<p>emilybee, I hear you but since we really don’t know the family, I don’t think anyone here knows the whole story. As busdriver said, confirm everything. It is unfortunate that in the midst of a difficult situation, not one of the 5 adults thought to ask for an email on this. I know it is stressful-I have dealt with having to get airfare to get to my mom in the ICU but I was sure to immediately check that what was discussed on the phone was in order. Again, sorry but I do think the family could have done more to confirm this.</p>
<p>sevmom, I do know the family. They are very close friends with my sister and I have socialized with them on numerous occasions.</p>
<p>Well, then,emilybee, I can certainly understand your position. I’m going to my MIL’s memorial service this weekend and I know these things are stressful. Family arriving from all over the country-driving many miles like us and some flying in. It is definitely stressful. As I said earlier, I am sorry for the family’s loss.</p>
<p>"Busdriver, obviously you are not aware of the Jewish tradition of burial the day after a person dies or at the most two or three days after (depending on when during the day the person has passed away.)</p>
<p>regardless, what day they decided to leave is irrelevant and so is the fact they didn’t check their reservation online. None of that excuses what Delta did."</p>
<p>Nope, I’m not aware of that tradition, which definitely makes it difficult for people who are long distance. I would assume that the family was aware of it, so if I knew that my brother had died that Monday, I would be out there on the first flight available, because I know the funeral would be soon.</p>
<p>To actually schedule the last flight possible to get there, a redeye that gets in around 6:30am for an 11:00am funeral, is something I do not understand. Especially when there are six direct flights daily, from LAX to DTW on Delta. It sounds to me like the wife left the husband in charge on this one, and he blew it. And then leave that evening after the funeral to fly back? I wonder if he wanted to spend as little time with the in laws as possible.</p>
<p>Sure, agents mess up reservations. That is why I listen carefully over the phone when they repeat it, then I check immediately online to make sure it looks right. Probably the fare increase was because they were checking a different flight. That is no excuse for being treated rudely and not being helped, especially in distress, but it sounds like some serious communication issues going on there. Perhaps they were infrequent travelers, to think they could get plan to get there a couple hours before the funeral, and not take a look at their reservations, but would you do that? Even if there is no seat available on an earlier flight, you show up at the airport, list yourself standby, and I guarantee you that if you say you need to get on for a funeral, and the wife takes priority if there’s only one seat…they will find her a seat. Certainly with six flights a day.</p>
<p>Stories like this drive me nuts, not so much because they may be slamming an airline unfairly (and it could be fair, because there are some crummy service reps), but because people set themselves up for situations that could turn out badly. It’s tough enough, with weather and maintenance delays, to ensure you get somewhere even if you leave a day prior, but the last flight out? Very bad decision, and very sad that she missed the funeral.</p>
<p>So the computers are down for all the United flights today in Chicago. Manual ticketing. To be fair, the workers appear to be keeping their cool, but this is the second computer glitch in a year.</p>
<p>Sorry,emilybee, I missed that you knew the family. In reading the article, it sounded like the family knew a couple of days in advance when the service would be. Taking the redeye the night before for an 11am service the next morning is cutting it way too close, especially when you are the only sibling of the deceased. JMHO.</p>
<p>I hate these stories. Airlines give crappy customer service and lie and jack up rates and all of that on good customers, too. Where are those stories? The only ones that seem to make the rounds are ones where the clueless customer is at least half responsible for the problem.</p>
<p>Bottom line: if you made a contract for a $1600 purchase and you didn’t get it in writing, you are placing yourself at the mercy of the other party. That would be a very foolish thing to do even if the other party had a great reputation for customer service. You don’t need a printer to read an email confirmation. My understanding of Jewish tradition, as it has been passed down through my family, is that the Talmudic sages condemn being a sucker.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Actually, WN now has perks like the A-list (basically reserving the front of the boarding line for those with enough frequent flyer activity). But note that flying UA with no status tends to guarantee the worst seats, though flying WN with no status still gives the opportunity to get a decent boarding line number and good seat selection if you check in early.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>On the other hand, a non-stop redeye is usually a low risk flight in terms of delays and cancellations (and cannot be misconnected). But they should have still confirmed the flight on the web site (and used on-line check-in, even if she needed to reprint a boarding pass at the kiosk at the airport).</p>
<p>emilybee, I am sorry your sisters friend couldnt attend her brothers funeral. I have 3 brothers - reading what happened to that couple was heart breaking. </p>
<p>There are certain times when even a seasoned traveller should use a travel agency. Because of where I live and the fact that someone in the family is always flying across country, I am fairly astute in booking online reservations. But in a situation like the one this couple found themselves I would have called AMEX Travel or a travel agency. They all charge a fee now but it is well worth it in circumstances such as this one.</p>
<p>Well, I can add to the United Must GO thread, sadly.</p>
<p>So H and I are going to France, DS is going to Budapest. We are on the same flight from SFO to Frankfurt (Luftanza operated by United). H paid (June1) for improved seating for all of us. We were in 20 AB (against the window) DS was in 20C across the aisle. All was well early in the week (we kept checking because Luft and UA had different seating for us on line (BOTH were booked). ) So yesterday, for the 24 hr checkin, I log on and WHAT?? We are not in 20AB!! DS isn’t even in improved seat (back in cattle class, in the MIDDLE of the 5row).
