United Group Travel

[frustrated customer]

I organized a group of 17 people to travel to Aruba on United. Some used frequent flyer miles, but 11 of us paid. I put up $880.00 for a deposit back on the 1st of April. In May we all had to pay for the whole flight. I was told the deposit would be returned to me when everyone got on the plane. We flew June 4th returned June 11th and I still have not received my $880.00 deposit back.

I have spoken to 6 different people at United and they all have a different story. I phoned again this morning and was told it was being released and I should be recieving it in 4 to 6 weeks!!!!! Which puts the arrival time of my deposit check that they received in April around the middle of August. Now if you multiply the number of deposits they make their customers give in order to get a cheaper group rate, by the number of days they collect interest on it who is getting a group rate? They will in the end have tied up my $880.00 for 4+ months collecting interest for United.

I had to jump through hoops to get a group reduction of about $50.00 a ticket. I will not fly United again. I too have found "flying the friendly skies" is not so friendly.

Signed The frustrated customer that is still waiting for her deposit.

 

[whlinder]

Welcome to US Aviation.

Your complaint sounds like it would be better suited for the website www.untied.com.

Airline revenue accounting is not particularly fast. They will always take your money, but they don't give it back nearly as fast.

 

[737nCH11]

Whlinder,

Your avatar needs to construct a stink shield.

 

[WorldTraveler]

wh,
not all airlines take so long to refund money. In fact, most airlines have told the DOT they would handle refunds within a particular length of time - and I don't think any of them have said it would take five months.

I would suggest the frustrated customer file a complaint with the DOT. Filing a complaint with the DOT usually gets a response from every airline.
http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/problems.htm

 

[whlinder]

Of course you want them to complain to the DOT because you hate UA.

Five months? The customer returned on June 11th. The OP said the money would be returned when everyone got on the plane. One month later they say a check will be issued. Somehow I doubt it is an automated process that once return travel is commenced that the deposit is refunded. So it took a month for UA to figure out that the deposit had to be refunded, and then it takes them 4-6 weeks to send out the payment. Four to six weeks to send out a check, not unheard of for a large corporation, especially one that is a mess.

I've had refunds take multiple months, to be put back on credit cards. Alaska told me yesterday that it would take a whole billing cycle to refund the taxes on an award I canceled. Maybe I should complain to the DOT.

 

[whatkindoffreshhell]

Methinks 'frustrated customer' is a simple troll. Too polished and not even a sexy story.

1/10

(p.s. next time take it to the US board where they eat up this kind of outrage --- they'll probably even get the exalted fffffoc ers pax group to toss you some candy for your woes.....)

 

[frustrated customer]

wh,
not all airlines take so long to refund money. In fact, most airlines have told the DOT they would handle refunds within a particular length of time - and I don't think any of them have said it would take five months.

I would suggest the frustrated customer file a complaint with the DOT. Filing a complaint with the DOT usually gets a response from every airline.
http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/problems.htm

[post="281520"][/post]​

Thank you for your suggestion and I did just that. I filed a complaint with DOT, but before I did I wanted to make sure I had the exact date right. Sometimes the memory fails me and in this case it did........ UNITED has had my $880.00 since FEBRUARY 2nd, 2005 !

 

[Borescope]

Thank you for your suggestion and I did just that. I filed a complaint with DOT, but before I did I wanted to make sure I had the exact date right. Sometimes the memory fails me and in this case it did........ UNITED has had my $880.00 since FEBRUARY 2nd, 2005 !

[post="281573"][/post]​

Ahh yes, you have become one of the unsecured creditors of the great restructuring. You may get 10¢ on the dollar .

 

[WorldTraveler]

I believe that debt incurred while UAL is in BK must be dealt with as part of the normal course of business for any company. Unsecured debt as of Dec 2002 is another matter.

 

[novaqt]

Frustrated:

Relax, you'll get it. Next time don't front your own money.