CruiserCLE

Hi everyone,

After reading this thread, something dawned on me. In July of this year, I called in to switch travel plans due to IRROPS in IAD. Routing changed from xxx-IAD-yyy to xxx-ORD-yyyy. It was a paid F ticket and I was only able to be put in F on the xxx-ORD segment (1 hour flight at best). The ORD-yyy segment I was stuck in Y. They did refund the fare difference, but based on what I am reading in this thread, is there an additional (ETC) compensation that I am due? Also, is it too late to request this or if I wrote in with the proper documentation do you think it would get it to pass?

Kacee

Sorry, reaccommodation due to IRROPS is not a downgrade and does not qualify for downgrade comp. At least in UA's view, you always have the "choice" of waiting for a flight with open F seats.

milepig

Thanks to both. I suspect they wouldn't give me compensation if I jumped back down since at this down I haven't been downgraded.

There is another flight ORD/IAD/FRA that still has seats in F, I might try and see if they'll move me to that routing. It still connects to the the original FRA/BCN leg.

CruiserCLE

I figured. No biggie. Thanks for the reply.

wto605

Downgrade comp applies to equipment swaps. As soon as you were confirmed on the 744 you were eligible for downgrade comp.

If you call and start moving around you may get yourself a better seat (which depending on your priorities may be better than downgrade comp) any time you agree to a downgrade you're implicitly forgoing comp..

If you move to J on another flight with no hope of upgrade you could probably work out some compensation.

happydude

Hi I was reading the wiki above which it says only applies to same day downgrades. I was wondering if my situation applies for compensation.

I fly out Thursday morning on a 2 segment trip, both on a Z fare. First leg is a very short ~150mi segment on a RJ and second segment on mainline. Just got on my app to check flight status and it shows an equipment change and my first segment on a regional jet as not having a first class although my reservation still shows United First and I selected first class seats when I booked the reservation. It is a very short flight but being that I booked a Z fare on this first segment am I due compensation due to the equipment change downgrade even though it is not a same day equipment change?

wto605

There really isn't a list for a schedule change like the same day above, and considering the fare difference on that segment would probably be $0 (pricing generally disregards the class of RJ feeders) there's not much there either. That said you can always call customer service and ask for some compensation (I would expect significantly less than the wiki) or to be reaccommodated (different time, hub, etc.). Assuming you are not unreasonable in your requests (especially w/r/t routing) I would think you should be able to get any available seat in your original class of service (regardless of bucket availability).

happydude

Thanks for the info. It's out of season at HDN so there is currently only 1 flight/day. However at T-24 when I checked in the plane changed again back to the original plane. However it moved my colleague and myself (on same reservation) in the very back of the plane. (Even though there were 1st class seats available) and would not allow us to switch. The GA could not figure out how to change it so she got our seat numbers and told us to sit in the only 2 first class seats remaining and then gave our seats on the boarding pass to standby pax.

wto605

Were you even on the upgrade standby list? That's a major system mess-up if not, but it wouldn't surprise me.

Glad it worked out nonetheless

milepig

In the end I waited it out and I now have a seat, 48 hours out.

In the days since I posted I called and spoke with three different agents, one went all the way through to "call the airport" (her words) since the flight was already under airport control, and came back on to say they couldn't help. The second said "there are still 2 seats available" -- "oops" she said, "I wasn't supposed to say that...but you'll be 'fine'". I called the 3rd time only since a seat had opened on the 2:15 flight and I though I might move to. The agent I spoke with was willing but advised that the original flight would be fine "as they never overbook INTL F" and that there were exactly the same number of people booked as seats available. So, I continued to stick it out as 2:15 was really earlier than I wanted to leave.

All the agents I spoke with the professional and helpful, although I wasn't always totally sure of their knowledge.

Overnight a seat opened up, but for some reason I wasn't put into it - I still showed as no seat assigned but with one seat available. When I selected the seat the transaction went right through, so as of now I'm in a seat. Hurrah.

It sure helps to be proactive and to check stats frequently!

Thanks again to all those who sent advice.

Global321

Are you saying they would boot a confirmed ticket in first (on a FF ticket) for an upgrade? I personally have not seen or heard of that happening.

Not saying it does not, but, seems to be more of an urban legend that it happens on any semi-regular basis.

sharmaintl

I was on UA988 yesterday, flying FRA-IAD. My GPU cleared about an hour before the flight and I was assigned seat 10G. As I went up to board the flight, my mobile BP had refreshed and my seat now showed 24A. I pointed that out to the GA checking my passport and BP. She said there must be a mistake and took me over to the desk at the gate. The two folks at the gate immediately recognized my name and said, 'yes you had been upgraded to BizFirst, but a revenue customer had showed up' so they had moved me back to Economy!

I asked to speak to a supervisor. I pointed out that my reservation record still said that I was in BusinessFirst in an R fare bucket, and it said that my upgrade was confirmed. Was what they were doing not improper? A lady approached the desk and said that this 'happens all the time'. They are obliged to 'look after paying customers over you all flying in business class for free'. I pointed out to her that I was not flying for free but using a United issued instrument called a GPU. I am fine with not getting upgraded when there is no space, but not at all fine with getting an upgrade cleared and them selling my seat after I had been upgraded to it. She shook her head, said 'better luck next time' and asked me to board. I brought this to the attention of an FA. She responded that she had no control - the GAs had full discretion over upgrades.

I of course had no option at this point but to sit in Economy...

Once I was back stateside, I called the 1K desk and explained the details to them. They put me in touch with customer service. They have opened an investigation into this and insist that something was wrong and this is not United policy. I am waiting to hear back on what they plan to do about it. I have a case #.

Now, does this really 'happen all the time'? If it does I am definitely leaving United. My PQM YTD is at 47k, with PQD over $35k. All included I have spend well over $40k (maybe even $45k) on United issued tickets. Even my last Emirates flight was on a 016 ticket. My company requires I fly on economy tickets and it was the GPUs that kept me loyal to UA. I am OK if BF is sold out and my GPU does not clear - that happens. But if there is space and the system upgraded me or a GA upgrades me, I believe it is improper to remove me if a last minute customer comes up waving their credit card. If they will take the few k $s to sell what is now MY seat, then GPUs and hence 1K is not worth what they are advertising. If not for GPUs 1K does not give me much value. With this spend I can be at the top status level on any airline. Maybe it is time to take my $$ to an airline that appreciates me more.

seanp7

If a UA staff member actually said this, she should be fired. You should absolutely be compensated for this entire scenario. Absurd. Let us know how the case progresses.

mherdeg

Under GG OVS DOWNGRADE, United standard operating procedure in this scenario is to issue a $1000 electronic travel voucher (for flights of length 3001-4000 miles).

If you were downgraded for any reason, including being upgraded and later un-upgraded, you qualify. Please be sure to ask UA to follow this policy.

ws8n

I won't be surprised if it was a TOD that trumped your upgrade.