They changed my connecting flight, anything I can do about it??

[calie_j]

I've read a few posts of people getting a new flight when the airlines changed their flights. I just checked mine on United and our return flight on July 3 has been changed but only the connecting flight. The 1st flight is from 6:10am arriving at 7:50am. Our connecting flight from there has been changed from 8:43am-11:43am to 11:02am-2:02pm, giving us a long layover in Denver. I did check and there is a flight at 7:45 which would shorten the layover. Is there any chance I can complain about the change and get the flight changed without it costing extra?? Any tips on what to ask for.

Thanks, Calie

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Is there any chance I can complain about the change and get the flight changed without it costing extra?? Any tips on what to ask for.

There should be no need to "complain." Just call United reservations, and explain the same thing that you explained here. The second flight was changed by United, not at your request. So United should be willing to adjust the first flight to construct a connection that doesn't require a layover of more than 3 hours. There should be no charge to you, because you would have been happier staying with your original connection, if United hadn't changed the second flight.

My guess is that the United reservationist will help you if there's inventory in the same fare class as your original flight on the 7:45 a.m. flight. But if the reservationist says, "I don't show any seats available on the 7:45 a.m. flight," find out if there are just no seats in the fare class, or if the cabin is truly sold out. If it's just a fare class issue, ask to speak with a supervisor. If the 7:45 a.m. flight is truly sold out, then bring a good book.

 

[golfgal]

If all else fails, there is a great taco place near the United terminals in the Denver airport!!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

calie_j...

Please let us know whet happens when you call United.

 

[calie_j]

Thanks for the replies. On your advice I checked online for available seats on the 7:45 flight and there are only 3 seats left, we need 5. Also that flight is showing up as $200 more then what we paid. I figure I don't have a chance in of getting it changed. So at this time I'm not going to call.

The change isn't that big a deal, just kind of sucks we have to get up so early for a 3 hour layover. It doesn't even bother me that we're arriving later then planned, it's still early enough for the 4-5 hour drive home from there. What bugs me is the principle of the whole thing: I paid $$ for that schedule and if *I* wanted to change it they'd charge me $100 per ticket, but they can change it without notifying me or giving me $100/ticket??? How fair is that

Calie

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Thanks for the replies. On your advice I checked online for available seats on the 7:45 flight and there are only 3 seats left, we need 5. Also that flight is showing up as $200 more then what we paid. I figure I don't have a chance in of getting it changed. So at this time I'm not going to call.

The seat map doesn't tell you how many unsold seats are actaully still available in the coach cabin. Unless you're an elite member of United Mileage Plus, you won't see any seats in the front half of coach ("Economy Plus") or other seats that are not available for online seat selection. If you can see 3 seats, chances are there are far more than 3 seats.

Also, don't worry about the current price. To the reservationists and their supervisors, it's a customer satisfaction issue. If you simply explain that your connection layover grew to over 3 hours because United changed the second leg of your connection (not at your request), and that you're aware that there's a 7:45 a.m. flight for first leg, which would make a more reasonable connection, then I think the United reservationist will listen and take care of you.

It's possible that the United reservationist will say he or she can only pre-assign the 3 seats that you see on the seat map, and that the other 2 seats will be assigned at the airport. If so, politely ask to be assignd to Economy Plus seats, with all 5 of you together. Again, United -- not you -- changed the schedule, and they need to take proper care of passengers who were ticketed under the old schedule.

It's up to you whether you call, but if I were in your shoes, I would certainly call.

 

[cruiseonmagic]

Thanks for the replies. On your advice I checked online for available seats on the 7:45 flight and there are only 3 seats left, we need 5. Also that flight is showing up as $200 more then what we paid. I figure I don't have a chance in of getting it changed. So at this time I'm not going to call.

The change isn't that big a deal, just kind of sucks we have to get up so early for a 3 hour layover. It doesn't even bother me that we're arriving later then planned, it's still early enough for the 4-5 hour drive home from there. What bugs me is the principle of the whole thing: I paid $$ for that schedule and if *I* wanted to change it they'd charge me $100 per ticket, but they can change it without notifying me or giving me $100/ticket??? How fair is that

Calie

You don't check online for available seats due to a schedule change. You call UAL--and it doesn't matter what fare class is available (except for first). UAL just takes inventory from the next fare class, and books the seats. I see you are from WI. Are you flying back to WI? What city? If you want to give me a little more info, I can probably give you some suggestions. I was a res supervisor for UAL for several years, and have rebooked more flights than I can count.

 

[philaround]

Calie: If I read your post right you would like to be put on a plane that is scheduled to depart 5 minutes before you arrive. I don't think United would be willing to hold a flight in Denver until you can get to the gate. Also there is always the possibility that your incoming flight is scheduled to use the gate the 7:45 flight is leaving from so if the gate has not been cleared in time you will not be able to disembark.

Last December we had to wait in the taxi way at LGA in NY for over 20 minutes untl a gate opened for us. There had been some weather related delays all up and down the east coast so at midnight on 12/20 [my birthday yet] LGA got hit with about 20 extra flights that should have arrived between 11PM and midnight on the 19th.

 

[cruiseonmagic]

Calie: If I read your post right you would like to be put on a plane that is scheduled to depart 5 minutes before you arrive. I don't think United would be willing to hold a flight in Denver until you can get to the gate. Also there is always the possibility that your incoming flight is scheduled to use the gate the 7:45 flight is leaving from so if the gate has not been cleared in time you will not be able to disembark.
QUOTE]

What calie is saying is that there is a later first flight. The connecting flight was changed to a later time, so they want to leave mco later to cut down on the wait time in den.

 

[JFrey4240]

Call United. What's the worse that can happen--you'll still be stuck with the flight changes. I had to call United three times because they changed our flight so much before Easter. We had a direct flight and got bumped from that--called and complained and got put on a earlier direct flight. Then our flight back had layover times changed from one hour to three and then to four. They were very accomodating when I called and changed my flight each time without a hassle. Oh--there was no charge because they made the changes. So call!