[BTW]

I travel a lot and will never travel with United again. A week prior to my departure I had to change my departure date by one day because of a change to trade show dates. Called United rep and cost was over $500 to rebook flight. Booked one way flight through Spirit from Detroit to Minneapolis (via Denver) for $109! When I tried to use my return flight on United from Minneapolis, my flight was cancelled by United. I called United and "the policy" is if you don't use the first leg you forfeit the second leg of trip. I paid for two flights..one to Minneapolis and one to Detroit. If I pay (which my credit card was surely charged) I should be able to use either or! The customer service rep said there is nothing that can be done, I would have to re-book at a rate of $640 (cost of one way flight and change fee). No credit for the $350 I already paid for the flight that United cancelled. I asked to speak with a supervisor and explained my situation. Supervisor said it was their policy to cancel flight and that my seat was sold to another person. At that point shouldn't I be refunded my money? This is absolutely unethical, a terrible way to run a company and the furthest from customer service imaginable. Finally the supervisor(her name was Kristen1V) said she could book me on another flight and would credit me the $350 I originally paid toward the new flight...it was a difference of $180. When I said go ahead with it she said and add $200 change fee. There was no change if this was a new flight! How do you charge a change fee to a cancelled flight? No logical explanation was given besides its policy. I lost out on $350 for a flight I never took and logically and ethically, if you pay for a round trip flight, you should (because you paid for it) have the right to fly both legs or one of the legs of the flight..if not you should be refunded your money. I own my own business, in business over 23 years and have never treated my customers with such blatant disregard....United should do the same!! I booked another flight on another carrier for $350. Absolutely disgusted by the illogical and uncaring United company and personnel!!

[Der Richter]

I am shocked, shocked that UA would cancel the remaining itinerary when the first flight was missed.