Pardon the long email. I would appreciate useful and constructive input on if I should have done something differently on this particular situation.
Basically, UA 1499 on 7/31 ORD - LAX was delayed departing, thanks to a VERY over sold flight, and a bunch of no shows/ The GA asked for volunteers, and I, a guy in First and a family of 4 volunteered. So THEN the GA starts giving all those seats to some of the standbys, and THEN since it was departure time, they released the no show seats and started seating the rest of the standbys but THEN the family changed their mind and decided they wanted to go, and insisted on sitting together, and THEN all the no shows showed up on a cart. So at the end of all that they STILL needed three seats (for a standby family of 3 who didn't want to be separated), so me and the guy in first were boarded cuz they didn't have three to give, and NOW I was not in my original bulk head by the door seat.
As I boarded, I nicely asked the FA that IF there were any empty seats toward the front, I would appreciate being moved up due to my now extremely tight connection in LAX.
As we were landing, Teddy (FA) ran back and switched me with someone so I could get off the flight quickly. The agent who met the flight said she would call the gate and let them know I was on my way and I OJ'ed it from gate 74 to gate 87 in about 4 minutes, the plane was there, but the door was closed, and the only GA was down the ramp....it was still several minutes before scheduled departure time (yes i KNOW departure time is not the time the gate door shuts). I knocked LOUDLY (dare I say, bang??)
When the GA came back, I was still there and he snottily said, "you are too late, i already made the last call to board." I said, "my flight was delayed and then I was running through the airport and the GA at 74 said she'd call you to let you know I was on the way." He said (and I quote), "Too bad. And that was the last flight to TUS," then he WALKED AWAY from me!
To this point, I had been really laid back about the whole thing having been stranded in worse places than LAX, but I think a vein may have popped in my head at that point. BUT since this has happened before on this very flight, I knew what to do, I headed to the customer service area at Terminal 8, and she booked me on the first flight on 8/1 at 2pm. I asked for a hotel and she said she didn't have any vouchers and I should go to the CS in Terminal 7. Instead, I went to the United Club. Myra was very nice and confirmed my flight for the next day, and said they didn't have any hotels available but that I should book my own and submit the receipts.
I had never heard of that, so I called the Elite line to ask if there were any guidelines, a price limit or anything. The agent I got had never heard of that so she put me on hold. When she came back, she confirmed that yes, LAX did not have any hotel inventory and I was free to make my own reservation and they would reimburse me.
So I booked a hotel (For some reason, it ended up being near Long Beach airport, despite me very clearly telling the Starwood reservation person that I was at LAX and I wanted a property CLOSE to LAX), I waited an hour for the Super Shuttle, followed by an hour ride to the Westin Long Beach.....(all this, not UA's fault or problem, and just provided as background to the stress of the night)
I arrived around 1:30am, and was upgraded to the swanky Presidential Suite...pity I didn't have my posse with me!!!
Finally home the next afternoon, I submitted my receipts for the hotel, the upcharge for breakfast, and supershuttle, all through the online UA form and got an auto reply that I would hear back in 5 - 7 business days. Today is day 7 so I called to follow up, the elite desk put me on hold....when she came back, she said it could actually be up to 21 days before I even heard anything and then they would "consider" my claim.
Have I followed the proper procedure? Should I have done anything else. The way she phrased it, now I am worried I won't get reimbursed.
I guess the thing I am irritated about is why can't the LA gate agents hold closing the doors , LITERALLY 5 minutes, especially when they KNOW we are running through the airport? This is the second time this has happened to me in LA, same flight in the last year. I have been on the IAH - TUS flight at least 3 times in the same time period when they announce "pardon the delay ladies and gentlemen, we are waiting for a couple of people who want to get home tonight. We hope you understand" and of course it doesn't bother normal people, knowing this guy just wants to go home too!
so, helpful constructive thought are most appreciated. thanks
sigh....
PS, when i finally boarded the flight from ORD, someone was IN my seat....the FA went up to check, and HE was upgraded...LOL...^^^:):D I hope he appreciates my late boarding cuz it got him bumped up!
