Setting FAA complaint form as my homepage
Aug 16, 2012, 6:30 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: ORD Terminal 1
Programs: Marriott Plat, UA Gold
Posts: 2
Setting FAA complaint form as my homepage
Hi All,
Like many of you, I have been a loyal United flier, with over 800,000 BIS in the past 6 years. However, this CO merger has been an absolute disaster and at this point, I just want UA to either get their operations sorted out or get Smisek out.
Since my complaints to the airline are not helping (they actually gave me a $400 voucher, which when used by my wife resulted in her being cancelled), I've decided that for every 1+ hour non-weather related delay, I am going to file a complaint with the FAA. Given the amount of flying I do, I've already filed two complaints this week alone.
If anything, the media watches these numbers, so as I'm sitting in MCI with another 2 hour delay, hopefully I can do my part in getting the C-suite of this airline ousted.
United come back this is killing me!
Like many of you, I have been a loyal United flier, with over 800,000 BIS in the past 6 years. However, this CO merger has been an absolute disaster and at this point, I just want UA to either get their operations sorted out or get Smisek out.
Since my complaints to the airline are not helping (they actually gave me a $400 voucher, which when used by my wife resulted in her being cancelled), I've decided that for every 1+ hour non-weather related delay, I am going to file a complaint with the FAA. Given the amount of flying I do, I've already filed two complaints this week alone.
If anything, the media watches these numbers, so as I'm sitting in MCI with another 2 hour delay, hopefully I can do my part in getting the C-suite of this airline ousted.
United come back this is killing me!
Aug 16, 2012, 6:39 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,166
Welcome to FT! Unfortunately the PMUA that many of us knew and loved is DOA, replaced by the zombie COdbaUA airline. Your call about trying to wait it out for improvements or looking to shift business to other more reliable, loyal traveler-friendly airlines that many of us are exploring.
Aug 16, 2012, 6:42 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K; *G and *A Top 1000; HHonors Diamond; *$ Gold; Global Entry
Posts: 2,269
Why the FAA? If you have legitimate consumer concerns with UA, I believe you're supposed to file with the DOT.
http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/problems.htm
http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/problems.htm
Aug 16, 2012, 6:52 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: ORD Terminal 1
Programs: Marriott Plat, UA Gold
Posts: 2
Why the FAA? If you have legitimate consumer concerns with UA, I believe you're supposed to file with the DOT.
http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/problems.htm
http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/problems.htm
Aug 16, 2012, 7:07 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LHR (sometimes CLE, SFO, BOS, LAX, SEA)
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 5,892
If you can find some DoT rule that you think United violated after mx'ing you, you might have a better case.
Here's one of my favorites: "A DOT rule requires that airlines acknowlege a written complaint within 30 days and send a substantive response within 60 days of receiving the complaint." (http://airconsumer.dot.gov/publicati...ts.htm#delayed) If you file a written complaint with UA and they don't acknowledge your complaint within 30 days, or respond substantively within 60, then you're totally entitled to send off a DoT complaint about that!
Also, wow, the DoT has some great advice about writing complaint letters:
* If you send a letter, type it and, if at all possible, limit it to two pages.
* Include your daytime telephone number (with area code).
* No matter how angry you might be, keep your letter or email businesslike in tone and don't exaggerate what happened. If the complaint sounds very vehement or sarcastic, you might wait a day and then consider revising it.
* Describe what happened, and give dates, cities, and flight numbers or flight times.
* Where possible, include copies, never the originals, of tickets and receipts or other documents that can back up your claim.
* Include the names of any employees who were rude or made things worse, as well as anyone who might have been especially helpful.
* Don't clutter your complaint with a litany of petty gripes that can obscure what you're really angry about.
* Let the airline know if you've suffered any special inconvenience or monetary losses.
* Say just what you expect the carrier to do to make amends. An airline may offer to settle your claim with a check or some other kind of compensation, possibly free transportation. You might want a written apology from a rude employee or reimbursement for some loss you incurred ? but the airline needs to know what you want before it can decide what action to take.
* Be reasonable. If your demands are way out of line, you are rude or sarcastic, or you use vulgar language, at best your letter might earn you a polite apology and a place in the airline's crank files.
If you follow these guidelines, the airlines will probably treat your complaint seriously. Your letter will help them to determine what caused your problem, as well as to suggest actions the company can take to keep the same thing from happening to other people.
* Include your daytime telephone number (with area code).
* No matter how angry you might be, keep your letter or email businesslike in tone and don't exaggerate what happened. If the complaint sounds very vehement or sarcastic, you might wait a day and then consider revising it.
* Describe what happened, and give dates, cities, and flight numbers or flight times.
* Where possible, include copies, never the originals, of tickets and receipts or other documents that can back up your claim.
* Include the names of any employees who were rude or made things worse, as well as anyone who might have been especially helpful.
* Don't clutter your complaint with a litany of petty gripes that can obscure what you're really angry about.
* Let the airline know if you've suffered any special inconvenience or monetary losses.
