jlivengo

Just returned from Chicago on Monday, flight delayed to SFO due to weather. Missed connection to OGG. UA put me up for the night. I generally have the best luck finding an older agent in the UA Club. She hooked me up with a voucher.

PBAudit

I'm not sure if there is more recent thread. I misconnected in IAH Saturday night due to thunderstorms. While other flights were adversely affected, unfortunately (for me) my connection was one of the few that left pretty much on time.

After going to the gate and confirming the flight was closed, I went to the United Club. I asked about the 1k hotel benefit. The agent wasn't too familiar with this benefit and looked it up. She mentioned the this 1K/GS benefit (for weather) is only eligible on international itineraries.

I mentioned that the last time I misconnected in IAH (2 years ago), I was rebooked and provided a hotel, albeit on an international itinerary. I asked the agent (who was experienced/knowledgeable), if United still provided hotel to 1k's on weather delays on domestic itineraries. The agent said that United does and that most agents are misinformed. Of course, policies can change.

My agent checked with a more senior/experienced agent about this policy. She came back and said that the current policy is to provide accommodations only on international, not domestic, weather misconnections. However, they will make an exception in this case, and provide a hotel.

During the conversation, I made sure that my tone was pleasant. Specifically I told them that I realize policies change and if this was the case, that I can reset my expectations accordingly. While I can't be 100% certain, I believe being nice was a factor in getting the hotel.

EWR764

In the last year, I had three weather-related forced overnights, at DEN, SEA and SFO. In all cases I received a hotel and meal vouchers upon first request, no questions asked.

YMMV, I think.

flybit

since most of my flights start in Toronto, I guess I'm international so UA always give me a hotel room for free.

cfischer

the *A rule is 'intercontinental' not 'international' so YMMV.

NH_Clark

Mrs NH and I on return vaca RSW-IAH-BOS. Flight from RSW to IAH delayed inbound due to late crew (according to counter staff at RSW). Basically, looks like we won't arrive on time in IAH to make our connection. RSW counter reps not very helpful.

Should I speak with GA on landing to try and get a room or should I go ahead and reserve a room on my own and try to get reimbursed?

Any chance of them holding the flight an extra 5 min. for a lowly 1K?

PBAudit

A couple of ideas. First, there is a double connection from RSW to BOS with the first flight leaving RSW to MCO (via Silver airlines) @ 4:45 pm. I'm not sure if the RSW staff can put you on this flight, with the assumption that you will mis-connect in IAH.

If you do go on your IAH flight, do not expect that they will hold the flight. When I mis-connected in IAH two weeks ago, they did not hold the IAH-SFO flight. The United Club agent in FLL said there were 24 passengers connecting from FLL to IAH to SFO. If true, they could have waited another 10-15 minutes to accommodate us, but they did not. Since there was weather issues (thunderstorms), I'm assuming they filled the plane by putting passengers from earlier mis-connections.

If you do mis-connect, I would suggest going to the United Club for assistance (assuming you have a membership, or pay for a 1 time pass). When I received a hotel room, it was the Club agents who were helpful (and supposedly bent the rules). It is extremely unlikely that other non club agents (i.e. gate agents, customer service agents) will take the initiative or risk of providing a hotel.

It all my depend on why your crew is late. If it weather related, then United is less likely to provide a hotel room. If their delay was due to mechanical problems (on arriving flight), you should note this.

Two weeks ago, If United did not provide a hotel room, my backup was to book a room myself and go through the claim process via the United Explorer card (which should cover the charge). Fortunately for me, i did not need to go through this process.

Good Luck

NH_Clark

Thanks!

Lani1

I always prefer to just pay for hotel and call 1K relations Desk in morning - while you will not get a check to pay for hotel, I always found they will happily give you flight vouchers that equal your out of pocket expense for hotel.

For me easier then waiting at airport in hopes of finding right agent who understands policy

username

Caught up in the Weather/ATC problem at ORD tonight. Before my flight cancelled, I went to the Service Center in the E/F gate to ask what the rules are now for 1K.

Agent #1 said, without any hesitation, that UA will cover the hotel/meal.

When it did cancel, I went back. Agent #2 said no (even for 1K) and gave me the pink slip.

Then I went down to Agent #1 but she was busy. So I talked to the agent next to her when she freed up (Agent #3 ). Agent #3 said no but when I pushed, she started looking in her computer for the rules.

When Agent #1 freed up, she told Agent #3 that they cover it. Agent #3 did it pretty quickly.

What I don't understand is how come agents don't know these rules by heart and are so inconsistent. This really tells how UA values us :td

Before I write to ask them to train the agents better, what is the latest rule?

Thanks.

Kacee

If they just say no, you're likely to go away faster.

chavala

If only we the pax could actually see these rules and have a copy.

bmoy210

I usually wait until the line is gone when there are IRROPS. When they come back with a "no" reply (especially at an out station where there are few or only one agent), I usually say that it is at their discretion to issue the hotel voucher. With nobody looking or other people to answer to, the answer usually becomes, "just this once".

At larger hubs and clubs, 99% of the time they issue a hotel and meal voucher with little fanfare. One time, they had hotel voucher in hand and boarding passes for the next day when I got off the plane, as they knew everybody had misconnected.

For all the horrible experiences others have had, UA had consistently treated me well since 2002 when I first got status. Maybe I got lucky and didn't get the unruly matrons and dragons. Maybe I'm just a polite helpless looking guy that the agents have mercy upon.

username

So, I asked another agent the next day before my rebooked flight and he said, without hesitation, that 1Ks and GS do get hotel. It is crazy we have to go through this kind of game with them.

tcp1

And this goes back to the #1 complaint I have about United - inconsistency and lack of transparency.

I don't think any other airline has more "secret" policies and guidelines than United. Nevermind the whole pmCO/pmUA problem - but everything from this, the actual IDB process, meal priority in F, the 1K Y beverage perk.. Everything's a roll of the dice, and the exact details seem to be either misunderstood by half of the employees. The "secret" policies like this make it even worse.