[hdou731]

I booked a round trip from PDX to SFO. I was initially to leave the 20th and return the 22nd. My mother had a seizure and ended up in the hospital so I needed to leave early. I called United and asked for a flight change. It was nearly $400 to change the flight so the agent just told me to buy another one trip ticket because it was cheaper. I did as a I was told and bought a one way ticket for the 18th. Of course since I was already in Cali I didn't use my ticket on the 20th. Once the 22nd arrived I went to the airport and was told that they had deleted my entire round trip ticket because I had not shown up for the first flight. They instead tell me in an extremely rude tone that I will have to pay $300 for the flight I already bought a ticket for. I had no other choice but to pay. The agent herself TOLD me to buy a ticket. This trip to SFO has cost me more than $700. I have never been treated with such disrespect, and I can not believe I was treated this way especially when It was the airlines fault. The woman did not tell me that if I had bought a one way I would not be able to use my return ticket but just encouraged me to do so resulting in me spending over $500 to take this trip. This is something that should NEVER be done to customers. I do not believe United realizes they are in the customer service industry. When I called them to complain, they merely told me they couldn't do anything and hung up. I have never been more disappointed in the state of any industry.

[Phinu]

Sorry about your situation. We have traveled extensively over the years and always purchase insurance. We have had to utilize that on several occasions. The cost is relatively nominal when compared to a refundable flight. The process to get a refund was a letter from the physician and a check came back in two weeks.

[cliff7080]

Sadly we hear this complaint every day and still people do it. If you buy a ROUND TRIP ticket, then don't show up for the first leg then the airline WILL cancel the rest of the ticket. EVERY airline does it. Being as you didn't show up for the first leg, how can you expect them to hold the seat open for you on the return leg just in case you somehow managed to get there by some other means.