Oversold LAX/HKG...what $$$ to expect
Mar 11, 2001, 6:12 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: UA Million Miler (lite). NY Metro area.
Posts: 15,082
Greetings from the RCC Room in Hong Kong.
To all of you following this thread....
BINGO! This writer is currently $600 richer thanks to the advice of my good friend tom911.
Due to weight restrictions on my flight, UA asked for 10 volunteers to fly out later.
Tom, you should have seen me JUMP. I was moving really fast without thinking.
I was in a middle seat in row 32.
Couldn't use my SWU.
Well, 3 people were lucky enough to be rescheduled. By the way, great idea NOT to check luggage.
Some others were sent back to the plane.
And they gave me a Check for the $$$, not a voucher. Woo hoo!
So now we're booked on Cathay (CX881) at 11:50 pm, a full 12 hours later.
But, this flight arrived Mon 3/12 about 3am local time. My return is just a few hours later. Ouch. Flying UA#2 at 12 noon ish.
Anyway, in addition to the 600, I ask for, and you'd all be proud of me, an operational upgrade to biz on the return to LAX and JFK. No problem dhammer53, they say. I learned well from all of you. And, they gave me 2 meal vouchers, and a hotel room.
And one more thing, since I'm landing and turning around, Mr. UA, can I take a shower in HKG? No problem.
I love this.
So my seat is upstairs in 12A on the return to LAX.
Whew. And I'm using a computer at the RCC. FREE!
I'm gonna go have a drink.
Regards...
Dan
[This message has been edited by dhammer53 (edited 03-11-2001).]
To all of you following this thread....
BINGO! This writer is currently $600 richer thanks to the advice of my good friend tom911.
Due to weight restrictions on my flight, UA asked for 10 volunteers to fly out later.
Tom, you should have seen me JUMP. I was moving really fast without thinking.
I was in a middle seat in row 32.
Couldn't use my SWU. Well, 3 people were lucky enough to be rescheduled. By the way, great idea NOT to check luggage.
Some others were sent back to the plane. And they gave me a Check for the $$$, not a voucher. Woo hoo!
So now we're booked on Cathay (CX881) at 11:50 pm, a full 12 hours later.
But, this flight arrived Mon 3/12 about 3am local time. My return is just a few hours later. Ouch. Flying UA#2 at 12 noon ish.
Anyway, in addition to the 600, I ask for, and you'd all be proud of me, an operational upgrade to biz on the return to LAX and JFK. No problem dhammer53, they say.
I learned well from all of you. And, they gave me 2 meal vouchers, and a hotel room. And one more thing, since I'm landing and turning around, Mr. UA, can I take a shower in HKG? No problem.
I love this.So my seat is upstairs in 12A on the return to LAX.
Whew. And I'm using a computer at the RCC. FREE!
I'm gonna go have a drink.
Regards...
Dan
[This message has been edited by dhammer53 (edited 03-11-2001).]
Mar 11, 2001, 6:48 pm
#17
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Minnesota, USA
Posts: 846
Way to go Dan! Don't forget to request your AA miles for your CX flight.
Mar 11, 2001, 11:15 pm
#18
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
Hi Dan-
Glad to see you made out. Now you just have to catch up to me and get bumped two more times for 2001 Don't you love free operational upgrades!
You can get UA miles for that Cathay flight. Make sure you pick up a form for that if you have not already done so. UA should have them at ticket counters or possibly the Red Carpet Club (think someone previously mentioned getting the form there). I got UA miles for a Delta flight they rerouted me on last year, along with the 100% bonus, once I sent the form in. The UA miles on Cathay have to be requested.
Tom in Port Townsend WA tonight, just back from an overnight stay in Victoria BC
Glad to see you made out. Now you just have to catch up to me and get bumped two more times for 2001
Don't you love free operational upgrades!You can get UA miles for that Cathay flight. Make sure you pick up a form for that if you have not already done so. UA should have them at ticket counters or possibly the Red Carpet Club (think someone previously mentioned getting the form there). I got UA miles for a Delta flight they rerouted me on last year, along with the 100% bonus, once I sent the form in. The UA miles on Cathay have to be requested.
