United 1K return cancelled, booked on American
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Chevy Chase, MD
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United 1K return cancelled, booked on American
Hello... my wife is a 1K; we booked DCA > IAH > RTB for both of us and our two sons. At check-in, we learned that due to a schedule change for the RTB outbound, we would not arrive IAH in time to connect to DCA so would have to overnight in Houston and continue in the am. As we needed to be in DCA that day and there is no United flight out of RTB on the day before, the agent booked our return on American, RTB > MIA > DCA. On arrival to IAH, en route to RTB, we were notified that my wife had been upgraded to business. However, we did not expect or want this, as we already had three seats with our sons (D-E-F)... my wife was in D and they gave that seat to another passenger (and I was in 12A, full flight). On boarding, the passenger who got my wife’s D seat did not want to give up the seat on a trade, so we had to make a series of trades with other passengers. Fine and good until we get to Roatan and I’m looking at our return flights... now they’ve split the record with me and my sons on one American confirmation/locator number and my wife on the other. I’m seated with my sons, but American wants $37 to seat my wife with us. And, we now have to pay $30 and $40 for checked bags! Not terribly happy, particularly about the bags... does anyone have any advice on how we might proceed? Our return is in about ten days, so we have some time to deal with this. Thank you in advance!
Last edited by Imoretti; Dec 22, 2020 at 12:54 pm
#2
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#4
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...as we already had three seats with our sons (D-E-F)... my wife was in D and they gave that seat to another passenger (and I was in 12A, full flight). On boarding, the passenger who got my wife’s D seat did not want to give up the seat on a trade, so we had to make a series of trades with other passengers.
#5
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#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Chevy Chase, MD
Posts: 25
First of all, I'm sorry for the extra hassle when traveling during what is already a stressful time. But I have to ask--wouldn't the simplest trade have been for your wife to give her business class seat to the passenger who ended up in the D seat? Unless that's what you mean by saying they didn't want to give up the seat on a trade (but that would be a very unusual refusal indeed)?
Thank you for the clarification, Gary.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 22, 2020 at 5:41 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
#8
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No offense - Just because you have done that many times, it does not mean it is allowed.
In fact, I was once stopped from trading a CPU seat. However, it was eventually allowed as the person was my companion and next in line for CPU.
In fact, I was once stopped from trading a CPU seat. However, it was eventually allowed as the person was my companion and next in line for CPU.
#9
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I hear what you're saying, and I've tried to get it solved at the gate in order to give the opportunity to the next person in line, but I'm not about to take an unwanted upgrade because UA's systems can't handle all-or-nothing upgrades at the gate. The simplest solution, when it can't be solved at the gate, is to give the upgraded seat to the person in the seat I want. The person on the top of the upgrade list might not like it, but their situation is no worse off than if I'd stayed in my assigned seat.
#11
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 923
First of all, I'm sorry for the extra hassle when traveling during what is already a stressful time. But I have to ask--wouldn't the simplest trade have been for your wife to give her business class seat to the passenger who ended up in the D seat? Unless that's what you mean by saying they didn't want to give up the seat on a trade (but that would be a very unusual refusal indeed)?
#12
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I've semi-frequently traded CPUs with other people I knew on the flight. I've never had any issues with it. I suppose maybe that's a little different than upgrading a rando. But I can't see any circumstance where an FA is going to object to you trading your CPU to your spouse.
#13
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#14
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I've semi-frequently traded CPUs with other people I knew on the flight. I've never had any issues with it. I suppose maybe that's a little different than upgrading a rando. But I can't see any circumstance where an FA is going to object to you trading your CPU to your spouse.
OP's wife, as a 1K, might have luck convincing an ETC or reimbursement. Hence, what I have said.
#15
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The split PNR is not really the issue, but UA rebooked OP's family to AA. I never said OP's wife would succeed in getting reimbursement. But instead, the fees are AA's issue, not UA. So unless OP has his own ways to waive the fees (status and/or credit card), OP must still pay the fees.