No more tickets on hold allowed on United.com. - Page 4

whakojacko · May 30, 09, 9:12 am

This is a serious loss. These holds are definitely NOT replaced by the 24 hour cancellation policy for reasons mentioned above (eg ticketing with vouchers). UA is now going to have to spend a lot of extra resources ticketing those since people have to give their whole itin instead of just the pnr#

Fredd · May 30, 09, 9:18 am

UA seems to have pulled a classic politician-style Friday night news-dump with this enhancement.

bmvaughn · May 30, 09, 9:23 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by trekwars2000

That brings up a great point - so how do you ticket these now?

Now you have to tie up web support to have them build the itinerary you want and put it on hold so you can go to the airport and turn in the vouchers

OR

Now you have to tie up ticketing staff at the airport, showing up with no held itinerary and having them build it for you.

Either way, it seems like United just increased their expenses.

Fredd · May 30, 09, 9:25 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmvaughn

Now you have to tie up web support to have them build the itinerary you want and put it on hold so you can go to the airport and turn in the vouchers

OR

Now you have to tie up ticketing staff at the airport, showing up with no held itinerary and having them build it for you.

Either way, it seems like United just increased their expenses.

So it seems. Sort of a lose-lose situation.

And not everybody, of course, lives next door to the nearest airport with a UA counter.

dlwalt · May 30, 09, 9:26 am

This is crazy. I use this all the time to book biz travel and then confirm with my appts.

bmvaughn · May 30, 09, 9:28 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fredd

So it seems. Sort of a lose-lose situation.

And not everybody, of course, lives next door to the nearest airport with a UA counter.

Agreed, this means you'll need to take up Web Support time to build the itin, then use ticket by mail.

FWIW, I called Web Support and was told that it was disabled.

ccharles · May 30, 09, 9:28 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by FightingIlliniUAL

Just sent a complaint via Twitter to UnitedAirlines, following up by contacting customer support.

The Twitter idea is a good one, thanks. I've flown UA since 1979 and I think this will be the first time I've actually complained to them about a policy change, but this one is huge! Many of the posts here are about vouchers, but it's important for regular ticketing as well.

mh3265a · May 30, 09, 9:31 am

This is very very unfortunate. I ran into this problem last night and chalked it up to a technical glitch. This thread confirms my worst suspicions. Seems United from charging for mileage upgrades to deleting this function is moving more towards the CO model of doing business. Not necessarily bad but I'm not sure they've weighed the cost-benefit appropriately.

Further, it's unfortunate that FTs didn't get some sort of warning that the function would be removed. Not a good PR move.

treyrox · May 30, 09, 9:35 am

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8900/4.6.1.231 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

I use the hold feature regulalrly. Bad move UA

dfreeman02 · May 30, 09, 9:41 am

I use hold all the time to book mixed-class itineraries (e.g. W outbound, H return) that .bomb can't build. Hold the itinerary in some form, call reservations to change the booking classes, and then buy online to avoid the reservation fee and get the Chase EQM. This is going to make life more difficult!

camachinist · May 30, 09, 9:42 am

So, what is the merchant fee UA pays for credit card transactions (purchases and refunds)?

Methinks FT'ers could send a little message....

hobo13 · May 30, 09, 9:44 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by JetAway

I suspect they are simply following CO's procedures. CO eliminated the "hold" and switched to the 24 hour cancel process awhile back.

Ah, so United is just preparing for the eventual takeover by CO. Now I understand their logic.....

zrs70 · May 30, 09, 9:46 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by hobo13

Ah, so United is just preparing for the eventual takeover by CO. Now I understand their logic.....

Yes, but Continental.com allows multi class bookings!

cbrown5294 · May 30, 09, 9:47 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by dfreeman02

I use hold all the time to book mixed-class itineraries (e.g. W outbound, H return) that .bomb can't build. Hold the itinerary in some form, call reservations to change the booking classes, and then buy online to avoid the reservation fee and get the Chase EQM. This is going to make life more difficult!

Same here....now that is just more $$$ for them having to call and do it

I forsee alot of $25 charges for my future credit card bills

bk3day · May 30, 09, 9:51 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by whakojacko

This is a serious loss. These holds are definitely NOT replaced by the 24 hour cancellation policy for reasons mentioned above (eg ticketing with vouchers). UA is now going to have to spend a lot of extra resources ticketing those since people have to give their whole itin instead of just the pnr#

That's the basis on my email to 1KVoice.

I decided to not complain right off but instead I decided to play "dumb" and took the position that it must be a glitch and told them without the Hold feature I was unable to book my trip, use a paper voucher and use TBM.

I asked them to explain, how to complete this purchase without a Hold feature

I look forward to their reply.

Of course, the next email will be a major complaint about the increased difficulties and barriers to ticketing United flights. (no more refares, etc)