The Star Alliance that United is part is great most of the time, but when things go wrong they can go really wrong. And I do not mean the check-in issues that often happen when trying to check in online from a partner-flight. There must be sometimes some real technical issues.
Well, after two weeks in Asia, I repacked, and am off to trip to Europe, Vienna, Berlin, Toulouse, centered around the Wagner Ring in Vienna. I would have loved the drama to stay on stage, but unfortunately I did not get that lucky, courtesy of issues within the United Star Alliance.
I have a quite comfortable setup while starting to write this, the Lufthansa Senator Lounge is quite nice.
It all started yesterday when UA58 started telling us about delays from SFO to FRA, where I had at 70 minute connection to Vienna. Departure was pushed from 1:20, to 1:45, to an eventual 2:16 pm. The episode included a return to the gate to deal with paperwork (!) and a further delayed push, which I can only presume was an immediate punishment for pushing back without paperwork? No idea.
Well, then I had my “No shit, Sherlock“ moment, when receiving this nicely intended text:
I know. Nice of you to notice and warn me! I applaude the intent. While cruising at 30,000 ft, I decided to fix all this before getting some shut eye. The app already claimed “One of your flights has been rebooked.” Still, despite the “you have been rebooked” message, the existing connection was still visible.
So I went to the chat with an agent option.
Well, that’s not really answering my question. But that virtual agent is a quite persistent fellow.
“Virti the agent” was quite confident to be able to “assist me with many topics in this chat” and had to be talked down. I played along and gave it my booking reference, only to Virti promptly trying to rebook the flight to FRA that I was clearly sitting on. After about 15 minutes Virti put me in queue for an agent.
35 minutes later..
Finally I am chatting with an agent. Somehow the agent has issues. The 11:10 flight is too close to arrival. The 12:50 cannot be confirmed. The 1:40 first works. Then I am told there are no possible flights today to Vienna. I am pointing out that I can book all of them from the Lufthansa app. Then the 1:40 is appearing in my United app with claims from the agent that I am set.
Hmm. No boarding pass when trying to check in from the United App. Lufthansa only sees the SFO-FRA segment. Well, I see the connection in the app so the rest can be sorted on the ground.
Getting some sleep.
We arrive in FRA at 10:05 at an outside position. The purser’a announcement claims flights to Vienna, amongst others, are booked to new times and we should refresh the app.
The bus ride is short. I am in the Senator Lounge at 10:35. Its the only lounge that not only wants to see the boarding pass but also the 1K card.
I learn from the really nice LH agent and his supervisor that I do not have any flight.
Oops.
The tickets have not been issued and they recommend to fix it via phone or with United outside in the departure hall, requiring exiting and to go security again.
Phone it is. The initial agent asks why I am not on the original 10:20 flight that is confirmed. LOL. I explain the United-induced delay and reason.
Well, it gets better.
None of the flights can be confirmed due to technical issues. The first one possible, per United 1K support, is leaving in 5 hours, with a connection through Bremen, arriving in Vienna very late.
To the supervisor agent’s surprise, I can book the 12:50 and 1:40 just fine from the LH App. We decide that’s the best option and I should send the receipt to United later. Not sure whether that will work.
Worries about my luggage start lingering. Hmm. The LH agent in the lounge adds it to the newly booked itinerary and looks confident that it will make it.
My own luggage tracking makes me hopeful as I am writing this wile boarded. The luggage seems closer to me than it was when I was sorting through things.
Anybody want to take a bet whether it will make it to Vienna?
2:20 arrival in Vienna. Sunshine, nice day.
Wait for it…
Yep, my luggage made it! So that worked.
Uber works here well. There is talk about a 16 min train. I will try that on the way back.
Funny interaction with the Uber driver “ich bin hier vorne” – “I am in the front” prompted me to go to the front until I figured out that he really meant “hinten” – “in the back” – identifying his position as where the cars exit. Hmm. It’a all a matter of perspective.
I added a ticket for Tannhaeuser tonight. Can’t wait!
StageAficionado 