I am a simple man and it takes alot to get me irked. And I am actually not that mad, just a bit amused to see a used carlot sales tactic utilized by a billion dollar giant. The old Bait and switch tactic that United Airlines pulled on me at the San Diego International Airport on my recent trip to Moscow Russia. The short version is this. I arrived 4.5 hours early for my flight, I had 3 pieces of luggage to check, knowing that i would need to pay for the 3rd. I arrived at the counter and was told that the third piece would cost about $300 to book or that i could upgrade via the machine to 1st class and I would be allowed 3 pieces of luggage but that I could not check my luggage for another 30 minutes. I looked at the upgrade option and it was $389.00 I figured what the heck, $89.00 for 1st class was not bad seeing that I had to pay $300 already for my bag. I thanked the helpful United Airlines employee and went for a coffee to await the 30 minutes before I could check my bag (you can't check your baggage unless flight is within four hours). I came up to the 1st Class line now and began to check my baggage, the man had been replaced by a younger woman who then asked me how I would like to pay the $200.00 for the third bag. I smiled and showed her that I had upgraded to 1st class and that I was allowed 3 bags, she told me no, that I was only allowed 20 more lbs per my two bags and that I was lucky I was getting these two free. I was amazed and the man who had helped me earlier appeared behind her, I explained that he told me by upgrading i would get three bags, he said yes, isn't that right? She said no. I said no problem, just put me back in economy and I will pay the $200 (not the $300 he had quoted me). She told me there was no way to refund that upgrade since it was made from the machine, I would have to call corporate. Ok what is the number I asked, she said, sorry i mean you need to go onto the internet to do this. I was extremely upset, I paid the $200.00 more for the bag when the manager finally agreed to talk to me and offer me $200.00 in Travel vouchers for my next trip on United. I was surprised and happy he told me to meet him at the gate upon departure. At the gate, he recognized me and called me over (again suprise) and told me that his boss was only going to allow him to give me $100.00 in vouchers to be used in a short amount of time. I told him to forget it I would bring this up with his corporate office via the web. Well it has been over a month now and I have heard nothing back from corporate. BEWARE this Airline!!! Oh did I mention that they cancelled a flight in July from LAX to WASHDC on me due to Weather, when I asked where the weather problem was they changed their tune to mechanical difficulties and after fighting with them for 4 hours they agreed to put me up in a hotel due to the fact I was flying to moscow and now missed a day since they only have one flight a day leaving DC for Moscow, that's a whole 'nother story but same Idea. Beware this airline
0 comments