Originally Posted by
channa
Why are so many people considering the OP to be in the wrong here? Sure it may be a bug in their system, but its a system the airline controls, and it's been this way for years.
I agree the DOT is over the top, but so is changing the terms or pricing after the fact. Just because air travel is typically booked in advance doesn't give the company additional rights to modify the terms of the transaction. Imagine if the grocery store called and demanded another coupon for a transaction last week.
Clearly even some at United agree, as the follow up call resulted it resorting the upgrade as originally applied.
It's been a long time since I learned about this topic in contract law, but if someone makes a mistaken offer and the recipient of the offer knows it's a mistake, then the recipient can't accept the offer and then enforce the agreement. Of course, this only could matter if this were to be adjudicated as a matter of contract law.