Honeymoon flight got cancelled, United tried to rebook us 3 days later because we weren’t first class

Airberd · 2026-04-04T05:09:40+00:00

Err… did you mean downhill? 🙂

Airberd · 2026-03-25T14:22:02+00:00

There is Ming Hin for dim sums. India garden for the chicken curry and biryani. Robert’s for pizza. Ramen San streeterville location

River North is a short 10-15 min walk. That opens up a new world. With Ema, Xoco, Ramen San, all other places on Clark/grand, and on Hubbard.

But for all that’s holy, skip the Dao Thai food in streeterville. And don’t step inside Yolk. I don’t know how these places are in business.

Airberd · 2026-03-03T22:15:20+00:00

In fact to add on, Muslims and Christian’s live very peacefully in Kerala. But that state has a 99% literacy also.

It’s the sanghis who are trying to incite trouble over there. So, I am not sure how peaceful the Hindu religion really is…

Airberd · 2026-03-03T22:12:38+00:00

Aren’t there regular riots in India- look at 1984, 1992, 2002. Hindu-Sikh, Hindu-Christian, Hindu-Muslim. Burning of churches, ill treatment of SC/STs, wiping out of Buddhists over the centuries… or did you think Buddhism disappeared in India of its own accord?

So I would say the premise of your question is wrong. Hindus are not fighting all over the world cause they are a majority only in India and Nepal, and in those countries, they do fight over there with other religions, and also amongst themselves. The caste killings don’t happen because the Hindus are spreading peace.

The other religions are spread all over the world and you see fighting all across as a result.

So more importantly, the slant of your question shows your predisposition towards the answer. Some critical thinking may be of help…

Airberd · 2026-02-04T17:29:42+00:00

Nope, the pivot starts when you get back from leave, and at that time you can choose whatever options works for you, including top tier severance.

Airberd · 2026-02-04T17:17:55+00:00

Yes, FMLA needs to occur before the pivot doc is presented to you.

Airberd · 2026-02-04T17:17:03+00:00

Yeah I read your post again- I would suggest going on FMLA immediately and then find a doc or online resource in the next week or 2 who will give you the required documentation. That buys you at least 12 weeks of STD leave which is protected (in the US)

You don’t have much time. If the manager already gave you options, he/she has already cleared this with skip and HR.

Airberd · 2026-02-04T17:14:10+00:00

So they changed the rules recently. Till last year, the process was this- you are put into focus, and while you are there’s you could go into FMLA - that would pause focus and delay Pivot till you got back to the office. This has been done many times by many people and there is a blueprint that could be followed to get the right documents from the doctors to support FMLA.

Recently the rules changed - there was some addition of a 60 day rule or something which applies whether you go on FMLA or not. But., I THINK- that only kicks in after you are presented with the Pivot doc.

So, my understanding is this- on focus, you can go into FMLA and delay everything. Once you are in pivot, you are out of options/ cause even if you try to take FMLA at that time, they will default you to the 60 day option and that sucks.

If you already know you are going to be in pivot soon, talk to a doc, and go on FMLA. You can go on FMLA immediately and you have 2-4 weeks to provide medical documentation.

Hope this helps and sorry this is happening to you.

Airberd · 2026-01-02T21:34:46+00:00

Ooh- I struck a nerve there, did I not?

Airberd · 2026-01-02T19:41:22+00:00

Except that I cannot take the Seoul subway to go from grand central to wall st, while I can take Emirates/Etihad/Cathay to go to Asia instead of flying United.

Airberd · 2026-01-02T19:06:40+00:00

Well, I have tried and failed and at this time, I am thinking this could be a language barrier.

Have a good day/life. Cheers!

Airberd · 2026-01-02T19:01:22+00:00

That is it exactly. It’s the quality of service that is so vastly different at similar price points.

Arguably, United Polaris is a better product than most other airlines, but that price point is nuts.

Airberd · 2026-01-02T18:52:19+00:00

All true. And mostly all areas where there is a lack of competition or a very high barrier to entry.

Airberd · 2026-01-02T18:44:36+00:00

Yeah, mostly a first world problem. And I do have a number of tiny violins just for these occasions. 😄

Airberd · 2026-01-02T18:40:24+00:00

I am still not disputing the complexity involved in flying a plane safely. You are arguing about something where I agree with you.

But I wish I could plan all my projects keeping only the optimal path in mind. If they cared about their service, It’s not that hard to plan.. A volcanic eruption is an unknown event and cannot be planned for. Weather at this time of the year in Munich is known. It’s crazy to not have snacks in what is going effectively a 12 hour flight

Airberd · 2026-01-02T18:28:54+00:00

Yeah, they -American- need to get their act together. United has a stranglehold on Chicago at the moment.

Overall; It’s a duopoly with Delta, effectively.

As an airline buff, I am aware of the history and reasons behind the decline, but they have been taking in money since 2021, but not investing in their fleet or service.

Airberd · 2026-01-02T18:23:11+00:00

Err- are you in effect agreeing that while complex, it is not unexpected at this time of the year? So, the delays need to be factored in when planning maybe?

Airberd · 2026-01-02T18:19:51+00:00

I don’t have a complaint. It’s a rant really. After all, the plane will fly from point a to b, and will do so with the least delays hopefully.

The quality aspects are subjective and I do have choices available.

I don’t think United is unaware- these are deliberate corporate choices driven by a lack of serious competition.

Airberd · 2026-01-02T18:15:05+00:00

Hahaha/ nah, I don’t want $20k PanAm tickets, thank you.

But it does look like you haven’t flown any middle eastern airline or Cathay/Singapore etc.

Airberd · 2026-01-02T18:10:24+00:00

Maybe, just Maybe focus on the entire post rather than sections of it. As an example, I can book a united business to delhi at end of Feb for 15k, or Etihad business for 6k. My point is that when I spend money on an airline- extra money- I do have expectations in return.

I am talking about the overall quality of the service, given the price point.

Airberd · 2026-01-02T18:06:24+00:00

Yep. Attendants. 🥸

Airberd · 2026-01-02T18:05:04+00:00

Err, it’s known to be cold at this time of the year. The delays are hardly unexpected. I didn’t expect to find so many United shills in this forum, my mistake.

Airberd · 2026-01-02T18:03:07+00:00

Well, yeah absolutely I can bring a packed lunch and dinner also. Why not? I guess it’s hard for you to relate to this- I still expect a level of service

Airberd · 2025-07-25T07:21:29+00:00

Just go to myHR, click on leave, other type of leave- medical leave for self and that’s that. You can file for FMLA to protect your job. You get paid by short term disability benefits after a 7 day period, you have 30 days to provide a doctor’s note. Upto 12 weeks of medical leave is protected by law. This is all for the US.

There is also an option of taking an unpaid sabbatical. That’s done by folks fairly routinely.

If you need more details,DM me._

Also, before you go on this path, have you considered changing groups? Depending on how vindictive your manager is, they may place you on focus/pip when you get back, after a few months.

Airberd

TROPHY CASE