I'm done with UA
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: BA GGL, LH FTL
Posts: 3,577
I'm done with UA
Had a flight from London to Bangkok (LCY-ZRH-BKK) on Swiss in April in Business (J). Everything went smooth, miles were credited to my MP account, no problems at all.
A few weeks ago I noticed that my account balance was lower than expected (and lower than shown in the spread sheet that I keep to tag all my flights). So I went into the painful business of comparing every entry in my spread sheet with the postings to my MP account. After a while I identified the above LX flight (incl. return) - apparently only 100% EQM were credited. Thinking this was odd I checked UA.bomb which confirmed that LX flights in business earn only 100% EQM (which in itself is a disgrace, but an entirely different matter). The way I enter flights in my spread sheet is that I always wait for the miles to post before I put them in there (as with all these rules I never know exactly how many miles there will be). So UA must have credited me first according to the old rules (125%?) and then after some time removed the credit again when the rules changed.
Obviously I complained. The reply was that I must be mistaken as LX never earned CoS EQMs. Plus the usual copy&paste "we are sorry" text. Apart from the fact that this is an obvious lie (I still have LX C/J postings from last year that show CoS bonus EQMs) I am also 99% sure about the retroactive removal of miles from my accounts which is (or at least feels like) plain and simple theft.
To make a long story short: I'm now done with UA. I will put one more flight on MP (operated by any *A partner, but not by UA!) to get me requalified as *G in 2010 (always useful) and will then use up the 150k or so miles in my account (again, on any *A award, but none operated by UA). After that I will walk away and never look back.
A few weeks ago I noticed that my account balance was lower than expected (and lower than shown in the spread sheet that I keep to tag all my flights). So I went into the painful business of comparing every entry in my spread sheet with the postings to my MP account. After a while I identified the above LX flight (incl. return) - apparently only 100% EQM were credited. Thinking this was odd I checked UA.bomb which confirmed that LX flights in business earn only 100% EQM (which in itself is a disgrace, but an entirely different matter). The way I enter flights in my spread sheet is that I always wait for the miles to post before I put them in there (as with all these rules I never know exactly how many miles there will be). So UA must have credited me first according to the old rules (125%?) and then after some time removed the credit again when the rules changed.
Obviously I complained. The reply was that I must be mistaken as LX never earned CoS EQMs. Plus the usual copy&paste "we are sorry" text. Apart from the fact that this is an obvious lie (I still have LX C/J postings from last year that show CoS bonus EQMs) I am also 99% sure about the retroactive removal of miles from my accounts which is (or at least feels like) plain and simple theft.
To make a long story short: I'm now done with UA. I will put one more flight on MP (operated by any *A partner, but not by UA!) to get me requalified as *G in 2010 (always useful) and will then use up the 150k or so miles in my account (again, on any *A award, but none operated by UA). After that I will walk away and never look back.
#2
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: MBS/FNT/LAN
Programs: UA 1K, HH Gold, Mariott Gold
Posts: 9,630
Just to be clear, in error you received a 25% bonus on your flight... then UA caught the error and re-posted the correct amount?
And that is why you are leaving UA?
And that is why you are leaving UA?
#3
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: NYC (formerly BOS/DCA)
Programs: UA 1K, IC RA
Posts: 60,745
I gotta say, I'm not sure why you are leaving UA over something this trivial. I think they did the right thing.
#4
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: UA 1K, AC *S, Marriott Plat....
Posts: 127
Seems like small potatoes to me. There aren't very many other FF programs even close to as generous as MP.
#5
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond, UA 1K MM, SPG Plat For Life, Marriott Plat, Nexus/GlobalEntry
Posts: 9,198
So you're quitting UA because they awarded you miles per the policy that's clearly posted on their website? Surely no other airline would ever do such a thing.
#6
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVPG
Posts: 211
Seems like you have a very ridiculous argument for leaving UA. If that's the case, I don't think UA will miss you
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,900
I think this earns you a seat in the FT hall of fame. Only a FFer would complain when the actual rules were enforced.
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,550
You're really leaving UA because of this?
On one hand, if I made a small clerical error in a client's favor, I'd probably just fix the error going forward and not retroactively bill the client for the mistake, even if I was legally allowed to. So part of me is looking at UA saying "C'mon, that's bush league...just fix your error and don't retroactively deduct EQM."
But on the other hand, I doubt I'd completely sever a relationship with a vendor because of it. If it was the straw that broke the camel's back at the end of a strained relationship, that's one thing... But as a standalone problem, it hardly seems like that big of a deal.
On one hand, if I made a small clerical error in a client's favor, I'd probably just fix the error going forward and not retroactively bill the client for the mistake, even if I was legally allowed to. So part of me is looking at UA saying "C'mon, that's bush league...just fix your error and don't retroactively deduct EQM."
But on the other hand, I doubt I'd completely sever a relationship with a vendor because of it. If it was the straw that broke the camel's back at the end of a strained relationship, that's one thing... But as a standalone problem, it hardly seems like that big of a deal.
#9
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 1,980
It seems your assumption was wrong. I checked my records for NZ C class, and it has only been earning 100% EQMs in 2007.
#10
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Denver, CO USA
Programs: UA-Gold, 1MM, Marriott Gold, Global Entry
Posts: 1,086
sschwenk,
If you were looking for a reason to leave you have one and really don't have to justify it.
For me it would be two separate issues, yet I certainly know the feeling when an issue that is important to me comes into play tipping my choice another way.
At least you won't be leaving flyertalk!
Happy flying!
If you were looking for a reason to leave you have one and really don't have to justify it.
For me it would be two separate issues, yet I certainly know the feeling when an issue that is important to me comes into play tipping my choice another way.
At least you won't be leaving flyertalk!
Happy flying!
#11
Original Member, Moderator: Hotel Deals and MilesBuzz
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 14,256
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,911
I have to echo the sentiment expressed by others: your complaint is rather bizarre.
You really want to leave UA because they don't provide an extra 25% COS miles for LX paid C?
If you are based in the U.S. or do a lot of flying in the U.S., I don't think you are making a wise choice to leave UA.
You really want to leave UA because they don't provide an extra 25% COS miles for LX paid C?
If you are based in the U.S. or do a lot of flying in the U.S., I don't think you are making a wise choice to leave UA.
#14
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: JFK
Programs: UA Gold (Million Miler), FI Gold, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,075
The class of service bonuses are really an incentive for you to fly UA instead of LX or some other airline. 100% seems more than fair. You may be angry with UA about what happened but make sure you are actually able to find a better frequent flyer programme before you leave UA. They're not perfect but the benefits of UA, in balance, are better than other *A programmes.
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,550
I could actually understand someone picking a different *A program because of the StarNet blocking. (Although I don't know the ins and outs of the other programs or which one would be better than UA...) To me, that's absolutely one of the worst features of Mileage Plus.
But the OP isn't whinging about getting StarNet blocked...
But the OP isn't whinging about getting StarNet blocked...