Home Tags Posts tagged with "Continental Airlines"

Continental Airlines

0

George Lagen, a top traveller from Chicago, is protesting United Airlines after the airline company took away some of the “perks” that he became accustomed to while flying.

The man isn’t complaining about a lack of baggage room or having to pay for snacks, however.

George Lagen is one of the insightful few to buy an unlimited lifetime travel ticket that came fully-loaded with bonuses.

The tickets, originally sold by American Airlines in a push for instant cash, were bought by 66 passengers before they stopped the offer.

After paying $350,000 for the ticket in 1987, George Lagen and one other passenger were able to travel the world in first class on as many of the airline’s flights as he desired.

George Lagen, a top traveller from Chicago, is protesting United Airlines after the airline company took away some of the “perks” that he became accustomed to while flying

George Lagen, a top traveller from Chicago, is protesting United Airlines after the airline company took away some of the “perks” that he became accustomed to while flying

That he did, George Lagen took 1,000 trips to New York, 500 to Los Angeles, San Francisco and London. Another 80 of his trips landed in Sydney and 50 more in Hong Kong.

All told, George Lagen estimates that he has earned 40 million miles, deservedly earning him the status of a “Million Miler”.

Those select few to gain that elusive title were treated to seat upgrades, early boarding, and the second-highest status given to travellers: “premier executive”.

Additionally, for every flight Million Milers took, they were given the same amount back in frequent flier miles that they could then use towards future flights.

George Lagen told ABC that he is now suing the airline because a number of those perks, to which he had become accustomed, were taken away after United merged with Continental Airlines.

The Million Milers are now handled by the MileagePlus program which has demoted them to the third level of flier (called “Premier Gold” rather than “executive”), fewer upgrades, and half of the frequent flier miles per flight.

The suit alleges that the merger with Continental caused “immediate and significant retroactive demotion of benefits to Million Milers”.

“In stark contrast to the gutting of promised and bargained-for benefits for Million Milers, the new MileagePlus Program perversely and arbitrarily rewards former members of Continental Airlines former Continental One Pass frequent flier program.

“United’s egregious actions, if left unabated, will result in its unlawlly, not to mention immorally, retaining the millions upon millions of dollars it received from Million Miler members.”

In spite of the breach of contract, good faith and fair dealing suit, the company maintains that they have done nothing wrong and that the suit is meritless.

“We greatly value our Million Milers and are continuing to deliver valuable and highly competitive benefits with our lifetime program. One Million Milers receive benefits at the 50,000-mile premier status level – the same as before,” a spokesman for United Airlines said in a statement.

That means little to George Lagen, who puts it simply: “A deal’s a deal.”

 

Fred Zajonczloski is going to miss his father’s funeral because Continental Airlines was charging him almost $675 to change his flight – on top of the $1,200 he had already paid.

The grieving son Fred Zajonczloski flew from his home in San Antonio, Texas, to Rochester, New York, as soon as he found out his father Walter, 85, was dying.

Fred Zajonczloski was scheduled to return on Saturday December 17 but when he found out his father’s funeral was being changed to tomorrow, he tried to change his flight and his fiancee’s.

Continental Airlines informed him that the changes would cost a total of $675.

Fred Zajonczloski’s sister Julie Knapp told News10 they are “just a normal family” and could not afford that kind of money.

Julie Knapp said: “All we wanted was some compassion.”

Now, Fred Zajonczloski is going to miss his father’s burial tomorrow as he has already flown back on the original ticket.

Julie Knapp said: “I understand that people have jobs and people have things to do, but have a heart. Have a heart. I mean there’s somebody there that could have said yes, it’s okay to switch this flight.

“It’s frustrating and it’s very disappointing when I put my brother on that airplane and I said goodbye to him and knew he wasn’t going to be here.”

Julie Knapp also revealed that it was her father’s last wish to be buried beside his son Dale, who was just three when he died.

“That’s why it is so important that Freddie was here. To have that closure to be able to see his dad be buried with his son.

“He should be here with his family so he can say goodbye.”

Continental Airlines believe that a simple mistake has been made as their highest charge fee for changing flights is $200 – and that is for international flights.

A Continental Airlines spokesman said they are looking into the story.

He said: “Continental customer care will contact the customers directly. We certainly offer them our deepest condolences.”