United Airline VENT...

[ShellyL]

Has this ever happened to someone. Last night I was making our flight ressies at the price of $183.00. As all of you know that you have to put all of your info in for everyone flying (8 of us). I get evryones names in, seats picked, creditcard info in and hit finish. when I hit finish it said that there was a technical difficulty please try again. So I am frustrated because I have to put all of my info in for everyone again. So I go back in and start all over and low and behold in the time it took me to go right immediately back into United the flights went up 30.00 each. I was just so upset. It would be different if I was flying 2 of us but we have 5 children. I know this is Thanksgiving that I am flying but I feel United was wrong to kick me out after I put all of my info including credit card in. I called them and the flights never went thru so now instead of 183.00 I am going to have to apy 210.00. I am so undecided with what to do.
Thanks fo listening
Michele

 

[DebbieB]

I would try again today. Sometimes the system is internally holding those 8 tickets and when you try again prices it higher thinking the cheaper seats are gone. It usually clears overnight.

 

[ShellyL]

I don't think that is the case. I went back in this morning and they are the same price. Plus I called them last night immediately and they basically said "too bad". I even talked to a supervisor. It was to me just and unfair deal. It is almost like false advertising to show a price and then boot you out after you do everything. I wouldn't have been as upset if it would have kicked me out before the whole credit card
Michele

 

[dvc at last !]

I understand your story...
the same experience happened to me a few months ago with Delta...
and I got the same sorry, too bad !

 

[dougsmom98]

This happened to my in-laws on Delta. We were going to take the trip together and we were talking to each other on the phone while we were both putting our flight information into the computer. Since we are a family of 6 and we found the flights first, we hit send first and ours was accepted. Two seconds later, my FIL hit send, and it said no seats available at that price. His flights would have been $40 more and he refused to pay it so they never ended up going with us. He wrote letters to Delta and they apologized for the inconvenience, but that was it. They only have a certain number of seats at each price and when they are sold, they are sold. Sorry this happened to you too.

 

[CarolA]

I am wondiering if what happened is that they didn't have 8 seats at that price. (that would not be uncommon) So when you tried to book the system kicked you out because it couldn't sell that many seats at your price.

And while you were entering data for 8 someone else could have easily bought the last few "cheap seats"

The thing is the phone agents often can't even see the cheapest airfares. They are "webfares" only.

Sorry!

 

[seashoreCM]

Don't choose the seats immediately. That
1. increases the time in between that somebody else could book the cheap seats out from under you,
2. is additional work you need to repeat in case something goes wrong

Also don't go back and fix punctuation or capitalization or zip code or phone number typos to save time. The latter can be amended easily later.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[n2mm]

I am wondiering if what happened is that they didn't have 8 seats at that price. (that would not be uncommon) So when you tried to book the system kicked you out because it couldn't sell that many seats at your price.

And while you were entering data for 8 someone else could have easily bought the last few "cheap seats"

The thing is the phone agents often can't even see the cheapest airfares. They are "webfares" only.

Sorry!

That's just what I'm thinking. This has happened to me before too. To the OP try putting in a lesser amount and see if your fare doesnt' change. The last time this happened we managed to buy 2 tickets at one lower price and one ticket for the next price higher. United does only allow a certain amount of seats to sell at a certain price. You may be able to buy 7 cheaper and 1 a little more (or 6 and 2). It's not a problem when you have 2 sets of reservations, we do this often since the big kids all use their own credit cards and I'm usually the one making the reservations. Let us know how this works out.

 

[ShellyL]

Well everyone thank you for comforting me. I just got off the phone with United.com and the guy I talked to, Mike, gave me 4 of them at the lower price and 4 at the new price. He was a saint. He was so patient and kind. I know now to just run with the price. I won't do this again. You have all been so helpful and even though I don't post alot, when I do I always feel supported.
Thanks
Michele

 

[hsmamato2]

happened to me for United 2 weeks ago,planning a trip to MO,found a decent fare, was looking at the screen about to finish inputting info,it blinked,and the new screen presented prices at $30 higher pp! whoops!
I assume the flights I wanted sold out right then,and my timing was just minutes too late.... within a few minutes I found the same price,just not as convenient flight times, that's what I get for hesitating.... the original flight I wanted was not even listed when I found my 2nd choice....

 

[15minfromOGDL]

ShellyL:

That's great that you were at least able to at least get 4 of them at the lesser price.

Just a little tip...

Make note of the fare rules and rate code for the tickets you bought and since you are not flying out until Thanksgiving, check back every once in a while to see if the fare decreases. This happened to us just recently. We booked United, LAX to MCO for Christmas week 2007 (I know, we are nuts) for $377 (originally the flights we wanted was priced at $377 then jumped up to $427 the next day! Checking the available seats, no one actually bought any seats. I was thinking all my searches on Kayak.com and United.com triggered the price increase. We ended up getting a different flight altogether and extended until past New Year 08 and found the $377 fare), then a few days after we booked it went down to $357. I read the fare rules for our tickets and it allowed for us to get a credit voucher for the difference of $20 with United. I know its not money back, but better than nothing. So check back every once and a while to see if you fare drops a little, and if the fare rules allow it you maybe able to recoup some $$ back, albeit for another United flight.