The 22000 Miles Long March – UA 705
The 22000 Mile Long March – Hyatt Regency O’Hare
The 22000 Mile Long March – CX 807
The 22000 Mile Long March – CA 108
The 22000 Mile Long March – CA 115
The 22000 Mile Long March – CX 806
The 22000 Miles Long March – UA 973
The 22000 Miles Long March – Conclusion
November 10, 2011 –
I was damn lucky.
As I said before, my flight (original
flight) was overbooked. So VDB is an option.
When I tried to print my boarding pass, I
was asked if I want to VDB with the offer of $200. Of course, I said yes to be
on the list only. I know for sure that no one will ever take $200 for VDB.
When I checked my luggage yesterday, unlike
what the United Premier Executive and Continental Elite Desk told me, the
Continental refused to check my luggage all the way via Cathay Pacific to Hong
Kong, which meant that my luggage would make a stop at Chicago O’Hare.
This was messy. My major concern for VDB
was the luggage. As I have previously assessed my situation, if I took VDB,
Continental would most likely to rebook me on the next morning flight at 6 am.
And this was not going to work.
I was wrong.
I arrived at the gate when Continental
started boarding. I talked to the Ground Agent, who informed that they did
VDBed some already, but no longer seeking any more. As a Continental OnePass
Gold Elite (Status Recognition from United), I could board the aircraft at that
moment. But as I mentioned, 43.75% of the passengers in that flight were elite,
so you can imagine how messy the boarding process it would be. And I was not in
a hurry to board anyway (as I got an aisle seat).
As I was promptly board the aircraft, I
heard my name was called when I was waiting in the jetbridge. And yes,
Continental denied my boarding after I have promptly boarded the gate (but yet
to the plane). The gate agents were amazed that I actually heard them.
So I was VDBed and got a $300 travel
voucher. And what was good about that (and bad for others), Continental
rebooked me on United to an earlier flight, which was delayed due to
“Operation”. So I was only delayed for 1 hour from my original flight. But it
was too bad that I have to travel without Economy Plus (Well, it was still worth
it for $300).
As I previously mention, I like travel on
Economy Class because you keep in touch with the world, which indeed I had.
During the flight, I shared my perspective of justice with a trial lawyer (I
did buy him a drink on flight by my Continental drink vouchers).
Also, the flight attendants appreciated my
assistance for translation. There were a Chinese couple, speaking in Mandarin,
who apparently first time on the aircraft. They know absolutely no English. So
with my assistance, the flight attendants were able to help them as best as
they can.
And what the most wonderful was my luggage.
Since my luggage was traveling without me on Continental. So when I got off my
flight, I was trying to find out about my luggage. It turned out that
Continental has taken the initiative by transferring the luggage to United. My
luggage was in fact under the care of United’s baggage agent, not just on the
baggage carousel (That happened to me once with Air Canada, which at that time,
I was using the restroom).
And that’s the value of being an elite.
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