United Airlines , United.com How United Airlines treats the US Military Chicago Illinois
My husband is in the United States Marine Corps. he is on an over seas duty for three years. I see him once a year for 2 weeks maximum. He flew into Chicago O'Hare and connected to a flight on United Airlines to come home for his yearly visit. His International flight was 15 minutes late arriving and he had to go to the United Airlines Customer Service Counter to recheck his bags.
At that time he asked the Customer Service rep. if they would call ahead to the gate and let them know that he was on his way. The customer service rep. of United Airlines refused and told him no. He got to the gate as the plane was leaving the terminal. Come to find out the flight leaved 5 minutes early. Here is the flight information directly from the website of flight status.
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Flight
Airline: United
Flight: 477
Date: Tue, Aug 26
Status: In Flight
Aircraft type: Airbus 319
Miles earned: 1723
Departure
Airport: Chicago O'Hare, IL (ORD)
Scheduled departure: 11:55 AM
Actual: 11:50 AM
Reason: --
Terminal: Terminal 1 Concourse C
Gate: C11
Arrival
Airport: San Diego, CA (SAN)
Scheduled arrival: 2:05 PM
Estimated: 1:49 PM
Reason: --
Terminal: --
Gate: 15
Baggage claim: --
Inflight
Time enroute: 4 hour, 10 minute
Meal: Food for purchase
Entertainment: Movie
I called United Airlines when I learned that he missed his flight because a United Airlines Customer Serv. rep would not call ahead to the gate to let them know he was on his way. The first person I spoke to was Benita and then I spoke to Sarita and after that I spoke to Gajrrav who claimed to be a supervisor. I explained the situation and the negligence of the Cust. Serv. rep. of there Company and was told they could do nothing and they would record my complaint. Every person I spoke to had a new version of the situation even though my version remained the same.
The other issue was a language barrier since there customer service department is based out of India. They did not offer to rectify there mistake and negligence or take responsibility for there mistake. All they did was make excuses. They still have not made any effort to correct or compensate him in any way. I am not only reporting them here but I will be sending this same e-mail to every news station, radio station, news paper and anyone else that will hear my story.
I want the world to know how United Airlines treats the United States Military and how all they do is make excuses and never take responsibility for there own actions or lack their of. I want anyone that will listen to know that United Airlines does not care about the United States Military nor there spouses.
My husband asked that they take responsibility and at the least he should be offered a free flight since the flight itself left the terminal 5 minutes early, and all the customer serv. rep had to do was pick up a phone and call the gate but chose not to.
Tammy ann
ramona, California
U.S.A.
5 Updates & Rebuttals
Karl
Clovis,New Mexico,
U.S.A.
Clifford is right
#6Consumer Suggestion
Tue, January 06, 2009
I also was in the Navy and made many international flights. Normally you have to allow for late planes and customs/immigration checks when you arrive in the US. I would allow at least three hours between connections. This person cut it too short because he didn't allow enough time to make his connecting flight. The fact that he was in the military had nothing to do with it.
Karl
Clovis,New Mexico,
U.S.A.
Clifford is right
#6Consumer Suggestion
Tue, January 06, 2009
I also was in the Navy and made many international flights. Normally you have to allow for late planes and customs/immigration checks when you arrive in the US. I would allow at least three hours between connections. This person cut it too short because he didn't allow enough time to make his connecting flight. The fact that he was in the military had nothing to do with it.
Karl
Clovis,New Mexico,
U.S.A.
Clifford is right
#6Consumer Suggestion
Tue, January 06, 2009
I also was in the Navy and made many international flights. Normally you have to allow for late planes and customs/immigration checks when you arrive in the US. I would allow at least three hours between connections. This person cut it too short because he didn't allow enough time to make his connecting flight. The fact that he was in the military had nothing to do with it.
Karl
Clovis,New Mexico,
U.S.A.
Clifford is right
#6Consumer Suggestion
Tue, January 06, 2009
I also was in the Navy and made many international flights. Normally you have to allow for late planes and customs/immigration checks when you arrive in the US. I would allow at least three hours between connections. This person cut it too short because he didn't allow enough time to make his connecting flight. The fact that he was in the military had nothing to do with it.
Clifford
South Haven,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Not sure what military has to do with it
#6Consumer Comment
Tue, August 26, 2008
I was in the Navy for 5 years and never expected any kind of special treatment. I don't know what being in the service that has to do with this problem except to try to get a little pity.
I'm sure they were not going to hold the plane to wait for one person, military or not.
If the plane left a little early maybe it was because it was entirely full and waiting would not have made any difference, they would not have thrown someone off so he could get on. He was too late.
The real problems was was that he was late because he did not allow enough time between flights. Better planning would help.