Ridiculous UA service at YHZ
Feb 24, 2013, 12:35 pm
#16
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: DC|NYC
Programs: UA GS, DL Plat, Marriott Bonvoy LIfetime Titanium/SPG refugee, Hertz Prez, Amtrak Select
Posts: 3,201
Service at YOW--provided by former CO employees--is equally pathetic. On my recent flight to EWR, we had passed boarding time and the flight was posted on the board as having left on time while we all sat at the gate without a single announcement from the gate agent who was looking down and doing something on her phone.
The best part was when the captain (admittedly now off-topic as this does not pertain to the YOW ground staff) came through with his duty free liquor purchases. I guess once the flight is no longer on time, then there's no rush to get going and time for shopping en route to the aircraft.
And, yes, I know for a fact that he delayed the flight because as soon as he passed the gate agent, she finally called for boarding. Those of us in Group 1 actually walked onto the aircraft with the captain. The FO and FA were onboard.
The best part was when the captain (admittedly now off-topic as this does not pertain to the YOW ground staff) came through with his duty free liquor purchases. I guess once the flight is no longer on time, then there's no rush to get going and time for shopping en route to the aircraft.
And, yes, I know for a fact that he delayed the flight because as soon as he passed the gate agent, she finally called for boarding. Those of us in Group 1 actually walked onto the aircraft with the captain. The FO and FA were onboard.
Feb 24, 2013, 4:50 pm
#18
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
What an absolute farce of a day.
I was booked in UA4689/18 on YHZ/EWR/LHR, which made me happy to avoid the red-eye.
I was late for the first leg, through no fault of my own. There were 2 checking-in agents, and one of them took 40 minutes to deal with a single passenger, by which time, I had been bumped, as it was overbooked due to a cancellation.
So, I was bumped to UA1340/928 (red-eye via ORD), with 90 minutes connection time. 1340 sat on the tarmac for an hour, asking for volunteers to take a later flight. I knew there was no chance of making my connection, so I took the $600, and looked forward to bed (stinking cold/cough kept me awake last night), rebooked tomorrow lunchtime, via EWR.
OK, happens, and it was partly my fault. But there were FOUR UA staff in the entire airport, who first had to clear 1340, then the next flight, before dealing with my (and several other people's) voucher, rebooking and hotels, because there was no one else who could escort me back through US immigration (pre-clearance at YHZ). Not only that, they seemed to have no idea what they were doing. It took about 1 3/4 hours between deboarding and exiting the terminal.
Now, because I volunteered for the second bump, I foolishly assumed they would have treated me with some level of dignity. Oh no. Quality Inn reservation (motel), wait for the complimentary shuttle, laughed when I suggest an upgrade for the transatlantic instead of the money and hotel (OK, expected, but worth a try). I finally walked out the terminal at around 1630, after 11 hours.
So, I'm pretty p*ssed off (and there is still scope for more delay to the current 32 hour late ETA. Do I have recourse, or shall I put it down to experience?
I was booked in UA4689/18 on YHZ/EWR/LHR, which made me happy to avoid the red-eye.
I was late for the first leg, through no fault of my own. There were 2 checking-in agents, and one of them took 40 minutes to deal with a single passenger, by which time, I had been bumped, as it was overbooked due to a cancellation.
So, I was bumped to UA1340/928 (red-eye via ORD), with 90 minutes connection time. 1340 sat on the tarmac for an hour, asking for volunteers to take a later flight. I knew there was no chance of making my connection, so I took the $600, and looked forward to bed (stinking cold/cough kept me awake last night), rebooked tomorrow lunchtime, via EWR.
OK, happens, and it was partly my fault. But there were FOUR UA staff in the entire airport, who first had to clear 1340, then the next flight, before dealing with my (and several other people's) voucher, rebooking and hotels, because there was no one else who could escort me back through US immigration (pre-clearance at YHZ). Not only that, they seemed to have no idea what they were doing. It took about 1 3/4 hours between deboarding and exiting the terminal.
Now, because I volunteered for the second bump, I foolishly assumed they would have treated me with some level of dignity. Oh no. Quality Inn reservation (motel), wait for the complimentary shuttle, laughed when I suggest an upgrade for the transatlantic instead of the money and hotel (OK, expected, but worth a try). I finally walked out the terminal at around 1630, after 11 hours.
So, I'm pretty p*ssed off (and there is still scope for more delay to the current 32 hour late ETA. Do I have recourse, or shall I put it down to experience?
2. Quality Inn seems like a crap hotel. Did you try the Holiday Inn or Hilton, both at that airport, that are better standard hotels? Were they full?
3. Were you dealing with UA or was it a UAX flight staffed by some random fly by night operator?
Feb 24, 2013, 5:14 pm
#19
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: ABE
Programs: DL DM, IHG Spire, Mariott Platinum (UA SI) Avis First, National Executive
Posts: 764
the OP said that the flight in question was UA 4689 (E45 and a roughly 600 mile flight...)
Feb 24, 2013, 5:27 pm
#20
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
Do UAX operators follow same policies on hotel as UA does?
I ask this because I've been surprised by how nice the hotels are that UA seems to use.
When I was stuck in LIH due to MX, they put is in a hotel that was as nice as anything in the area, and they'd have put us up someplace better if it had not been sold out.
I've since read several reports here of others who indicate placement in decent business class hotels.
Looking at the hotels around Halifax Airport, the Quality Inn is clearly a cheap choice and worse than two other options.
So, would UA have done the same thing? Does UAX follow different rules? Is it possible both better options were sold out?
Feb 26, 2013, 9:31 am
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: UK
Programs: BA Silver,UA,IHG Diamond
Posts: 63
1. It seems like one issue is whether or not you were late. What time did you arrive and what was your scheduled flight departure time?
2. Quality Inn seems like a crap hotel. Did you try the Holiday Inn or Hilton, both at that airport, that are better standard hotels? Were they full?
3. Were you dealing with UA or was it a UAX flight staffed by some random fly by night operator?
2. Quality Inn seems like a crap hotel. Did you try the Holiday Inn or Hilton, both at that airport, that are better standard hotels? Were they full?
3. Were you dealing with UA or was it a UAX flight staffed by some random fly by night operator?
2. I had stayed in the Holiday Inn the previous night, and was quite happy with it. I did not argue about the Quality Inn, as all I wanted to do was exit the airport and go back to bed.
3. It was UA.
I was feeling pretty ill and exhausted when I wrote the original post, so perhaps I may have detracted from my main complaint. Being bumped (when it's at least partially my fault) is one thing, but being treated like a piece of meat after volunteering to be bumped from the next flight was unacceptable. All I expected was a little courtesy, primarily to expedite my exit from the terminal, not left to do absolutely nothing for 2 hours whilst they find some time to sort out my paperwork and escort me through security.