Equipment change problems
Dec 30, 2014, 5:38 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Oslo, Norway
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 114
Equipment change problems
I initially posted this in the LH Lurker section, not sure if it belonged there......
A little while back, I booked a OSL-SEA return trip in July using the direct FRA-SEA flight both ways. My intention was to book, at least, the outbound in First. However, the aircraft shown at the time of booking was a new config 747-400. I was OK with that, as the new C-seats are really nice, so I went ahead and booked in P-class. Now, the aircraft shown is back to an old config. I tried to call reservations explaining the problem, and asking if I could upgrade the outbound to an A-fare and pay a fare difference. It was like talking to a machine, stating that since the OSL-FRA flight does not have have First Class available (of course it doesen't.....) and the OSL-FRA and FRA-SEA were married segments, it was not possible. When telling her that the whole problem had surfaced due to an equipment change, that I had no way booing in First, and that First Class flights form anywhere but First Class hubs neccessarily has a C-segment, I just got the same machine-like answer back. Also, when I checked again today, the fare in C has dropped considerably, I'm pretty sure due to the change back to the old aircraft with the inferior seats.
At this point, I feel rather disappointed. Any suggestions how I could reach someone who I could actually discuss the situation with, not just someone reading rules off of a computer screen?
Kind regards,
Thore
A little while back, I booked a OSL-SEA return trip in July using the direct FRA-SEA flight both ways. My intention was to book, at least, the outbound in First. However, the aircraft shown at the time of booking was a new config 747-400. I was OK with that, as the new C-seats are really nice, so I went ahead and booked in P-class. Now, the aircraft shown is back to an old config. I tried to call reservations explaining the problem, and asking if I could upgrade the outbound to an A-fare and pay a fare difference. It was like talking to a machine, stating that since the OSL-FRA flight does not have have First Class available (of course it doesen't.....) and the OSL-FRA and FRA-SEA were married segments, it was not possible. When telling her that the whole problem had surfaced due to an equipment change, that I had no way booing in First, and that First Class flights form anywhere but First Class hubs neccessarily has a C-segment, I just got the same machine-like answer back. Also, when I checked again today, the fare in C has dropped considerably, I'm pretty sure due to the change back to the old aircraft with the inferior seats.
At this point, I feel rather disappointed. Any suggestions how I could reach someone who I could actually discuss the situation with, not just someone reading rules off of a computer screen?
Kind regards,
Thore
Dec 30, 2014, 5:55 am
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: Everything is refundable
Posts: 3,727
Word on the street, fares from certain Scandinavian markets to the US in F are pretty low at the moment.
Dealing with airlines these days is utterly frustrating, so do not expect anyone to be able to go the extra mile. They are simply often also not trained well enough, so even if they would be willing, they lack the competence or the system does not allow them to do so.
Just recently, it took me more than four hours and roughly a dozen different call center agents to get up to somebody old and experienced enough to make a change to a booking, which was scr**** up by an alliance partner.
Dec 30, 2014, 6:33 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Oslo, Norway
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 114
Thank you FD1971. I can't see any way to cancel the original itinerary, as it was booked in P, and travel insurance would not cover a planned cancelleation, so I'll just have to try and call them again and hope for a person with a bit more helpfulness and insight. Think I might try and call the ticket office in FRA instead of the usual call centre. When spending money on premium cabin tickets, and the product is deteriorated after making the booking, I'd expect the carrier to be somewhat flexible in accomodating an alternative solution, at least when I'm willing to pay a fare difference for an upgrade. Oh well.....
Dec 30, 2014, 11:14 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 206
Isn't SEA supposed to lose F service anyway from 30th June 2015?
http://airlineroute.net/2014/10/09/lh-s15update1/
So after that date either
a) you will have a 744 with F seats on the upper deck which are sold as J. You should have a chance to either pick out of the F seats on the upper deck then as a UA elite.
b) or you will have an aircraft with the whole new product anyway as their whole 744 fleet is undergoing the retrofit right now.
So any action from you side now might be a bit overhasty...
http://airlineroute.net/2014/10/09/lh-s15update1/
So after that date either
a) you will have a 744 with F seats on the upper deck which are sold as J. You should have a chance to either pick out of the F seats on the upper deck then as a UA elite.
b) or you will have an aircraft with the whole new product anyway as their whole 744 fleet is undergoing the retrofit right now.
So any action from you side now might be a bit overhasty...
Dec 30, 2014, 12:10 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,151
Isn't SEA supposed to lose F service anyway from 30th June 2015?
http://airlineroute.net/2014/10/09/lh-s15update1/
So after that date either
a) you will have a 744 with F seats on the upper deck which are sold as J. You should have a chance to either pick out of the F seats on the upper deck then as a UA elite.
b) or you will have an aircraft with the whole new product anyway as their whole 744 fleet is undergoing the retrofit right now.
So any action from you side now might be a bit overhasty...
http://airlineroute.net/2014/10/09/lh-s15update1/
So after that date either
a) you will have a 744 with F seats on the upper deck which are sold as J. You should have a chance to either pick out of the F seats on the upper deck then as a UA elite.
b) or you will have an aircraft with the whole new product anyway as their whole 744 fleet is undergoing the retrofit right now.
So any action from you side now might be a bit overhasty...
My wife and I are booked in F on SEA-FRA in July. Despite the announcement about F being discontinued on 6/30, our seat map still shows the 744 F cabin.
Should I be worried? Does anyone have experience with this sort of thing? If, indeed, I'll be downgraded, does this give me any leverage to ask LH to open up space on SFO-FRA or LAX-FRA?
Dec 30, 2014, 6:46 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
A little while back, I booked a OSL-SEA return trip in July using the direct FRA-SEA flight both ways. My intention was to book, at least, the outbound in First. However, the aircraft shown at the time of booking was a new config 747-400. I was OK with that, as the new C-seats are really nice, so I went ahead and booked in P-class. Now, the aircraft shown is back to an old config. I tried to call reservations explaining the problem, and asking if I could upgrade the outbound to an A-fare and pay a fare difference. It was like talking to a machine, stating that since the OSL-FRA flight does not have have First Class available (of course it doesen't.....) and the OSL-FRA and FRA-SEA were married segments, it was not possible. When telling her that the whole problem had surfaced due to an equipment change, that I had no way booing in First, and that First Class flights form anywhere but First Class hubs neccessarily has a C-segment, I just got the same machine-like answer back. Also, when I checked again today, the fare in C has dropped considerably, I'm pretty sure due to the change back to the old aircraft with the inferior seats.
There just pops up a cheap first class fare ex OSL (bookable in A-cl) and you just remember that you want to upgrade your nonref/nochangeable P-cl fare into F-cl at the same time...? Come on...Don't lie on us, just tell us the truth!!!
Dec 31, 2014, 12:35 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: UA*G(1K), PC Diamond Amb, Marriott Titanium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,667
Come on... Do you think LH is stupid?
There just pops up a cheap first class fare ex OSL (bookable in A-cl) and you just remember that you want to upgrade your nonref/nochangeable P-cl fare into F-cl at the same time...? Come on...Don't lie on us, just tell us the truth!!!
There just pops up a cheap first class fare ex OSL (bookable in A-cl) and you just remember that you want to upgrade your nonref/nochangeable P-cl fare into F-cl at the same time...? Come on...Don't lie on us, just tell us the truth!!!
HTB.
