Originally Posted by
channa
Let's be realistic here. By the time the OP went back to UA or got through to them, and they made the change, and reissued the ticket, you're looking several minutes. With a departure imminent, that may not have been practical.
Maybe, maybe not. If it's a imminent departure, the AS agent probably couldn't complete the purchase anyway without building a new record, process payment, sign the auditor coupon, make seat selection, and issue boarding pass.