Comment

Comment by Ruth, Gun's Mom on December 22, 2008 at 4:09pm

Good grief--one more thing--I sent my letter to customer.service, not customer.relations@united.com, so I sent it again. So far, it hasn't come back, so all of you write them, too! I'm still taking copies to the airport though.

Comment by Ruth, Gun's Mom on December 22, 2008 at 4:02pm

I am slowly getting to the door! I just talked to my husband to tell him what I'm doing. He told me to send my letter to the newspapers, too. Oh, I love a cause! He also said that Andy called from Norfolk. It's costing him a fortune in uniforms. He can't wear the digitized he wore with the Army till January or February when the Navy adopts it, so he's searching for his old camos. He wore the "new" uniform today with khaki shirt and black pants. He went to some office where the sailor in charge wanted to know why a Marine was picking up papers from his office. Then some civilian on the street asked him why he looks like a bus driver! ok, I'm out of here.

Comment by Ruth, Gun's Mom on December 22, 2008 at 3:38pm

I just invited her to come read about our experiences. Took a shower, bundling up, and leaving the house now. Looks like a bunch of flights coming in this afternoon, the sun is shining, so I'll go hold a flag and hug for awhile!

Comment by Ruth, Gun's Mom on December 22, 2008 at 2:58pm

Well, of course, it's not a valid email address! I corrected by original email (the English teacher in me--I found some mistakes) and printed off ten copies. On my way to the airport. I am hoping our local United reps can give me a phone number or email address that works.

Comment by Ruth, Gun's Mom on December 22, 2008 at 2:32pm

I just called United, got a bunch of options, finally got to customer relations, but due to the high number of calls (gosh, I wonder why!), they told me to call back! Not even put on hold. The recording did give me this email address with a promise that someone would respond in three days. I hope this email address works, because I hope you all use it! customer.relations@united.com

I'm still going to the airport with copies of my email.

Comment by Ruth, Gun's Mom on December 22, 2008 at 2:23pm

Good thing I took my blood pressure med this morning because I'm getting madder by the minute! I tried submitting my son's info and my complaint four times--the United website says I'm timing out. They don't have any phone number listed for this, just a number for reservations. Since I'm headed to the airport to stand with the Patriot Guard Riders this afternoon, I'm typing it all out and giving copies to others including the United desk there! I'll try again and then I might call them also.

Here's what I wrote using my United membership number--I'll add Andy's ticket number and tweek this a bit more before I make copies, but here's my rant to them!

This is in regard to my son's travel, not mine. He is a member of the US Navy and was trying to get home from Afghanistan. He flew into Norfolk and then was scheduled to fly from there to Moline on December 11. His flight to ORD came in late (not due to weather). Originally, he was to have 45 minutes to change terminals and check in for his Moline flight. By the time he got off the plane, he had 20 minutes to get to his next gate. The United representatives told him they would not hold his flight, and by the time he got there, the plane was pulling away from the gate. The United reps there told him it was not their problem, but his. They would not give him a voucher for a meal, a hotel room, and refused to book him on to any other airline to get to Moline that night. They continued to tell him that it was not their problem. He was tired,hungry, and in uniform. The USO let him sleep on a couch for the night before United would put him on the 8am flight the next morning.

I am extremely disappointed to learn that United's employees would treat him or any member of the military this way.

I am a member of Navy for Moms (navyformoms.com). Another sailor has had a seabag sitting in Lubbock, Texas, for several days. United was his airline also. Lubbock is 200 miles away from his mom's house, and United has done little to help him get his belongings for his leave after his bag did not come in with him. Another sailor was stranded in Phoenix by United with a promise to get him out in the next three days.

Obviously, United has become a topic on the Navy for Moms website. I invite you to visit the GM moms discussion page. Thousands of Navy moms belong to this site and we do have power in numbers.

I would hope that United will step up and do the right thing for our military. I may only be one person, but my family does fly several times a year. I will choose another airline, and I can bet that other Navy moms will, too, if this is your standard operating procedure.

These sailors and other military should be treated with respect--not "it's not our problem." They should also reserve compensation for their treatment.

The other moms and I are very interested in United's response.

Comment by Ruth, Gun's Mom on December 22, 2008 at 1:24pm

United is the one that told Andy it was his fault he missed his flight and wouldn't give him meal or hotel vouchers. That's it--I'm writing to them!

Comment by Ruth, Gun's Mom on December 22, 2008 at 1:08pm

If I haven't written it here or you missed it, John and Yvonne, Navy for Moms, are taking care of my son in Virginia Beach. He had no where to live till Great Lakes, and they've taken him in. He hopes to find a buddy who's on leave right now after the holidays, but they may end up with him till the end of January. If any of your kids are ever stranded in the Quad-Cities, let me know!

Comment by Ruth, Gun's Mom on December 22, 2008 at 10:07am

What airline is this? Should we all contact them?! Navy moms do have power!

Comment by Ruth, Gun's Mom on December 20, 2008 at 5:24pm

It's snowing again here in the Quad-Cities, but flights have been getting here. I took my granddaughters out to the airport for several hours to help welcome some of the military. As part of the Patriot Guard Riders (I don't ride a motorcycle though that day might come!), I get bulletins about homecomings, and we knew a few soldiers were due today. I lost track at 20! Lots of soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen going into the arms of waiting families and friends. It's not my son, but they are sons and daughters belonging to moms and dads--it feels good to be there. And yes, we do occasionally need tissues, but it still feels good. I'll be at the airport for the next week off and on for flag duty.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 65
• 66
• 67
• 68
• 69
• …
• 73
• Next ›
• Page