joshwex90

I'm still confused as what the purpose of the miles was. Can one use MP miles or Amex points to pay for E+ or to pay for a flight change?

sbm12

You could charge the transaction to an AmEx and then pay the AmEx bill with points. Otherwise, no.

ETA: Even paying for a new award ticket rather than a new cash ticket or changing the original cash ticket it is hard for me to believe that 60k points + $498 is the correct rate. A one-way to UK would be ~$100 in fees (assuming close-in booking charge on Standard Award) and a r/t would be ~$300 (APD, PFCs, booking fee) for a saver Y award. Maybe a r/t plus E+ seat assignment fees the r/t flight comes to $500ish in fees plus the 60k points??

notquiteaff

IANAL, but is it typical that lawyers are so sloppy with facts such as dates (wrong year) and "Amex MP miles"?

COSPILOT

Rich kid and her attorney parents, plus her legal counsel should fact check a little before filing the linked filing. So many holes, where to begin??? American Express MileagePlus? Doesn't exist, the relationship is with Chase, although you can use American Express points for virtually anything, however MileagePlus is not affiliated with American Express. She was downgraded back to Economy Plus, as 21B is an Exit Row seat with extra legroom and considered part of E+. Downgrades, while rare, do happen and the last to get the upgrade is the first to be moved back if a FAM needs the seat for example, or at least that is what I have experienced. Did she receive a refund of her upgrade amount to 1B? Did she bother to call UA to request a refund? With regard to language used by any United Employee; not once have I encountered this, even when I have been confrontational because of a disagreement with staff.

laxmillenial

And multiple typos in the summons...

Is it strange that the ETC is issued the day after the flight? If it was an 8PM flight, wouldn't the ETC be issued the same day (10 Sept)?

findark

Allegedly no, and UA ignored requests (all emphasis original):

Maybe it was issued in LHR? Based on carrier data from the screenshot and the phone's date it would seem that she flew the flight and only took a picture of her 1B boarding pass after arriving in LHR. But this does contradict plaintiff's story as to the voucher being offered on the ground in EWR.

hughw

We're all parsing some inconsistencies and perhaps misstatements in the newspaper, but its' more than obvious from the exhibits attached to the complaint that at the very least, UA screwed this young woman by taking $1,149 in cash from her at check-in and then instead of refunding it with the downgrade, gave her a $750 voucher. I'd be pretty pissed if it was me, disregarding the alleged vulgar name calling and physical handling.

pruss2ny

I'm still stuck on the $500 and nearly 60k AMEX/mileage plus to "upgrade" to e+....

Is it possible that this stretch of reality wasn't an "upgrade to E+", but rather the change fee and new ticket price difference to change her flight from 9/5 to 9/10 depart? and that in the process she was booked into E+? wagering that she "paid" for the tix change and diff in fare (in all ~$500) using AMEX points, and is double-claiming the charge for the sake of the suit...

notquiteaff

We are parsing the mistakes and inconsistencies in the court filing.

And whether UA screwed this woman out of $1149 is a claim that isn't proven yet, as far as I can tell.

Surprised there was no exhibit proving the attempts to request a refund that the lawsuit alludes to.

garykung

Allow me to show how many defects in this complaint:

1. Who cares if Plaintiff graduated from Columbia? Irrelevant.

2. It is "King's College" at London, United Kingdom. Does the lawyer mean London, KY?

3. UA only operates in Queens. But filing a complaint at Manhattan court? Also, the flight was EWR-LHR, which EWR is located in New Jeresy. Why would a New York State Court in Manhattan has jurisdiction for issues in New Jeresy, or a defendant doing business in Queens?

4. First Cause - nothing was mentioned how intentional UA was.

5. Second Cause - Preempted by federal law.

6. Third Cause - Although UA bears the burden of proof, was she really a "c**t" or not?

7. Fifth Cause - Preempted by federal law.

8. Sixth Cause - Unjust enrichment is NOT a cause of action.

The outcome of this lawsuit? Dismissal without prejudice (lack of jurisdiction).

abk

I think your right; however it may be that she had enough points to cover all ( change fee, fare difference and seating in economy plus) but $500 which she paid in cash. It was probably stated this way because she never went out of pocket for the portion paid with points although to United it would appear to be a cash sale.

As to the lawyers or would be lawyers in the crowd, under notice pleading I can't imagine this complaint being thrown out on those grounds.

FlyngSvyr

I smell so much BS with this complaint. To many of the more seasoned travelers on FT, this is a clear downgrade situation (reasons unknown). We can all speculate on the situation and the reasons, but the real info will not come out unless there is a trial.

Since everything reported so far has been a one sided story, it is entirely possible that MANY facts are being left out by the plaintiff, as they would not support her cause. Unless she has corroborating witnesses for some of the allegations, much of the complaint reads as puffery.

I was watching a news story the other day & the commentator was saying that although Dr Dao was going to receive a large settlement, UA would not go to the moon because it would give others the impression that UA was a pinata that they could hit and money would come out.

Well, this young lady is just taking her swing to see what she can get.

exerda

Yeah, $500 + points for E+?!

Which would have been refunded FWIW with a buy up to C, albeit sometimes only after prodding UA.

Wouldn't be the first time an agent tried to police this and make the airline look bad if true.

TominLazybrook

Tough luck for UA. They've been playing this game for years. And it was for a friggin' UA employee too.

I hope UA loses this case too.

FlyngSvyr

Where did you get that it was for a UA employee?? I have not read or seen that anywhere.