is there a name for this behaviour? Moved to less desirable flight 2 mos out
Jan 13, 2016, 10:12 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 10
is there a name for this behaviour? Moved to less desirable flight 2 mos out
Booked first class ticket (8 months before flight) and had seats assigned (we were one of the first ones) on direct United flight (the only one daily from Edmonton to Houston).
Husband randomly checked reservation (still 2 months away) and we have been moved to a much earlier, non-direct flight. The original flight still exists (never changed) and first class is now full! Someone has ?bumped ?manouevred us off this flight onto another inferior and inconvenient flight. No notice from United. Phoned agent - "can't explain it". Told to contact customer services.
Has anyone else had this happen??? What is it called? And can anything be done about it?
Husband randomly checked reservation (still 2 months away) and we have been moved to a much earlier, non-direct flight. The original flight still exists (never changed) and first class is now full! Someone has ?bumped ?manouevred us off this flight onto another inferior and inconvenient flight. No notice from United. Phoned agent - "can't explain it". Told to contact customer services.
Has anyone else had this happen??? What is it called? And can anything be done about it?
Jan 13, 2016, 10:16 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K; *G and *A Top 1000; HHonors Diamond; *$ Gold; Global Entry
Posts: 2,272
is there a name for this behaviour?
Call and ask that you be placed back on the nonstop you had booked and paid for. If the agent cannot make it happen, ask for a refund since the schedule change is unacceptable.
Jan 13, 2016, 10:17 pm
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690
If you have status, call the dedicated line and complain/try to get your original flight back. Keep doing this. As paid first class, they shouldn't do this to you. They shouldn't do it to anyone.
Jan 13, 2016, 10:24 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,157
My guess is that they changed the aircraft to one with less F seats (eg, A320 with 12 to A319 with 8) which means that someone had to be moved.
Still no excuse for not notifying you, but that's something UA isn't exactly well know for being good at...
Still no excuse for not notifying you, but that's something UA isn't exactly well know for being good at...
Jan 13, 2016, 11:16 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
Booked first class ticket (8 months before flight) and had seats assigned (we were one of the first ones) on direct United flight (the only one daily from Edmonton to Houston).
Husband randomly checked reservation (still 2 months away) and we have been moved to a much earlier, non-direct flight. The original flight still exists (never changed) and first class is now full! Someone has ?bumped ?manouevred us off this flight onto another inferior and inconvenient flight. No notice from United. Phoned agent - "can't explain it". Told to contact customer services.
Has anyone else had this happen??? What is it called? And can anything be done about it?
Husband randomly checked reservation (still 2 months away) and we have been moved to a much earlier, non-direct flight. The original flight still exists (never changed) and first class is now full! Someone has ?bumped ?manouevred us off this flight onto another inferior and inconvenient flight. No notice from United. Phoned agent - "can't explain it". Told to contact customer services.
Has anyone else had this happen??? What is it called? And can anything be done about it?
I would call United, tell them that they have changed what you paid for and in essence bumped you, and they either give you back your seats on this flight or you are filing a complaint with the Aviation Consumer Protection United of the US department of transportation.
They should give you back your seats, and if not, file a complaint, and let DOT have them explain themselves. Link is here: https://www.transportation.gov/airco...umer-complaint
Jan 13, 2016, 11:21 pm
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
Is there a Canadian government agency that would have regulatory powers too? Those rules might be more generous than the remedies required by the USA DOT.
Jan 14, 2016, 12:31 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,115
Any chance this is a flight that might be canceled or downsized to less than daily service? This sounds suspiciously like a flight that will soon be canceled and disappear, but it takes a few days to work through the system.
If I look into the fall, it looks like this (YEG-IAH) goes to 5x/week vs daily now. Given the oil-nature of a route like this, it wouldn't be too difficult to see this dropping to less than daily sooner; maybe you're just on the wrong day.
If I look into the fall, it looks like this (YEG-IAH) goes to 5x/week vs daily now. Given the oil-nature of a route like this, it wouldn't be too difficult to see this dropping to less than daily sooner; maybe you're just on the wrong day.
Jan 14, 2016, 5:05 am
#9
Suspended
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Just outside Big D, or many other places in big metal tubes
Programs: WN Rpd.Rwrds, AA, was longtime CO very top Elite tier, Overentitled UA Lifetime 1K (since 2012)
Posts: 1,334
Crazy they would move you to an earlier flight without communication with you.
It looks like UA alternates between Airbus 320 and 737 -800 on different days for that NS.
What aircraft were you booked on ? It really should not matter, as they switched your flights without your authorization.
It looks like UA alternates between Airbus 320 and 737 -800 on different days for that NS.
What aircraft were you booked on ? It really should not matter, as they switched your flights without your authorization.
Jan 14, 2016, 7:20 am
#11
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 16
Happened to us too.
This is just the case that we went thru with United. I calledand
they tried to find us another flight that would work for us. We could not agree on other flights. I got them to refund all my points and $$$ that I spent on upgraded seats, then re-booked on Delta.
they tried to find us another flight that would work for us. We could not agree on other flights. I got them to refund all my points and $$$ that I spent on upgraded seats, then re-booked on Delta.
Jan 14, 2016, 7:25 am
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
That's good but it isn't a complete solution in that fares on DL have probably gone up since you first booked your flight. Plus, if you had wanted to fly DL, you would have purchased a ticket on DL from the beginning.
Jan 14, 2016, 8:16 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
Yeah, pretty crappy behavior on United's part.
This wasn't just moving them to an earlier flight. They moved them to an early flight and changed their direct flight to an itinerary with a connection.
Typically, the direct flights are more expensive. Bait and Switch is the correct term for this crap. DOT complaint should be made.
This wasn't just moving them to an earlier flight. They moved them to an early flight and changed their direct flight to an itinerary with a connection.
Typically, the direct flights are more expensive. Bait and Switch is the correct term for this crap. DOT complaint should be made.
Jan 14, 2016, 8:21 am
#14
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Moreland Hills (CLE)
Programs: Over-entitled UA 1.3MM Gold, AA Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott L-T Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 5,521
Recently booked this weekend for ORD-DFW-IAH. F/F
UA, without email noticed moved me to ORD-IAH in F.
ORD-DFW and DFW-IAH flights still present and Y9.
Loss of a few hundred PQMs, but the ORD-IAH flight is a 763 with intl J config.
More time in ORD and IAH for lounge hopping.
UA, without email noticed moved me to ORD-IAH in F.
ORD-DFW and DFW-IAH flights still present and Y9.
Loss of a few hundred PQMs, but the ORD-IAH flight is a 763 with intl J config.
More time in ORD and IAH for lounge hopping.
Jan 14, 2016, 8:24 am
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
So are you happy about the change or not?
I still think UA should have asked before changing your flight.
I still think UA should have asked before changing your flight.