Provide Better Service for Travelers with Children, United

I've had problems with United loosing my luggage also. I've haven't
flown as much as you, but enough to the point that I didn't feel the
need to carry an extra outfit or necessities in my carry-on because I
had never lost my luggage before. I was without it, away from home,
for 2 days. EVERYTHING was in that bag. Thankfully, I was staying with
my parents and able to wash the clothes I was wearing and borrow
clothes from my mother.

I called United baggage claim at least 6-7 times in those two days,
trying to find it. Leaving DC, the bag was supposedly in Memphis, then
back in DC, then lost in the airport, then on it's way to Cleveland
(where I was), then lost again, and finally, miraculously, on the
luggage claim belt in the airport at Cleveland.

Thankfully, those tickets were vouchers my dad gave me to come home
and visit, so I didn't have to pay for them.

I can honestly say I will never fly United again and I wouldn't blame
you if you didn't either.

How did they damage your stroller?You carried it the whole time.

UA doesn't even let my husband who is VERY tall pre board. Also once
when I was pregnant, I was denied pre-boarding since everyone who pays
for economy tickets boards at the same time. Same with Delta. This is
of course just my experience. On the other hand, Air Canada has
offered to add a note on the boarding slip suggesting pre boarding for
my husband because of his height. We try and fly them whenever
possible.

While I agree with the others that compensation isn't really due here,
I do like the letter for the most part. Although going above and
beyond to accomodate single adults with multiple small children isn't
a requirement of airlines, I think it is important to share your
experince with United and let them know what American provides and why
you will be travelling with American instead of United from now on.

You did have a rough time. And I am glad that American was very
accomodating and helped you when you needed it. Seems there are less
and less airline personnel who do.

I doubt that UA will send you anything since none of the airlines
really care whether you fly them or not. It seems its just "if you
want to fly with us do...if not then don't" type of attitude.
And because of this type of attitude passengers generally have to
learn to fend for themselves in situations such as yours.
It used to be that people with children boarded first or last so that
the time it took to get the child settled did not interfere with the
other passengers loading.
As for the stroller...they should reimburse you something towards it
if in fact they did damage it.

Next time ask a fellow passenger (maybe someone else who has a child)
to help. Most times they are more than willing to as I have done this
myslef many a time for a parent when they were flying with more than
one child.

You *should* be hesitant to ask for 3 round trip tickets. Your
experience doesn't merit being given them, and besides, you spent all
that time saying how miserable flying United is for a single parent
with little ones. Why on earth would you consider flying them again?

What the agent told you is pretty much how it is for parents a lot of
the time - deal with it. I think you should just give up on United
and use American Airlines.

"I am hesitant to ask for 3 free round-trip tickets"

Well, good, because I don't think you're entitled to them. But aside
from that... have you ever considered asking a friendly-looking solo
traveler to help you out? As a single traveler, I've actually offered
assistance to a couple of single moms with two or three kids. I admit
that I did it with an ulterior motive: To pre-board myself (it's nice
to just sit and read while everyone else is jamming their crap into
the overhead bins). WHile sitting at the boarding gate, I'd make
small talk with a mom, make fishlips (love fishlips!) to her toddler,
then when the time for preboarding comes, I would offer, "Do you want
a hand? I could carry the car seat and the diaper bag or something."
(I never offer to touch/carry/hold a child -- no need to freak out a
cautious parent.)

My offers were met with gratitude and a weary, "Yes, thank you so
much."

Now, I would help someone who appeared to need help, but I admit that
the possibility of pre-boarding makes me more inclined to be a Good
Samaritan. And helping a mom with an infant and a toddler is always a
good thing anyway.

I'm just saying, when the airline staff seems unwilling to cut a
parent some slack, consider asking another traveler for assistance.
The worst they can say is "no." And at best, you can focus on your
kids and some nice person can help out with the non-kid stuff.

Just my thoughts.