United LHR- New York in F $100 return

[mandja]

Did anyone else here get any of these "glitch" fares?

I was very excited to get 2 such fares for August 2015.

I was less excited this afternoon to get the dishonour email from the airline. Quite rude they were too. I was very looking forward to the great SC it would've generated.

 

[JohnPhelan]

What did the email say?

 

[anat0l]

I'm not sure about "rude": it seemed very generic, is all.

Your United reservations are canceled

We have discovered an error with a vendor's currency exchange rates that temporarily allowed customers to book reservations through the Danish version of united.com at prices that were incorrect, despite United having filed the fares properly. We have suspended sales from our Danish website until the issue is corrected.

You purchased tickets through the Danish version of united.com during the time when the prices were incorrect. As a result, we are not able to honor your tickets at the price that you paid. We have voided your reservations and will not process your payment.

Confirmation numbers: <blah blah blah>

If you would like to book your travel at the correct price, please visit united.com.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

SC?? status credits with whom?

 

[Isochronous]

I thought US DOT would require them to honour the fares.

 

[anat0l]

SC?? status credits with whom?

I had assumed "SCs" might have been used in the generic sense of the word for status counting currency, since many *A FFPs are based on counting particular miles for status.

I thought US DOT would require them to honour the fares.

In theory, it would seem that way - mistake fare is a mistake fare so cough up. In reality it would seem more complicated than that, and even then it's not as if UA has to comply it will do so without some kicking and screaming (on both sides of the equation).

There was one "mistake" where UA redemption fares to HKG were flogged at 4 UA miles plus a handful of taxes; except for a few that were ticketed to go soon after the mistake curtain fell (and thus were too quick to use the ticket before UA had a chance to cancel them), others had their tickets cancelled and the DoT decided on no penalty for UA.

This is the interesting part, too. DoT can't make UA reinstate the tickets; it can only fine UA.

 

[dajop]

Haven't looked but I can imagine the outrage on FT. Having had a RGN-YUL $600 fare cancelled, can't say I am surprised. And it would be pretty hard to argue that a $100 return F fare across the atlantic is within the bounds of reality (especially when that's what Ryanair probably charge to get to Stansted and back) unlike the $3.5K AU-Europe return J fares on SQ that flight centre and SQ let slip through the cracks.

Easy come, easy go.

 

[anat0l]

Haven't looked but I can imagine the outrage on FT. Having had a RGN-YUL $600 fare cancelled, can't say I am surprised. And it would be pretty hard to argue that a $100 return F fare across the atlantic is within the bounds of reality (especially when that's what Ryanair probably charge to get to Stansted and back) unlike the $3.5K AU-Europe return J fares on SQ that flight centre and SQ let slip through the cracks.

Easy come, easy go.

The FT thread is up to page 66 (maximum number of posts per page) and growing every hour. The manifestation is very formulaic.

 

[QPProletarian]

DOT do allow increase on mistake fares for the taxable component.

Thought some of these may end up flying in Y.. but when it went unfixed for hours and newspapers were publishing step by step instructions.... Well gets outta hand.

 

[opusman]

It seems in this case that the loaded fares themselves were not incorrect, but the third-party currency conversion system had a problem.

 

[anat0l]

It seems in this case that the loaded fares themselves were not incorrect, but the third-party currency conversion system had a problem.

That appears to be the story.

Of how culpable that leaves United is another thing. Many have the view that they have a contract with United, hence United is prima facie responsible for resolutions. Due to DoT, this doesn't seem to give them a get out to void tickets, as in a sense, it shouldn't matter who or what was responsible for the stuff up.

 

[Alanslegal]

I did book one of these fares, LHR-xFRA-JFK on LH J and F. It was ticketed fine with ticket numbers all good. I was able to log into LH's site and select seats. UA did cancel it around 18 hours later and I received that email.

It is a frenzy over at FT and I am sure lots of filings have been made with DOT. I am very interested to see how this all pans out - I will be happy to accept some xx,xx_ UA miles in lieu of the flights though

I did fly on that ex-RGN mistake fare as well .... so some errors can stick.

 

[anat0l]

I did book one of these fares, LHR-xFRA-JFK on LH J and F. It was ticketed fine with ticket numbers all good. I was able to log into LH's site and select seats. UA did cancel it around 18 hours later and I received that email.

It is a frenzy over at FT and I am sure lots of filings have been made with DOT. I am very interested to see how this all pans out - I will be happy to accept some xx,xx_ UA miles in lieu of the flights though

I did fly on that ex-RGN mistake fare as well .... so some errors can stick.

The RGN fares were pretty messy... some of the airlines in question didn't take action all that quickly, which likely counted against them. Plus, I believe the "error" was more deeply seated in that case, i.e. a misfiling.

Plus, with RGN you roped in plenty of other carriers who are likely a bit more timid compared to UA, who is on home soil and has significant lobbying power, plus some substantial resistance to any DoT fines that may be charged against them.

I don't know how much "loss" was in the RGN fares that were honoured in the end, let alone how much any fines might have cost the airlines involved, but as it stands there's a significant chunk of fares worth tied up here.

The "paper theory" is that the DoT will "come to the rescue" and the errors must be honoured or UA will face a stiff tranche of fines. The variables are not exactly the same as precedent so one can only sit tight and await the decisions.

