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UAs Official Response to HKG Ticketing/IT Error: Redeem @ Correct Amount or Redeposit

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UAs Official Response to HKG Ticketing/IT Error: Redeem @ Correct Amount or Redeposit

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Old Sep 4, 2012, 11:45 pm
  #3901  
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Originally Posted by XLR26
If only you could convince UA to do the same.
Well, I can seek to control my actions and attitudes and ethical behavior; I can't control anyone else's.
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Old Sep 5, 2012, 2:59 am
  #3902  
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Originally Posted by sbrower
...Under the law, if there is a mistake (as defined by the law), then there isn't an enforceable contract...
Originally Posted by sbrower
No, your response to me was correct, but that is because my post was 100% correct. I said that it had to be a mistake, as defined by law. Your response (admitting your error about a mistake not being relevant) was correct, in part, that a mistake usually requires that the recipient also know or suspect it was a mistake. But (as I discussed in another post), EVERY person who bought these tickets knew it was a mistake, in my view. Now, some people might not be honest about it. But I don't believe that a bunch of people independently discovered the mistake while trying to piece together multi-flight itineraries as newbies.
Well what you said in brackets helps a bit, but its still wrong. That it is a mistake, as mistaken by law, is just that- an objective mistake, which is first requirement. That the customer knew or should have known has nothing to do with how you define mistake in the beginning.

Originally Posted by cblaisd
Actually, I can think of several ways that this could be a real PR coup.
Pls share. Headlines like "UA screwed up flight price- tickets honored according to the law- now UA has stripped them of their miles and top status!

I see you deliberately chose not to reply to my question about what legal basis they would quote.

For your comment about everyone knowing see below, and for that matter earlier in the thread. I always question such absolute statements, because in real life the more or less never hold water.

Originally Posted by 110pgl
Are you still suggesting someone/anyone did NOT know this was a mistake?

100% of the people that booked this knew it was a mistake. No airline has EVER discounted mileage tickets by over 90%. None. Zero. Zip.

Also, the correct mileage was listed on the first page. It only changed on the booking page. Yet, another reason they knew it was a mistake.

When airlines do discount mileage tickets, they advertise it.

Your gambling example is a good one - the players knew it was a mistake. The judge acknowledged that. The judge ruled on the casino's responsibility. So you can argue UA is responsible to pay for the mistake, but, don't be silly and try to argue people did not know it was a mistake.
Yuo cant have read much on this thread as its stated a few dozen times, incl on the very recent pages that the "correct" and high(er) price was never shown on multi city searches/bookings.

Also, plenty of times you can score good deals BEFORE its advertised if their IT is not in sync, they are in beta etc etc. Also its quite common you buy something because you need it, and not because its on sale, and if you get a sales price on check out, at the counter etc then you happily accept.

Although its pretty clear it is a mistake, at least for the large majority, its 100% sure there are plenty of bookings made by people that didnt know. I know a guy who very well "knew" it was a mistake who called his mother and asked her to book a HKG-US trip on the UA flash sale letting her know UA would pull the discount on the payment page. She did. I have mentioned other examples before.

Originally Posted by chinatraderjmr
*I am wondering what made you jump into this debate now, months after this thread was started. You have 12 posts total and you were no where around for the first million pages of this. I wonder what made you get involved in this debate now?! After its pretty much over
Id welcome any new poster, especially as this has just started- its far from over. Why the need to question why people contribute??

Originally Posted by global_happy_traveller
Still going on about it? Many of us moved on in life!
A post that proves the excact opposite.

Originally Posted by chinatraderjmr
Unfortunatly though, there will always be those people that bought tkts to re-sell or got 10,15,20 tkts just cuz they "could". IMO if those people did not exhist, these other tkts might have been honored but I guess we will never know.
I have seen this argument a few times, and dont really get it. How would this be done, and how likely is it with whatever limitation that practice would come with- that it could be widespread? Limited buying/booking window, no name changes, booking fees, change fees, later no changes etc.
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Old Sep 5, 2012, 6:19 am
  #3903  
 
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Originally Posted by travelkid
this has just started- its far from over. Why the need to question why people contribute??

When will you say it's over? Serious question, not snarky. The DOT has already said they don't get back to individual complaints. I agree that when they say they can't "force" UA to honor anything that they can impose fines so heavy that UA would rather honor them then pay......but since there is a good chance we may never hear another word from UA or the DOT, when would you personally say "I guess it's over"?


