Originally Posted by
zombietooth
In each case I've told them that I needed to arrive at my destination before the next day and could they please put me on another carrier. In each case, I showed them prospective itineraries that would work and told them that I'd be willing to fly in Y even though I had purchased F. I was refused in all cases with varying reasons e.g. "United doesn't do that anymore.", etc. I don't try to push them or flaunt my status, so when they refuse, I politely tell them to issue a full refund, which they've had no problem doing. Believe me, I'm not happy about. In the old days, they would move heaven and earth to make me happy-one time putting me on DL in business class for my flight to NRT. No more.
Are you calling reservations, asking a club agent, a gate agent ... (and if the latter a real UA employee or a contractor)?
The contracted gate agents are typically the worst -- which is why I don't even bother with them anymore -- but they were the last time I heard the "doesn't do that" -- reservations have, typically, been the ones that try the hardest to talk you out of it ("Once I push this ticket to American we can't help you if anything goes wrong... are you sure...?") and UA gate/lobby agents sit somewhere in the middle between res and Club agents.