Consolidated Thread to Post Your UA Website Experiences/Complaints
Oct 23, 2004, 7:09 pm
#76
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,114
Yeah but I shouldn't have to...
KathyWdrf is right. There are work-arounds. Let me be cranky here though. I don't WANT to do work-arounds! I want it to work - period.
BTW - speaking of cranky - why was it deemed an 'improvement' to have waitlist disappear on myiteneries (sp)? Before if I was waitlisted for a flight, I could go online & check out if it cleared. Now it doesn't show that - and yes transpac I checked out view itin after your suggestion to see if that worked. So - I call in, wasting extra time & UA agent's time to find out status.
Not to repeat what everyone else is saying - if UA is gonna do its darndest to get us to use its site, the least it could do is make sure the site does what it's supposed to do!!!!
I'm not even as advanced as some of my fellow FTers, & as a low-tech I AM frustrated to the UA site. Geesh.
Rant over. World peace for all. Cheers.
Sharon
BTW - speaking of cranky - why was it deemed an 'improvement' to have waitlist disappear on myiteneries (sp)? Before if I was waitlisted for a flight, I could go online & check out if it cleared. Now it doesn't show that - and yes transpac I checked out view itin after your suggestion to see if that worked. So - I call in, wasting extra time & UA agent's time to find out status.
Not to repeat what everyone else is saying - if UA is gonna do its darndest to get us to use its site, the least it could do is make sure the site does what it's supposed to do!!!!
I'm not even as advanced as some of my fellow FTers, & as a low-tech I AM frustrated to the UA site. Geesh.
Rant over. World peace for all. Cheers.
Sharon
Oct 23, 2004, 7:26 pm
#77
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SF CA USA. I love large faceless corporations. And they cherish me in return (sometimes). ;)
Programs: UA Premier Gold/disappointed 1MM, HH Gold, IHG Plat, MB Gold, BW Diam Sel
Posts: 17,575
Originally Posted by SkiAdcock
Yeah but I shouldn't have to...
KathyWdrf is right. There are work-arounds. Let me be cranky here though. I don't WANT to do work-arounds! I want it to work - period.
KathyWdrf is right. There are work-arounds. Let me be cranky here though. I don't WANT to do work-arounds! I want it to work - period.
Oct 24, 2004, 8:55 pm
#78
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Programs: UA Nobody (former 1K, 1P, 2P), QFF Nobody, Skywards Nobody
Posts: 1,337
Originally Posted by UAMythbuster
Lol everything I say is opinions only....but as a person currently working to get a computer Science Bachelors degree..you cant make a website for Experts only because the computer illiterate and most all beginners it would never be able to use it. So most websites try to cover all of the bases....There is a way in the Upgrade profile area though to change your skill level to show that you are an expert. When you do this it basically it shows what the current availability is in each Seat class when you search for flights(ie: M, H, T, B...). Hope that helps you some.
Unfortunately, most software systems are designed by people that are not qualified in user-interface design or have general HCI (Human-Computer-Interaction) skills. These days many of the people behind websites aren't even qualified programmers, let alone decent software architects.
Obviously you don't make a system so complex that only an expert can ever use it, but that was the point I was trying to make about "expert" mode. Given that we have the ability to tell the system whether we are a novice, or export, why not utilise that to modify the interface and the available functionality? Seems obvious to me.
The things that people complain about here regarding united.com do not represent particularly complex or "expert" oriented actions. If somebody (even a novice) can be given a voucher that can only be used with certain fare classes then the system should be capable of showing flights that suit. That seems fairly basic.
My concern is with the attitude that you expressed through your comments. If that attitude is shared by those responsible for the design of the website, then ther eis little hope of ever having a decent website.
Jan 28, 2005, 12:19 pm
#79
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: California
Posts: 2,164
A few days ago I was researching fares for my spouse's upcoming trip. One fare listed was $14 million! Just for fun I selected the fare -- at that point it showed up correctly (presumably) as $771.
One problem I'm having now that I want to book these flights...
When I log my spouse in and shop for flights, one of the segments I want to choose doesn't display, no matter how I search (price vs. schedule, entering hour of departure, etc).
When I log out and do the same search, the flight is offered...log back in and search, it's gone again.
One problem I'm having now that I want to book these flights...
When I log my spouse in and shop for flights, one of the segments I want to choose doesn't display, no matter how I search (price vs. schedule, entering hour of departure, etc).
When I log out and do the same search, the flight is offered...log back in and search, it's gone again.
Feb 21, 2005, 8:42 am
#80
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 1
Mary
Originally Posted by randomman
I have been on this board long enough to know that there are at least a thousand threads on problems with the United.com website. I figure that if we list them all in one place, it will help United realize that I am not the only one who experiences these problems and serve as a workplan for them if they are really too lazy to come up with one themselves.
Lets limit posts in this thread to poblems we have encountered or processes that could be improved. Lets stay away from commenting on each other's posts. I will update this main thread as necessary.
