[RobertB]

My friend flew from JFK to LAX and was booked from LAX to the OXR airport, I managed to get the day off and opted to drive to LAX and picked her up so she did not take the flight from LAX to the OXR Airport. We did not cancel or change any flight information she just did not take the flight from LAX to OXR. She went to the OXR Airport today to catch her flight to LAX for her return to JFK and was told that because she did not take the flight from LAX to OXR that the remaining itinerary was cancelled and the ticket agent at OXR told her that besides they had a weight problem with the aircraft E120 Embrauer and could not even get her on that first flight anyway. I believe this also could be discrimination because she is black and also a bit over weight! I am also stressing that if you dont take one portion of your flight and not cancelling any portion of the itinerary what gives United the right to cancel the entire itinerary this is totally ridiculous in my opinion!! If United Airlines wants to operate in this crazy manner then you will never ever get my business and any of my family or friends again!!!

[ChrisH]

Anytime you skip a flight on your intinerary, it cancels your reservations out. It is the same for ALL airlines. This is not the airlines fault that you did not take that portion of your flight. Before deciding to not take that portion, you should have called the airline, or gone to the ticket counter at the airport, in LAX, and had them protect the remainder of your flights, so that it would not cancel. When you "no show" for a flight, it cancels the reservation.

[Corbel]

Chris is right. United did nothing wrong, it was your friends own fault that her reservation was cancelled. and ua was not discriminating against your friend. each aircraft and airport has certain landing and take off weights, the plane was probably already at its limit with passengers, bags etc.

[MFB]

We represent a traveler who purchased a round trip ticket on United Airlines and was bumped off her return flight when she failed to use the first leg of her ticket. Basically, she bought a round trip ticket to Chicago and instead drove there with a friend. When she went to the Chicago airport to catch her return flight, a United representative informed her that she no longer had a seat on the flight because she did not use the first leg; however, she had the option of purchasing another seat if she wanted to get on the flight. Because she had no other option, she did just that, and spent approximately $900 for a first class seat on a flight in which she had already paid for a coach seat. Essentially, United made her pay two times for one seat.

Even though our traveler purchased tickets from United, we suspect that this may be an industry- wide practice and are interested in speaking to passengers who have had similar experiences on United, or any other airline.

Has this happened to anyone else? If so, we are very interested in hearing your story.
Please email us here.

[Helena Richards]

My sister and her husband are currently at the airport in Houston waiting for a red eye to Bogota. They purchase FIRST CLASS TICKETS round trip from Bogota to Houston. In addition their tickets included several segments within the United States. Their itinerary included San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago, Columbus back to Houston and Bogota. When they arrived in Chicago their plans changed and they wanted to move the trip to Columbus up a couple of days. They were told by United it would be $150.00 per person to change (by they there were three of them because my niece join them in San Francisco). This would be a total of $450.00 plus $25.00 per checked bag. They decided to rent a car and drive to Chicago (for less than $200.00).
Today they went to the airport in Columbus for their return trip to Houston and Bogota, only to find their reservation had been canceled without any notification. They were forced to forfeit their original tickets, buy new tickets AT A PREMIUM PRICE, miss their flight to Bogota, and now they are waiting for a "red eye" flight to take them home.
Of note, this couple and their children travel extensibly around the world, and this experience has made them think twice about visiting the US (pumping a lot of money into our economy in the process). They also will NEVER flight United Airlines (or their affiliates) and most likely avoid any American own airline.
How sad it is for the traveling public that airlines lost their "service industry" standards and now they spend all their time devising ways to rob the traveling public every step of the way.
My mission tomorrow is to talk to a couple of lawyer I know well who are always ready for a good fight.

[cortney]

Its not Uniteds fault that your sister and her husband broke the contract that they signed and agreed to when they purchased the tickets.

[jimworcs]

Many airlines do this, but for a first class passenger could have expected at least a phone call surely?

[Gromit801]

Or a first class passenger could have made the phone call since it was they who made the decision to skip the flight.

[Helena Richards]

How sad we have become a society where abusing the consumer is the norm, and we defend the type of behavior we would have never believe possible not too long ago. How is an international traveler supposed to know this hidden rules. When you "sign a contract" you are clear as to what you are agreeing to before you sign. When you purchase a ticket to fly in a so call reputable airline, you make sure you have the dated and times you want, your destination is correct, and these days how much taking your luggage will cost you. You don't go looking for obscure rules so you can protect yourself from this kind of abuse. Let me assure those of you who are defending these behavior (you must work for the airlines of are married to someone who works for the airlines), this kind of thing does not occurred in international airlines from other countries, and perhaps not even in our so call "low cost no frills airlines" in our own country (my favorites by the way). Many international travelers are looking to foreign airlines for their travel.
I spend close to an hour looking in the United Airline website to find this ridiculous and abusive rule. I was not able to find it, even though I was specifically looking for it. How does a trusting traveler protect himself?

[The_Judge]

Took me all of 30 seconds............

C)
Failure to Occupy Space - If a Passenger fails to occupy space which has been reserved for him/her on a flight of UA and UA fails to receive notice of the cancellation of the reservation before the departure, or if any carrier cancels the reservation of any Passenger, UA may cancel all reservations (whether or not confirmed) held by such Passenger on the flights of UA or any carrier for continuing or return space, provided UA or an authorized agent of UA originally reserved that space.

Page 10, para. C

[AirlineSympathizer]

Originally Posted by Helena Richards

How sad we have become a society where abusing the consumer is the norm, and we defend the type of behavior we would have never believe possible not too long ago. How is an international traveler supposed to know this hidden rules. When you "sign a contract" you are clear as to what you are agreeing to before you sign. When you purchase a ticket to fly in a so call reputable airline, you make sure you have the dated and times you want, your destination is correct, and these days how much taking your luggage will cost you. You don't go looking for obscure rules so you can protect yourself from this kind of abuse. Let me assure those of you who are defending these behavior (you must work for the airlines of are married to someone who works for the airlines), this kind of thing does not occurred in international airlines from other countries, and perhaps not even in our so call "low cost no frills airlines" in our own country (my favorites by the way). Many international travelers are looking to foreign airlines for their travel.
I spend close to an hour looking in the United Airline website to find this ridiculous and abusive rule. I was not able to find it, even though I was specifically looking for it. How does a trusting traveler protect himself?

Sorry, but even internationally, this is completely and totally normal. I think it's also hilarious and pathetic the OP immediately claims racism because she is black. Who cares what color your are? You no-show for a flight, your flight gets cancelled - all of it. What gives them the right? The contract you agreed to when buying the ticket. It's written all over the place, including your ticket.

[jimworcs]

Am I missing something...where does the OP claim this happened because she was black?

[AirlineSympathizer]

Originally Posted by jimworcs

Am I missing something...where does the OP claim this happened because she was black?

Maybe you should try reading the first post, maybe?

I believe this also could be discrimination because she is black

[jimworcs]

That is a completely different complaint from 2007!!!

[AirlineSympathizer]

Originally Posted by jimworcs

That is a completely different complaint from 2007!!!

Yes...that's why I mentioned it was the OP - original poster. And what I said "I also think" to differentiate... this is not rocket science... please read posts before responding, it will save us some time.

[jimworcs]

mmmmm, well it is nice to have your "finger on the pulse"...but 5 years? Any comments on that complaint about the PanAm flight to London on March 5th, 1966?