What I've learned about online air reservations...
 

I made a reservation with Travelocity to travel with United last summer. My trip was scheduled to depart on a Sunday. I live in the Tampa area and Hurricane Allison was bearing down fast on us. The day I was to leave was the day ALlison was to hit...I called United and cancelled my trip. United assured me I could reuse the ticket w/o rebook fee since I coudln't get out. Recently I tried to reuse the ticket..Guess what?! United said I had to pay the change fee. What I learned...call the original booking company, in my case, Travelocity, and have them cancel ..and have them annote your record.I called United and what do they care?! THey did not keep open my record..they did not make sure there were remarks in my record that said I could reuse my ticket w/o fee. Travelocity would have done that for me. I made the mistake of calling and speaking directly to the airline..and not Travelocity. Expensive $100.00 lesson learned for me (especially since the ticket only cost 198!!!).

Surely you plan to call UAL's corporate offices in Chicago ... your situation is not unique. We faced Floyd in 9/99, and had no problem rescheduling with Continetal, no penalty, complete cooperation. Heard the same from others. Don't give up. Ciao

I have found that the airlines generally respond well to a polite, rational explaination of a situation such as this but you have to call and/or write the correct people. The reservations people will tell you something different almost every time you call. So, email United customer relations AND write to the Chicago office and my guess would be that you will be satisfied. Like the previous post, don't give up.

I know I'm in the minority and I know you SHOULD contact United, but what I probably WOULD do is just pay the $100 and not use Travelocity or United again.

Thanks for the reminder Callie.<BR>Many times people don't think of these things until after the fact.<BR>Good tip.

Now, a, why in the world take that approach? And certainly why would you suggest someone else follow it? Sure, if UAL were a minor carrier, or Travelocity just a small timer. And you'd pay $100 to implement this huge denial of options in service? Ciao

Unlike people who have time to play on Fodors all day, I'd rather just pay the $100 and not worry about it any longer!!!

I'm kinda thinking a for avoidance. Ciao

Thank you Callie for the tip.