Jul 17, 2016, 10:47 am
Lapchild fee not charged at booking - should UA honor booking? [Consolidated]
Sep 16, 2013, 9:32 pm
#151
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,909
OMG!!! The rules on the UA website ---
Acceptance of accompanied children under two years
Children under the age of two traveling within the United States with a parent or with an adult 18 years or older can travel on the adult's lap free of charge. If there are two or more children under the age of two traveling with the same adult, only one of the children may travel as a lap child. Any additional children are required to purchase a seat. Children under the age of two traveling internationally without a seat are required to purchase a ticket and are subject to infant fares and taxes. When making your reservation you should indicate you are traveling with an infant, regardless of your destination.
Infants under the age of two, traveling without a seat within the United States, do not require a ticket. All infants traveling internationally must have a ticket, even if no seat is purchased and they are traveling as a lap child.
Infants traveling between the U.S. and Canada only pay taxes on the ticket. Infants traveling without a seat to other international destinations are charged 10% of the adult fare at the time of infant ticketing (it is usually less expensive to purchase the infant ticket in advance). Infants traveling on an adult’s lap on front cabin rewards or upgrades must pay 10% of the front cabin fare in applicable markets.
What's so hard to understand???
Acceptance of accompanied children under two years
Children under the age of two traveling within the United States with a parent or with an adult 18 years or older can travel on the adult's lap free of charge. If there are two or more children under the age of two traveling with the same adult, only one of the children may travel as a lap child. Any additional children are required to purchase a seat. Children under the age of two traveling internationally without a seat are required to purchase a ticket and are subject to infant fares and taxes. When making your reservation you should indicate you are traveling with an infant, regardless of your destination.
Infants under the age of two, traveling without a seat within the United States, do not require a ticket. All infants traveling internationally must have a ticket, even if no seat is purchased and they are traveling as a lap child.
Infants traveling between the U.S. and Canada only pay taxes on the ticket. Infants traveling without a seat to other international destinations are charged 10% of the adult fare at the time of infant ticketing (it is usually less expensive to purchase the infant ticket in advance). Infants traveling on an adult’s lap on front cabin rewards or upgrades must pay 10% of the front cabin fare in applicable markets.
What's so hard to understand???
Sep 16, 2013, 9:33 pm
#152
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
And the ticket count has been noticed by the OP ... hence this thread.
Sep 16, 2013, 9:36 pm
#153
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 49
Not according to the DOT. Local laws may be different from those in the US.
Sep 16, 2013, 9:45 pm
#154
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,933
The OP made a mistake and some on here need to be reminded that if the kid gets to go with mom and dad it will cost money, PERIOD.
If it was established early on that the OP screwed up, which he admits to doing, what is the problem with him "Slapping Leather" and paying instead of "Passing The Buck" to UA or seeking support on here???
The bottom line is that the OP got a surprise of additional fees for the child and now he's apparently wanting to manufacture a reason to get the child on the plane for free. AS I mentioned before, this is about the umpteenth poster that got a notification later on that nobody flies free no matter how young they are or how uninformed dad is!
Sep 16, 2013, 9:49 pm
#155
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Japan/Thailand
Programs: AS, UA
Posts: 1,201
The bottom line is that the OP got a surprise of additional fees for the child and now he's apparently wanting to manufacture a reason to get the child on the plane for free. AS I mentioned before, this is about the umpteenth poster that got a notification later on that nobody flies free no matter how young they are or how uninformed dad is!
Last edited by bpe; Sep 17, 2013 at 11:52 am
Sep 16, 2013, 9:51 pm
#156
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: HNL
Programs: United Gold
Posts: 1,581
Everyone keeps referencing the rules.
If UA's website posts the rules, wouldn't it be reasonable to assume that its reservation engine would then also know to charge the customer correctly based on those rules?
If UA's website posts the rules, wouldn't it be reasonable to assume that its reservation engine would then also know to charge the customer correctly based on those rules?
Sep 16, 2013, 9:51 pm
#157
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,933
Last edited by iluv2fly; Sep 16, 2013 at 9:54 pm Reason: image
Sep 16, 2013, 9:58 pm
#158
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 87
I know that, and I also realize that this is being beaten to death by people that feel that since the OP didn't know that he needed to purchase a ticket for the kid that somehow Aaron should jump in the middle of this mistake, by the OP, and hopefully somehow pop for $1.800.00.