Tom in Port Townsend WA tonight, just back from an overnight stay in Victoria BC
Mar 12, 2001, 1:04 pm
#20
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: CLE
Programs: UA 1K MM, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 929
Actually, you should be able to get miles for both flights: (1) American miles for the Cathay flight you'll actually fly and (2) United miles for the flights you would have been on if it were not for the terrible inconvenience ( 
) UA caused you. I've had great success emailing UA my requests for miles on reroutes -- no form required, just itinerary details and ticket number.
Way to go!
) UA caused you. I've had great success emailing UA my requests for miles on reroutes -- no form required, just itinerary details and ticket number.Way to go!
Mar 12, 2001, 3:10 pm
#21
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Programs: UA Plat-2MM, Marriott Life Titanium, Hyatt something
Posts: 1,888
Congratulations, dhammer53, on putting everything our fellow FTers have taught into practice!
Looking forward to hearing your story live in person tonight.
Charles
Looking forward to hearing your story live in person tonight.
Charles
Mar 13, 2001, 1:44 am
#22
In memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: TUS
Programs: AA 1.8 MM, DL, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold,
Posts: 3,430
Good to hear you did it! I knew you would. It happened to me many times , but I never got $600..just a FC upgrade, food and LAX Hilton. You the man!
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MRKEY
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MRKEY
Mar 13, 2001, 7:45 am
#23
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA
Programs: AS MVP 100K, UA PremEx-MM
Posts: 3,335
Yes, the bump often goes to the most agile individual. Sometimes it's just a lucky chance.
In '99 I did a DEN-SEA-PDX R/T when they used to have those 4th of July specials for less than $200. After boarding the (very full) 777 DEN-SEA, I noticed that somebody was in my seat. I was standing at the boarding door waiting to talk to the purser, who was getting ready to make an announcement. She got to " . . . oversold situation and we're looking for two volunteers" and I had already raised my hand. At least five people I could see started waving and getting up but it was too late for them.
I think I got $200, a seat in F 90 min later and $6 for breakfast, so that trip was a money-maker for me. I would recommend not taking a seat until absolutely necessary if you think that they may be asking for volunteers.
In '99 I did a DEN-SEA-PDX R/T when they used to have those 4th of July specials for less than $200. After boarding the (very full) 777 DEN-SEA, I noticed that somebody was in my seat. I was standing at the boarding door waiting to talk to the purser, who was getting ready to make an announcement. She got to " . . . oversold situation and we're looking for two volunteers" and I had already raised my hand. At least five people I could see started waving and getting up but it was too late for them.
I think I got $200, a seat in F 90 min later and $6 for breakfast, so that trip was a money-maker for me. I would recommend not taking a seat until absolutely necessary if you think that they may be asking for volunteers.
Mar 13, 2001, 9:40 am
#24
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Alexandria, VA
Programs: SPG Pref+, Hilton Silver, Hyatt Plat, BA Blue, AA Riff-Raff, UA Unwashed, Travel Anonymous Platinum
Posts: 1,469
This is a bit off topic question but....
I'm doing a run to SIN in early May and will be heading right back for home after 7 hours in SIN. I'm going AUS-ORD-HKG-SIN-HKG-LAX-ORD-AUS. If any of the international flights happen to be oversold in C (I have confirmed NC seat) and I volunteer to be bumped--will they refuse to bump me because of my routing or will they adjust the routing? I rather suspect they'd rather not bump me and have to fix up all those routings? Also if I volunteer and _do_ get bumped and put me on different airline, would they put me in C or downgrade me to Y?
Thanks!
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UA PremExec (2001)
mailto:[email protected][email protected]</A>
I'm doing a run to SIN in early May and will be heading right back for home after 7 hours in SIN. I'm going AUS-ORD-HKG-SIN-HKG-LAX-ORD-AUS. If any of the international flights happen to be oversold in C (I have confirmed NC seat) and I volunteer to be bumped--will they refuse to bump me because of my routing or will they adjust the routing? I rather suspect they'd rather not bump me and have to fix up all those routings? Also if I volunteer and _do_ get bumped and put me on different airline, would they put me in C or downgrade me to Y?
Thanks!
------------------
UA PremExec (2001)
mailto:[email protected][email protected]</A>
Mar 13, 2001, 9:41 am
#25
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Alexandria, VA
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Posts: 1,469
Dupe
[This message has been edited by UA_Eagle (edited 03-13-2001).]
[This message has been edited by UA_Eagle (edited 03-13-2001).]