Thanks!
Randomman
Please help!!!!!!! First time on site and lost maybe you can direct me. Here's my problem. I'm looking at snow and I'm suppose to be on a cruise sitting on a deck chair and enjoying the ocean! Yesterday United had mechanical problems and we couldn't get a connecting flight in order to get us to the cruise ship in time. They did rebook us with Delta but would still have missed. They hung us on for hours and kept saying we were boarding in a few minutes, finally someone tried the 800 number and said the flight had been rescheduled for 12:30 in reality it left 8 hours after the scheduled time. they offered me a refund and $75.00 Is that enough?????
Thanks,
Mary
- Overall, the site is down about twenty percent of the time. This means that either the home page does not load at all, the site times-out during log-on, or specific features such as My Itineraries are unavailable.
- Searching for flights defaults to Search by Price, not Search by Schedule which makes much more sense.
- The only way to check available seats on a flight is to create a sample reservation, which takes about 5-10 minutes. Seat maps should be easily available from the main page.
- Seats can not be changed on-line.
- Only 500-mile upgrades can be requested online. Upgrade requests with SWU's or CR-1's must be called in.
- Upgrades can not be requested online for itineraries not booked on the United website.
- The pricing engine can not search fares by fare basis (i.e., F,C,Y,B,M,H,Q,V, etc.) even though fare bases are important to many customers for various reasons.
- No confirmation is provided after registering for promotions; Mileage Plus notoriously denies that people have registered for promotions when miles/certificates/upgrades/etc are due.
- The multi-city function requires input of all ground travel, adding to the time required to book such itineraries.
- Upgrade availability is not available.
- Award travel for Star Alliance carriers can not be searched or booked online.
- Award availability on United is inconsistent. Many times, a phone call will result in Saver Award bookings when United.com shows no availability.
- Search by schedule will not show the maximum 20 flight options, but rather limit options based on the time entered in the search function.
- Data should be preserved. Pressing Back or starting a new search should not delete settings such as the dates and city pairs.
- Infinite redirection loops are common.
- My Itineraries is often very slow or completely unavailable, resulting in errors.
- My Itineraries rarely shows segments where an upgrade is waitlisted.
- The flight search function often shows non-UA flights before UA flights, and sometimes offers no UA options at all.
- The ability to confirm schedule changes online should be added. The current mandatory phone call is tedious.
- It may not be possible to book a First/Business Class ticket if the flight originates or terminates in a city where First/Business class does not exist.
Keep them coming...
Lets limit posts in this thread to poblems we have encountered or processes that could be improved. Lets stay away from commenting on each other's posts. I will update this main thread as necessary.
Thanks!
Randomman
Please help!!!!!!! First time on site and lost maybe you can direct me. Here's my problem. I'm looking at snow and I'm suppose to be on a cruise sitting on a deck chair and enjoying the ocean! Yesterday United had mechanical problems and we couldn't get a connecting flight in order to get us to the cruise ship in time. They did rebook us with Delta but would still have missed. They hung us on for hours and kept saying we were boarding in a few minutes, finally someone tried the 800 number and said the flight had been rescheduled for 12:30 in reality it left 8 hours after the scheduled time. they offered me a refund and $75.00 Is that enough?????
Thanks,
Mary
- Overall, the site is down about twenty percent of the time. This means that either the home page does not load at all, the site times-out during log-on, or specific features such as My Itineraries are unavailable.
- Searching for flights defaults to Search by Price, not Search by Schedule which makes much more sense.
- The only way to check available seats on a flight is to create a sample reservation, which takes about 5-10 minutes. Seat maps should be easily available from the main page.
- Seats can not be changed on-line.
- Only 500-mile upgrades can be requested online. Upgrade requests with SWU's or CR-1's must be called in.
- Upgrades can not be requested online for itineraries not booked on the United website.
- The pricing engine can not search fares by fare basis (i.e., F,C,Y,B,M,H,Q,V, etc.) even though fare bases are important to many customers for various reasons.
- No confirmation is provided after registering for promotions; Mileage Plus notoriously denies that people have registered for promotions when miles/certificates/upgrades/etc are due.
- The multi-city function requires input of all ground travel, adding to the time required to book such itineraries.
- Upgrade availability is not available.
- Award travel for Star Alliance carriers can not be searched or booked online.
- Award availability on United is inconsistent. Many times, a phone call will result in Saver Award bookings when United.com shows no availability.
- Search by schedule will not show the maximum 20 flight options, but rather limit options based on the time entered in the search function.
- Data should be preserved. Pressing Back or starting a new search should not delete settings such as the dates and city pairs.
- Infinite redirection loops are common.
- My Itineraries is often very slow or completely unavailable, resulting in errors.
- My Itineraries rarely shows segments where an upgrade is waitlisted.
