Comments on: Good on ya, mate! United Airlines rescues failed New Zealand flight all by itself http://www.elliott.org/blog/good-on-ya-mate-united-airlines-rescues-failed-new-zealand-flight-all-by-itself/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jennifer (the other one) http://www.elliott.org/blog/good-on-ya-mate-united-airlines-rescues-failed-new-zealand-flight-all-by-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-18271 Jennifer (the other one) Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:01:12 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6093#comment-18271 Regarding the customer's complaint: If every United passenger checking in was affected, and many were forced to miss their flight, were the planes taking off half-empty? Why didn't they hold the flight(s) involved? A few 1-hour delays would have been more convenient and probably cheaper than refunding all those fares. Regarding the customer’s complaint: If every United passenger checking in was affected, and many were forced to miss their flight, were the planes taking off half-empty? Why didn’t they hold the flight(s) involved? A few 1-hour delays would have been more convenient and probably cheaper than refunding all those fares.

]]> By: Carver http://www.elliott.org/blog/good-on-ya-mate-united-airlines-rescues-failed-new-zealand-flight-all-by-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-18257 Carver Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:08:30 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6093#comment-18257 @Chris I'm with the others. I believe that the popularity of your blog and your standing in the travel community caught the attention of the relevant people at Southwest. After month(s) of being unable to locate the bag, it's located within hours of the story's publication. Coincidence? I think not. @Chris

I’m with the others. I believe that the popularity of your blog and your standing in the travel community caught the attention of the relevant people at Southwest. After month(s) of being unable to locate the bag, it’s located within hours of the story’s publication. Coincidence? I think not.

]]> By: Cathie http://www.elliott.org/blog/good-on-ya-mate-united-airlines-rescues-failed-new-zealand-flight-all-by-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-18256 Cathie Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:06:20 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6093#comment-18256 This happens a lot more than people realize. When flying DSM-DTR-AMS-VCE all boarding passes were issued at DSM. When returning VCE-AMS-MSP-DSM only the first boarding pass was issued. When we arrived at the gate in AMS we had a tough time getting through the security screening because we had no boarding passes. They did finally accept our printed itineraries and let us through the screening process. When we arrived at the gate check in desk our boarding passes were waiting for us. Ultimately we had no problem with connection and boarding but I was concerned until we boarded what would happen. This happens a lot more than people realize. When flying DSM-DTR-AMS-VCE all boarding passes were issued at DSM. When returning VCE-AMS-MSP-DSM only the first boarding pass was issued. When we arrived at the gate in AMS we had a tough time getting through the security screening because we had no boarding passes. They did finally accept our printed itineraries and let us through the screening process. When we arrived at the gate check in desk our boarding passes were waiting for us. Ultimately we had no problem with connection and boarding but I was concerned until we boarded what would happen.

]]> By: John http://www.elliott.org/blog/good-on-ya-mate-united-airlines-rescues-failed-new-zealand-flight-all-by-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-18254 John Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:41:58 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6093#comment-18254 I'm surprised she couldn't get boarding passes all the way to SFO from NZ. I recently flew three flights on two different Star Alliance airlines (Thai and Asiana) to travel from Phuket to Seattle, and I'm fairly sure we were issued all three boarding passes at Phuket without a problem. I’m surprised she couldn’t get boarding passes all the way to SFO from NZ. I recently flew three flights on two different Star Alliance airlines (Thai and Asiana) to travel from Phuket to Seattle, and I’m fairly sure we were issued all three boarding passes at Phuket without a problem.

]]> By: Chicky http://www.elliott.org/blog/good-on-ya-mate-united-airlines-rescues-failed-new-zealand-flight-all-by-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-18252 Chicky Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:36:02 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6093#comment-18252 Glad to see United did the right thing. But I do have to agree with Dan about your column, Chris. I'm satisfied SWA never would have found that bag had the story not appeared in your blog. Maybe you didn't personally negotiate a resolution, but your willingness to allow the story to be told in a public forum no doubt helped get a resolution. Glad to see United did the right thing. But I do have to agree with Dan about your column, Chris. I’m satisfied SWA never would have found that bag had the story not appeared in your blog. Maybe you didn’t personally negotiate a resolution, but your willingness to allow the story to be told in a public forum no doubt helped get a resolution.

]]> By: Stephen Pickford http://www.elliott.org/blog/good-on-ya-mate-united-airlines-rescues-failed-new-zealand-flight-all-by-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-18247 Stephen Pickford Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:33:56 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6093#comment-18247 Good to see United step up to the plate. Over the years, I have found John Tague to be quite helpful and a professional in every sense of the word. The bigger question here, though, is how NZ was so quick to pass the buck. They sold the ticket, the contract was under their name (i.e. ticket would have indicated "issued by Air New Zealand"), and they chose to code-share with UA. IF this case had ever gone to Small Claims Court, the fact that the contract was in NZ's name, and the flight was sold as being NZ, would have found NZ guilty and ordered to pay up....they are responsible for the performance of their sub-contractors. NZ should thank UA profusely for saving their proverbial McMullen. Good to see United step up to the plate. Over the years, I have found John Tague to be quite helpful and a professional in every sense of the word. The bigger question here, though, is how NZ was so quick to pass the buck. They sold the ticket, the contract was under their name (i.e. ticket would have indicated “issued by Air New Zealand”), and they chose to code-share with UA. IF this case had ever gone to Small Claims Court, the fact that the contract was in NZ’s name, and the flight was sold as being NZ, would have found NZ guilty and ordered to pay up….they are responsible for the performance of their sub-contractors. NZ should thank UA profusely for saving their proverbial McMullen.

]]> By: Dan http://www.elliott.org/blog/good-on-ya-mate-united-airlines-rescues-failed-new-zealand-flight-all-by-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-18246 Dan Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:14:45 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6093#comment-18246 Chris, you might not have steped in directly in the Southwest case, but I am 100% certain that, without the popularity of your blog, and the exposure that the story received, there is no way Southwest would have found that bag so quickly, since they were set on their ways that the couple never checked the bag. Chris, you might not have steped in directly in the Southwest case, but I am 100% certain that, without the popularity of your blog, and the exposure that the story received, there is no way Southwest would have found that bag so quickly, since they were set on their ways that the couple never checked the bag.

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