Fare $250 higher when trying to use flight credit!
May 17, 2015, 1:35 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Houston
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Posts: 14
Fare $250 higher when trying to use flight credit!
So I tried to book a flight from DEN to IAH on United.com with credit from a cancelled reservation and noticed that the First Class fare I was being quoted was $250 higher (plus the $200 change fee) than if I booked it without the credit. Its bad enough with a change fee but to charge a higher fare also? What gives?
May 17, 2015, 1:51 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Avis First, Hertz PC
Posts: 575
Oops, editing my response.
I've seen this before. Best way around it is to find the itinerary you want, price it out, then call to purchase (and ask to use the previous flight credit after the agent has priced the ticket).
You can get fancy and try to hold the new itinerary with the paypal trick or with farelock, then call, but it is usually not necessary.
I've seen this before. Best way around it is to find the itinerary you want, price it out, then call to purchase (and ask to use the previous flight credit after the agent has priced the ticket).
You can get fancy and try to hold the new itinerary with the paypal trick or with farelock, then call, but it is usually not necessary.
May 17, 2015, 2:02 am
#3
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Yes it's a known error. It's also a DOT violation.
Usually takes an assist from web support to book at the correct price.
Usually takes an assist from web support to book at the correct price.
May 17, 2015, 9:04 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Houston
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Posts: 14
I spoke with two different agents and they quoted me the higher fare even as I tried to tell them its cheaper on the reservation page! Ill try web support next time.
I ended up just booking economy which strangely enough had the correct fare. My remaining balance became an ETC so it should not be an issue in the future.
Not a good way to keep customers United!!!
I ended up just booking economy which strangely enough had the correct fare. My remaining balance became an ETC so it should not be an issue in the future.
Not a good way to keep customers United!!!
May 17, 2015, 9:16 am
#5
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Yes, that's why you typically have to ask for web support. The phone agents do not see the united.com interface that you get running a clean search; they're getting the same faulty feed that you are in this situation. And they are typically unaware of the problem and act as if you're just making stuff up.
May 17, 2015, 9:26 am
#6
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I think we should also start reporting these things directly to [email protected] and include "Bug Bounty Submission" in the subject line. " If they keep getting the same report from us, they might take it more seriously.
May 17, 2015, 10:18 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2012
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I think we should also start reporting these things directly to [email protected] and include "Bug Bounty Submission" in the subject line. " If they keep getting the same report from us, they might take it more seriously.
In the other list, are the bugs which make UA money - bugs like this higher fare for applying ETCs or the famous bait and switch online upgrade offers that price low and charge the credit card at a multiple of the offer. These bugs seem to be cherished by UA's savvy management.
Who knows, they might even be tied into the executive bonus formulas, at least indirectly?
May 17, 2015, 10:38 am
#8
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So I tried to book a flight from DEN to IAH on United.com with credit from a cancelled reservation and noticed that the First Class fare I was being quoted was $250 higher (plus the $200 change fee) than if I booked it without the credit. Its bad enough with a change fee but to charge a higher fare also? What gives?
May 17, 2015, 11:06 am
#9
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I think we should also start reporting these things directly to [email protected] and include "Bug Bounty Submission" in the subject line. " If they keep getting the same report from us, they might take it more seriously.
May 17, 2015, 11:47 am
#10
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It's more complicated than that. I've run into this problem on long-haul itineraries with no possibility of an UP issue.
May 17, 2015, 12:12 pm
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,188
Do you work for free??
I think we should also start reporting these things directly to [email protected] and include "Bug Bounty Submission" in the subject line. " If they keep getting the same report from us, they might take it more seriously.
May 17, 2015, 12:53 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Colorado
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Posts: 551
I think we should also start reporting these things directly to [email protected] and include "Bug Bounty Submission" in the subject line. " If they keep getting the same report from us, they might take it more seriously.
May 17, 2015, 12:54 pm
#13
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Thought it odd at the time, but didn't follow up.
May 17, 2015, 2:18 pm
#14
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Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,963
You are proud of your no-status with UA ("Programs: UA no status and proud of it") but for those of us who have high status, it is a relationship and we do want to have problems in the relationship fixed.
It also says "Bugs on customer-facing websites..." and I certainly view it as "issues that affect the confidentiality, integrity and/or availability of customer or company information" as it does not compute the fare correctly for the customer and can subject UA to DOT fines.
Only those big security defects get awards though.
Definitely.
May 17, 2015, 8:47 pm
#15
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,396
I picture a master log of all the IT bugs up in Willis Tower. These are divided in two. In one list, are the bugs which cost UA money, like $5 TATL fares. These are given top priority for fixing.
In the other list, are the bugs which make UA money - bugs like this higher fare for applying ETCs or the famous bait and switch online upgrade offers that price low and charge the credit card at a multiple of the offer. These bugs seem to be cherished by UA's savvy management.
Who knows, they might even be tied into the executive bonus formulas, at least indirectly?
In the other list, are the bugs which make UA money - bugs like this higher fare for applying ETCs or the famous bait and switch online upgrade offers that price low and charge the credit card at a multiple of the offer. These bugs seem to be cherished by UA's savvy management.
Who knows, they might even be tied into the executive bonus formulas, at least indirectly?
As far as I'm concerned the only way to stop this sort of thing is to make bugs that steal money subject to a considerable multiplier in the penalty. For example, the recent lawsuit about entertainment purchases on international flights--the government should have looked at how many sales there were on such flights in say the last 3 years, the fine is 10x this amount.
