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UNITED Airlines does not recognize Star Alliance Gold Status Benefits

UNITED Airlines does not recognize Star Alliance Gold Status Benefits

Old Apr 18th, 2014, 01:47 AM
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UNITED Airlines does not recognize Star Alliance Gold Status Benefits

UNITED is a Star Alliance partner, but does not recognize the Star Alliance Gold Status Benefits, which clearly state:"Star Alliance airlines
· An extra allowance of 20 kilograms, or 1 additional piece of luggage when the piece concept applies. The latter primarily on flights to/from North or South America."
UNITED took 58 minutes at the counter to check in my bags, then at the penultimate moment demanded for 5 extra pounds in a bag over their 70 pound limit, I quote: "You will pay us $400 NOW, or YOU will NOT fly".
I am entitled to 44 pounds over as I am a Star Alliance Gold Member (TG ROP #NE31987). UNITED Staff was rude and incompetent. UNITED owes me a $400 credit, and refuses to pay. I expect the $400 wrongfully charged to be refunded. I have written to the U.S. Department of Transportation: http://www.dot.gov/airconsumer/file-consumer-complaint. That is where everyone should go to register complaints about UNITED Airlines.
RobertDurkin is offline  
Old Apr 18th, 2014, 03:19 AM
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Your post is very unclear. Where were you flying? Which concept did apply? Weight or piece? What exactly did you check in? One or two bags? How much did it (or they) weigh?
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Old Apr 18th, 2014, 07:31 AM
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70 pounds is the limit for a single piece of luggage you get for Star Alliance Gold. So if you had a piece of luggage that weighed over 70 pounds, of course you would get charged. The extra luggage allowance of 20 kilos means an extra piece of luggage, not a piece that weighs 20 kilos over the limit. So you could have one piece of luggage weighing 20 kilos and another weighing 70 pounds for no charge.
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Old Apr 18th, 2014, 08:53 AM
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As Kathie says - you are not "entitled to 44 pounds over" per bag. If a bag is overweight - it costs you.

(But I doubt you will even see/read these responses since you registered to post your complaint and probably won't be back)
janisj is online now  
Old Apr 18th, 2014, 05:04 PM
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Again, Kathie is correct. The OP should read more carefully next time.
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Old Apr 19th, 2014, 08:01 PM
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Do remember that the people who handle your overweight bags are human too . This is the reason for limits on each bag.
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Old May 1st, 2014, 02:05 AM
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I don't have any comment on this particular poster's issue, but I did have a serious complaint with United recently, and when I told the customer service I had silver status with the star alliance she sounded confused and said, oh that's with a different airline. Yes, I got status on a different airline, but I thought the point of the star alliance was to coordinate across airlines. Oh well.
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Old May 2nd, 2014, 07:22 PM
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Supposing you were flying the airline that you earned status with. What good do you think silver status would do for the problem you were complaining about?
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Old May 3rd, 2014, 02:00 AM
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In very general terms, benefits like lounge access or priority security and boarding lines come with Star Gold. While "premium" and exit-row seatings are often for own airline's elites.
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Old May 3rd, 2014, 08:00 AM
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>>the point of the star alliance was to coordinate across airlines

True, but not in all things.
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