I have seen this argument a few times, and dont really get it. How would this be done, and how likely is it with whatever limitation that practice would come with- that it could be widespread? Limited buying/booking window, no name changes, booking fees, change fees, later no changes etc.
Agree - I don't get this either but I'm not quoting it from previous posts, I've read 2 blogs from people that bought multiple tkts. (no one admitted they were to sell, but if as one guy did you just book the first 10 dates you find, there is a reason for that, know matter how misguided or dilusional it may be

Your comment about absolutes is very true. Anyone that says there is anything absolute about this or the outcome is just talking to hear themselves. I don't "think" they will honor these but that's my opinion, it's certainly not an absolute. What's funny is when 1 person posts that they will not honor these, no way, no how they get blasted for talking in "absolutes" only to be countered by arguments like " UA will surly get fined big time for this, etc. which are just more "absolutes". Everyone is entitled to their opinion on this but those that are SURE which way this will end up are just full of bluster

Last edited by chinatraderjmr; Sep 5, 2012 at 6:25 am
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Old Sep 5, 2012, 6:46 am
  #3904  
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Wow, just wow. Thought I was looking at a thread written by young children. The amount of people posting above who took advantage of the mistake because they wanted to get back at UA is amazing. Even Steven. You hurt me in the past so I am going to hurt you now and every chance I get. No wonder society is going in the tank.
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Old Sep 5, 2012, 6:57 am
  #3905  
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Originally Posted by seanthepilot
HOW IS IT EVEN RELEVANT THAT IT WAS A MISTAKE?

Of course it was a mistake.

Doesn't stop their obligations AFTER they've ticketed. Or is there some mysterious mistake clause in the contract of carriage that absolves them of theirobligation to honor tickets thaythey themselves have issued.

And why the condemnation from long time FTers for people who wish to fight the issue? The armchair moral majority and their constant banter is tiring. In fact, the anti-mistake fare crowd just seems to be repeating themselves, over, and over, and over, and over...
It's just as tiring as the constant banter about how they have to honor a mistake (which so far apparently, they do not).

The it's a mistake crowd is also repeating themselves over and over and over and over. Indeed, if you took out all the repeating it's a mistake it's stupid to expect them to honor it, and all the it's a mistake the law says they have to honor it as they ticketed it, the thread would be about a dozen posts.
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Old Sep 5, 2012, 8:52 am
  #3906  
 
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Originally Posted by travelkid

Yuo cant have read much on this thread as its stated a few dozen times, incl on the very recent pages that the "correct" and high(er) price was never shown on multi city searches/bookings.
Not only have I read the thread, I have contributed several times. My comment was based on the newspaper articles about it, not what people say they saw. I have no personal knowledge either way. Neither do you.

The point I am making still holds true (IMO) - 100% of the people that booked it, new it was a mistake.

But, I hope everyone gets the 4 mile tickets honored - creates a nice precedent. (Maybe not a legal one, but, a generally accepted practice.)
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Old Sep 5, 2012, 9:48 am
  #3907  
 
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Originally Posted by 110pgl
- creates a nice precedent.
Boiled down, the dichotomy here:

Those who say it would create a precedent, and those who say it would not.
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Old Sep 5, 2012, 10:32 am
  #3908  
 
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Originally Posted by global_happy_traveller
Still going on about it? Many of us moved on in life!
Oh Global....you are so wrong. The FlyerTalk-CRAZY is just getting good.... I will bring you up to speed - UA lurking around with secred Non-Disclosure agreements.

Let the wackiness continue!
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Old Sep 5, 2012, 12:05 pm
  #3909  
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Originally Posted by chinatraderjmr
When will you say it's over? Serious question, not snarky. The DOT has already said they don't get back to individual complaints. I agree that when they say they can't "force" UA to honor anything that they can impose fines so heavy that UA would rather honor them then pay......but since there is a good chance we may never hear another word from UA or the DOT, when would you personally say "I guess it's over"?
Its over when all settlements and lawsuits/courtcases are done. But for the majority its already over.

Originally Posted by Baze
Wow, just wow. Thought I was looking at a thread written by young children. The amount of people posting above who took advantage of the mistake because they wanted to get back at UA is amazing. Even Steven. You hurt me in the past so I am going to hurt you now and every chance I get. No wonder society is going in the tank.
I think you misunderstood this argument. People didnt book to get back, but its used as an argument for not feeling bad about doing so.

Originally Posted by 110pgl
Not only have I read the thread, I have contributed several times. My comment was based on the newspaper articles about it, not what people say they saw. I have no personal knowledge either way. Neither do you.
I have quoted your full reply below, and bolded the relevant part. No caveats about newspaper article etc?

