[kaemicha]

I paid for round trip business class from Portland, OR to Naples, Italy. I had to take United to Chicago, then Luftansa the rest of the way. On the flight home, when we were boarding our flight from Chicage to Portland, I was put in row 22 in the middle seat of a full plane that expected me to pay for a snack. Was offered a free drink for my inconvenience but declined since I don’t drink.

I never got a full explanation of why I couldn't get the seat that I had overpaid for.

Now, United is blaming Luftansa and visa versa, but it was on the United flight where this happened and United refuses to give me a refund. They will give me a credit for my next United flight...My NEXT United flight? I don't think so.

Bottom line, I was denied my paid for, business class seat, and can't get anyone to refund me the money I've lost.

Any ideas, anyone?

Thanks!
Michelle

[jimworcs]

You are entitled to receive the service you paid for. You should try to establish what the cost of a economy class ticket was on the date you booked your ticket. However, this information is unlikely to be available to you. As an alternative, I would look at a return ticket from Portland to Chicago in both business and economy and compare the costs, as the same times you travelled. If you bought the ticket from Lufthansa, write to them and demand half the difference between the two ticket prices. Copy this to United. If they refuse, file a claim in small claims court. The airline cannot refuse to provide the service you paid for and then force you to accept vouchers as "compensation". You are entitled to a refund. You can also file your complaint with the DOT on the quick links above AND consider filing a complaint with the State Attorney Generals office.

United will not defend themselves in Small Claims. Just file the claim. Just before the court hearing, United's lawyers will contact you and make an offer to settle. You should refuse this offer. They will come back with a second offer. Unless this offer is satisfactory and includes actual cash compensation, you should decline this too. You will win in court. Airlines are not exempt from normal contract law. You contracted them to provide a service they failed to provide. It is straightforward and you will win.

By the way.. you are a United employee? United is now stiffing it's own employees? Unbelieveable, but I would still sue the buggers.

[kaemicha]

Awesome! I love everything that you've told me. I finally have something to go on and I will continue with this until it's resolved. I do not like being taken advantage of and will do whatever I need to do to make it clear to United that I'm not easy prey.

Oh, btw, I'm not an employee...Thank Goodness!

Many thanks for your help!

Michelle

[jimworcs]

You are welcome. You might ask the administrator to take off the "united employee" tag you have under your name!!

[kaemicha]

Oh, I didn't know I had a tag. I'm a newbie to this forum!

[Gromit801]

You should get something back for this. I can only speculate, that they switched aircraft on the return leg, for something with less business seating. They may do that for mechanical reasons, etc. But they should refund you the difference.