Compensation for a mechanical problem
 

I took a flight on United in late March and due to a mechanical problem the flight was delayed by 4 hours. An oil leak (if I am not mistaken) was found in the engine and everyone was asked to disembark until they could bring another plane. The problem is that there was no compensation offered of any kind, and when we approached the GA for a meal certificate to use at the airport (it was supposed to be a 6 pm flight), she just said that "dinner will be provided on the plane" .

I wrote a letter to United 3 weeks ago describing the situation. I checked my account today and apparently also United didn't send me a reply, they gave me 9854 (yep) bonus miles. However, my travel partner whose info was also included in the letter, didn't receive anything.

Two questions: why such a strange number for compensations, and why no reply to the letter. Also, should my travel partner call United to have the bonus credited to her as well?

Sounds to me that the 9,854 bonus miles were not part of a compensation package; rather, a promotion in which you were probably enrolled. How were the miles listed in your account? If you do the math, do they come out to double/triple miles? Perhaps a 500 bonus + double miles?

If the miles appear under the "bonus" section on the flights flown, that's a promotional perk, not a compensation. When UA compensates with miles, it generally states "United Policy Adjustment" on your MP register.

Furthermore, if UA were to offer you anything in exchange for the delay, they'd be sure to let you know before giving away any freebees. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

And yes, have your travel partner do her own work too. Sometimes sending in more than one request gets "forgotten" somehow.


[This message has been edited by UNITED959 (edited 04-26-2003).]

In Feb. 2000, when I flew UA845 SFO-TPE in C, my PTV wasn't working (if this counts as a mechanical problem). My mom switched with me because she doesn't care about IFE.

When we deplaned in TPE, a FA gave us a coupon for 5000 bonus miles.

Btw, read the LHR-BOS part of Tfung's awesome trip report. Everyone had to deplane because of a broken door seal, but they got a free meal at the airport restaurants.

www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum81/HTML/002779.html

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9V-SMU
The 1000th 747
Currently operated by Singapore Airlines

You are right, they do seem like Double the miles + 500. Here is how they appeared:

Activity Actual Bonus Total
UA 0918 IAD to LHR 3677 4927 8604
UA 0925 LHR to IAD 3677 4927 8604

This gets me wondering which promotion could it be and why didn't my partner get the miles as well? The flight was taken at the end of March.


9V-SMU , thanks for the tips. We didn't even get a meal, just had to spend 2 hours sitting in a plane and then 2 hours stuck at IAD. UA wouldn't even re-route us to the final destination, BCN, as we were to miss the connecting British Airways flight .

Good sleuth work, UNITED959 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

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When once you have experienced being a 1K, you will forever fly the friendly skies with your eyes set on 100% mileage bonus and SWUs, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return, every year!

Back to the original topic, I'm not surprised that UA didn't reply to the complaint letter. I've found that most correspondence directed to UA HQ goes ignored. They even once discarded a ticket which was sent in by me for refund.

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-Otto

I have had just the exact opposite. I have sent three letters to MPCS and while I have never received a reply, I have received what I asked for (1P Kit, booked miles for a President's Day storm instead of flown, and some other thing I don't remember).

Hmm, any suggestions on another address I could write to?

I suggest obtaining the name and address from reservations for the Station Manager of the airport you were delayed in.
Depending upon the time of day you were scheduled to travel and if any meal had been planned for your flight, and the length of your flight, it's generally assumed that you never planned on UA providing you with a meal in the first place. If the decision was made to have dinner provided onboard rather than write vouchers for everyone to use at the airport,this should have been announced and also explained thoroughly to customers requesting a meal voucher.

At the very least, a written response from the Station Manager will assist you and your friend in obtaining any mileage compensation from HQ by enclosing a copy.

If your a 1k, write to the 1k line. They comped me for mechanicals that I had out of ORD last year.

They sent me 4 - $50 certs for the problem.

Finally got a reply yesterday, which basicly said "Thank you for your letter. We received it and someone will reply soon."


I am not a 1K so I doubt there will be any point to write to the 1k line.

On my SFO-SYD flight about a month ago there was a major problem with the main C/J cabin light which kept coming on and off for no reason, thus seriously disturbing sleep.

FA's handed out complaint forms in the morning, so that pax involved could fill them out and demand compensation. I am still waiting for a reply or compo...

I also sent a letter to WHQ asking for a $300 voucher which is quite reasonable on a 14 hour J flight but am yet to receive a reply or a voucher. I hope someone from UA lurkers is reading this...