I was flying SEA-SFO-LAX which encountered weather delays, and so I went on standby for the SEA-LAX direct, which left at the same time. I was #1 on the list as 1K, and so they had tagged my bag & everything, and loaded it onto the direct flight anticipating that I'd clear.

However, I was working with the UA Express CSR for the standby, when the UA CSR came over from the SEA-SFO desk, and told the UAX CSR that she transferred 4 people going SEA-SFO-SYD to SEA-LAX-SYD, and that she was not to deboard those people. As it happened, I notice that these 4 were general members, and that the SFO-SYD flight departs roughly the same time as SFO-LAX, and so it ended up being me missing my SFO-LAX connection because they got on the plane ahead of me.

I'm pretty pissed off @ the whole situation, especially since the SYD and LAX flights are so close together, that UA CSR must have known I was going to miss my connection, and still put those other 4 ahead of me. Is there some rule or policy that puts int'l connections ahead of 1K domestic connections?


[edit for more info]
Umm, I wouldn't be bringing the issue up had I not had an overnight delay. As it stands, EVERYONE involved was going to be stranded overnight, and yes, I spent the night at the lovely Red Roof Inn SFO...

As for the 24hour overnight delay vs. my 10hr overnight delay, is time the only criteria for 'inconvenience'? They were vacationing to SYD. I got 4 hours of sleep, missed my morning client meeting, and am now going to miss my afternoon meeting b/c UA also lost my bag in all of this. So yes... who's really more inconvenienced? Vacationers that could've slept for 10 hours & hung out in SF, or someone thats now going to miss 2 client meetings?


If not, what kind of compensation can I ask for? I'm assuming this would be similar to IDB rules?