- The flight search function often shows non-UA flights before UA flights, and sometimes offers no UA options at all.
- The ability to confirm schedule changes online should be added. The current mandatory phone call is tedious.
- It may not be possible to book a First/Business Class ticket if the flight originates or terminates in a city where First/Business class does not exist.
Keep them coming...
Jun 11, 2005, 6:59 pm
#81
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: FLL
Programs: UA: 1K MM, Marriott Ambassador, Platinum IHG. Diamond: Hilton. Silver: Delta & Hyatt
Posts: 1,366
My Itin Not Working
My Itin will not let me view the details of the Itin's I booked on United.com today 6/12 9am Beijing/HKG Time (9pm 6/11 EST)!!! 
-UFFA
-UFFA
Jun 11, 2005, 7:46 pm
#82
Join Date: May 2001
Location: midwest
Posts: 366
Can't Do Multi City Search
AND right now, for the past 1/2 hr, I have been trying to do multi city search and website is unavailable. No problem with point to point . . .I've changed security settings and a few other things and still no success. This, to me, is a problem.
Jun 13, 2005, 8:07 pm
#83
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: UA mileage Plus, NWA Worldperks
Posts: 1
when that happens try thier ip address http://209.87.112.90 There must be a DNS server down somewhere or being hacked....happens all the time on the internet but there IP address normally always works...
Jan 3, 2006, 9:02 am
#84
Join Date: May 2005
Location: The Golden State
Programs: 2Peon, NW PLAT, HH Diamond & *W Fallen-from-Gold-Grace
Posts: 1,422
Ugh, anyone having trouble accessing "My Intineraries"? All I need is my dang PNR number!
Jan 5, 2006, 2:46 am
#85
Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 746
When I go to the upgrade page, all my flights say "We?re sorry; we cannot process your request at this time. Please try again later or contact United Reservations at 1-800-United-1 (1-800-864-8331)." Basically, there's no pull-down menu to choose an instrument for upgrading. It's been this way for a couple of weeks now.
Jan 5, 2006, 8:01 am
#86
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: IAD/DCA
Programs: United 1P, SPG Gold
Posts: 10
Can't log in and see miles or book award ticket
Originally Posted by drjhwang
When I go to the upgrade page, all my flights say "We?re sorry; we cannot process your request at this time. Please try again later or contact United Reservations at 1-800-United-1 (1-800-864-8331)." Basically, there's no pull-down menu to choose an instrument for upgrading. It's been this way for a couple of weeks now.
I have been having the same issue since 5.00PM EST yesterday 1/4/06. The home page comes up but when I log in, I get the message above.
Jan 5, 2006, 8:46 am
#87
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Springfield,MO,USA
Programs: UA 1K MM, HH Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,604
Aside from concurring with many of the complaints already stated, I wish to complain about access to United from my Nextel cell phone. On my i830
web sites / travel / united/ 500: web service problem please contact the service provider
I can get to united using a different interface by using a tekniwap net alert
http://www.teknidude.com/wap/
to http://www.ua2go.com/htm/main.htm
but not from the normal way of picking it off the Nextel canned menu.
web sites / travel / united/ 500: web service problem please contact the service provider
I can get to united using a different interface by using a tekniwap net alert
http://www.teknidude.com/wap/
to http://www.ua2go.com/htm/main.htm
but not from the normal way of picking it off the Nextel canned menu.
Jan 6, 2006, 3:58 pm
#88
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Alexandria, VA, USA NW Platinum Elite Since 1999, United GoldMM, Hyatt Plat, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Hertz #1 Gold, IC Ambassador, Avis Chairman's
Posts: 7,445
oh... how about trying for 8 hours to get to "My Itineraries" and getting nothing but...
The page cannot be displayed
The page you are looking for is currently unavailable. The Web site might be experiencing technical difficulties, or you may need to adjust your browser settings.
The page cannot be displayed
The page you are looking for is currently unavailable. The Web site might be experiencing technical difficulties, or you may need to adjust your browser settings.
Jan 6, 2006, 4:15 pm
#89
In memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Chicago, IL (ORD), Phoenix AZ (PHX)
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Starwood Platinum, a nothing in several others
Posts: 5,176
Originally Posted by thezipper
oh... how about trying for 8 hours to get to "My Itineraries" and getting nothing but...
The page cannot be displayed ...
The page cannot be displayed ...
Jan 6, 2006, 7:57 pm
#90
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 20,404
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!!! Trying to build a multi-city itinerary. Each time I go back to change a city or time, it forgets all cities I've entered.
I HATE THIS WEBSITE. Seriously, how do these idiots ever expect to make money off of such a piece of garbage???? GRRRRRRRRR
All I want to do is build an itinerary and give UA some $$$$$....
I HATE THIS WEBSITE. Seriously, how do these idiots ever expect to make money off of such a piece of garbage???? GRRRRRRRRR
All I want to do is build an itinerary and give UA some $$$$$....