Read it and Weep...
Nov 23, 2004 | 9:58 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: San Francisco
Programs: Four Seasons Aviara (owner), Starwood, Marriott, Hyatt, Hertz President's Circle, United MP 30+ yrs
Posts: 1,259
Read it and Weep...
I found out today, when my mother-in-law arrived at the airport, that she had used 35,000 UA miles to fly ("FC") from BUR-SFO!! AND she got terrible scheduling (flights too early and too late, here too long even for her...) It was enough to make a grown woman cry. Next year we will buy her ticket for her. To think that there is a flight to Maui that could have been had ..... 
Nov 23, 2004 | 10:04 pm
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,077
It is quite tragic how ill-informed people are about their consumer options. When the currency is not cash, people have a harder time understanding their options and the best returns/value.
Nov 23, 2004 | 10:19 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Honolulu, Hawaiʻi [+MKK4 EBBER R577 EDSEL R577 ELKEY EXERT]
Posts: 15,908
I just booked a 35k trip from HNL-SFO on UA for a friend and I thought that was a waste of miles... (flight was around $500) For your M-I-L, though, not worth weeping over. I hope she enjoyed the flight, learned a lesson and moves on.
aloha
aloha
Last edited by slippahs; Nov 23, 2004 at 11:25 pm Reason: poor spelling
Nov 23, 2004 | 10:26 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: San Francisco
Programs: Four Seasons Aviara (owner), Starwood, Marriott, Hyatt, Hertz President's Circle, United MP 30+ yrs
Posts: 1,259
Originally Posted by slippahs
I hope she enjoyed the flight, learned a lesson and moves on.
Nov 23, 2004 | 11:01 pm
#6
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: All over the place
Programs: AA, DL, UA, TG, US, Priority Club, HHonors, Club Carlson, etc.
Posts: 106
Originally Posted by mstraveler
I found out today, when my mother-in-law arrived at the airport, that she had used 35,000 UA miles to fly ("FC") from BUR-SFO!! AND she got terrible scheduling (flights too early and too late, here too long even for her...) It was enough to make a grown woman cry. Next year we will buy her ticket for her. To think that there is a flight to Maui that could have been had .....
On AA, just got 4 tix for LIH-LAX-MIA-LIM-MIA-LAX-LIH at 35,000 miles each.
Nov 24, 2004 | 1:02 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Texas, U.S.A.
Posts: 19,523
Hate to be the bearer of even more bad news, but she could have flown First Class on those flights for even fewer miles.
That's because United has had an "Award Sale" on flights of under 750 miles for several months now, thru the end of the year:
That's because United has had an "Award Sale" on flights of under 750 miles for several months now, thru the end of the year:
Now through December 31, 2004, you can redeem fewer miles for award travel on United, United Express and TedSM nonstop flights that are 750 air miles or less, each way. Available only on united.com.
15,000 redeemable miles United Economy round trip Saver Award ticket
30,000 redeemable miles United First or United Business round trip Saver Award ticket
15,000 redeemable miles United Economy round trip Saver Award ticket
30,000 redeemable miles United First or United Business round trip Saver Award ticket
Nov 24, 2004 | 3:23 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: BOS, MHT
Programs: AA ltg, B6, DL, UA, AS, SPG/Marriott Plt, HH, Hyatt
Posts: 10,062
whose fault IS it really?
My first inclination was to wonder how the woman could have been so willing to spend that many miles to fly that routing, and how she could have been "not so smart" about it. BUT, then I think of my own mother, who comes from a time when you actually could and would believe the advice of someone in customer service of a company to which you do loyal business.
What of the person at the airline who so willingly took her miles and didnt even inform her of better, more economical options? I know some would have but not that airline!
WOW!
what a scam!
...and some people tell me it's wrong to try my hardest to find ways around all the rules in the airline world?
fahgetaboutit!
MM
What of the person at the airline who so willingly took her miles and didnt even inform her of better, more economical options? I know some would have but not that airline!
WOW!
what a scam!
...and some people tell me it's wrong to try my hardest to find ways around all the rules in the airline world?
fahgetaboutit!
MM
Nov 24, 2004 | 5:03 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,810
Originally Posted by raydon22
On AA, just got 4 tix for LIH-LAX-MIA-LIM-MIA-LAX-LIH at 35,000 miles each.
Lihue (Kauai, Hawaii) - Los Angeles - Miami - LIMA PERU - MIA - LAX - LIH
If the above interpretation is true I must have missed something. Is there an AA reduced mileage sale/promotion going on where one can go from HI to South America for only 35K miles?
Nov 24, 2004 | 7:33 am
#14
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: ATL
Posts: 3,219
Originally Posted by mstraveler
I found out today, when my mother-in-law arrived at the airport, that she had used 35,000 UA miles to fly ("FC") from BUR-SFO!! AND she got terrible scheduling (flights too early and too late, here too long even for her...) It was enough to make a grown woman cry. Next year we will buy her ticket for her. To think that there is a flight to Maui that could have been had .....
Nov 24, 2004 | 7:51 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Augusta, GA, USA
Programs: DL FC, NW
Posts: 3,522
Originally Posted by Tummy
Maybe you can call UA and tell them that the customer service agent issued the incorrect award, if the short haul awards were available, and recover some of the miles back.