reservations Archives - TravelSkills

United app gets an upgrade

October 31, 2017

United’s app can now add electronic boarding passes from partner airlines. (Image: United)

With travelers becoming more reliant on their smartphones for all kinds of chores, the United app got several enhancements this week to increase its functionality.

For one thing, the airline now allows users to receive boarding passes via the app for onward connecting flights on 19 partner airlines. In talking with users, “we found that simply allowing our customers to access boarding passes for their entire itinerary within the same app made a big difference,” said Kate Gebo, chief customer officer at United. Participating carriers range from big ones like Lufthansa to small ones like Aegean Airlines. You can see a full list here.

Users can also turn to their United app now to make changes in their reservations, or to cancel them. Users will see these new options under Reservations Details, where they can follow the indicated steps to get a confirmation of their action. “As this new feature debuts, certain reservations, such as reservations purchased through third parties, will continue to United.com to allow customers to make changes,” the company said.

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United’s app has added several new features. (Image: United)

For iOS users, customers’ United Club and MileagePlus cards can now be stored in the Apple Wallet for easy access, United said. Users should log into their MileagePlus account in the app, select United Clubs and/or MileagePlus, and then hit the “add to Apple Wallet” icon under the digital card. “United Club members will still scan their boarding passes to access United Club locations before their flight,” United said. “Members who do not have their MileagePlus number tied to their boarding pass will be able to show their electronic card, along with a same-day boarding pass for United Club access.”

Another recent enhancement to the app is the addition of a beta “Track my bags” function, which will give users real-time updates of when their bag goes onto the aircraft, when it is unloaded, and when it reaches baggage claim. (Delta added a baggage tracker to its app in 2016.) United said it is also adding a 3D touch capability for Apple iPhone users whose devices support that feature. They can use it “to instantly navigate from their iPhone’s home screen to book a flight, check in, and view their flight status in the app,” United said.

Readers: What other features or capabilities would you like to see on United’s app? How does it compare to other airline apps?

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Surprise! Delta drops an annoying fee

April 14, 2016

A mesmerizing look at a Delta jet from a window of ATL's Concourse E (Photo: AP Gouge Photography)

Delta’s actually eliminating a fee! (Photo: AP Gouge Photography)

Remember back when everyone used to use the telephone to make airline reservations? That’s no longer the case, but sometimes it can still be extremely helpful to talk to a human being – like when an online search won’t turn up the fare or award flight you want because not all available inventory is shown there.

That’s why airlines’ imposition of phone reservation fees in recent years has been such an annoyance. But now there’s good news, from Delta Air Lines at least.

The airline said it has eliminated its fees for bookings made over the phone or in person at the airport or other ticketing locations. Delta’s 11-year-old Direct Ticketing Charges were $25 for phone calls and $35 for face-to-face purchases. (Note: The fees did not apply for Medallion Golds, Platinums and Diamonds.)

http://blog.sfgate.com/cmcginnis/2016/04/14/a-big-blue-dreamliner-for-sfo-photos/

Sometimes you just need to interact with a human being, right? (Image: Delta)

In its 2015 survey on the most hated travel fees, MileCards.com found that 49 percent of travelers considered airlines’ telephone booking charges to be unreasonable. (The same number called change and cancellation fees unreasonable.)

“United and American also charge $25 phone booking fees, while Southwest Airlines does not. Sensible cost cutting and lower fuel prices are letting airlines give back in some places that are pain points for fliers,” said MileCards.com analyst Brian Karimzad. “A phone fee does nothing to enhance the revenue potential of a flight, like a change or cancellation fee could, and with most people doing basic tasks online, phone fees feel like an unreasonable penalty.”

Now we’ll have to see if Delta’s competitors come to the same conclusion.

When was the last time you called Delta for help with a reservation? Did it work? Please leave your comments below.

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United, American test consumer-friendly initiatives

November 3, 2015

United’s airport staffers are using travel certificates to sweeten the customer experience. (Image: United)

Since it switched CEOs recently, United has been promising to be more attentive to customers’ concerns, and it has launched a new airport program to do just that. Meanwhile, American is testing a plan that allows customers to hold their reservations for up to a week without buying a ticket — but for a price.

In United’s program, passengers at the airport who have a grievance against the airline could receive a travel certificate worth as much as $125 as the airline’s way of saying “we’re sorry” according to the BrianSumers blog.

The certificates have been distributed to the carrier’s airport staff, with instructions to use them as compensation when customers encounter rude treatment, or when they have to wait a long time for a bag to be delivered, or when a customer does something that makes the employee’s life easier, like giving up a seat upon request.

Premium cabin flyers and top-tier elites (Global Services/1K) could get a coupon worth up to $125; Platinum and Gold elites can get $50 to $100 vouchers; and the ceiling for economy passengers is $50.

American’s new “extended hold” gives customers the option of putting a “hold” of three, five or seven days on a reservation before they buy a ticket, locking in the quoted fare. Like United’s FareLock, it is only available in select markets; when it is offered, the customer will see a drop-down menu on the booking screen with the extended hold options.

All airlines are required to give customers the right to hold a booking for 24 hours at no cost before buying or cancel within 24 hours for no penalty. The new American options are not free, however; the prices to hold a reservation longer than a day are $7.99 (3 days), $9.99 (5 days) and $11.99 (one week) — and those fees are non-refundable.

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