UA 1551 LAX-IAD 7-Jun-2012 - FC Oversold by 2
Jun 8, 2012, 12:23 pm
#16
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,129
Given I've been downgraded with no compensation, yes, I'd probably be happy with the $500. I wouldn't be thrilled with a transcon middle, but hey, I've been stuck there before due to irrops.
Jun 8, 2012, 2:49 pm
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: JAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold MM, Marriott LTT, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,770
I thought the offer for $500 was decent, especially hearing stories of all the downgrades without compensation.
I was surprised that they actually solicited volunteers and not just selected 2 passengers for downgrade.
I think the automatic upgrade for Y/B and maybe M is part of the problem creating oversold FC. Heck if UA still kept the upgrade with instruments, then there would not likely be any issue.
Since most flights I've been on had upgrades processed at the gate, I was surprised that all upgrades were already in place a couple of days before flight and they oversold. It appears the system handled this flight poorly.
I booked my flight a week ago and was only able to select middle seat exit row. So, yes I would have been OK with volunteering for downgrade for $500.
I was surprised that they actually solicited volunteers and not just selected 2 passengers for downgrade.
I think the automatic upgrade for Y/B and maybe M is part of the problem creating oversold FC. Heck if UA still kept the upgrade with instruments, then there would not likely be any issue.
Since most flights I've been on had upgrades processed at the gate, I was surprised that all upgrades were already in place a couple of days before flight and they oversold. It appears the system handled this flight poorly.
I booked my flight a week ago and was only able to select middle seat exit row. So, yes I would have been OK with volunteering for downgrade for $500.
Jun 8, 2012, 3:00 pm
#18
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 6km East of EPAYE
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,582
Jun 8, 2012, 3:56 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,719
Jun 8, 2012, 4:04 pm
#20
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
My 82-year-old mother-in-law was flying DCA-IAH-SEA in F this past Wednesday and on the first leg was involuntarily downgraded to a middle seat in Y. This despite her showing up at the airport with F BPs in hand. Not a hint of compensation and when she got to SEA she wasn't clear on exactly what had happened to her. I am virtually certain the DCA gate agent picked out the F passenger least likely to fight back and disadvantaged her.
http://airconsumer.dot.gov/problems.htm
use the one for age discrimination.
Jun 8, 2012, 5:36 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: ua mm, aa plat, starriott LTPP, ihg plat, hh gold.
Posts: 13,017
Jun 8, 2012, 6:19 pm
#23
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: UA-1K, Hertz-Gold, Marriott-Gold, PC-Platinum, SPG
Posts: 2,777
It happened to me due to change of equipment, sCO 753 to 752 with BF seats. I, along with three other elites, got downgraded for $250 voucher (IAH-LAX). The funny thing is, when the door was about to close, the red coat came in and told us who got the downgrade (seated in the same row) there was one seat available in F, but we had to give the voucher back. No takers! I guess the free upgrade worth less than $250 
Jun 8, 2012, 6:24 pm
#24
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: JHW
Programs: United Premier 1K, GE/Nexus, Hertz Pres Circle, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Holiday Inn Plat
Posts: 462
Battleship LOL this as comical as The numbers the movie Did in theaters.
Jun 8, 2012, 7:26 pm
#26
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, UA Platinum, Alaksa MVP 75K, Air Berlin Gold, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,389
I think the general consensus is that if downgraded from F to Y on a complimentary upgrade, United isn't technically obligated to provide compensation, but a decent/good GA would realize the disservice and offer compensation as goodwill.