What is it about airlines that we find so aggravating? Let us count the ways: There’s the baggage fee, the too-small seats, the $8 sandwich, that special dirty-red carpet at the gate that only elite fliers get to walk on. And then there’s the waiting list for seat upgrades. As noted in the Wall Street Journal:
Philip Rushton wasn’t surprised when the business-class upgrades he’d requested on recent United Airlines flights to Hong Kong and back didn’t come through. After all, frequent fliers are having less and less success landing upgrades these days. What he didn’t expect, though, was no refund of the $1,200 he paid United in advance for the possible upgrade. The miles required for the upgrades were returned to his account, but not the cash “copay’’ of $600 each way. He called to complain and United put through the refund, with an airline supervisor telling him the system had been broken for several years.
According to the Journal’s Scott McCartney, “United says only a ‘small number’ of customers haven’t received such refunds automatically. The airline says it isn’t sure why but hopes to have the problem fixed this year.” In the meantime, sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight—and for an extra $50, we’ll give you six more inches of leg room.