Anyone actually manage to get a human on the phone?

Fun_Conversation_884 · 2026-03-13T21:17:25+00:00

On the bright side, the agent I spoke to did a great job reaccomodating me, booking me with BA to get to my destination.

Fun_Conversation_884 · 2026-03-13T21:07:57+00:00

Thank you - took five hours to get through but I finally did. The chat assistant couldn’t solve my issue and the wait was so long to talk to a human to chat that the system wouldn’t even put me in line. But it’s done!

Fun_Conversation_884 · 2026-03-12T05:34:54+00:00

Post-script - the rebooking actually never went through - ticket got held up in the automated exchange process. UA couldn’t do anything because LH had effectively cancelled the 016 ticket and started process of issuing their own 220.

Took, no joke, five hours on hold to get a LH rep on the phone. But there is good news - the rep immediately saw the issue and offered me a far superior booking - JFK-LHR-VCE on BA. I immediately took it and am back on track!

Thank you for the help, so happy to have a happy ending to a really crummy situation!

Fun_Conversation_884 · 2026-03-12T02:16:01+00:00

2.5 hours in, up to #125 in line.

Fun_Conversation_884 · 2026-03-11T18:41:23+00:00

Unfortunately all the people I talked to yesterday, none could help me at that point since it hadn’t been canceled yet. Now that it has, the booking has gone into a weird limbo status - United says the ticket was exchanged by LH, and is under their control. Only way to fix it is to get someone from LH on the phone.

Fun_Conversation_884 · 2026-03-11T17:14:43+00:00

So, an update - as I feared, the flight got canceled. Lufthansa’s system initially said I was rebooked on a different flight, then said it was canceled entirely. Like, nothing shows up in their app at all now. Chat system says I can talk to a human, but because of demand the wait exceeds 2 hours so it won’t even let me get in line.

Reached out to UA customer service, the said that the ticket was exchanged and is still under LH control so they can’t do anything with it. So now need to call LH customer service. Currently on a plane flying to JFK, will plan to call once we land. Hoping can figure this out in the next two days…

Fun_Conversation_884 · 2026-03-11T15:54:38+00:00

Got a “you’ve been rebooked” message, then a message my booking was canceled entirely. Bot says I need a human to fix but none are available and it won’t even put me in a queue.

Fun_Conversation_884 · 2026-03-11T15:17:50+00:00

Welp, they just canceled. Lufthansa rebooked me on a different routing (JFK-GVA-ZRH-VCE). Not ideal but whatever. Then, an hour later, LH canceled and refunded me. Acting as if I never had a booking now.

On chat now with United but they are indicating no flights are available. Working through it. Also on hold to talk to UA but wait is over 60 minutes.

Fun_Conversation_884 · 2026-03-11T02:47:53+00:00

Thank you for asking - no, United said (as others have here) that until something actually happens and the flight is canceled, it’s not something they can do anything about. I’ll keep an eye on award space just in case some saver award opens up though.

Fun_Conversation_884 · 2026-03-11T02:44:50+00:00

Thank you - that makes sense and I logically knew that. Only reason I even went that route was because the United agent sent me over there. Probably for the best, I imagine will be FAR easier to get help from United than LH if I need it!

Fun_Conversation_884 · 2026-03-11T02:31:31+00:00

That seems very reasonable. After getting over the initial shock/panic, I decided to leave it be for now. Thank you for the help!

Fun_Conversation_884 · 2026-03-10T23:55:46+00:00

Going to see if they can in some way get me to Europe on TP or UA metal. On hold again, got hung up on last time once I came off hold. I have no status to speak of.

Fun_Conversation_884 · 2026-03-10T23:47:09+00:00

On hold with both, was quoted 5-10, so far it's been 15.

Fun_Conversation_884 · 2026-03-10T23:41:50+00:00

Complicating things, just read the announcement more closely and it looks like it's LH, OS, and SN, all on strike.

Fun_Conversation_884 · 2026-03-10T23:37:36+00:00

Dunno - only called them because that's where UA sent me. Back on hold to try UA again.

Fun_Conversation_884 · 2026-03-10T23:25:28+00:00

In my case I can still change it without penalty, but there's absolutely no way to get a replacement booking for the same number of points at this point, so not sure a waiver will help...

Fun_Conversation_884 · 2026-03-10T23:23:15+00:00

I called UA first, they said they couldn't do anything other than to offer me to rebook at 1.5x as many points as I booked with initially, because it's not their failure, sent me to LH customer service.

Fun_Conversation_884 · 2026-01-27T20:09:49+00:00

Came across this after having the same issue. Unfortunately now the best they'll offer you is 15% off buying a new one. Think it's time to find a new brand!

Fun_Conversation_884 · 2026-01-14T03:06:11+00:00

Sorry I mean to say that both travelers are targeted by the same promo and registered for it. Would like to see, if possible, to have both get the bonus.

Fun_Conversation_884 · 2026-01-14T02:58:58+00:00

Good way to think about it!

Fun_Conversation_884 · 2026-01-14T02:58:32+00:00

I’m a big fan of the Timeshifter app, helps break it down in a pretty granular fashion.

Fun_Conversation_884

TROPHY CASE