What to do if you lose a confirmed SWU C Seat?
Mar 5, 2007, 9:50 pm
#1
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What to do if you lose a confirmed SWU C Seat?
So I've read through the postings and am still a little confused...
Myself and my SO are confirmed C with my SWUs (or F in two class) SEA->LAX->LHR->IAD->SEA. From what I've read, there definitely is a chance of a downgrade.(not sure how often it happens seems rare, but there are quite a few posts about it...)
What I'm trying to figure out is whether there is anything you can do or expect to receive if you are downgraded. On one side, people seem to be talking that you do not deserve anything but your SWU while others seem to be talking about downgrade compensation.
I probably read too quickly, but what are you entitled to if you are downgraded from an SWU??? Should you play polite-hardball? AKA "I won't get on the plane, please find me an alternative", or you take what you get?
Myself and my SO are confirmed C with my SWUs (or F in two class) SEA->LAX->LHR->IAD->SEA. From what I've read, there definitely is a chance of a downgrade.(not sure how often it happens seems rare, but there are quite a few posts about it...)
What I'm trying to figure out is whether there is anything you can do or expect to receive if you are downgraded. On one side, people seem to be talking that you do not deserve anything but your SWU while others seem to be talking about downgrade compensation.
I probably read too quickly, but what are you entitled to if you are downgraded from an SWU??? Should you play polite-hardball? AKA "I won't get on the plane, please find me an alternative", or you take what you get?
Mar 5, 2007, 9:53 pm
#2
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United used to offer "downgrade kits", which were basically an additional upgrade instrument and a voucher. If sounds like they're not offering those any more (or at least less often).
Unless you want to get an ulcer, it doesn't pay to worry about whether this will happen - it's very rare.
Unless you want to get an ulcer, it doesn't pay to worry about whether this will happen - it's very rare.
Mar 5, 2007, 10:47 pm
#3
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Ah alright, so I'll just go in thinking that if they give me anything (apart from my SWU) I should be happy...
As long as its extremely rare I'm happy. For some reason I had the impression it was a little more than extremely rare..
As long as its extremely rare I'm happy. For some reason I had the impression it was a little more than extremely rare..
Mar 5, 2007, 10:49 pm
#4
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Mar 5, 2007, 10:51 pm
#5
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bleh, in UA speak that means its gonna happen to you at least once in your life... 
Mar 5, 2007, 11:38 pm
#6
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Do not worry, when it happens sort it out directely. It defenitely will save you a lot of trouble. I am waiting on a proper response for 4 weeks.
Mar 6, 2007, 12:40 am
#7
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As your profile says you're a 1K, I seriously doubt it would happen to you. UA takes pretty good care of their 1Ks, it's everyone else they don't really care about...
When it happened to me a few years ago, I was offered a paper SWU for future travel. After complaining to UA directly, partially about how it was handled as I was told that sometimes more important customers need the seats & the fact that they still deducted 30K miles from my account (I was flying BKK-NRT-LAX-IAD & had a stopoever in LAX - I used a SWU for BKK-NRT-LAX & had another SWU for LAX-IAD - for some reason, they pulled 30K from my account saying that the BKK agent didn't lift the SWU when she definitely did), they issued me a 200.00 voucher valid on any UA operated itin. One of the reasons I pushed for compensation was because I had originally bought one ticket price & then paid up to get into a higher fare basis so I could upgrade. Had I known I would have been flying coach on that segment, I wouldn't have bought that segment in the higher fare basis.
That experience, the countless delays I am almost guaranteed to encounter whenever I fly on UA, and the attitude of a number of front line associates I've encountered everywhere from ticketing to RCCs to inflight, are the reason why this DC based flyer has pushed the majority of his business to NW. Sure, the UA FF program is probably one of the best for high mileage flyers, but the service & policies take away from all of that.
