[Silent Bob]

Ultimately Jim, you're not gonna get the answers you seek, because the mother (who all this mess happened to) is not here to tell her side; this whole tale of woe is from a 3rd person perspective. I stand by my words.

First they went to United, probably waited on a Que, got to the counter and Oops, we don't fly there, US Airs does, but by the time they arrived at the US counter their flight was gone.

Now I'll give you this much, why didn't US airs help them? Maybe because it was a Continental ticket? that would be my guess. The OP did the right thing to call Expedia, but why not ask the big question Jim: Why didn't Expedia help him when he called?

Most likely because it was a voluntary change (they missed the flight because they erred by misreading the itinerary) and were gonna charge them to rebook. Or maybe the ticket was so cheap that once the plane left, and they no showed, poof no more ticket?

We really don't know because the person that this happened to is not here to say what needs to be said.The OP was in Charlotte the whole time and did not know what happened until after the fact.

But ULTIMATELY had they gone to US airs, where their itinerary told them to go IN THE FIRST PLACE, they would not be in this mess. But the blame lies with them and Expedia.