[cjglhm]

In January 2015, I booked return flights for my wife and 2 daughters from Denver to London Heathrow (travel July 2015), and took care to make sure they had assigned seats together. For the return flight (LHR-IAD) I just found out that their seats were changed, and we were not informed - my family are now sitting in 3 different places. I called United, and in addition to being quite rude, I was told that they could sit my family together again, but it would cost about $400. This sounds like extortion: they split up the family on the plane, and say they can put them together again, but it will cost $400. I know this is unethical, but I can't believe this is allowed.

Has anyone else had a similar experience? Ho did you handle it? Did you have success? Their flight is still 2 weeks away so I'd like to try to do something...Thanks.

[A320FAN]

Originally Posted by cjglhm

In January 2015, I booked return flights for my wife and 2 daughters from Denver to London Heathrow (travel July 2015), and took care to make sure they had assigned seats together. For the return flight (LHR-IAD) I just found out that their seats were changed, and we were not informed - my family are now sitting in 3 different places. I called United, and in addition to being quite rude, I was told that they could sit my family together again, but it would cost about $400. This sounds like extortion: they split up the family on the plane, and say they can put them together again, but it will cost $400. I know this is unethical, but I can't believe this is allowed.

Has anyone else had a similar experience? Ho did you handle it? Did you have success? Their flight is still 2 weeks away so I'd like to try to do something...Thanks.

Sounds like there was a change of equipment (AkA: A/C swap) in which aircraft would operate the flight. A Continental built A/C maybe configured differently then the United configured A/C, and the seats that they gave you, were the ones they had left, and if you want to upgrade to Economy plus or a higher cabin class, you have to pay the fee.

[Dion]

My mother in law passed away June 28 in South Africa, We booked 4 tickets Chicago to Johannesburg June 29 Lufthansa 9269 Operated by UNITED AIRLINES
Economy / Coach (K) | Seat 25J, 37E, 25K, 38E |...We were told by agent that in order to get seats and together we must pay for upgrade. We did..$600
this was only to Munich! South African Airways did not do this and we were seated together. The return, SAA could not assign seats for the Munich to Chicago but the SAA Johannesburg to Munich flight was perfect ...Upon arriving in Munich the agents again could not assign seats 5 hours before flight unless we paid for an upgrade. I refused but my husband did. He was seated, my 2 daughters, age 13 and 16, and I were not seated until everyone on the flight was seated. Obviously not together! We were treated as stand by! And in their rush they put my 13 year old in an exit row which is against the rules. United IS extorting their customers!