United Airlines

[Mimi39]

My husband passed away last month and needless to say the last thing I've thought about is frequent flyer miles. However today American called with a curtesy call for him saying that his miles with them were were nearing expiration. I explained that he had died. The caller extended her sympathy and offered to transfer his miles to my account. She e-mail the necessary document, which I filled out and fax to them. I then decided to call United and have his miles with them transfered to my United account. The person I talked to was very abrupt and said "We can do that and it will cost $150.00". I just said that American did it for free. She said "Our policy is ...... ". So I said that I would be flying American after this and hung up. What a rip off!

 

[Passepartout]

Deepest condolences for your loss. With some carriers, FF miles expire with the account holder. It's good that AA will allow you to get some benefit for them. A pox on UAL.

 

[Liz Wolf-Spada]

I am so sorry for your loss. My husband died last May and it has been a roller coaster of emotion. I, too, spent a lot of time in the first couple months dealing with paperwork, details, accounts etc. it is just extra hurtful when someone is abrupt or not helpful, because it triggers all the other feelings we are experiencing at that time. I found the book, Understanding Your Grief, very helpful and also used the workbook that can be bought separately from Amazon.
Liz

 

[falmouth3]

Mimi, I've very sorry for your loss. It's nice that American was so proactive and a shame that United was not more cooperative.

Sue

 

[Pat H]

You can still use your husband's miles if you know the password. Just go online and book a ticket but remember to change the passenger name. I finally used up my uncle's miles and he died 4 yrs ago.

Mimi, I am sorry to hear about your husband.

Liz, I didn't know your husband had passed away. I missed it somehow. My sympathy to you and our family.

 

[MOXJO7282]

It is a pure money grab is what it is. There probably is a small nominal cost to do so in the computers so to charge perhaps $15, which I'm sure is still 90% profit would be acceptable, but $150? Its sheer greed.

 

[mav]

Maybe you should call back and ask for a supervisor. I have found being extremely polite SOMETIMES things are over resolved with a supervisor. I have noticed that a FEW of the agents who answer the phone at United seem to be suffering from PMS and are downright rude. Oddly enough, I have found having a man answer the phone I always get great customer service. The weird thing is that seems to be the case with banks, airlines, credit card companies, travel sites, etc. Go figure.
I worked for the telephone company for 34 years before I retired so I am always extremely polite to service reps.

 

[Mimi39]

I hadn't heard about your husband, Liz, I'm so sorry for your loss. You're right, there is so much to do and the stress level can get high at times. Everyone I've talked to at the bank, Social Security, insurance, etc. have been so nice and helpful, United is the one exception.

Pat, thanks for the information that I can still use the miles.

 

[beanie]

had a bad experience with United also

i bought my brother and his fiance a honeymoon to Aruba for this May and they "postponed " the wedding . I knew the tickets were no refundable but did not know they were non transferable. i had one agents tell me " well you should of read your fare rules " . so i did and they weren't in there , they were in something called a contract of carrige . United would not budge on this so I am out $950 in airfare. hopefully my brother will set a new date and he can use the credit minus any fees for a new honeymoon .

 

[Big Matt]

United is the worst of four real bad (now three I guess with American buying USAir) airlines. I am stuck using them because they dominate my local airport. I fly JetBlue, Virgin, Southwest, and others if I can.

 

[dioxide45]

You can still use your husband's miles if you know the password. Just go online and book a ticket but remember to change the passenger name. I finally used up my uncle's miles and he died 4 yrs ago.

This was going to be my recommendation also, though now that the OP has called United and they know that her husband has passed away, they may have put some type of lock on the account to prevent their use. I know over on FlyerTalk, they just recommend using the username and password ot the deceased to book award tickets in the name of another passenger to get around the $150 fee.

 

[Mimi39]

I didn't give my name or my husband's ff #, I just asked if it was possible to have the miles transfered to my account and then the conversation didn't go any further, when she said that it would cost $150.

 

[dioxide45]

I didn't give my name or my husband's ff #, I just asked if it was possible to have the miles transfered to my account and then the conversation didn't go any further, when she said that it would cost $150.

That is good. Just follow the prior advice as long as you have the username and password of your husbands account.

 

[Jaybee]

Hi...I would offer the same advice; to call back, and ask for a supervisor. My husband died last April, and I was able to transfer his air miles with American, Delta, and Alaska with no problems. I just needed to send a letter of request, along with a copy of his death certificate.
We didn't have any miles with United, but I hope that person you talked to doesn't understand company policy. She certainly doesn't understand public relations or sensitivity.
I am so sorry for your loss, and I hope that you're able to accomplish the transfer. You have enough pain to deal with right now. XXOO Jean