If your flying United or Continental check your reservations!!!

[mikegood2]

Check you flight times, because the United/Continental merger may change your plane or flight times.

My brother called United this afternoon to add my 1-1/2 niece to our itinerary for our mid June flight and to our surprise both of our flights changes. Or 9am departing flight is now a 6:10 am flight and our return flight has moved a few minutes later. Also, both planes have changed. While we are not happy about the change, we are glad we called because we did not receive any email or call informing us about the change. This is what annoyed us the most, we were not informed about the change.

Also, we chose the 9am flight over a 6 or 7am for our convenience even though they cost $30 extra each ticket. So we are out the $30 we would have saved if we had purchased those tickets. We also lost our reserved seats for the 4 of us so we have no idea where we will be seated! Monday I have to call and change our towncar pickups times. I hope I don't run into any problems changing them.

So, even if you have not received anything from the airlines, do you self a favor and check to see if your itinerary is the same or have changed.

 

[DebbieB]

Check you flight times, because the United/Continental merger may change your plane or flight times.

My brother called United this afternoon to add my 1-1/2 niece to our itinerary for our mid June flight and to our surprise both of our flights changes. Or 9am departing flight is now a 6:10 am flight and our return flight has moved a few minutes later. Also, both planes have changed. While we are not happy about the change, we are glad we called because we did not receive any email or call informing us about the change. This is what annoyed us the most, we were not informed about the change.

Also, we chose the 9am flight over a 6 or 7am for our convenience even though they cost $30 extra each ticket. So we are out the $30 we would have saved if we had purchased those tickets. We also lost our reserved seats for the 4 of us so we have no idea where we will be seated! Monday I have to call and change our towncar pickups times. I hope I don't run into any problems changing them.

So, even if you have not received anything from the airlines, do you self a favor and check to see if your itinerary is the same or have changed.

Is there a later flight that would be better for you? They will usually switch you for free if there is room.

No matter which airline, it's a good idea to check your itinerary frequently. Except for Southwest, most make frequent changes.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Or 9am departing flight is now a 6:10 am flight and our return flight has moved a few minutes later. Also, both planes have changed.

Also, we chose the 9am flight over a 6 or 7am for our convenience even though they cost $30 extra each ticket. So we are out the $30 we would have saved if we had purchased those tickets.

Call United Airlines and politely tell them that the new flight times do not meet your needs. Not only do you have a 3-hour schedule change, your new departure time would require to arrive at the airport around 4:00-4:30 a.m. with young children.

Under the circumstances, the airline should put you on flights of your choosing, whether that means flights closer to your original schedule (if there are any) or even if that means traveling the night before or the next day. Politely ask the agent to meet United's commitment to you. If the agent tells you there are no seats in your fare class, ask the agent to have a supervisor override the fare class -- or even to put you in first class. Remind them that this change is not your choice, but due to an action by the the airline.

In any case, there should be no change fee and no charge for any fare difference.

Or you should be able to get your full money back, with no cancellation fee.

Most airline reservation agents provide great service under such circumstances, but sometimes it's necessary to ask for a supervisor.

If you want your money back, have a back-up plan first. American Airlines as http://www.aa.com/ allows you to put reservations on 24-hour hold. If you find an acceptable schedule and price on American, you can lock it in without having to give a credit card number. Then, after you call United, you can either cancel American or pay for your American reservation.

Good luck, and have a good vacation.

After you call United, please let us know what they did for you.

 

[mikegood2]

Is there a later flight that would be better for you? They will usually switch you for free if there is room.

No matter which airline, it's a good idea to check your itinerary frequently. Except for Southwest, most make frequent changes.

The only other available time is something like 12:40pm which is later than we would like to leave. Agree, checked about a month ago and it was still OK. It's the fact that we didn't get notified that upset us the most.

Call United Airlines and politely tell them that the new flight times do not meet your needs. Not only do you have a 3-hour schedule change, your new departure time would require to arrive at the airport around 4:00-4:30 a.m. with young children.

Under the circumstances, the airline should put you on flights of your choosing, whether that means flights closer to your original schedule (if there are any) or even if that means traveling the night before or the next day. Politely ask the agent to meet United's commitment to you. If the agent tells you there are no seats in your fare class, ask the agent to have a supervisor override the fare class -- or even to put you in first class. Remind them that this change is not your choice, but due to a action by the the airline.

In any case, there should be no change fee and no charge for any fare difference.

Or you should be able to get your full money back, with no cancellation fee.

Most airline reservation agents provide great service under such circumstances, but sometimes it's necessary to ask for a supervisor.

Good luck, and have a good vacation.

I did call and politely talked to someone, but had no luck. They did give us the option of buying economy plus to guarantee seat assignments, for only $49 a ticket. They do not have any other morning flights free. Talked to a supervisor and they offered us 4 $50 voucher. Tried to get them to changed that to a first class or economy plus upgrade, but didn't have luck.

