united.com/appreciation, and there I don't even get the automated email and just never hear back. Is there some other way to get compensation, or is this just not something United does any more.

Pre-merger, we would hear stories of $350 vouchers given out for broken entertainment systems, which is maybe excessive. However, I think it's reasonable to expect some compensation for non-weather-related cancellations. "Operations" shouldn't be a legitimate excuse when other airlines are operating just fine, and mechanical failure should never be excusable. A canceled flight is a significant inconvenience. If one can't get rebooked the same day, one can incur additional taxi fees or miss another flight on a different airline the next day, and miss important events. Moreover, a walk-up fare on another airline to get home is often more expensive than the value of the canceled United leg. Today, I couldn't even find a last-minute flight to SFO. I ended up flying to SJC, costing me a nearly $200 taxi fare!

To be fair, United always offers some kind of alternative, but it's usually a different routing that adds a stop-over, not to mention getting me home significantly later. Given how insanely unlucky I've been, I just don't want to risk getting stranded at a stop-over location again, particularly if I have an early morning flight the next day. (I already experienced an unwanted night in FRA last month...)

On a related note, I may not qualify for 1K next year because of this. Even though I'll likely end up having booked 100K miles on United, about 10K of those miles were on canceled flights for which I ended up taking a different carrier. Anyone else in a similar position? Is there anything I can do about it? Is it a blessing in disguise (less incentive to fly United without SWUs)?

They still use the appreciation.com site but you need a cert # to put in. Only pmUA flights have these

I've had three flights outright canceled in the last two months, where I had to take a different airline to get home. In the past, United would give me some kind of compensation for this or less bad events (usually a $350 domestic certificate, which always seemed weird when the problem was on an international flight, but is better than nothing).

Pre-merger, I used to submit requests for compensation on the web site. However, more recently I have tried the "MileagePlus > MileagePlus Service Center > Contact MileagePlus > email MileagePlus" option on the web page, and I get automated email saying someone from United will contact me, but nothing beyond that. I've also tried http://united.com/appreciation, and there I don't even get the automated email and just never hear back. Is there some other way to get compensation, or is this just not something United does any more.

Pre-merger, we would hear stories of $350 vouchers given out for broken entertainment systems, which is maybe excessive. However, I think it's reasonable to expect some compensation for non-weather-related cancellations. "Operations" shouldn't be a legitimate excuse when other airlines are operating just fine, and mechanical failure should never be excusable. A canceled flight is a significant inconvenience. If one can't get rebooked the same day, one can incur additional taxi fees or miss another flight on a different airline the next day, and miss important events. Moreover, a walk-up fare on another airline to get home is often more expensive than the value of the canceled United leg. Today, I couldn't even find a last-minute flight to SFO. I ended up flying to SJC, costing me a nearly $200 taxi fare!

To be fair, United always offers some kind of alternative, but it's usually a different routing that adds a stop-over, not to mention getting me home significantly later. Given how insanely unlucky I've been, I just don't want to risk getting stranded at a stop-over location again, particularly if I have an early morning flight the next day. (I already experienced an unwanted night in FRA last month...)

On a related note, I may not qualify for 1K next year because of this. Even though I'll likely end up having booked 100K miles on United, about 10K of those miles were on canceled flights for which I ended up taking a different carrier. Anyone else in a similar position? Is there anything I can do about it? Is it a blessing in disguise (less incentive to fly United without SWUs)?

Never mind compensation, United should just endorse your ticket!

I've had three flights outright canceled in the last two months, where I had to take a different airline to get home. In the past, United would give me some kind of compensation for this or less bad events (usually a $350 domestic certificate, which always seemed weird when the problem was on an international flight, but is better than nothing).

Pre-merger, I used to submit requests for compensation on the web site. However, more recently I have tried the "MileagePlus > MileagePlus Service Center > Contact MileagePlus > email MileagePlus" option on the web page, and I get automated email saying someone from United will contact me, but nothing beyond that. I've also tried http://united.com/appreciation, and there I don't even get the automated email and just never hear back. Is there some other way to get compensation, or is this just not something United does any more.

Pre-merger, we would hear stories of $350 vouchers given out for broken entertainment systems, which is maybe excessive. However, I think it's reasonable to expect some compensation for non-weather-related cancellations. "Operations" shouldn't be a legitimate excuse when other airlines are operating just fine, and mechanical failure should never be excusable. A canceled flight is a significant inconvenience. If one can't get rebooked the same day, one can incur additional taxi fees or miss another flight on a different airline the next day, and miss important events. Moreover, a walk-up fare on another airline to get home is often more expensive than the value of the canceled United leg. Today, I couldn't even find a last-minute flight to SFO. I ended up flying to SJC, costing me a nearly $200 taxi fare!

To be fair, United always offers some kind of alternative, but it's usually a different routing that adds a stop-over, not to mention getting me home significantly later. Given how insanely unlucky I've been, I just don't want to risk getting stranded at a stop-over location again, particularly if I have an early morning flight the next day. (I already experienced an unwanted night in FRA last month...)

On a related note, I may not qualify for 1K next year because of this. Even though I'll likely end up having booked 100K miles on United, about 10K of those miles were on canceled flights for which I ended up taking a different carrier. Anyone else in a similar position? Is there anything I can do about it? Is it a blessing in disguise (less incentive to fly United without SWUs)?

