I am booking over the phone because the web site won't always give me the itinerary I want esp. when it involves a flight from LH. I could not book at first because someone else is paying for the trip and I needed their consent. I am more than happy to have a supervisor see the notes and I would welcome them listening to the recording.

And I wrote that an agent was booking the itinerary I wanted until my phone died. I just don't understand why any agent, much less 2 on the 1K line, could not book me what I asked for.

But I was sufficiently frustrated that I did use united.com and this time it worked. Gave me the flights I wanted at the price originally quoted (actually 10 cents more). Still doesn't exonerate the agents who had to assert their superior knowledge.