Monday, April 13, 2020

Favor--Dec 2018


I booked flights online using frequent flyer miles for our one-way flight to Santiago Chile to pick up a cruise.  I received an email about a flight change.  I noticed that the flight from LAX to Guatemala was missing.  When I called I was told Avianca Air had a “market change” and canceled that flight.  They did not have a replacement flight for Business class as I booked, so they simply dropped my reservation.  In order to resolve this, I needed to contact Avianca Air.  The contact number was for Spanish speakers only.  I finally got United Airlines to call an English speaking Avianca office.  That department was closed for the day so on the following day I called at 6am when they opened in Central time.

“We only have economy seats.  If you want business class, there would be a 7-hour wait in Honduras, and you would arrive on March 14, 2 days later.”

“I can’t accept that itinerary.  Please find something else.”    

After an hour of trying to make changes, the annoyed agent finally said, “You need to fix this with United because you are using United miles!”

I asked the United agent to please rectify the situation of the strange flight changes Avianca had made. 

“I need to get Santiago Chile by March 13, 2019, in the daytime, on the shortest flights, business class,” I said as politely as I could.

“We could do that but it would require 190,000 more frequent flyer miles.  Your original booking was for ‘red eye’ flights requiring fewer miles.  Or we could book you with a 7-hour wait in Honduras.”

  Ugh!  “Use whatever miles necessary to get us there the fastest, please.”

“Please hold while I redeposit your miles and rebook.”

Wait, wait…  I didn’t dare hang up now!

“I spoke to my supervisor who authorized the daytime flight with no additional miles since it was a problem caused by Avianca.”

Wow, I thought.  “I’ll take it! “
The Lord’s favor got me the prime time flights for the cost of “red eyes”!

On the travel day, we were settled in on the flight on the first leg from LAX to IAH.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the Captain.  Because of the weather, we must take another route to Houston which means we need to return to the terminal to refuel for a longer flight.  We also have to change the flight crew.  This flight will be delayed.  Thank you for your patience.”

This meant we were going to miss our connecting flight.  As soon as we landed in Houston, we rushed to the United customer service desk to rebook on the next 10pm flight to Santiago, Chile.

For the overnight, United sent us to a Hilton Doubletree Hotel and gave us food vouchers for 3 meals each.  Unfortunately, Business class was full and so we had to be on the business upgrade list. This was going to be a 14-hour flight.

We were first on the upgrade list.  While standing in the economy passenger line, I intently watched the upgrade list for a last-minute upgrade.  I could hear in my head the song “you make the impossible available to me.” We boarded in economy class and began to settle in.  The doors were closed, and the safety instructions were being given. 

A steward then came up to my husband.
“Excuse me, sir, Are you Richard Vogl?”

Of course, Rich’s heart skipped a beat thinking something was wrong. 

“Follow me.  We have seats for you and your wife in business class.”
FAVOR!!!

I know this sounds like a commercial for United Airlines but they did a good job.  The Lord’s favor can even work through an airline.

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