For flights that were cancelled and you flying a different carrier, you need to write the 1K desk and request original routing credit, and you will be credited for the original flights. That should keep your 1K requalification if that is what cause you to miss it.

Never mind compensation, United should just endorse your ticket!

That would be nice, except many employees claim that is not an option (*cough PMCO EWR cough*)

That would be nice, except many employees claim that is not an option (*cough PMCO EWR cough*)

Ugh, seriously!

Was at JFK the other day and something was wrong with the 6:30 JFK-LAX flight. The customer next to me at the UC check in counter was explaining to the agent that he was continuing on to NRT and that he would miss his connection. The lovely agent he was working with (whom I know personally, but will omit her name to protect her) was so gracious and didn't bat an eyelash. She told him she'd push his ticket over to the ANA nonstop. The PMCO agent sitting next to her (who's apparently from EWR to assist for a few months during this whole SHARES conversion) began to berate her saying she couldn't do that. Thankfully the PMUA agent of 30+ years told her to mind her own business, as she was going to take care of a valued 1K member.

God bless those UA agents who still take it upon themselves to do what is right for the customer.

Ugh, seriously!

Was at JFK the other day and something was wrong with the 6:30 JFK-LAX flight. The customer next to me at the UC check in counter was explaining to the agent that he was continuing on to NRT and that he would miss his connection. The lovely agent he was working with (whom I know personally, but will omit her name to protect her) was so gracious and didn't bat an eyelash. She told him she'd push his ticket over to the ANA nonstop. The PMCO agent sitting next to her (who's apparently from EWR to assist for a few months during this whole SHARES conversion) began to berate her saying she couldn't do that. Thankfully the PMUA agent of 30+ years told her to mind her own business, as she was going to take care of a valued 1K member.

God bless those UA agents who still take it upon themselves to do what is right for the customer.

The integration in a nutshell. Reads like an allegorical parable but unfortunately, as we all know, it is true.

Ugh, seriously!

Was at JFK the other day and something was wrong with the 6:30 JFK-LAX flight. The customer next to me at the UC check in counter was explaining to the agent that he was continuing on to NRT and that he would miss his connection. The lovely agent he was working with (whom I know personally, but will omit her name to protect her) was so gracious and didn't bat an eyelash. She told him she'd push his ticket over to the ANA nonstop. The PMCO agent sitting next to her (who's apparently from EWR to assist for a few months during this whole SHARES conversion) began to berate her saying she couldn't do that. Thankfully the PMUA agent of 30+ years told her to mind her own business, as she was going to take care of a valued 1K member.

God bless those UA agents who still take it upon themselves to do what is right for the customer.

And that right there is the difference between UA & CO. OP did not say what kind of tkt the passenger was on but if it was a C/D/F/A, it would be passengers RIGHT to switch tkt. CO will do anything & everything to keep you away from OAL's, regardless of fare, etc.

And that right there is the difference between UA & CO. OP did not say what kind of tkt the passenger was on but if it was a C/D/F/A, it would be passengers RIGHT to switch tkt. CO will do anything & everything to keep you away from OAL's, regardless of fare, etc.

Doesn't even have to be high fare - I've done it on plenty of cheapo economy tix. It's a mindset - it's not that many of these PMCO agents can't, it's that they won't.

Pre-merger, I used to submit requests for compensation on the web site. However, more recently I have tried the "MileagePlus > MileagePlus Service Center > Contact MileagePlus > email MileagePlus" option on the web page, and I get automated email saying someone from United will contact me, but nothing beyond that. I've also tried http://united.com/appreciation, and there I don't even get the automated email and just never hear back. Is there some other way to get compensation, or is this just not something United does any more.
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Don't waste your time with united.com/appreciation. I've had equally no luck contacting "customer service".

When I contact MP, I have been able to get my CS issues solved to my satisfaction. It might take a couple of weeks via email, but they've responded and been courteous.

The ONLY issue they weren't able to resolve is the "Map your Dreams" promo screw up (I was shorted 15k miles). They were polite and said that I had to call in to get it resolved. I have still to do that.

Well, surprise, surprise. United has actually responded to a message I sent to customer service via their web site, about two months after I sent the mail from this web page:

MileagePlus > MileagePlus Service Center > Contact MileagePlus > email MileagePlus

Even more surprisingly, the compensation is a lot better than I expected. This was for getting stranded for the night in FRA when a 747 failed, and I'm quite pleased that the certificate is not restricted to domestic travel. (I never understood why domestic travel was considered reasonable compensation for international failures.) Not only that, but these are multi-use certificates, so if I use only part of the value on a cheap domestic ticket, I can use the remainder on another ticket.

Now, in response to a different canceled flight, for which I had to book a flight on B6 to get home in time for another (United) flight early the next morning, the telephone agents absolutely refused to give me PQM credit for my original routing. However, I sent a request via the web site, so maybe that will work out.

I was getting very annoyed at all the flight cancellations I experienced. I still feel a bit nervous counting on United to get me somewhere reliably, but I feel much better towards United now that they have actually responded and offered some reasonable compensation. Now I hope I can somehow get those PQM, as this increases my desire to be 1K again next year...