findark

Similarly have had no issues when OAL is the obvious choice (e.g. DCA-ORD canceled on me from DCA-ORD-MSP) - even got an agent who was going to try to rebook my confirmed RPU into DL F (that part did not work -- ended up asking for IAD-MSP in F instead).

lincolnjkc

I believe the secret is to not ask. All of the OpUps I've received -- both pre and post status on UA and OALs -- have been without prompting. Conversely, every time I've inquired about upgrading (pre-status -- post-status I just apply the instrument and cross my fingers) I've never gotten it. Kind of like my cat and treats -- she begs no treat, just does cute things, gets lots of treats.

I suspect agents prefer to "surprise and delight" rather than reward "begging" (even if the beg is just a single ask) ... OT but most memorable OpUp was when I was no status and fixed a printer jam at a CO outstation. At boarding the agent insisted I had picked up the "wrong" BP and handed me my "correct" F BP

jsloan

It's a common sense gesture, sure, except that you're bypassing a whole list of waitlisted upgrades. (Can you imagine the outrage over "shenanigans" by whoever finishes first on the list?). Also, frequently you're dealing with a whole planeload of IRROPs'ed passengers, making it wholly impractical.

I would look at that situation as a once-in-a-blue-moon situation, not something to ask about.

mduell

Taking a connection through a delay prone airport when a nonstop is available? I don't get it.

jsloan

I suspect it was considerably cheaper.

moondog

If I'm the gate agent or the gate agent's supervisor, the passenger who my company has put through hell for the preceding twelve hours trumps that "whole list of waitlisted upgrades" big time. And, in the OP's friends' case, I highly doubt that many other people flew to IAD and back early in the morning in order to wait 9 hours for EWR-LHR; on the airline screw-up scale, this rates as about a 9 IMO.

jsloan

The "whole list of waitlisted upgrades" represents an ongoing revenue stream.

And, IMO, this is closer to a 1. Delays happen, especially the day after a major hub airport was closed for 16 hours.

moondog

A revenue stream of people that should clearly understand the fact that the airline has complete control over how to allocate seats in its premium cabin. If they wanted to sit in business class, they presumably had ample opportunities to pay for it with cash.

jsloan

There are an awful lot of posts about "useless RPUs/GPUs" that suggest otherwise.

moondog

Look, people can whine until the cows come home, but they aren't running the company, and they knew going into the game that upgrades are contingent upon available seats. As soon as the GA or supervisor places someone in one of those seats (often in a revenue booking class), there is one less available seat.

ttama

Apparently because their luggage had been loaded on the EWR-IAD flight. They were told it couldn't be retrieved, and they were told they had to fly with their luggage. So they ended up in IAD

These are people who don't fly often, aren't aware of these kind of forums, and presumably booked one of the cheapest flights they could find. They probably wouldn't have been aware of the benefits of EU261 or of what their rights are on non-EU airlines.

They've now been booked on the last UA flight of the day to London and are on standby for an earlier one. I've suggested they buy a lounge pass; they didn't know what an airport lounge was and have taken themselves off to do some sightseeing instead, which I hope they're enjoying.

It's hard to advise people in this situation when they're not regular travellers and aren't good at communicating or researching on the go. I can't say with any certainty what really happened today or what their options really were. When I travel I try to anticipate problems and either avoid them or have a backup strategy, and have some idea of my rights....but that comes from years of practice.

Anyway, I hope they make it home OK and can then look at any claims they can make on their travel insurance or from the airline.

Thanks for all the comments. I haven't read them all yet but I will, in case I'm ever in the same situation.

Often1

Beyond unlikely that UA would authorize an OPUP when there are paid (if only by cert) UG's out there. This is an international flight and the freebies are really there because of an operational need, not as a means of making someone happy(ier).

TomMM

Is there a reason they didn't book EWR-LHR originally?

tstauck

I believe the OP stated it's because with a connection it was substantially cheaper than a non-stop.

mduell

EC261/2004 applies no obligations on a non-EU carrier departing from a non-EU station.

Some people like to gamble.