<p>Trying to book airline tickets (50+ seats) next year for a scout trip and our preferred airline is United out of Newark due to proximity. We are having nothing but hassles from United and are getting close to booking with another carrier leaving from JFK. If anyone has any real connections with United and can help, could you PM me.</p>
<p>You’ve tried the group sales desk? Contact a local travel agent, they are in close contact with local reps.</p>
<p>I used to do this as an advisor to a HS club with Continental and it was insane; I can’t imagine how much more difficult it is now that they are merged; I agree with the above poster; a travel agent may be the way to go…</p>
<p>Have contacted group sales and finding travel agents don’t seem to have any pull w group sales. Several parents going on trip, including me, are Platinum Elite and that doesn’t help either. Really hate United since the merger…</p>
<p>^^what exactly is the issue? are you having a problem with the dates they are setting for payments/non-refunds?</p>
<p>Several problems:</p>
<ul>
<li>price is significantly higher than other carriers out of JFK and Philly (including bus to/from the other airports) for the entire group, compared to what they are quoting a single ticket on-line.</li>
<li>dates for payments & refunds</li>
<li>will only allow 10% decrease in number of tickets from date of booking or they keep deposits on those tickets (other carriers are far more flexible with this, they only lock the number of tickets 60 days and we just need to keep above minimum for a group).<br></li>
<li>don’t allow changes to the names on the itinerary after 60 days prior to ticketing.<br></li>
</ul>
<p>We have a spreadsheet comparing all the various carriers and United just falls to the bottom on every metric (except proximity) and have been a complete PITA to deal with. The others are far easier. Just wanted to see if there was a United person on CC that could help us out before we start to deal w buses, etc.</p>
<p>^^Yes, those were all the stipulations that I had to deal with; fun times…</p>
<p>I would go to Philly or JFK (depending on where you are) if that works for you…</p>
<p>I wonder if this is something where booking it through your credit card’s “travel rewards” program would get you anywhere. Do you have miles or points on your card? Then you have a travel agent-type of person at your fingertips. Maybe they can help you especially when they realize how many $$$ you’ll be charging on the card.</p>
<p>Is there any other carrier out of EWR that you can use, or do you have to go to JFK or Philly. It must be UA, I was a travel agent in another life and we were always able to negotiate terms due to the number of groups that we booked. Where are you traveling to? Have you thought of using a tour operator to your destination that would include group air, transfers and block hotel rooms?</p>