Letter to United

[asterroc]

Feedback appreciated. Letter's total length (single-spaced, 12 pt Times New Roman) is two full pages.

Zandperl
Zandperl's address
(555) 555-5555

United Airlines
Passenger Refunds – WHQAK
P.O. Box 66282
Chicago, IL 60666-0100

March 20, 2006

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to you today to request a full refund for United Airlines (United) tickets XXX and YYY, related Travelocity fees, and other incurred expenses by ticket purchaser Zandperl (self) and passenger T$ for our intended trip from BDL (Bradley, Hartford CT / Springfield MA) to PHX (Sky Harbor, Phoenix AZ), for the dates 3/15/06-3/19/06 for myself, and 3/15/06-3/19/06 for T$. The purpose of this trip was to attend and participate together in a wedding, which we were unable to do due to multiple flight delays and cancellations. We have suffered monetary injury, paid for services improperly performed, lost work hours, and suffered aggravation. I am due compensation for the monetary losses in the amount of $1,968.99. I expect a response by the date of April 25 2006.

The purpose of the purchase of airline tickets and related expenses was to attend and participate in the wedding of Blue and Q, at 6pm (MST) on Saturday March 18, 2006, in Phoenix, AZ. Ticket XXX was issued to myself for 3/15/06 for flights UA 1199 (BDL – IAD) and UA 233 (IAD – PHX), and return flights for 3/19/06 UA 1482 (PHX – ORD) and UA 222 (ORD – BDL). Ticket YYY was issued to T$ originally for 3/17/06 flights UA 1199 (BDL – IAD) and UA 233 (IAD – PHX), and the same return flights as myself: 3/19/06 UA 1482 (PHX – ORD) and UA 222 (ORD – BDL).

On 3/17/06 T$'s flight UA 1199 had mechanical difficulties and was delayed by approximately one hour. Because of this, T$ missed 3/17/06 flight UA 233, though records at the Dulles airport originally did not reflect the delay. After hours in line, United put him in a hotel for the night and rebooked him for 3/18/06 morning flight UA 1728 (IAD – PHX), which would have allowed him to attend the wedding. This flight was cancelled with no reason given. T$ was rebooked for a second time onto late morning flight UA 301 (IAD – DEN) and afternoon flight UA 1409 (DEN – PHX), which would have also allowed him to attend the wedding. When he arrived in Denver around 11 am, flight 1409 had been cancelled with no reason given, and records at the Denver airport did not reflect T$'s flight from IAD to DEN. T$ was put on standby for the next DEN – PHX flight, which would have had him arrive in the afternoon, still barely in time to make the wedding.

However, he was not called for the flight due to approximately 100 other passengers from UA 1409 being on the waitlist – only eight people could be put on the flight, and T$ was told priority was by ticket price, rather than urgency. The next flight after that would have arrived at 9:30 pm (MST), after the wedding and reception had already concluded. At this point, ticketing agents told T$ that the next flight with available seats to PHX would have been on Tuesday 3/21/06, at which point he would have missed his return flights. He was also told that the next flight returning to BDL was on Tuesday 3/21/06. Therefore T$ was given a third rebooking for flight 726 (DEN-BOS). Logan (Boston, MA) airport is approximately 111 miles from Bradley (Hartford, CT / Springfield, MA), however this was marginally preferable to waiting an additional three days to return to his home airport.

At the Denver airport, T$ was incorrectly issued three flight vouchers for the amounts of $150 each, totaling $450, in the name of T$. Since I made the purchase, any compensation should be in the name of Zandperl. In addition, the vouchers are non-combinable, and therefore would obligate T$ to spend additional money in order to use them for their original purpose: a trip to PHX, to congratulate the bride and groom.

In conclusion, United Airlines failed to render the purchased service: flights for Zandperl and T$ from BDL (Bradley, Hartford CT / Springfield MA) to PHX (Sky Harbor, Phoenix AZ), to attend and participate together in the wedding of Blue and Q, at 6 pm (MST) on 3/18/06. Additional costs were incurred during the course of the trip, as detailed above and in the enclosed spreadsheet, for which United Airlines is liable in full. I demand compensation (relief) for the monetary losses in the amount of $1,968.99 (documentation enclosed) by the date of April 25 2006, at which point I will return or destroy (United’s choice) the $450 of flight vouchers inappropriately issued in the name of T$. Should United Airlines be unwilling to provide said compensation, I am ready to file a suit in Small Claims Court (court named) under the provisions of STATE General Laws, Chapter 93A, Section 9, for the above listed amount plus court fees, totaling $2,008.99, or as limited by law. Compensation may be made out to the original credit card used for the trip, in the name of Zandperl, Discover card ZZZ, or by mail to the above address.

Sincerely,

Zandperl

And the list of expenses. I have more details for the official version (including ticket numbers and dates of transactions). Do you think photocopies of bills and credit card statments would be in order?




If I left in any incriminating evidence, let me know. :-P (Though if you had the databases, you could find us based on just that info.)

I'm tempted to say screw the phone calls, and just send this letter.

Comments

[xoder.livejournal.com]

Do not forget to gain your punitive noogie rights!

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

Hm, I'm going to have to put that under the claims if taken to Small Claims Court - noogies are hard to administer via telephone, and harder via letters.

[marquiswildbill.livejournal.com]

Looks pretty good to me, but I am not so good at legal documents. If possible I would have a lawyer look at it to make sure everything looks threatening enough. If you dont have a friend who is a lawyer, try to find out if any of the other adjuncts at your school are lawyers who might take a look at it for you.
Good luck getting your money back. 2K is a fair amount of cash to lose because of airline errors.

!!!

[blue102.livejournal.com]

I'm so INCREDIBLY sorry that you had to wade through the tenth circle of Hell to attend our wedding! And I'm doubly sorry that T$ had his entire weekend wasted in airports and was unable to even make it into town!! If there's anything I can do to aid you in your quest, please let me know. This whole debacle is past absurd, beyond ridiculous, and twelve miles north of fucked-up.

Love you both,
Blue (and Q)

ps - check the first sentence of the paragraph starting "However... " - I think something is awry.