Further its not clear what I presumeably dont know, but Im actually posting on this thread from personal knowledge with this case and the law in related cases.

Originally Posted by 110pgl
.... still holds true (IMO) - 100% of the people that booked it, new it was a mistake.
The bolded part contains a contradiction.

Originally Posted by 110pgl
Are you still suggesting someone/anyone did NOT know this was a mistake?

100% of the people that booked this knew it was a mistake. No airline has EVER discounted mileage tickets by over 90%. None. Zero. Zip.

Also, the correct mileage was listed on the first page. It only changed on the booking page. Yet, another reason they knew it was a mistake.
When airlines do discount mileage tickets, they advertise it.

Your gambling example is a good one - the players knew it was a mistake. The judge acknowledged that. The judge ruled on the casino's responsibility. So you can argue UA is responsible to pay for the mistake, but, don't be silly and try to argue people did not know it was a mistake.
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Old Sep 5, 2012, 12:18 pm
  #3910  
 
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Originally Posted by travelkid
Its over when all settlements and lawsuits/courtcases are done. But for the majority its already over.



.
Does anyone know "first hand" of an actual law suit that has been started yet? (ie: papers served)

IMO regular lawsuits in State or federal Court are not going to happen. I don't know ANYONE that would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees just to try to get back a tkt worth $10-20K. No lawyer worth his salt would take a case this time consuming without at least a $50,000 retainer

That leaves small claims court. Wondering if anyone has gone that route yet?
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Old Sep 5, 2012, 2:34 pm
  #3911  
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Originally Posted by chinatraderjmr
Does anyone know "first hand" of an actual law suit that has been started yet? (ie: papers served)

IMO regular lawsuits in State or federal Court are not going to happen. I don't know ANYONE that would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees just to try to get back a tkt worth $10-20K. No lawyer worth his salt would take a case this time consuming without at least a $50,000 retainer

That leaves small claims court. Wondering if anyone has gone that route yet?
My take; There will be a few dozens SCC cases. And Id have to say now is the time to start moving on that.

There could be class action.

And someone with a "good" case could go for a state lawsuit. I know from other miles/points cases far lower retainers, and you may have contingency.

And add jurisdictions outside US.

Most will be settled though, after you show muscles with attorney letterhead and/or SCC filed.
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Old Sep 5, 2012, 2:37 pm
  #3912  
 
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Originally Posted by bubbashow
Oh Global....you are so wrong. The FlyerTalk-CRAZY is just getting good.... I will bring you up to speed - UA lurking around with secred Non-Disclosure agreements.

Let the wackiness continue!
Hmmm...... interesting!

Keep me posted I will come back in 2 wks
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Old Sep 5, 2012, 3:20 pm
  #3913  
 
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Originally Posted by global_happy_traveller
Hmmm...... interesting!

Keep me posted I will come back in 2 wks
I went on vacation where there was no phone or internet and come back and find this thread still alive. Wow.
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Old Sep 5, 2012, 5:34 pm
  #3914  
 
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Originally Posted by travelkid
The bolded part contains a contradiction.
I don't see a contradiction. Anyone who is saying they did not know 4 miles for first class is lying. I stand by that. If you are referring to the miles changing from one page to another, I was referring to one of the many newspaper articles... further indicating the mistake. But, someone stated they did not believe that happened on multiple city international first class tickets... okay, if true... but ... INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS TICKET WITH MULTIPLE CONNECTIONS/STOPS FOR 4 MILES... clearly a mistake. Everyone knew it.


Originally Posted by travelkid
... Im actually posting on this thread from personal knowledge with this case and the law in related cases.
What is your personal knowledge? (Or are you one of the many super secret lawyer/judge/executive/insider super heroes on FT that cannot reveal their true identity. )
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Old Sep 6, 2012, 12:14 am
  #3915  
 
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Originally Posted by travelkid
My take; There will be a few dozens SCC cases. And Id have to say now is the time to start moving on that.

There could be class action.

And someone with a "good" case could go for a state lawsuit. I know from other miles/points cases far lower retainers, and you may have contingency.

And add jurisdictions outside US.

Most will be settled though, after you show muscles with attorney letterhead and/or SCC filed.
I applaud anyone that brings UA to SCC or any kind of lawsuit. Not because I agree with them, but because I would NEVER be able to stand in front of a judge, claiming I was wronged and wanted my $4 First Class ticket back, with a straight face and not burst out laughing!
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