We got the tickets for $186 each so I don't think we will have much luck finding prices anywhere near that. We could have gotten the flight we now have or a 7am one for $153, but wanted to be safe with the later flight. It's the girls first flight so I hope the earlier time doesn't have to much of an impact on them. Maybe they will even sleep on the flight.

 

[DebbieB]

The only other available time is something like 12:40pm which is later than we would like to leave. Agree, checked about a month ago and it was still OK. It's the fact that we didn't get notified that upset us the most.

Unfortunately, because of frequent changes, most don't notify you until about 30 days, if at all.

 

[seashoreCM]

THey don't have to give you first class but if it is bookable* in coach you should be able to get a flight of your choice at no extra charge.

If you are willing to risk sitting separated, you don't have to order the economy plus seats.

* Excluding forcible book into a full flight that full fare coach lets you do over the internet on some airlines. The only way to prove that you can book but not forcibly book is to see that you can book in a class less than Y. Try to make a dummy reservation but do not click the buy button.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Check you flight times, because the United/Continental merger may change your plane or flight times.

This is a good idea for any airline, as flight time changes happen.

Did you sign up for email notification for flight time changes?

Tried to get them to changed that to a first class or economy plus upgrade, but didn't have luck.

If the agent tells you there are no seats in your fare class, ask the agent to have a supervisor override the fare class -- or even to put you in first class.

Economy plus is not considered an upgrade. There is no way you would get a free upgrade to a higher class without being a 1K on United or paying for it.

We also lost our reserved seats for the 4 of us so we have no idea where we will be seated!

All you have to do is log onto United and select new seats. Or call an agent and do it over the phone.

They did give us the option of buying economy plus to guarantee seat assignments, for only $49 a ticket. They do not have any other morning flights free. Talked to a supervisor and they offered us 4 $50 voucher.

Then why are you complaining? United was more then generous with you. Use the 4 $50.00 vouchers to upgrade to E+. This really is isn't such a big deal.

 

[seashoreCM]

Then why are you complaining? United was more then generous with you. Use the 4 $50.00 vouchers to upgrade to E+. This really is isn't such a big deal.

Alas, they had to buy the upgrade to economy plus first and then they would get the vouchers.

 

[Pembo]

We had the same problem with Continental. They changed our flight times and we lost our seats. I called and after over an hour on the phone we were given seats in the first row after business class for free. I said that I was flying with children and we have to be seated together..

Good luck...

 

[mikegood2]

THey don't have to give you first class but if it is bookable* in coach you should be able to get a flight of your choice at no extra charge.

If you are willing to risk sitting separated, you don't have to order the economy plus seats.

* Excluding forcible book into a full flight that full fare coach lets you do over the internet on some airlines. The only way to prove that you can book but not forcibly book is to see that you can book in a class less than Y. Try to make a dummy reservation but do not click the buy button.

All economy seats on the flight are filled. They do have 3 rows of economy plus open, but I talked to two individuals (One supervisor) and they would not upgrade us. The next earliest available flight is at 12:40

Did you sign up for email notification for flight time changes?

Economy plus is not considered an upgrade. There is no way you would get a free upgrade to a higher class without being a 1K on United or paying for it.

Then why are you complaining? United was more then generous with you. Use the 4 $50.00 vouchers to upgrade to E+. This really is isn't such a big deal.

I did not book the flight, brother did, so I'm not sure. I know that they did have his phone number and email thought. Didn't know I could access our itinerary as easy as I can, or I would have checked it more consistently. I was afraid of messing something up because I didn't book the flight.

The Vouchers can not be used on the flight we booked, can only be used on future flight purchases. If they could have, we would have used them to upgrade to economy plus. I tried to get them to do that. Didn't think they would upgrade us to first or business, but figured it didn't hurt asking.

Also, my complaining is for the fact that we were not notified and have lost our reserved seating. We were told that we are on the flight and they will make sure we are seated together, but not knowing is part of our concern. Also, 6:10 is just so early (need to be up at 3). Being that it's the girls first flight, we didn't want to be one of "those" family with the crying kids, which is why we chose a 9am flight. The early flight increases the chances of us being that "family".

Also, I wrote the OP right after I got off the phone with United. Wanted to remind people to check their itineraries and blow off some steam.

Alas, they had to buy the upgrade to economy plus first and then they would get the vouchers.

We still got the vouchers, converted it one $200 voucher, but we would have liked to use them on the economy plus upgrades instead.

 

[mikegood2]

Just got off the phone with United and apparently the 9am flight we originally booked was canceled, even though it was almost completely filled when we booked in February. The said it has nothing to do with the Continental Merger. The change was made on March 24th, almost a month and a half after we booked it. While we are not happy that the change was made we understand that stuff like this happens but if we were informed of the chance when it happened we would have called then. Probably would have had the same results, but our chances would have been better.

