[tom]

Sorry guys

[29 December 2007



Mr Tilton
The PRESIDENT
UNITED AIRLINES
P.O. BOX 66100
CHIGAGO IL 60666
USA



Thomas Smith
1 KIRRIEMUIR GLEN Home +612 4261 2700
HORSLEY NSW 2530 Cell +61 408 212 549
AUSTRALIA


Dear Sir

I wish to make an official complaint about our treatment by your airline. My wife and I are totally disappointed with your airline and what you did to us.

Firstly, you have given us a serious viral infection which we caught on the way from Sydney to LA on flight UA 840 on the 13 December 2007.

On arriving at LA 9.30 am we checked our luggage in to set off on our second leg and were told that flight UA 814 was delayed by weather and we would be advised at 10.00 am the new departure time. This time came and went and the next announcement was at 10.30 am stating we would be further advised at 11.00 am, this came and a further announcement was to be made 12.00 pm, this came and a further announcement was to be made at 1.00 pm, this came and a further announcement was made at 2.00 pm. While this was continuing on the passengers had already found out that this flight UA 814 to Denver had arrived into LA this morning with a faulty generator and the mechanics were trying to fix it. It had nothing to do with weather.

At 2.00pm the announcement was made to board the aircraft and the passengers started to board. We were called onto the plane. About 30 passengers were boarded and then it all stopped again.

The captain announced that he was sending for the mechanics again to test the faulty generator as he felt that it was not fixed. At 3.00 pm the captain came down to where we were standing in the boarding door and announced to the passengers that as the generator was not fixed, and to fly this aircraft it became a safety issue, we would not be going anywhere today on this aircraft.

The cabin crew said to us that the captain was acting illegally by refusing to fly this aircraft.

We were advised to go to the customer service desk to organise new arrangements. We stood in line for about 2 hours and were told that there were no flights to Denver until tomorrow. I indicated that that was not good enough as you have known since at least 9.30 am this morning that this plane would probably not be going anywhere.

After a heated exchange with your staff we were offered flight number UA 126 to Chicago, leaving at 11.00 pm 13 December 2007, with a connecting flight to Miami on flight UA 7738 leaving at 9.05 am 14 December 2007, arriving approximately 1.00 pm Miami time.

I asked, “where is my luggage”, and your Customer Service people sent me outside to the baggage controller. I spoke with this person but it really was just wasting my time as the customer service people had already sent the entire luggage that was on flight UA 814 to Denver on another aircraft.

This led me back to customer service again, only to have it confirmed that they sent all luggage to Denver. I said in Australia where we take terrorism seriously no bags travel without a passenger.
I asked “how were you going to get my luggage to us as we are not going to Denver we were now going to Chicago and then to Miami, you have no forwarding address if it gets lost”.

I also asked are you going to provide us with food and drinks as your plane has a mechanical fault, they again said no, not even a cup of coffee.

When we arrived at Chicago I contacted the head office number and again was told that the plane was cancelled due to poor weather - not mechanical fault. You are very good at not telling the truth, I am convinced that you are professional liars.

When we finally arrived in Miami, we went to your baggage claim office to see if our baggage had arrived, it had, but it was a bit on the frozen side, luckily it was only minor on the inside.

Something that should have taken about 22 plus hours to get from Sydney to Miami has taken about 50 hours.

Our sole purpose was to have a cruise with Carnival Cruise Lines and after speaking with their appropriate staff about United Airlines, we had a very satisfying cruise and they have asked to be advised of the outcome of this complaint.

As you know that Carnival Cruises support your airline with promotional pricing for their cruises.

The flight home from LA to Sydney UA 827 was not much better, but what can you expect from an airline that has old and dirty aeroplanes, let alone faulty seats that move from there mounting place to where the seat base is not fixed properly and slips out from under you in flight. Also there were electrical faults with lights turning on in sections for no reason at all.

You have cost us a lot of money in lost accommodation and pre arranged sightseeing.

I am doubtful that you even care about this but I can assure you that Carnival Cruise Line do, as they do not like to lose potential passengers through the fault of an airline and that now looks like a reality.





Regards,




Tom Smith

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[airhead]

Tom, I am sorry to hear about your experience. How is it the airline's fault you received a viral infection? Passengers are in a air locked tube exchanging the same air. What precautions can one take to avoid an infection? The other complaints seem valid enough. I am not sure writing the president is a good idea but I suppose it never hurts. I would avoid using your real name and contact information on this site. I hope you sent a copy of your letter to United and not to just this site. This site does not forward to the airline as it is a public forum for all to see and discuss. Good luck to you.

[tom]

Hi airhead

Most of the passengers caught somthing off this flight, the airline knows about this we also had a medical exam at LA confirming that some thing or some one was a carrier.

The reason I approached the president, it is what we were told to do by the travel agent as they did not whant to get involved.

United still have not responded.

We are cumming back to the US later this year and we will take every precautin the Drs suggest

Regards