[jsorochtey]

Wish I had read your post before my own torture session with MP Rewards travel.

We had been actively using our Mileage Plus credit card to accumulate miles for a trip to Fiji. Once I had our schedule, inter-island flights, and accommodations lined out, we went online to purchase an itinerary which had been posted on the MP Rewards website for at least two weeks. Six attempts got us all the way through the process only to receive the "Error" message each time. We gave up, and I tried again the next morning, with the same result.

I then spent an hour on the phone with an agent who offered to manually book our flights, only to have her receive the same "Error" message. When she pursued an explanation, she was told that both Air New Zealand flights were sold out. Since our dates are in October, this seemed unlikely, and I complained that the flight availability remained the same online. She said the company was trying to update the information. ("there is no try, only do or not do")

Well, today, one day later, they sure did fix the online info. A one way fare for my selected itinerary has gone from 35K to 80K. The original price and itinerary now appear to be available 2 days later. But do I want to waste even more time trying to coordinate accommodations and inter-island transfers, which were a pile of work to begin with? Not after reading your post.

I am convinced that United does not really want me to use my fairly earned flyer miles. Yes, I can select flights that will take 30+ hrs each way. Or, I can pay 3x as much as what I originally attempted to purchase. Or, I can purchase some of their overpriced merchandise that I can get for 40% less at Best Buy. But customer loyalty is clearly meaningless in the face of the bottom line. False advertising? Check. Bait and switch? Check. Doing business fairly and honestly? A thing of the past.

I am going to use my miles on whatever it takes to zero out my account, and then cancel my card. I don't have the time or the stomach to play this game with United. Apparently, even though corporations are now declared to be people, they don't automatically develop a conscience.

Thanks for sharing my frustration.