LeslieDEN
01-22-2007, 04:33 AM
Just had to tell what happened today.
I recently started doing mileage runs (flights whose only purpose is to accumulate miles). I found a couple of cheapo Denver-Albuquerque-Denver flights late last year and took them to keep my status for 2007. I also had one booked for today -- not so cheap, but it would ensure that I would make the Fly-3-for-25,000-Miles promotion before the deadline. OK, OK, it's crazy, but that's what mileage addiction is like. If my employer won't feed the addiction, I've gotta meet meet my dealer on his own terms.
I'd been looking forward to today's mileage run, based on my last two. ABQ is a great airport to relax in, very laid-back and New Mexican-y. Unfortunately, the weather in Denver today was terrible. Under the best conditions, it takes about an hour to get from my house to the Denver airport, which is approximately one million miles from the city of Denver. Today it was very snowy, and the roads were awful. I was Little Miss Tense throughout the drive, and the only reason I didn't just exit the highway and head home was that I was afraid to turn my wheels on that icy stuff.
Finally made it to the airport, checked in, and saw that my 11:15 flight had been delayed till at least 1:15 and possibly longer. Our plane was still in Minneapolis, and they didn't know when it would be ready to fly. I could see mega-hassles ahead if I went through with the flight, possibly not returning till late in the evening when the roads would be even worse. So I went to see the gate agent, who was fending off some folks who were angry with him for not providing more info about the Albuquerque delay. Poor gate agent! He said, "I'm telling you everything I know, that's all I know." I guess they didn't believe him or something.
Anyway, when it was my turn, I asked if I could take a voluntary bump (visions of free tickets and other perks dancing in my head), and he said they were not overbooked but he would put me on the list in case something changed. Hm. Don't wanna wait for that. So I 'fessed up -- a little embarrassed -- that I was only making this trip for the miles and could I go to customer service and cancel or was it too late?
He didn't even blink. Just said, "I can do the cancellation and the refund right here." Refund? I was thinking I'd be charged the standard $100 change fee plus fare difference on my next flight. I told him my ticket wasn't refundable, and he said it didn't matter because it was United's fault! Wow, nice. I thought it was my fault, but if they wanna take the blame ... :). He said it was an "operations" issue so that made my ticket refundable.
Then he said, "You know, if you're just flying for miles, you ought to go to Las Vegas instead of Albuquerque. We've got some great specials going to Vegas now." Wow. I loved that he didn't think I was a weirdo for making a mileage run and in fact offered advice on how to do a cheaper one!
I searched for flights tonight, and sure enough, they've got some super-cheap Denver-Vegas-Denver flights in early February, much cheaper than ABQ. Thank you, Mr. Gate Agent. :cool: :cool: :cool:
I recently started doing mileage runs (flights whose only purpose is to accumulate miles). I found a couple of cheapo Denver-Albuquerque-Denver flights late last year and took them to keep my status for 2007. I also had one booked for today -- not so cheap, but it would ensure that I would make the Fly-3-for-25,000-Miles promotion before the deadline. OK, OK, it's crazy, but that's what mileage addiction is like. If my employer won't feed the addiction, I've gotta meet meet my dealer on his own terms.
I'd been looking forward to today's mileage run, based on my last two. ABQ is a great airport to relax in, very laid-back and New Mexican-y. Unfortunately, the weather in Denver today was terrible. Under the best conditions, it takes about an hour to get from my house to the Denver airport, which is approximately one million miles from the city of Denver. Today it was very snowy, and the roads were awful. I was Little Miss Tense throughout the drive, and the only reason I didn't just exit the highway and head home was that I was afraid to turn my wheels on that icy stuff.
Finally made it to the airport, checked in, and saw that my 11:15 flight had been delayed till at least 1:15 and possibly longer. Our plane was still in Minneapolis, and they didn't know when it would be ready to fly. I could see mega-hassles ahead if I went through with the flight, possibly not returning till late in the evening when the roads would be even worse. So I went to see the gate agent, who was fending off some folks who were angry with him for not providing more info about the Albuquerque delay. Poor gate agent! He said, "I'm telling you everything I know, that's all I know." I guess they didn't believe him or something.
Anyway, when it was my turn, I asked if I could take a voluntary bump (visions of free tickets and other perks dancing in my head), and he said they were not overbooked but he would put me on the list in case something changed. Hm. Don't wanna wait for that. So I 'fessed up -- a little embarrassed -- that I was only making this trip for the miles and could I go to customer service and cancel or was it too late?
He didn't even blink. Just said, "I can do the cancellation and the refund right here." Refund? I was thinking I'd be charged the standard $100 change fee plus fare difference on my next flight. I told him my ticket wasn't refundable, and he said it didn't matter because it was United's fault! Wow, nice. I thought it was my fault, but if they wanna take the blame ... :). He said it was an "operations" issue so that made my ticket refundable.
Then he said, "You know, if you're just flying for miles, you ought to go to Las Vegas instead of Albuquerque. We've got some great specials going to Vegas now." Wow. I loved that he didn't think I was a weirdo for making a mileage run and in fact offered advice on how to do a cheaper one!
I searched for flights tonight, and sure enough, they've got some super-cheap Denver-Vegas-Denver flights in early February, much cheaper than ABQ. Thank you, Mr. Gate Agent. :cool: :cool: :cool: