So this guy I know flew to Chicago from LA the other day on UAL, which was a 752 when he booked it, when his upgrade (e500) cleared 72 hours out, and when he used Flightcaster to see how it was looking day-of.

When he finally got around to checking in online, he got the "there is a problem with your upgrade, please see a representative at the airport to check in" message. He showed up at another airport for his connecting flight and got handed a BP for the LAX-ORD leg that indicated that he was in seat 6K in the C-cabin. Apparently, the Skywest woman was confused too.

So, he makes it to LAX and predictably finds that while he was strictly speaking downgraded, it wasn't that big a deal. The 752 was replaced with a new-config int'l 763. Score.

OK, so none of this is particularly surprising/interesting. What is surprising/interesting is that he got an email todayfrom Customer Relations apologizing for the downgrade from First Class and offering 1 e500 for his trouble. So far, they haven't deducted the 4 e500's for the upgrade in the first place.

Very nice on the equip swap to the new C! UA has some kind of automated system that sends out those downgrade apology emails... you even get one when if you voluntarily downgrade yourself (to save e-coupons, or to sit with a companion in economy etc).

One bit of advice for the future.. you have provided enough information in your post for UA to figure out who you are and if on the off chance there is a rule enforcer reading your thread it's possible you could see the e500's disappear (that should have been deducted anyway). Not a high chance...but a chance nonetheless. When these things happen it's best to be vague when posting a good story. Barring some kind of audit.. you will not be deducted the e500's...if it doesn't happen at flight time it typically will not happen at all. So you got a freebie.

OP, you can redo it, "So my friend got this upgrade..."

These threads sound like airline porn: "The little beeper went off and the I got handed a BP for 6K in C. So I told the FA, 'Hey, I didn't order an upgrade...'"

Mike

+1, thought the same thing.

I don't know what you guys are talking about...that happened to a friend of mine.

Congrats on the upgrade/downgrade.

I would have been bummed if I was expecting a hot meal though. I'm probably the only one though, right mahasamatman?

Yeah, the salad/sandwich choice wasn't ideal...but watching the Hangover and a good ep of the Office (along with being comfortably reclined) more than made up for it.

I don't know. Best downgrade ever for me was on Delta, LAX to ATL. Nice FC seat, get on plane, get called to the jet bridge by the CSA, "I'm sorry Mr. Miles, but the person in your seat actually did check in. We'll have to put you in Y."

Yes, but this was like the first month of BYOB, it's 1730, I'm hungry and I tell the agent I don't have any cash to buy food.

"We'll get you the FC meal," he says.

So I end up in the first row in Y with a boatload of leg room, and yes, they did give me the FC meal, which was really, really good.

Oh, and a fistful of drink chits, which I handed out to my seat mates, big spender that I am.

[So why was I flying Delta? VERY last minute business trip, came up late in the day, needed to be in ATL early next morning and this was the only way that made any sense at all.]

None of these stories top my brother's best downgrade ever... it was about 8 years ago, SFO - LHR and he got bumped out of his business class upgrade at the last minute. Gate agent was most apologetic and give him 17A (777). He wanders back, grumbling all the way.

17B ended up marrying him 18 months later.

They flew to London for their honeymoon and requested 17 A & B both ways...

That is such a great story! I hope he invited the GA to the wedding!

Great Story.

Great story. They should have requested the seat he was supposed to be in.

Most likely. And it's not likely that the "masking" of saying it happened to a friend will fool anyone at United (if anyone there even cared about it).

Now if they get divorced they will want compensation from UA!

Mutual grumbling goes a long way, it seems.

Nothing bonds better than common enemies...