* Say just what you expect the carrier to do to make amends. An airline may offer to settle your claim with a check or some other kind of compensation, possibly free transportation. You might want a written apology from a rude employee or reimbursement for some loss you incurred ? but the airline needs to know what you want before it can decide what action to take.
* Be reasonable. If your demands are way out of line, you are rude or sarcastic, or you use vulgar language, at best your letter might earn you a polite apology and a place in the airline's crank files.
If you follow these guidelines, the airlines will probably treat your complaint seriously. Your letter will help them to determine what caused your problem, as well as to suggest actions the company can take to keep the same thing from happening to other people.
Aug 16, 2012, 8:33 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: DEN
Programs: United Premier 1K, Marriott Platinum, Frontier, Delta, Hertz Gold, National Emerald Club
Posts: 928
Do it if it makes you feel better. But, you are just letting UA steal more time from you now, right?
Unless you write the letter DURING the delay. If you are that disciplined, more power to you.
You aren't going to get satisfaction or business change here. The only way to do that is SPEAK with your WALLET. That's the only real way to affect change here.
Unless you write the letter DURING the delay. If you are that disciplined, more power to you.
You aren't going to get satisfaction or business change here. The only way to do that is SPEAK with your WALLET. That's the only real way to affect change here.
Aug 16, 2012, 8:36 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP Gold75K
Posts: 850
It also hurts your credibility.
Aug 16, 2012, 8:48 pm
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Nor sure why OP is torturing himself. He doesn't like UA, he should fly the competition. Simple as that. Of course, he probably won't like the font size of the BP's on DL or the thread count of the hot towels on AA or somesuch.
Aug 16, 2012, 9:34 pm
#11
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: CO Platinum/1K, SPG Platinum/Ambassador
Posts: 1,705
If you want your MP account closed and your miles forfeited then I suggest you go ahead with this. If not, suck it up and deal. During egregious situations, write into UA, but if you get a reputation for being a whiner, they will make your life even more difficult on UA.
Aug 17, 2012, 8:26 am
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
If you want your MP account closed and your miles forfeited then I suggest you go ahead with this. If not, suck it up and deal. During egregious situations, write into UA, but if you get a reputation for being a whiner, they will make your life even more difficult on UA.
Aug 17, 2012, 8:32 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: United 1K, Delta PM, Hilton Diamond, Starwood Gold, National Exec. Elite
Posts: 1,406
A different way to approach this, using their own flaws.
Here is what I do. If I get into a situation where MX/Crew is the problem, I ask to be put on standby for another flight or protected on another routing. The agents are so unfamiliar with the systems they won't know to ARNK your record for the protection segment. This causes your ITIN to be cancelled. Watch it disappear from your phone and immediately fix it with the agent.
Then, file a complaint with the DOT that United deleted your ITIN and showed you as a no-show on their MX/Crew delayed flight, when in fact you were there.
If enough pax have their ITINs deleted, actually deleted, we can start the wheels in motion to fix these systems/jokers running this place.
Then, file a complaint with the DOT that United deleted your ITIN and showed you as a no-show on their MX/Crew delayed flight, when in fact you were there.
If enough pax have their ITINs deleted, actually deleted, we can start the wheels in motion to fix these systems/jokers running this place.
Aug 17, 2012, 11:45 am
#14
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Here is what I do. If I get into a situation where MX/Crew is the problem, I ask to be put on standby for another flight or protected on another routing. The agents are so unfamiliar with the systems they won't know to ARNK your record for the protection segment. This causes your ITIN to be cancelled. Watch it disappear from your phone and immediately fix it with the agent.
Then, file a complaint with the DOT that United deleted your ITIN and showed you as a no-show on their MX/Crew delayed flight, when in fact you were there.
If enough pax have their ITINs deleted, actually deleted, we can start the wheels in motion to fix these systems/jokers running this place.
Then, file a complaint with the DOT that United deleted your ITIN and showed you as a no-show on their MX/Crew delayed flight, when in fact you were there.
If enough pax have their ITINs deleted, actually deleted, we can start the wheels in motion to fix these systems/jokers running this place.
This is also one of those cutting nose to spite face things. Presuming that one works, time is money. All fun to say if you can cause a slipup so you can file a complaint with DOT, which unlike Nanny EU isn't going to slap the carriers around over this, you the pax are now stuck without a confirmed itinerary, hoping it gets fixed rather than focusing on the job or vacation which, as the case may be, is why you flew in the first place.
Seems that people over-personlize the relationship. One has a business relationship with an air carrier. It's not a marriage. Don't like UA, don't fly it. You don't need an anullment !
Aug 17, 2012, 1:17 pm
#15
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NCL
Programs: UA 1MM/*G. DL Gold for one more year.
Posts: 5,305
If you want your MP account closed and your miles forfeited then I suggest you go ahead with this. If not, suck it up and deal. During egregious situations, write into UA, but if you get a reputation for being a whiner, they will make your life even more difficult on UA.
