Rant/request for help... I am irrationally but genuinely FURIOUS at Continental
Mar 5, 2011, 6:59 pm
#16
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: EWR
Programs: Cattle Class
Posts: 556
For me this just doesn't make any sense. Honestly I do not see any difference after ticket is issued if it was an X seat or paid seat.
Are there any published rules that say that?
Mar 5, 2011, 8:12 pm
#17
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: MHT/BOS <--> World
Programs: AA Plat 2.8MM
Posts: 4,629
Are you saying that let's say I book an award on LH (using CO miles) and then LH changes the schedule 1 month prior the trip, that I'm screwed, as no award seats will be available? What if the change causes a illegal connection or change is on the return segments after some of the segments are already completed?
For me this just doesn't make any sense. Honestly I do not see any difference after ticket is issued if it was an X seat or paid seat.
Are there any published rules that say that?
For me this just doesn't make any sense. Honestly I do not see any difference after ticket is issued if it was an X seat or paid seat.
Are there any published rules that say that?
Mar 5, 2011, 10:17 pm
#18
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: EWR
Programs: Cattle Class
Posts: 556
Why is that? let's say they put me on flight that gets me to my destination 10 hours later and I don't like it, won't they change it without too many questions asked if there are better alternatives? I guess my question is, when putting pax on flight B, how do they decide that it is acceptable for the pax?
Mar 5, 2011, 10:53 pm
#19
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OP: can you come back and let us know what you ended up negotiating?
Mar 5, 2011, 10:55 pm
#20
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Location: NYC
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Why is that? let's say they put me on flight that gets me to my destination 10 hours later and I don't like it, won't they change it without too many questions asked if there are better alternatives? I guess my question is, when putting pax on flight B, how do they decide that it is acceptable for the pax?
Mar 5, 2011, 11:03 pm
#21
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: EWR
Programs: Cattle Class
Posts: 556
since convenience is subjective, pax should accept the changes or work with the airline to look at other options, but award seats shouldn't even come into the picture, is that correct?
Mar 5, 2011, 11:15 pm
#22
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: USA
Programs: UA/CO(1K-PLT), AA(PLT), QR, EK, Marriott(PLT), Hilton(DMND)
Posts: 9,538
This is a four year old data point, but I have been in the position of being SOL with an award itinerary where I used UA miles to book a LH trip. Unfortunately, LH suddenly stopped serving the city that my family was flying to. While LH was moving paid pax on this route to connecting flights via a different city (on a third carrier), they were not going to do so for award ticket holders, or at least would not do so for award tickets booked via Mileage Plus. Such is life when it comes to award itineraries across the alliance.
Mar 5, 2011, 11:29 pm
#23
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Up in the Air
Programs: DL MM; UA MM/1K
Posts: 613
This is a four year old data point, but I have been in the position of being SOL with an award itinerary where I used UA miles to book a LH trip. Unfortunately, LH suddenly stopped serving the city that my family was flying to. While LH was moving paid pax on this route to connecting flights via a different city (on a third carrier), they were not going to do so for award ticket holders, or at least would not do so for award tickets booked via Mileage Plus. Such is life when it comes to award itineraries across the alliance.
Get a supervisor online and ask nicely.
Happy Travels
DLP
Mar 6, 2011, 9:40 am
#24
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: MHT/BOS <--> World
Programs: AA Plat 2.8MM
Posts: 4,629
Yes, you can often get an airline to move you to their own flights where award availability is nill. Of course, if you are dealing with a destinaton not served by that ailrine, you have a bigger problem.
Mar 6, 2011, 9:46 am
#25
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: EWR
Programs: UA Gold, UA MM, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,329
For all intents and purposes i agree with you but in this particular instance its the same company. I realize the transition is not fully complete but they can certainly rectify this particular case(imo its a matter of finding someone with enough authority to actually fix it, UA Insider). If we were talking about two entirely different airlines I agree it would be a little more difficult to get worked out.
Mar 6, 2011, 10:04 am
#26
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Unlike Delta, these are not that difficult to get and you dont have to be "lucky"
I think you'll come to realize that award travel on Star Alliance is not a hassle, and one does not have to "score" tickets like with SkyPesos.
A year in advance, I guess one has to be ready to expect schedule changes, but keep trying on CO, they have to accommodate you, even if it has to be on their own metal at the times that are convenient to you, be armed with a plan when you call. and insist!
Mar 6, 2011, 10:09 am
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: DL GM, WN AL/CP, UA Silver, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,483
I hope you dont mean you were lucky to secure award seats to OGG.
Unlike Delta, these are not that difficult to get and you dont have to be "lucky"
I think you'll come to realize that award travel on Star Alliance is not a hassle, and one does not have to "score" tickets like with SkyPesos.
A year in advance, I guess one has to be ready to expect schedule changes, but keep trying on CO, they have to accommodate you, even if it has to be on their own metal at the times that are convenient to you, be armed with a plan when you call. and insist!
Unlike Delta, these are not that difficult to get and you dont have to be "lucky"
I think you'll come to realize that award travel on Star Alliance is not a hassle, and one does not have to "score" tickets like with SkyPesos.
A year in advance, I guess one has to be ready to expect schedule changes, but keep trying on CO, they have to accommodate you, even if it has to be on their own metal at the times that are convenient to you, be armed with a plan when you call. and insist!
You're right, it's much easier to get seats on *A. Honestly the only negative I've seen about CO/UA is how difficult it is for a dirt member to get anyone with a semblance of competence on the phone. I agree someone there will agree with me and make it right -- it's a matter of stumbling across the right person willing to help.
Last edited by judolphin; Mar 6, 2011 at 10:28 am
Mar 6, 2011, 10:18 am
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: DL GM, WN AL/CP, UA Silver, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,483
I am bit confused.
Why are we talking about the award seat availability? Why CO is looking again for the award seats? Shouldn't they be looking for any seats in the cabin that was originally booked? Or they are treating the OP now as the change(on the accepted change) is initiated by the OP?
Why are we talking about the award seat availability? Why CO is looking again for the award seats? Shouldn't they be looking for any seats in the cabin that was originally booked? Or they are treating the OP now as the change(on the accepted change) is initiated by the OP?
Last edited by judolphin; Mar 6, 2011 at 10:30 am
Mar 6, 2011, 10:49 am
#29
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There are plenty of great people working today - you don't need to wait until Monday. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to find seats. I would start calling now. Are you a CO Elite?
Mar 6, 2011, 11:26 am
#30
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Join Date: Nov 2007
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Update
The lady finally got us booked on a 9 AM JAX-IAH flight that will get us into SFO in plenty of time for UA's OGG flight. That was acceptable to me as it's only 45 minutes or so earlier than the original.
When I went online to select the seats, I found the JAX-IAH flight she put me on was overbooked. It's like I'm dealing with lawyers here... guess I should have asked her for seat assignments here. Because apparently, if I forget to ask a question, I'm screwed!
