I've been a United Airlines frequent flyer for decades, hold one of their VISA cards, and they are generally my first choice of airline when I travel.

But boy, did they screw the pooch this time.

Last Sunday, a snafu at the airport caused me to miss my outbound flight. A less-than happy service rep informed me that unfortunately, they could only get me on a later flight that was due to depart 14 hours later. I checked my watch and realized I could drive the entire distance in 12 hours, so I chose to skip the outbound flight.

Now, I'm trying to check in for the return flight to learn that United has canceled my entire itinerary based on my not taking the outbound flight. I am dutifully waiting on the phone for a rep to make this right, as I paid for the ticket, and did not cancel my travel plans. I fully expect to be on the return flight tonight.

Rrrrrrrr.

That's an automatic. Has been for years.

quote:

Originally posted by ChuckFinley:
That's an automatic. Has been for years.

Agreed, but the two times I've done similar a call to the airline has gotten my return leg(s) held open on the original ticket. But that was a call from the rental car, not on the way to airport for the flight.

quote:

Originally posted by ChuckFinley:
That's an automatic. Has been for years.

Yup, completely normal.

I had an 8 hour delay on a flight to Alaska last summer. This summer my wife chose to use United again to fly to Spain. I don't like flying in the same day we have to depart on a cruise. They did give us each a $100 voucher.

A couple of weeks ago I had a commercial flight connecting through Chicago. It was diverted due to weather to Kansas City, and we remained overnight. The next day completing the trip was uncertain, and I had to be somewhere as crew, so I grabbed a car and drove ten hours. Late that night, the flight I had been on went back to Chicago, then the connecting flight continued to to original final destination. I received phone alerts for the departing flight, because my ticket was not cancelled.

A month ago I came back from Europe. A round trip ticket was purchased, as it was less cost than one-way. I did not take the return flight. Never the less, my ticket was held, and I received notices for the flight.

It is not standard to cancel all the legs or parts of a flight simply because one is missed.

If you don't get on a flight or check in, the seat may be given to another customer or a jumpseater riding on that flight, but the ticket should not have been cancelled.

Phone alerts aren't a good indication of anything, depending on the airline. I get them long after I have landed, cancelled, or what not.

As others have said, what you did has been against every US airline's policy that I know of.

Since you're dealing with United, it's in your best interest to be cordial or you may learn first hand about their slogan:

2 companies I hate: United Airlines and AT&T.

Let me add this to the above mentioned United videos.




Link to original video: https://youtu.be/5YGc4zOqozo

.

I despise United & will never use them again. They canceled a flight to JFK on us. Now, do they not know that most flying to JFK are connecting to a flight to Europe! Instead of taking care of the passengers on the cancelled flight, we were required to go to the back of a long line. While waiting in line we missed 2 more possible flights to JFK & barely made the flight to London.

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:
Phone alerts aren't a good indication of anything, depending on the airline. I get them long after I have landed, cancelled, or what not.

The tickets weren't cancelled.

I can’t believe people will still willingly fly on a commercial plane.

quote:

Originally posted by sns3guppy:

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:
Phone alerts aren't a good indication of anything, depending on the airline. I get them long after I have landed, cancelled, or what not.

The tickets weren't cancelled.

And alerts have nothing to do with that.

quote:

Originally posted by maximus_flavius:
I can’t believe people will still willingly fly on a commercial plane.

People like making money, or are you big balling on your own G5?

quote:

Originally posted by maximus_flavius:
I can’t believe people will still willingly fly on a commercial plane.

Sometimes our Gulfstreams are in the shop.

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:
And alerts have nothing to do with that.

Not sure what your point is.

The tickets weren't cancelled. Cancelling a ticket because someone missed a leg is not standard.