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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We’re currently stuck in Italy. We arrived without any issue.  A few days before our return from Florence, I received an email that our flight home had been moved from 10:30 a.m. to 6:05 a.m.  The Florence airport doesn’t open until 5:00, so I set the alarm for 4:00 a.m., only to wake up to a text stating that our flight had been canceled but they would be reaching out shortly with alternative arrangements.  I immediately called United.  [b]After being on hold 20 minutes, spoke to someone who asked several questions before telling me he didn’t work on international flights (annoying bc the first thing I did was explain that we were in Florence, Italy).  Transferred me and I was on hold another 15 minutes before the United rep told me they had transferred our ticket to Lufthansa and no longer could help.  I then called Lufthansa and was told I needed a confirmation number but the only confirmation number I had was from United.  Called United again and they gave me the Lufthansa confirmation number.  I went online with this new confirmation number only to find out that our newly scheduled flight on KLM was departing in 10 minutes.  I had never received a text, email or any notice that we had been put on a new flight.  Apparently, this was due to the fact that the airlines’ systems don’t communicate with each other.
[/b]
We were rebooked for a flight 4 hours later.  While waiting to board after now being at the airport for 6 hours, they announced that due to wind/weight issues, they had to remove 25 of us from the flight.  Unfortunately, we were selected.  We waited in line to be rescheduled for 3 more hours only to be told there are no available flights with room for 4 people until two days later. We’re in Economy Plus, but there were passengers in first class that were taken off the flight with us and has the same issues rebooking.  I think they only way to avoid this is by traveling private.

We better not have issues getting off tomorrow or I’ll lose my mind![/quote]

I had the same issue with United last month when they automatically shifted my reservation to British Air. [/quote]

PPs, do either of you have tips for this?

I guess one is, "If the airline tells you that you have been rebooked on another carrier, ask for the new confirmation number." But love to know if you have others.

United/Lufthansa PP, did you depart?[/quote]

1. Always get confirmation number and ticket number for the airline you are actually flying.

2. Always call the airline while waiting in the rebooking line. Often you will get through on the phone quicker than waiting in line.

3. Consider using overseas phone number if the phone wait is long. Look up numbers for say United in Australia, etc. Use Google Voice to call, it's like 1 or 2 cents/minute to many countries.

4. If phone waits are long, send Twitter DMs to the airline.

5. Which day matters if it's a partner booking. In this case the ticket was booked through United, but as of the day of travel, Lufthansa "owns" the ticket and has responsibility. So if there was a cancellation more than 24 hours in advance, contact United as ticketing airline. Within 24 hours, contact the operating airline

6. Use Google Flights to find alternatives that are operating and have enough seats, so you can offer options immediately that work for you.[/quote]

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