flyinbob

Say 3 Hail Mary's and 2 Our Fathers, and you'll...

It is a token of "appreciation". Lots of businesses do it, even when there is nothing wrong. Just say thanks (the way they want you to say thanks is with more business) and move on. You were a good boy. Probably doesn't happen often so enjoy the perks.

Mike Jacoubowsky

You make a fine lowly 2P. A bit of searching will find that's meant as a compliment. ^

More seriously, it will all either even out in the end, or things will begin to tip back in UA's favor. Don't worry about it; people are trying to do their jobs as best they know how. They're probably better off automatically doing some token gesture than spending too much time figuring things out on an individual basis. Wish that weren't the case, but that's the world we live in.

PanHam

Welcome to United. You'll find they do something like this a lot. They like to throw miles/certs at people rather than actually fix things.

With many United employees, that's often realllllllllllllllllllllly pushing it.

mherdeg

I know you didn't ask about it, but you should be able to get EQM in the form of original routing credit for the UA flight if you're persistent.

The discussion at http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ng-merged.html and http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...l-eqm-eqs.html is pretty positive about EQM eventually posting if you happen to hit the right combination of "friendly people on the other side of the phone/fax" and "stars aligned".

If you've already given up on it and decided that an appreciation certificate for your hassle is thoughtful enough to make you stop trying, that's cool too But based on those threads, it looks like people have often been successful at getting original routing credit in situations that might have been like yours.

kravi

Don't know. I used to fly NWA (despite what everyone says, I never had a bad experience, always flew nice planes, and ALWAYS got upgraded even as a lowly silver - probably because everyone avoided NWA like the plague). After Delta bought them and the merge finished, I flew Delta a couple of times and was miserable.

I put in a status transfer to United about 4 weeks ago, got it 3 weeks ago, have put on around 7k EQM since then, but have been very pleased with service. Maybe the bar was just set too low?

--Me

channa

Don't worry about it.

If you feel guilty about it, next time they mess you up a bit, don't complain and call it even.

000123UA

If it was miles, I really wouldn't worry about it. If it is a discount certificate, feel free to rip it up (well, print the email and rip that up?)

I agree with most others, though - UA sent that to you to maintain a sense of goodwill. UAUA is actually making money right now (minus the volcano) and they want you to keep buying seats. If they build up some goodwill with you, especially a relatively new UA elite, then you're more likely to cut them some slack next time things go awry.

As far as the EQM, I've had 100% success with the recommended fax approach to claiming original routing credit and would encourage you to do that - only takes a few minutes.

ec336

I have a slightly tricky situation and would appreciate any feedback/thoughts...

I purchased a roundtrip on CO, with my MP number in the record. Outbound flights credited quickly, and with no problems. On the return trip, I was scheduled to fly LIM-IAH-LAX on CO, but due to a very delayed incoming aircraft, I was put on a non-stop LIM-LAX on LAN Chile instead. I was also denied any kind of lounge access, since my *G status meant nothing to LAN, and CO refused to let me use the (contract) lounge.

Can I still try to claim the original routing credit (LIM-IAH-LAX)? How would I do this, since I want to credit miles for a CO flight I was moved from, to my UA MP account, after having flown on LA? Do I contact MP, or OnePass? And would MP even consider this?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

beltway

In brief, earlier this month I had a same-day DCA-ORD-MKE-ORD-DCA segment run booked. (Am shooting to make 1P the hard way -- Q1 travel involved a lot of east coast short hops -- and had an expiring credit cert to burn.)

Upon arrival in ORD, I discovered that my onward connection to MKE had been canceled by UA (not wx) and that the system had autorebooked me to return to DCA. (The system simply dropped my MKE-ORD res, leaving my original 4th segment.) After a lengthy adventure trying to get a live GA to help me, I managed to rebook on an earlier flight back to DCA.

Naturally, MP is crediting me only for the DCA-ORD-DCA r/t. And .bomb is showing 2 unused coupons as technically available for refund. (Oddly, it's MKE-ORD-DCA, even though I already flew ORD-DCA and never flew ORD-MKE.)

Obviously, I don't want a refund, which couldn't amount to much anyway (esp. since the total out-of-pocket cost was ~$70 on top of the travel credit). I faxed MP ten days ago requesting ORC, but have received no response. Should I

- kick myself for not simply rebooking onto a later ORD-MKE-ORD-DCA itinerary?

- pester MP some more for original routing credit?

- chalk it up to experience & console myself with the new $200 travel credit I was offered (which I didn't even ask for, and which I have not yet accepted online) when I first called to request ORC?

exerda

Pester MP for original routing credit. Fax them again a brief note explaining you're requesting the original routing credit since UA cancelled your original flights and involuntarily rerouted you; give them the original routing + photocopies of your BPs. Shouldn't be a problem.

You can also call and get it done over the phone... may have to talk to a few people to get someone to do it, though, IME.

And take the $200 as well and put it toward another flight later, too.

beltway

I did fax them a 1-page letter backed up with copies of all relevant docs (original itinerary; EasyUpdate notices of cancellation & auto-rebook; all BPs). That was 10 days ago; no reply by phone, email, or otherwise.

I also called last week & spoke with a line CSR & a supervisor who insisted that ORC would not be granted for unflown segments like this. I don't think she was denying the existence of ORC in general; rather, she seemed to be distinguishing between a re-route to same destination and my case, where I never reached MKE.

And I do indeed plan to act on the compensation offer (which, for the record, is $200; 9K RDM; or 20% off a future ticket) as soon as I get a definitive response re ORC.

exerda

On a few occasions, it's taken me 2-3 tries via fax. They never seem to give feedback--the miles just show up in a few days if successful. But it's always worked eventually.


The tried & true FT action is to try, try again until you get the right answer. I needed ORC to make 1P a few years ago, and had to call 3x times before I got someone who granted it as a "one-time exception" claiming "you can only get credit for miles flown; UA is not a 'frequent buyer' program but a 'frequent flier' program," etc. But I did get the credit.

You could also e-mail the Premier Voice and request ORC.

sosafan

My daughter had a Delta ticket last week SFO-MSP-ORD. The SFO-MSP was running late, so they put her on a direct United flight. But the United gate agent wouldn't accept her United Frequent Flyer number, telling her "Delta payed for the ticket." Luckily she kept the boarding pass.

Has anything like this happened to others?

WineCountryUA

You might try the online Missing Flight Credit?

sosafan

Wow, that worked instantly!


Even though the number didn't start with 016.

Thanks!