When it happened to me a few years ago, I was offered a paper SWU for future travel. After complaining to UA directly, partially about how it was handled as I was told that sometimes more important customers need the seats & the fact that they still deducted 30K miles from my account (I was flying BKK-NRT-LAX-IAD & had a stopoever in LAX - I used a SWU for BKK-NRT-LAX & had another SWU for LAX-IAD - for some reason, they pulled 30K from my account saying that the BKK agent didn't lift the SWU when she definitely did), they issued me a 200.00 voucher valid on any UA operated itin. One of the reasons I pushed for compensation was because I had originally bought one ticket price & then paid up to get into a higher fare basis so I could upgrade. Had I known I would have been flying coach on that segment, I wouldn't have bought that segment in the higher fare basis.
That experience, the countless delays I am almost guaranteed to encounter whenever I fly on UA, and the attitude of a number of front line associates I've encountered everywhere from ticketing to RCCs to inflight, are the reason why this DC based flyer has pushed the majority of his business to NW. Sure, the UA FF program is probably one of the best for high mileage flyers, but the service & policies take away from all of that.
Mar 6, 2007, 7:01 am
#9
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Mar 6, 2007, 7:24 am
#10
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You asked what I would do...if it were a long-haul, I simply wouldn't go. Wait out for the next flight or something.
Mar 6, 2007, 7:32 am
#11
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Mar 6, 2007, 7:56 am
#12
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Just returned back from GRU and on the way down, via IAD, my traveling companion got called the the podium.
This was after the agent asked for volunteers to fly down the next day in exchange for a CS$400, hotel and meals.
When my friend got to the podium, the agent told him that his upgraded "C" seat was needed for a passenger who paid FULL FARE for his seat. So my friend was downgraded and given a "Downgarde Kit" which consisted of a SWU and a CS$200.
The passenger that paid fulll fare got my friends seat, that was right next to me. I asked him how much his ticket cost him and he told me that he paid OVER $6100 for the seat.
Also, the SWU that was pulled was promised to be returned and so far it hasn't. It has less than a week so he will give it more time. We started from SFO and that it where it was pulled.
This was after the agent asked for volunteers to fly down the next day in exchange for a CS$400, hotel and meals.
When my friend got to the podium, the agent told him that his upgraded "C" seat was needed for a passenger who paid FULL FARE for his seat. So my friend was downgraded and given a "Downgarde Kit" which consisted of a SWU and a CS$200.
The passenger that paid fulll fare got my friends seat, that was right next to me. I asked him how much his ticket cost him and he told me that he paid OVER $6100 for the seat.
Also, the SWU that was pulled was promised to be returned and so far it hasn't. It has less than a week so he will give it more time. We started from SFO and that it where it was pulled.
Mar 6, 2007, 8:04 am
#13
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yeah,
yeah, one of the only reasons for status, is upgrades. If they take that away, i'll just quit.
As a 1K, I have been downgraded twice last year, but none international. our upcoming flights now to SHA, with miles, in C, man if they would ever do a downgrade, I think I would just explode. I mean, a confirmed C upgrade, miles deducted and then Y for 14 hours at the podium?
As a 1K, I have been downgraded twice last year, but none international. our upcoming flights now to SHA, with miles, in C, man if they would ever do a downgrade, I think I would just explode. I mean, a confirmed C upgrade, miles deducted and then Y for 14 hours at the podium?
Mar 6, 2007, 8:16 am
#14
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yeah, one of the only reasons for status, is upgrades. If they take that away, i'll just quit.
As a 1K, I have been downgraded twice last year, but none international. our upcoming flights now to SHA, with miles, in C, man if they would ever do a downgrade, I think I would just explode. I mean, a confirmed C upgrade, miles deducted and then Y for 14 hours at the podium?
As a 1K, I have been downgraded twice last year, but none international. our upcoming flights now to SHA, with miles, in C, man if they would ever do a downgrade, I think I would just explode. I mean, a confirmed C upgrade, miles deducted and then Y for 14 hours at the podium?
Good to know they still give out downgrade kits internationally though... I just didn't want to have them say "Sorry, tough luck".
Mar 6, 2007, 8:22 am
#15
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