PRICING MISTAKE: 4 miles from Hong Kong

[yehuda S]

If complaints to DoT end up getting honored will that mean anyone who didn't complain wont get their ticket honored too?

[leeboy]

I really do not see why people are so upset at filling a DOT complaint. Airlines take advantage of costumers all the time when the costumer has no other choice.. Like leaving them in the plane delayed for hours, finding every excuse to cancel a flight etc. just try and get off the plane while they you are delayed on the runway, you will end up in jail. Therefore we have something called DOT which is suppose to watch over these big busters who feel they can just control their passengers in a lot of time in inhuman ways with no repercussion... True they charge for whatever they want, but they have no right to control people just because by law your pretty much stuck. If you were left stuck in an airport for 12 or 15 hours because of airplane maintenance with no power what so ever to do anything and treated as an animal on a leash at the mercy of the airline you would understand. How about important business meetings or weddings and the like that people get bumped or delayed for no good reason only to be compensated with some voucher for future flights
Common now, I aint got no mercy for the airlines

[leeboy]

If complaints to DoT end up getting honored will that mean anyone who didn't complain wont get their ticket honored too?

Chicken

[e-Lawyer]

BTW, in browsing through DoT guidance, I came across this article which provides that an airline cannot advertise a "free" flight if the customer still has to pay for tax and fees portion of the airfare. Although not directly on point, this could be useful to show that the DoT has previously held that fees and taxes are part and parcel of payment for airfare as a whole and thus our tickets fall within paid airfare.

http://airconsumer.dot.gov/rules/Use%20of%20the%20word%20free%20in%20fare%20advertisements.pdf

[WhyAich]

Time to unpack

Sorry man, and for the many others.

[yehuda S]

Chicken

Maybe. Or maybe I can't picture myself sticking it to United for a programming error. Knowing that the guy who slipped up on the PHP is prob going to lose his job because I feel like I deserve a first class trip to HK.

[A3]

Maybe. Or maybe I can't picture myself sticking it to United for a programming error. Knowing that the guy who slipped up on the PHP is prob going to lose his job because I feel like I deserve a first class trip to HK.

He prob already lost his job

[PlatinumGuy]

Maybe. Or maybe I can't picture myself sticking it to United for a programming error. Knowing that the guy who slipped up on the PHP is prob going to lose his job because I feel like I deserve a first class trip to HK.

I hope that guy loses his job. I've suffered enough from their pathetic IT system. That is actually the one positive result. These people aren't up to the job.


ETA: its not the guy who made the mistake who's at blame, its his boss who didn't have a safe guard against the mistake.

[PlatinumGuy]

Sorry man, and for the many others.

I had loads of fun. Nothing to be sorry about.

[springles]

Our best hope is that UA cancels a ticket for someone who is already on the way, leaving him stranded. That will ensure the public/media/DoT take our side.

Wonder what the regulations are in the other countries...

I wonder what happened to that FT member who flew his first leg and was in Denver for the night awaiting his next leg. Or was that his first leg?
And there was another guy who started his itin today but last I heard was still in the US awaiting 2nd leg.

[leeboy]

tried to change a ticket

Price Difference

Miles due 1,199,984 miles
Additional charge $238.40
Please exit the flight change process to buy or transfer miles and begin your search again

[springles]

Yes.
I don't like unilateral cancellations.  That's a violation of IATA and not honoring a mistake make this 2 violations.

IATA?

[e-Lawyer]

If complaints to DoT end up getting honored will that mean anyone who didn't complain wont get their ticket honored too?

Maybe. Or maybe I can't picture myself sticking it to United for a programming error. Knowing that the guy who slipped up on the PHP is prob going to lose his job because I feel like I deserve a first class trip to HK.

So you are not comfortable complaining, but you will happily take the results of those immoral complainers?

[Mordy788]

did the guy at wsj ever reply to you?  maybe you should  email him again and tell him more ppl are bring canceled with out being notified first

My tickets were cancelled as well. I was not contacted nor was I refunded my fees or travel insurance.

I let Scott at the WSJ know. Lets see what happens.

[yehuda S]

So you are not comfortable complaining, but you will happily take the results of those immoral complainers?

I didn't say they were 'immoral'. You said that. I just said I can't see myself doing it. For now I'm not going to do anything. Whatever happens happens.

[PlatinumGuy]

I let Scott at the WSJ know. Lets see what happens.

Thanks!

[leeboy]

The latest official statement..


Hi Everyone, I want to provide you with a further update on our Hong Kong award programming error from this past weekend. Specifically here’s how we are proceeding with these reservations:
For those customers who had sufficient mileage in their account for the correct award amount, the correct amount of miles were deducted at the time of redemption. Any customers who do not intend to use the published number of miles for their ticket may cancel their reservation without paying a fee and we will refund all miles, taxes and fees.

For those customers who did not have sufficient mileage in their account for the correct award amount, the correct amount of miles could not be deducted at the time of redemption. These tickets have been canceled for non-payment and all taxes and fees have been refunded.

For those customers who have already begun travel, or are ticketed to begin travel on or before July 21, we will not cancel these tickets and will allow travel to be completed in full. This is intended as an accommodation to those customers whose travel is already underway or the departure date to begin travel is imminent.
We hope you’ll agree this was a unique circumstance. Unlike other widely reported “mistake fares,” the number of miles required for these awards – the correct purchase price – was clearly disclosed to customers throughout the MileagePlus award redemption process and is also available on our MileagePlus travel award chart.

We are in the process of communicating with affected customers at this time. Once again, we appreciate your understanding.

Shannon Kelly
Director, Customer Insights
United Airlines
     

[Dan]

Wow, nd you should be complaining big time!

[Mordy788]

DOT complaint has been filed.

[leeboy]

The latest official statement..


Hi Everyone, I want to provide you with a further update on our Hong Kong award programming error from this past weekend. Specifically here’s how we are proceeding with these reservations:
For those customers who had sufficient mileage in their account for the correct award amount, the correct amount of miles were deducted at the time of redemption. Any customers who do not intend to use the published number of miles for their ticket may cancel their reservation without paying a fee and we will refund all miles, taxes and fees.

For those customers who did not have sufficient mileage in their account for the correct award amount, the correct amount of miles could not be deducted at the time of redemption. These tickets have been canceled for non-payment and all taxes and fees have been refunded.

For those customers who have already begun travel, or are ticketed to begin travel on or before July 21, we will not cancel these tickets and will allow travel to be completed in full. This is intended as an accommodation to those customers whose travel is already underway or the departure date to begin travel is imminent.
We hope you’ll agree this was a unique circumstance. Unlike other widely reported “mistake fares,” the number of miles required for these awards – the correct purchase price – was clearly disclosed to customers throughout the MileagePlus award redemption process and is also available on our MileagePlus travel award chart.

We are in the process of communicating with affected customers at this time. Once again, we appreciate your understanding.

Shannon Kelly
Director, Customer Insights
United Airlines
     

How about the hotels/cars people booked, I know one person who changed other tickets to catch the deal... really bad communication on UA's part