The OP made a mistake and some on here need to be reminded that if the kid gets to go with mom and dad it will cost money, PERIOD.
If it was established early on that the OP screwed up, which he admits to doing, what is the problem with him "Slapping Leather" and paying instead of "Passing The Buck" to UA or seeking support on here???
The bottom line is that the OP got a surprise of additional fees for the child and now he's apparently wanting to manufacture a reason to get the child on the plane for free. AS I mentioned before, this is about the umpteenth poster that got a notification later on that nobody flies free no matter how young they are or how uninformed dad is!
The OP made a mistake and some on here need to be reminded that if the kid gets to go with mom and dad it will cost money, PERIOD.
If it was established early on that the OP screwed up, which he admits to doing, what is the problem with him "Slapping Leather" and paying instead of "Passing The Buck" to UA or seeking support on here???
The bottom line is that the OP got a surprise of additional fees for the child and now he's apparently wanting to manufacture a reason to get the child on the plane for free. AS I mentioned before, this is about the umpteenth poster that got a notification later on that nobody flies free no matter how young they are or how uninformed dad is!
** Infant Travel Policy - Additional charges may apply. For award travel, any additional fare for a lap child will not be included in fares that will be displayed in your search results, but will be displayed for review prior to purchase. (emphasis mine).
United displayed a fare (for an itinerary that includes all three of us) for review prior to purchase at which point I made the payment.
Indeed. And most of my detractors have thus far refused to answer this very straightforward question. Any takers?
Last edited by iluv2fly; Sep 16, 2013 at 11:08 pm Reason: merge
Sep 16, 2013, 10:15 pm
#159
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,909
Hmmm, so UA admitted there was an error with their recent $0 tickets purchased on the web. So think that pretty much confirms the web is not perfect. The OP originally did not know the rule about the infant ticket at 10% for international (do you know every rule for buying a ticket?). The OP stated they put in 3 passengers. It gave him a final price which they paid. Comes here after finding out the infant needs a ticket. Looks like the web has a problem with infant fares, especially on award international tickets on other carriers outside the USA. Says if it had been presented at the very beginning when booking would have paid. Thought everything was good. Now is hit with an $1800 bill after the fact. So if UA has to honor the $0 fare error why shouldn't they have to honor this? An error is an error and in this case he wasn't trying to take advantage of a glitch like the $0 fare. UA is trying to take advantage after a glitch and make him pay more money. And as others said in the $0 fare thread when is an error an obvious error?
Sep 16, 2013, 10:16 pm
#160
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 49
I know that, and I also realize that this is being beaten to death by people that feel that since the OP didn't know that he needed to purchase a ticket for the kid that somehow Aaron should jump in the middle of this mistake, by the OP, and hopefully somehow pop for $1.800.00.
The OP made a mistake and some on here need to be reminded that if the kid gets to go with mom and dad it will cost money, PERIOD.
If it was established early on that the OP screwed up, which he admits to doing, what is the problem with him "Slapping Leather" and paying instead of "Passing The Buck" to UA or seeking support on here???
The bottom line is that the OP got a surprise of additional fees for the child and now he's apparently wanting to manufacture a reason to get the child on the plane for free. AS I mentioned before, this is about the umpteenth poster that got a notification later on that nobody flies free no matter how young they are or how uninformed dad is!
The OP made a mistake and some on here need to be reminded that if the kid gets to go with mom and dad it will cost money, PERIOD.
If it was established early on that the OP screwed up, which he admits to doing, what is the problem with him "Slapping Leather" and paying instead of "Passing The Buck" to UA or seeking support on here???
The bottom line is that the OP got a surprise of additional fees for the child and now he's apparently wanting to manufacture a reason to get the child on the plane for free. AS I mentioned before, this is about the umpteenth poster that got a notification later on that nobody flies free no matter how young they are or how uninformed dad is!
In many ways the infant is a red herring to this situation. Consider the same situation if the third person is not an infant: the web site shows a price for three passengers, and a purchase is made. Only two people are ticketed by United. Would the passenger be responsible for getting a third ticket? After all, the rules clearly state that all the passengers need a ticket, and there are only two tickets. No, this is clearly United's problem: they quoted a price for three passengers and did not ticket correctly. United needs to uphold their end of the bargain: providing three tickets for the agreed-upon price.