Now I have to call and change the times for our town car pickup. Hopefully there isn't a fee for making the change.

Did you sign up for email notification for flight time changes?

My brother said that he was signed up for it. He is the one that purchased all of the tickets.

Then why are you complaining? United was more then generous with you. Use the 4 $50.00 vouchers to upgrade to E+. This really is isn't such a big deal.

I was complaining because we had not been informed of the change and were frustrated. Also, we can deal with a 6:10 flight, although 9am was much better, but the changes of us being "one of those family's" for that flight just increased because of the time. While my nieces are well behaved, this is their first flight and it means they have to wake up at 3am. Part of the reason we chose the 9am flight was because we thought the girls would be better behaved at that time.

Also, while the voucher is better than nothing, its not by much. They can not be used for anything other than booking a future flight in the next year. We do not fly often so we will not use it most likely. They can not be used to upgrade to E+, and one of the reasons I called today to see if they could be used to pay for our checked luggage. If they could have been, we would have felt better, but they can not. I don't think that asking for them to pay for checked luggage is asking for too much. We would be more than willing to give the voucher back for that.

 

[dudspizza]

It is always good to check your flights on your own. My June United flights have changed at least half a dozen times. Many times they have simply changed the aircraft or flight number. Every time that happens I have lost my seat assignment. I check daily, so I simply log in and choose my seat again.

I am signed up for the exciting call from "Mr. Easy Update", but those calls don't start coming until closer to the departure... I have NEVER been notified of my flight changes. I always discover them on my own.

I also have an app on my iPhone that I have attached to my United account. It also notifies me immediately when there is a change to the itinerary... always good to have......

Moral of the story, be diligent in checking your own reservations and don't rely on the airline to notify you.

Duds

 

[mikegood2]

Hey dudspizza,

I agree that I should have been keeping a much better eye on our flight status. Sometimes you don't learn until you run into an issue. Also, i didn't know it was as easy as it is to check the status. The last time I flew was in 2003, so the procedure has changed a little bit since then.

I'm sure if I had booked my own flight, I would have been checking it more regularly. But because my brother booked the flight for all of us, which I still think was the best way to go, I was afraid to check the flight status. He also flies a few times a year so I thought he would be keeping better track of the flight.

 

[dudspizza]

Hey dudspizza,

I agree that I should have been keeping a much better eye on our flight status. Sometimes you don't learn until you run into an issue. Also, i didn't know it was as easy as it is to check the status. The last time I flew was in 2003, so the procedure has changed a little bit since then.

I'm sure if I had booked my own flight, I would have been checking it more regularly. But because my brother booked the flight for all of us, which I still think was the best way to go, I was afraid to check the flight status. He also flies a few times a year so I thought he would be keeping better track of the flight.

I remember the first time I flew with an eTicket... I must have called 3-4 times just to make sure the ticket existed!

What is nice is that anyone can check the flight with the confirmation number and the last name. I do this with a buddies flight that is flying with me in June.... I am watching it for him and have caught a few times where he lost his seat and I snagged a new one for him...

Travel safe!

Duds

 

[dis_guy]

Hey duds, what's the name of that app that links to your United flight info? TIA

 

[lurkernj]

Yup, this has happened to us as well. We are flying to Hawaii in August and have had our flight changed 4 times already without notice. After the first time I called Continental and they gave us a similar flight out on United (but now we lose our free baggage), and awesome flights (direct) on the way home. After I noticed the first change, I check at least every other day.

On two occasions our flight times stayed the same but the aircraft changed so we lost our seating, so don't just check your flight, check your seat assignment too. It is easy to just select more seats online, but if you are unaware of this change you will end up with seats all over the plane.

 

[dudspizza]

Hey duds, what's the name of that app that links to your United flight info? TIA

It is called "TripTracker" by PageOnce.

I put in my frequent flier info and it will send me an email when a change is made and an alert will pop up on my iPhone.

I have downloaded a few and this one has been the best so far.

I also use "goHow Airport". That one has some very nice airport maps and also a way to enter your itinerary.

Duds

 

[dis_guy]

Thanks!

 

[newyorkmike]

Thanks so much to the OP for posting this information! I booked my parents to fly roundtrip from Cleveland to MCO on continental on May 21 and 28. Their flight out of Cleveland only changed 25 minutes, but their return flight (5:45 pm) was cancelled and they were moved to the noon flight in separated seats. That's not going to work.

Can anyone share specific experiences with continental in these circumstances? Their preference is to cancel the booking and rebook with another airline at this point. Given the almost six hour time change on the departure time, will I receive, or be entitled to demand, a cancellation and full refund?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Their preference is to cancel the booking and rebook with another airline at this point. Given the almost six hour time change on the departure time, will I receive, or be entitled to demand, a cancellation and full refund?

Probably all of these options will be available. Be warned that rebooking on another airline at this late date could result in a large price increase for the new tickets. You need to have them call the airline to discuss their options.