United 1K return cancelled, booked on American
#16
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: AA LT PLT; HH Diamond; AS 75K
Posts: 2,877
This isn't correct. The accurate statement would have been you aren't allowed. Sometimes being willing to accept a misstatement will help you to be correct in the future. I'm sure as a stickler for definitive and accurate statements you'e agree.
#17
In memoriam
Join Date: Dec 2001
Programs: DL 2MM, AA MM, DL Sky Club Life, AA Admirals Club Life, Hilton Gold Life
Posts: 1,732
Wow I had to read that three times to understand the difference. You are absolutely correct (I wonder if my english is correct)
#19
Join Date: Dec 2012
Programs: AA Plat Pro
Posts: 902
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,960
I have never heard the "can't trade CPU seats" rule. I personally prefer an exit aisle over any non-bulkhead window seat in F so I have refused upgrade a few times.
If time is tight (post-boarding upgrade last minute), I just tell the standby nonrev passenger who comes to take my Y seat to take the F seat. The FAs and GAs will not delay a flight because of this kind of thing.
If time is tight (post-boarding upgrade last minute), I just tell the standby nonrev passenger who comes to take my Y seat to take the F seat. The FAs and GAs will not delay a flight because of this kind of thing.
#21
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,910
You are not owed a seat swap
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 22, 2020 at 10:53 pm Reason: Unneccessary / non-contributing comment removed
#22
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: LAX and LHR. UA lifetime Gold 1.9MM 1K , DL Gold Medallion, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, Avis President's Club
Posts: 3,590
Amazed that anyone would accept moving to a seat that someone else has already sat in, whether you're the mover or the moved. Wouldn't you want the new seat sterilised again before you sat in it?
#23
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
There is no godly reason why UA's system "splits the reservation" for CPU upgrades. It causes all kinds of issues. My pet peve is that when I travel with my family, I can't check in my kids since they now have a different PNR. And since they are under 18, it requires me to get someone to come over and help me. Every time it happens I got "GRRR, what idiot created this system".
The idea that united elites should give up CPUs to prevent PNR splitting is just harebrained. It is a benefit that UA offers, and it should not come with side-effects.
Here United did the right thing (moving the ticket over to AA) and it is unfortunate that the PNR splitting has created issues for the OP as a result.
I agree, the only option is to (a) pay AA, then (b) ask UA to pay them back.
But long term, the PNR splitting issue which has been infecting United for the last 8 years really ought to be fixed.
The idea that united elites should give up CPUs to prevent PNR splitting is just harebrained. It is a benefit that UA offers, and it should not come with side-effects.
Here United did the right thing (moving the ticket over to AA) and it is unfortunate that the PNR splitting has created issues for the OP as a result.
I agree, the only option is to (a) pay AA, then (b) ask UA to pay them back.
But long term, the PNR splitting issue which has been infecting United for the last 8 years really ought to be fixed.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 23, 2020 at 10:33 am Reason: Discuss the issue, not the poster(s)
#24
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Redondo Beach, CA USA
Programs: UA 1KMM, Bonvoy LTE+A, HH D, Nat'l EE, Hertz Plat, Avis PC
Posts: 3,695
Maybe off-topic, but how did the OP's spouse (as a United 1K) get upgraded on American? The few times I've had a United reservation transferred to another airline, I got no elite benefits on the new booking. Which is understandable, since I was elite on United and not the airline I got transferred to...
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: United, American, Hyatt, Hilton, Hertz, Marriott
Posts: 14,741
Maybe off-topic, but how did the OP's spouse (as a United 1K) get upgraded on American? The few times I've had a United reservation transferred to another airline, I got no elite benefits on the new booking. Which is understandable, since I was elite on United and not the airline I got transferred to...
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Chevy Chase, MD
Posts: 25
She didnt; she was upgraded on the last leg of the outbound flight on United, which split the record. On the return, which was on an AA flight (presumably none in the party of four had status with American), she would have had to pay extra to sit with the other three traveling companions.
There is no godly reason why UA's system "splits the reservation" for CPU upgrades. It causes all kinds of issues. My pet peve is that when I travel with my family, I can't check in my kids since they now have a different PNR. And since they are under 18, it requires me to get someone to come over and help me. Every time it happens I got "GRRR, what idiot created this system".
The idea that united elites should give up CPUs to prevent PNR splitting is just harebrained. It is a benefit that UA offers, and it should not come with side-effects.
Here United did the right thing (moving the ticket over to AA) and it is unfortunate that the PNR splitting has created issues for the OP as a result.
I agree, the only option is to (a) pay AA, then (b) ask UA to pay them back.
But long term, the PNR splitting issue which has been infecting United for the last 8 years really ought to be fixed.
The idea that united elites should give up CPUs to prevent PNR splitting is just harebrained. It is a benefit that UA offers, and it should not come with side-effects.
Here United did the right thing (moving the ticket over to AA) and it is unfortunate that the PNR splitting has created issues for the OP as a result.
I agree, the only option is to (a) pay AA, then (b) ask UA to pay them back.
But long term, the PNR splitting issue which has been infecting United for the last 8 years really ought to be fixed.
As Gary points out, our chief concern is now having baggage fees when we enjoyed the liberal baggage allowance on United coming down. Thankfully, much of that was gifts which wont be returning with us.
Nor did we feel that way. We understand that our problem wasnt the other passengers problem. We only hoped for some graciousness. We were wanting to trade two aisle seats a row apart.
I understand your concern. Our efforts were while we were still boarding, so no one had yet sat down, other than our kids in E & F... as 1K, there were few other passengers onboard yet when we were trying to work out the seating. We were disappointed with the passengers denial to trade, but fully respected her choice. We ended up with A, B and C in the same row after more empathetic passengers voluntarily stepped up.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 23, 2020 at 4:30 pm Reason: merging consecutive / update posts by same member
#27
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CLE, DCA, and 30k feet
Programs: Honors LT Diamond; United 1K; Hertz PC
Posts: 4,132
For the OP, though, keep receipts for the direct costs (seating, baggage) and submit them to UA after the trip is over. In similar day of travel IROPS cases in the past UA has cut a check and sent a voucher for me; the fact that this was an advance schedule change that wasn't addressed before hand might temper their generosity...but they also had the chance to address this before hand and failed to do so
#28
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: What I write is my opinion alone..don't read into it anything not written.
Posts: 9,684
Perhaps the one positive thing I've seen out of COVID travel is UA gate agents are now proactively asking the people on the UG list if they want the upgrade rather than blindly following the list (I've overheard this in the "You're next in line for the upgrade; right now no one else is in your row do you want to keep that or take the upgrade?"
Last edited by fastair; Dec 24, 2020 at 9:19 am
#29
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,213
I have also clarified that if I have paid for the first class seat I can swap with anyone, it is just the upgrades that are the issue.
Back on topic - I had the same experience in LAX where the UA flight was delayed arriving from an international flight so they switched me to UA and AA made me pay for the luggage. I was so annoyed as I ended up in a middle seat at the back of the plane and having to pay luggage fees that I hired an uber to get me back to San Diego. It is really annoying after UA causes a delay and then I end up having to pay luggage fees. UA refunded me the flight from LAX-SAN when I contacted them but that was because I had not flown the segment.
#30
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CLE, DCA, and 30k feet
Programs: Honors LT Diamond; United 1K; Hertz PC
Posts: 4,132
This works fine as long as you are there at the gate before the automation does it automatically, which can happen early or as late as 30 min prior to dptr. Th automation assumes if you are on the list, you want it, and if you didn't want it, you would not be on the list. Automation, the root of all evil