I wanted your opinion on whether I am entitled to any compensation.

I flew from Singapore to Seattle via Hong Kong and San Francisco. I was flying on a Business Class ticket and wanted to upgrade to First Class. I was already clreaded to First from SIN-HKG, and the SFO-SEA flight was confirmed in F right from the start.

I had a bit of an issue with the Purser while I was flying from SFO to NRT in F about 4 weeks ago. To cut the long story short, he didn't like the fact that I was young and flying First Class... . He probably also thought I was using my dad's 1K card like all the other FA's were guessing on the flight

I called United about this, and they told me that they would give me CS vouchers. I declined as said that I would much rather be put on the top of the priority list for the upgrade to First class. I had a family friend in F and wanted to join him.

The CS agent agreed that that was a much better solution, and immediately proceeded to call inventory management. He came back and told me that i was on the top of the priority list (ahead of everyone including GS), and that as soon as a seat would come available, I would be the first one to receive it.

I checked for my flight to Hong Kong, and the upgrade still hadn't cleared to San Francisco. I asked the check-in lady whether I was on top priority and she said that she saw the comment from WHQ about my high priority status. When I went to the gate, the gate agent said that same thing and also confirmed that she would send a message to Hong Kong.

As soon as I arrived at the Hong Kong RCC I informed the United agent about the comment in my PNR, and he proceeded to call the check-in desk to inform them of my priority level. I sat down, and 1.5 hours later I proceeded to board - my upgrade still hadn't cleared.

While I was walking to the gate, I received a call from my friend who told me that he wouldn't be able to make the flight, as he still had business to attend to on monday. He asked me whether I had cleared the w/l and I said I hadn't and immediately ran back to the RCC since now a FC seat was empty.

As soon as I arrived at the desk, the agent looked into his computer and found that a GS member had been upgraded before me, even though I was on the top of the priorty waitlist. He started making up stories telling me that the comment didn't say that I was supposed to be ahead of GS members - despite the fact that 1.5 hours before he said that complete opposite. He didn't seem to understand how serious I took this situation, as he proceeded to ignore me and started to make announcements for boarding.

I was calm and friendly throughout the scenario.

I walked over to the gate and asked to speak to the supervisor, to whom I explained everything from the beginning. He told me that Singapore should have sent a mesage, and I told him that they did, and even if they didn't the United rep. at the RCC knew about the note 2 hours and 15 minutes prior to the departure time of the flights (I then went on to inform him that no-shows were only removed from the flight at 12:05pm, and the flight left at 12:40. I knew that my friend had cancelled his reservation at 11:30am and I arrived in HKG at 10:00am.

For the first time ever, I felt that I had to explain to him how loyal I have been to United in the past, and that despite the fact I was treated badly in the past I continued to fly with United. I don' t know if this was a mistake, but I mentioned to him that I had flown over 160'000 miles last year, of which 144'000 were on United.

He became nervous and started to type away on his computer - the three other ladies behind the desk started to get nervous as well. He told me that he would make it up to me the next time, to which I immediately informed him that there won't be a next time.

I told him that I didn't expect him to downgrade the other passenger, but that I expected compensation, an explenation and an apology by the time I arrived in San Francisco. I took my boarding pass and proceeded to the plane.

Once I sat down the gate agent came back to me and apologized again. He informed the Purser and told me that he would sent a message to WHQ. The purser introduced himself and said that he would take "good care of me" on the flight. Needless to say, the FA in my section was rude and I didn't see the Purser once the entire flight. I also didn't receive an apology , an explenation, or compensation once I arrived in SFO.

I spoke to Customer Relations, and all they offered me was a domestic upgrade... . I felt quite insulted and told them how I felt.

I am about to write a letter to Diane Soucy-Bergen (spelling?). It is clear that United has no clue who their loyal customers are.

I don't have a problem with sitting in a Business Class seat. But I do have a problem with being lied to, which is what I felt happened in this particular scenario.

I am also quite disappointed by the fact that I had used a SWU only for a flight from SIN to HKG - granted, it was a risk that I was willing to take, but knowing that someone else was upgraded before me makes the whole situation worse.




What do you think is appropriate for compensation?