Personally I just hope for, at minimum, my money back, i.e. back to where I was before this started. UA credit won't cut it with me.

 

[Alanslegal]

The RGN fares were pretty messy... some of the airlines in question didn't take action all that quickly, which likely counted against them. Plus, I believe the "error" was more deeply seated in that case, i.e. a misfiling.

Plus, with RGN you roped in plenty of other carriers who are likely a bit more timid compared to UA, who is on home soil and has significant lobbying power, plus some substantial resistance to any DoT fines that may be charged against them.

I don't know how much "loss" was in the RGN fares that were honoured in the end, let alone how much any fines might have cost the airlines involved, but as it stands there's a significant chunk of fares worth tied up here.

The "paper theory" is that the DoT will "come to the rescue" and the errors must be honoured or UA will face a stiff tranche of fines. The variables are not exactly the same as precedent so one can only sit tight and await the decisions.

Personally I just hope for, at minimum, my money back, i.e. back to where I was before this started. UA credit won't cut it with me.

I am hoping that there will be enough pressure from DOT to (reinstate or) at least settle 'something' in lieu of the flights. If they offered 10K UA miles now, I might ask for 20K but knowingly take any UA points at the end of the day.

There will be alot of action for the time being with everyone over on FT filing claims with DOT, but I will sit back, sit tight and see what eventuates.

 

[anat0l]

I am hoping that there will be enough pressure from DOT to (reinstate or) at least settle 'something' in lieu of the flights. If they offered 10K UA miles now, I might ask for 20K but knowingly take any UA points at the end of the day.

There will be alot of action for the time being with everyone over on FT filing claims with DOT, but I will sit back, sit tight and see what eventuates.

Sitting back and waiting for DoT is the best thing anyone can do now, apart from completing their filings (far from an onerous job). Some apparently have travel coming up very soon, so positioning and all that jazz... plus if it's within 14 days, some are considering whether EU261 comes into play (a slightly stronger but definitely not faster regulatory "instrument").

UA miles will be pretty useless to me... don't think I even have a UA account. UA flight credit is also pretty useless for me. Although, I guess something is better than nothing (although the expectation is really to get at least, well, nothing).

 

[smit0847]

I think UA's strategy is as follows:

1. Cancel all tix. This will make prob 50% of all pax go away.
2. Wait for DoT outcome. If DoT rule in favour of pax, offer compensation (ie offer to fly them in Y for the price they paid). This should make another 25% of pax go away.
3. Honour the remaining 25%.

I think this might be the straw that breaks the camels back and leads DoT to change the regulation to allow airlines to cancel 'unreasonable' fares (which this clearly is). The DoT rule is there to protect airlines being unreasonable to genuine pax, not opportunistic rorters being deceptive.

 

[smit0847]

Sitting back and waiting for DoT is the best thing anyone can do now, apart from completing their filings (far from an onerous job). Some apparently have travel coming up very soon, so positioning and all that jazz... plus if it's within 14 days, some are considering whether EU261 comes into play (a slightly stronger but definitely not faster regulatory "instrument").

The first rule of a mistake fare is either book travel leaving immediately (like within 24 hours) so there is no time for the airline to cancel thr ticket, or at least 3 months in advance to allow for cancellation and subsequent DOT objection.

I would not want to be waiting on a government agency for urgent travel plans.

 

[anat0l]

The first rule of a mistake fare is either book travel leaving immediately (like within 24 hours) so there is no time for the airline to cancel thr ticket, or at least 3 months in advance to allow for cancellation and subsequent DOT objection.

I would not want to be waiting on a government agency for urgent travel plans.

I wouldn't be waiting on the government either for urgent travel plans. If you needed to travel, then a mistake contingent on a decision is not the way to do it!

Yeah I'd travel within 24 hours too except that it was impractical. That said, the deal lasted about seven hours and they started cancelling at about the 9 or 10 hour mark.

 

[hossein_au]

I got one as well, but as i don't have much annual leave and I'll be in Europe, I bought LHR-SYD-LHR via the U.S. in F (all long haul on their new 777-200). It was about $1900 all up, but fully flexible. I did check other routings and some were non refundable and some had change fees as much as 450GBP.

Got a copy of the confirmation and the ticket (with eticket number). Will see if DOT will do anything...

 

[mandja]

I got one as well, but as i don't have much annual leave and I'll be in Europe, I bought LHR-SYD-LHR via the U.S. in F (all long haul on their new 777-200). It was about $1900 all up, but fully flexible. I did check other routings and some were non refundable and some had change fees as much as 450GBP.

Got a copy of the confirmation and the ticket (with eticket number). Will see if DOT will do anything...

UPDATE !

Seems that DoT has already begun

Just read this on their website

"[h=1]United Airlines mistaken fare[/h]The Department of Transportation is aware of an issue involving mistaken fares on United Airlines’ Danish-facing website. The Department's Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings has begun looking into this matter, including speaking to United and reviewing consumer complaints. That Office will gather all the relevant facts before making a determination as to whether United is or is not required to honor the mistaken fares.



Updated: Thursday, February 12, 2015 "


Keep all fingers and toes crossed (in Hossein's case crescented?)