Sep 16, 2013, 10:17 pm
#161
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: BOS
Posts: 248
It is theft to charge $1,800.00 for an e-ticket for a pax that will occupy exactly 0 seats on a flight. UA should be ashamed on this policy.
10% of the miles might be OK (like other carriers), but not 10% of the full fare.
10% of the miles might be OK (like other carriers), but not 10% of the full fare.
Sep 16, 2013, 10:21 pm
#162
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,934
Could you educate us dunces on this point?
Sep 16, 2013, 10:22 pm
#163
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,909
Not PERIOD, on purely domestic tickets the lap infant flies free with no ticket needed. If that is the only exposure someone had to flying with a lap infant it is very easy to believe international would be no different if the web doesn't advise you when you are getting your tickets. This is purely a UA web glitch with no fault on the OP's part.
Sep 16, 2013, 10:25 pm
#164
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Japan/Thailand
Programs: AS, UA
Posts: 1,201
It's not UA policy - it's international IATA ticketing requirements. Besides, it's not UA that would deny boarding, it's AC and the other airlines that OP is actually flying.
Sep 16, 2013, 10:26 pm
#165
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Gold, WN A+ & CP, HH Diamond, Hyatt Platinum, National Executive Elite
Posts: 3,246
No need to get all persnickety about it.
OMG!!! The rules on the UA website ---
Acceptance of accompanied children under two years
Children under the age of two traveling within the United States with a parent or with an adult 18 years or older can travel on the adult's lap free of charge. If there are two or more children under the age of two traveling with the same adult, only one of the children may travel as a lap child. Any additional children are required to purchase a seat. Children under the age of two traveling internationally without a seat are required to purchase a ticket and are subject to infant fares and taxes. When making your reservation you should indicate you are traveling with an infant, regardless of your destination.
Infants under the age of two, traveling without a seat within the United States, do not require a ticket. All infants traveling internationally must have a ticket, even if no seat is purchased and they are traveling as a lap child.
Infants traveling between the U.S. and Canada only pay taxes on the ticket. Infants traveling without a seat to other international destinations are charged 10% of the adult fare at the time of infant ticketing (it is usually less expensive to purchase the infant ticket in advance). Infants traveling on an adult’s lap on front cabin rewards or upgrades must pay 10% of the front cabin fare in applicable markets.
What's so hard to understand???
Acceptance of accompanied children under two years
Children under the age of two traveling within the United States with a parent or with an adult 18 years or older can travel on the adult's lap free of charge. If there are two or more children under the age of two traveling with the same adult, only one of the children may travel as a lap child. Any additional children are required to purchase a seat. Children under the age of two traveling internationally without a seat are required to purchase a ticket and are subject to infant fares and taxes. When making your reservation you should indicate you are traveling with an infant, regardless of your destination.
Infants under the age of two, traveling without a seat within the United States, do not require a ticket. All infants traveling internationally must have a ticket, even if no seat is purchased and they are traveling as a lap child.
Infants traveling between the U.S. and Canada only pay taxes on the ticket. Infants traveling without a seat to other international destinations are charged 10% of the adult fare at the time of infant ticketing (it is usually less expensive to purchase the infant ticket in advance). Infants traveling on an adult’s lap on front cabin rewards or upgrades must pay 10% of the front cabin fare in applicable markets.
What's so hard to understand???
Hmmm, so UA admitted there was an error with their recent $0 tickets purchased on the web. So think that pretty much confirms the web is not perfect. The OP originally did not know the rule about the infant ticket at 10% for international (do you know every rule for buying a ticket?). The OP stated they put in 3 passengers. It gave him a final price which they paid. Comes here after finding out the infant needs a ticket. Looks like the web has a problem with infant fares, especially on award international tickets on other carriers outside the USA. Says if it had been presented at the very beginning when booking would have paid. Thought everything was good. Now is hit with an $1800 bill after the fact. So if UA has to honor the $0 fare error why shouldn't they have to honor this? An error is an error and in this case he wasn't trying to take advantage of a glitch like the $0 fare. UA is trying to take advantage after a glitch and make him pay more money. And as others said in the $0 fare thread when is an error an obvious error?