I am not a happy camper! H is ballistic. H can be er er a little over forceful when people screw up. Tried to call it in Reply: “oh it is too late, all seats are assigned.” Only the airport can fix it. We do not live all THAT close to the airport. “Oh, well you can go to the airport 4 hours early and try to get it fixed.” “oh, well we can give DS a middle seat near you in the improved seating” ummmm ok, better than nothing. Except then DH looks again at the seating chart (also trying to verify that they had the passport information correct, which does not persist, so that you don’t know if they have it or NOT, despite entering it THREE FREAKING times!) OH Look, DS’s original seat shows empty, so DH moved him into 20C.
Jury is still sort of out on how mad we are. We haven’t gotten to the airport to see if we get our original seats. But I am always very anxious until I get on the plane. H likes to cut getting to the airport too close for me (we have traveled a lot and only missed one flight) But I have ulcers about it a lot!!
I would be at the airport 5 hours early, H plans to leave our house 3 hours early (getting to the airport 2.25 hrs before the flight. HAS HE NOT BEEN LISTENING! The United reservations are screwed up! Planes are leaving two hours late because United cannot check people in!! We can go, check in, and then have a nice dinner. Surprisingly SFO restaurants are not bad! </p>
<p>Oh, and while I am whining, does ANYONE think that 1HR 35 minutes is enough time to deplane, work immigration, and catch a different flight in Frankfurt? I didn’t think so…but am hoping that the airline reservation system would not book it and the german efficiency is not a myth in this case. I don’t think we can even get off the plane in an hour! Fortunately, we are not on the last flight of the day there, so maybe we can catch a later flight if it isn’t full.</p>
<p>esobay, haven’t been through Frankfurt but it has a great reputation. We changed in Munich and it was a very well run airport. Likewise Lufthansa is a great airline - but if the flight says Lufthansa “operated by United,” it’s really United. They’re just partners for ticketing and frequent fliers.</p>
<p>You guys are scaring me. I booked S to meet us in NC for an event we’re attending at D’s college. Due to his work schedule, he’s on the last United flight for the day to that destination from Newark. Keeping my fingers crossed.</p>
<p>Just came through Frankfort about a month ago. If your incoming flight is on time, there is probably more than enough time to make the connection and without running. And unlike in the US, you do not have to collect your luggage until your final destination. I would recommend going directly to your departure gate, and once there, if there’s time, taking a bathroom break, getting snacks, etc. </p>
<p>I will say our boarding on our return (Air Canada) flight was chaotic. Too many people crammed into too small a space. No intelligible announcements. But we got on and made it to our next connection in plenty of time.</p>
<p>Escobay- we flew United last fall connecting through Frankfort. I am sorry to say we did not see any German efficiency. It was terrible. The problem was not the airline but the airport. They had construction and it seemed like we could not find a board with gate information. Every time we went searching it seemed like they had another passport control. On the return even the United pilot we asked could not find out what gate the flight was departing from. My advice is to not dilly dally in Frankfort and try to make it to your gate immediately. Good luck</p>
<p>I’ve done the Luftansa/united transfer through Frankfurt many a time. Every time I worry. Every time I get there and realize I was silly for worrying. It’s one of those airports where it’s apparent they’ve done this before.</p>
<p>My First United story. A bunch of families invited my daughter and I to the big island of Hawaii for spring break. I got really cheap tickets at the last minute on Aloha, the first leg of which was a United code share. When Aloha went belly up the next week I immediately got a call from United saying not only was my ticket to Honolulu still good, but they would get me the connecting flight to the outer island. And they did.</p>
<p>Next united story. We were out looking at schools, and my daughter and I were splitting up. She was taking a two hop to Cleveland, while I was off to Charlotte. We got to the airport and found out the first of her flights was running so late she wouldn’t make the connection. So they had rebooked her on the (too expensive for me) nonstop on USair, gratis. We don’t I have status on either United or USair.</p>