Posted 07 May 2008 - 10:15 AM
I had an interesting experience the other day. Opened up my UA reservation to find that my flight info had been changed to a day later on my return flight. This put me over a barrel as it lengthened my stay in Singapore to two days instead of one. I called the call center -- terrible. The people are very eager but not always helpful, a bad combination. I also wanted to check to see if the agent in LA had added a note to my reservation allowing me the "old" baggage allowance (as had been negotiated earlier). The call center person not only told me that there was no note, but that I really, seriously, had to follow the new policy and no, he couldn't check on my Silk Air reservation! I ended the conversation as quickly as I could. So, I called United to check on that end and was told that SQ had changed my reservation and no one had informed me -- she curtly offered to send me an e-mail update with the new info -- thanks a alot. Next I called the Silk Air / Singpore reservations desk in Singapore (gotta love VOIP). The woman was very helpful, told me that yes a note was in my file from the LA office to the desk at EWR. But only for my flight out of the US, not the return, but that I should be able to explain it to the agents in Manado as long as I had my reservation showing I booked way back in November. We'll see about that. She also said that there "wasn't a flight" from SIA to EWR on the day I had originally booked so that's probably why I had bene moved to the next day. I opined that it might be because of the switch over to all business class on that route and she said that made a lot of sense. Finally I called the number in LA. After being hung up on twice immediately after connecting, I called their alternate number and did get to talk to someone who reiterated that getting the "old" allowance should not be a problem as long as I was booked before the change in policy was announced. She also reiterated that there was not a flight on the day I was originaly booked for so that's probably why my reservation was changed. OK, so now I need a hotel in Singapore. So, after checking with friends there I get verification that the rates at hotels have gone way up and that the rates SQ publishes for their stopover program are actually still quite good and they include transfers. So, I try to do it online -- no lucj since the ticket was booked by UA. Tried the call center and after getting the whole thing set up, their computer wouldn't take my credit card because it is an award ticket and the stopover program is apparently only good for normal paid flight. Ugh. Good news is that I was able to get help from my friends there in booking a place to stay. So, that's my story -- I leave Saturday!
Mike
Mike Oelrich
Canon EOS 40D in Seatool housing, 100mm macro, Tokina 10-17, INON Z-240s.