I just recently returned from a three week business trip in Asia. My return flight originated in Manila on an ANA flight, connecting in Tokyo to a United flight to SFO. I was schedueld for a two hour layover in Tokyo, which should have been fine considering that ANA and United are both Star Alliance partners.

Unfortunately we departed Manila about 45 minutes late. ANA then took it upon themsleves to cancel my United connection and rebooked me on an ANA flight about an hour later. The hour delay was not the real problem, except that we landed in Tokyo and the United flight was still there. The United gate crew said they would have allowed us on except that ANA had canceled the ticket. ANA of course said they were required to do so because there wasn't enough time to transfer luggage, etc. United said that wasn't true.

So, I ended up on the ANA flight an hour later. The real problem was that I was originally in a United Economy Plus aisle seat. I'm a rather big guy, so giving up the economy plus legroom for a much smaller ANA seat was painful, but then ANA offered me either a middle seat, or a bulkhead aisle - neither great options (can't stretch your legs out in a bulkhead seat). So much for preferred treatment as a Star Alliance Gold member.

There were about 10 people on the original Manila to Tokyo flight that were in the same boat, plus about handful that were trying to connect to a Tokyo - LAX flight and another handful on a Tokyo - EWR flight, all on United. ANA canceled all the United connetions and put everyone on ANA flights. Looks like ANA must be hard-up for some additional revenue. I go to Asia for business two or three times a year, at least - never again on ANA. They were a nightmare to deal with!