200 UA passengers stranded for three days in PVG
#31
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: 2012 Plat-2013 Plat-2014 Silver-2015 GM
Posts: 818
He may not have a clue what it takes to repair an airplane, as that's not his job, but shouldn't United? If they don't, then shouldnt they have a clue that they've stranded people somewhere and have a clue how to fly a plane in to get them out.
If the HouCrew can't be trusted not to strand people for days they shouldn't be allowed to operate an airline. This is not the first time this year.
If the HouCrew can't be trusted not to strand people for days they shouldn't be allowed to operate an airline. This is not the first time this year.
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
Programs: Some of this 'n some of that
Posts: 17,263
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,225
The question here is not how long it takes to repair a 777 in PVG - I'm sure UA has every incentive to do that as quickly as possible.
The question is how UA deals with the resulting IRROPS. Most airlines would react by either sending another plane (that happened to me on BA in JNB - they put us up for the night in a hotel and the plane arrived the following morning) or re-booking on alternate carriers. They failed to do either of these, or make serious attempts to do either of these. This is what is quite unacceptable here.
The question is how UA deals with the resulting IRROPS. Most airlines would react by either sending another plane (that happened to me on BA in JNB - they put us up for the night in a hotel and the plane arrived the following morning) or re-booking on alternate carriers. They failed to do either of these, or make serious attempts to do either of these. This is what is quite unacceptable here.
#34
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chicago, Kailua-Kona, Cairns
Programs: UA 1K >2MM, IC Plat, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 740
Enquiring minds want to know.
#35
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: United Arab Emirates & Arizona, USA
Programs: UA MM/1P, EK Au, QR, TK, Marriott Life Ti, Hilton Dia, IC Dia, Hyatt Glob, Accor Pt, Shangri-La
Posts: 4,526
China does have some kind of short-term transit visa on arrival. Could be a challenge, though, not having an onward reservation to show at immigration -- recently I told the lady that I was continuing the next day, but didn't have a printout when she asked. She just said, fine, then I will use your visa. I didn't argue too much because I didn't mind in this case.
I wonder if the UA officials there can help passengers get through immigration in a case like this?
#36
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: MEX
Programs: AC E75K
Posts: 4,171
#37
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Singapore
Programs: SQ KF (ex-UA)
Posts: 588
I like Shanghai quite a bit and would never turn down a stay there, but you can bet I would still be angry at UA if this happened, it is inexcusable. (I would make sure I got rebooked on another carrier, though.)
#38
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Singapore
Programs: CX DM, Shang Jade, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 104
Shanghai, Kona, it doesn't matter. If I need to get home, I call this stranded.
#39
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 694
Good question. I have a rule (after an unfortunate incident recently at COK) not to transit a country without a visa, just in case. I guess if one is flying UA, one should really stick to this.
China does have some kind of short-term transit visa on arrival. Could be a challenge, though, not having an onward reservation to show at immigration -- recently I told the lady that I was continuing the next day, but didn't have a printout when she asked. She just said, fine, then I will use your visa. I didn't argue too much because I didn't mind in this case.
I wonder if the UA officials there can help passengers get through immigration in a case like this?
China does have some kind of short-term transit visa on arrival. Could be a challenge, though, not having an onward reservation to show at immigration -- recently I told the lady that I was continuing the next day, but didn't have a printout when she asked. She just said, fine, then I will use your visa. I didn't argue too much because I didn't mind in this case.
I wonder if the UA officials there can help passengers get through immigration in a case like this?
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,068
The question is how UA deals with the resulting IRROPS. Most airlines would react by either sending another plane (that happened to me on BA in JNB - they put us up for the night in a hotel and the plane arrived the following morning) or re-booking on alternate carriers. They failed to do either of these, or make serious attempts to do either of these. This is what is quite unacceptable here.
If UA wants to fix customer service, they need to fix the root cause of the issue, which is the system.
#41
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SIN
Programs: UA 1K MM, SQ PPS, CX Silver, Accor Platinum, Marriott Gold, SPG Silver
Posts: 679
Sadly, Thursday there was likely open seats on other carriers, given that it's still more or less a mid-week transpac. Good luck finding that capacity on a Friday or Saturday.
#42
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
I wonder how many pax actually were stranded through Saturday. The Friday flight left 3 hours late with empty seats and all standbys cleared.
Guess though people got faked out by the plane actually having been fixed Friday but having the crew time out due to the 'boarding issue.'
Either way should only take a phone call to get rebooked. One would think. And this is a PMCO flight so PVG agents should have been well versed in SHARES, as they were pre 3/3.
Guess though people got faked out by the plane actually having been fixed Friday but having the crew time out due to the 'boarding issue.'
Either way should only take a phone call to get rebooked. One would think. And this is a PMCO flight so PVG agents should have been well versed in SHARES, as they were pre 3/3.
#43
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SIN
Programs: UA 1K MM, SQ PPS, CX Silver, Accor Platinum, Marriott Gold, SPG Silver
Posts: 679
If you walk into a Chinese consulate in the US in the morning with your paperwork filled out right, you can pick up your visa that afternoon for $170 all in. It's not that bad of a process at all, provided you show up about 20-30 minutes before it opens and get to the head of the line. Of course you can always farm out the visa process too.
#44
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Colorado
Programs: United MM (formerly 1K), Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 551
http://www.washingtonpost.com/busine...fiW_story.html
#45
Join Date: May 2009
Location: MEM
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 253
My wife and daughter was stranded at NRT at the moment as their NRT-ORD on 7/14 was cancelled. My experience with the new UA suggested that the agent tried their best to build road blockers if you try to rebook an alternative routes. They gave me all kinds of excuses and kept saying it is not allowed, no matter what I found.
The question here is not how long it takes to repair a 777 in PVG - I'm sure UA has every incentive to do that as quickly as possible.
The question is how UA deals with the resulting IRROPS. Most airlines would react by either sending another plane (that happened to me on BA in JNB - they put us up for the night in a hotel and the plane arrived the following morning) or re-booking on alternate carriers. They failed to do either of these, or make serious attempts to do either of these. This is what is quite unacceptable here.
The question is how UA deals with the resulting IRROPS. Most airlines would react by either sending another plane (that happened to me on BA in JNB - they put us up for the night in a hotel and the plane arrived the following morning) or re-booking on alternate carriers. They failed to do either of these, or make serious attempts to do either of these. This is what is quite unacceptable here.