In my previous post entitled Premier Platinum for One Day Only, I detailed my arduous saga regarding the application I filed with United Airlines for a MileagePlus Status Match Challenge. United Airlines initially granted the application, but then, the next day, did an about-face, and denied the challenge based on a Continental Airlines OnePass Silver status match from over four years ago.
In my persistence, I reached out to many people, all of whom, were generous, thoughtful and helpful. Among other things, I wrote many emails to United detailing my plight, stating my beliefs and requesting reconsideration. I also blogged and tweeted about the situation, and readers offered their opinion on the merits of the matter. Two people were of enormous assistance, and I truly believe that without their help, United would have stood firm on the decision against the status challenge. I extend my gratitude to United1K on Twitter and UA Insider on Flyertalk. United1K didn’t know me, but he responded immediately when I appealed to him. He called upon a number of connections on my behalf. I also sent a message to UA Insider on Flyertalk. He said that he had forwarded my message to others at United. It was shortly after this communication that I received the most recent email from United Airlines.
What does this all prove? If you believe something, stick with it. Go after it. Be creative and reach out and try and try again. And, well, it’s about Karma too. So, when the shoe is on the other foot …. well, step up to the plate. It feels good. (Alternatively, this all means that you should just be such an annoying PITA so people will relent and give you what you want just to get you to stop pestering them….)
The United Airlines email was marked private and confidential, so I won’t copy it verbatim. Essentially, the MileagePlus representative apologized for the “misinformation,” and stated that United would honor the “original agreement.” She continued by stating the results of her review of my file, including that I’d met the 18,000 required miles to satisfy the challenge, and advised me that I’d be receiving the Premier Platinum kit in 4-6 weeks. She reiterated that I could not seek another status challenge for 5 years, and what it would take to maintain Premier Platinum in 2015. The author cheerfully thanked me for choosing United and said that she hoped that I would enjoy my Premier Platinum membership.
OK… so I’m still a little shocked. Are you?
A New York frequent flyer who elegantly combines her passions for worldwide travel, running a gazillion marathons all over the globe and staying fit ... without sacrificing her fancy for good wine and food.
Shows, once again, that bloggers always get better treatment and that your experience is not at all representative of what would happen for any of us readers.
you’re not serious, are you?
I actually have to agree with this.
I don’t even bash bloggers for “ruining deals” or always putting their affiliate links on their posts, but this was most likely because of your status and ability to influence United in a negative way.
It’s a nice reversal…not sure I would call it “stunning.”
mark you are right. I think I’ll rename the post a “nice” reversal.
I also agree that because of the public attention via Twitter and blogging, it’s much more likely that they changed their minds.
You, too, can reach out to United1K on Twitter and to UA Insider on FT. These avenues were, in my opinion, more influential than the fact the saga was blogged about. There are several non-bloggers on FlyerTalk who have been helped by UA Insider with common-sense exceptions. There are also plenty of negative stories (tweets, blogs, FB posts, etc.) about UA where they don’t reverse course.
@Gobluetwo I totally agree with you. I do believe that, when a problem comes up, it is best to (diplomatically) explore every avenue available. The work by United1K and UA Insider was so helpful -and probably made all the difference. I blogged about it not just to get a result for me, but to also help others who might encounter analogous problems someday.