Basically, UA 1499 on 7/31 ORD - LAX was delayed departing, thanks to a VERY over sold flight, and a bunch of no shows/ The GA asked for volunteers, and I, a guy in First and a family of 4 volunteered. So THEN the GA starts giving all those seats to some of the standbys, and THEN since it was departure time, they released the no show seats and started seating the rest of the standbys but THEN the family changed their mind and decided they wanted to go, and insisted on sitting together, and THEN all the no shows showed up on a cart. So at the end of all that they STILL needed three seats (for a standby family of 3 who didn't want to be separated), so me and the guy in first were boarded cuz they didn't have three to give, and NOW I was not in my original bulk head by the door seat.
As I boarded, I nicely asked the FA that IF there were any empty seats toward the front, I would appreciate being moved up due to my now extremely tight connection in LAX.
As we were landing, Teddy (FA) ran back and switched me with someone so I could get off the flight quickly. The agent who met the flight said she would call the gate and let them know I was on my way and I OJ'ed it from gate 74 to gate 87 in about 4 minutes, the plane was there, but the door was closed, and the only GA was down the ramp....it was still several minutes before scheduled departure time (yes i KNOW departure time is not the time the gate door shuts). I knocked LOUDLY (dare I say, bang??)
When the GA came back, I was still there and he snottily said, "you are too late, i already made the last call to board." I said, "my flight was delayed and then I was running through the airport and the GA at 74 said she'd call you to let you know I was on the way." He said (and I quote), "Too bad. And that was the last flight to TUS," then he WALKED AWAY from me!
To this point, I had been really laid back about the whole thing having been stranded in worse places than LAX, but I think a vein may have popped in my head at that point. BUT since this has happened before on this very flight, I knew what to do, I headed to the customer service area at Terminal 8, and she booked me on the first flight on 8/1 at 2pm. I asked for a hotel and she said she didn't have any vouchers and I should go to the CS in Terminal 7. Instead, I went to the United Club. Myra was very nice and confirmed my flight for the next day, and said they didn't have any hotels available but that I should book my own and submit the receipts.
I had never heard of that, so I called the Elite line to ask if there were any guidelines, a price limit or anything. The agent I got had never heard of that so she put me on hold. When she came back, she confirmed that yes, LAX did not have any hotel inventory and I was free to make my own reservation and they would reimburse me.
So I booked a hotel (For some reason, it ended up being near Long Beach airport, despite me very clearly telling the Starwood reservation person that I was at LAX and I wanted a property CLOSE to LAX), I waited an hour for the Super Shuttle, followed by an hour ride to the Westin Long Beach.....(all this, not UA's fault or problem, and just provided as background to the stress of the night)
I arrived around 1:30am, and was upgraded to the swanky Presidential Suite...pity I didn't have my posse with me!!!
Finally home the next afternoon, I submitted my receipts for the hotel, the upcharge for breakfast, and supershuttle, all through the online UA form and got an auto reply that I would hear back in 5 - 7 business days. Today is day 7 so I called to follow up, the elite desk put me on hold....when she came back, she said it could actually be up to 21 days before I even heard anything and then they would "consider" my claim.
Have I followed the proper procedure? Should I have done anything else. The way she phrased it, now I am worried I won't get reimbursed.
I guess the thing I am irritated about is why can't the LA gate agents hold closing the doors , LITERALLY 5 minutes, especially when they KNOW we are running through the airport? This is the second time this has happened to me in LA, same flight in the last year. I have been on the IAH - TUS flight at least 3 times in the same time period when they announce "pardon the delay ladies and gentlemen, we are waiting for a couple of people who want to get home tonight. We hope you understand" and of course it doesn't bother normal people, knowing this guy just wants to go home too!
so, helpful constructive thought are most appreciated. thanks
sigh....
PS, when i finally boarded the flight from ORD, someone was IN my seat....the FA went up to check, and HE was upgraded...LOL...^^^:):D I hope he appreciates my late boarding cuz it got him bumped up!