I have to go to NYC tomorrow. I’m flying a red eye tonight and flying one back Friday night. Despite not really liking United (I never did get that refund from this debacle), it was the last seat available in the time period I needed so I took it.
When I booked the flight, I made sure it was a non-stop flight (United Flight 315 from La Guardia) so I could take a sleeping pill and zonk out.
I just looked at my flights and saw a strange little notation about stopping in Denver. So, I called United. The conversation, word-for-word, went like this:
A-M: Hi! I’m flying from La Guardia to Seattle tomorrow night on flight 315 and I notice there’s a stop in Denver. Do I have to get off the plane?
United: Yes, you do have to get off the plane, change flights and board another plane.
A-M: Really? Because, um, I bought non-stop.
United: This is a non-stop flight.
A-M: Really? Because I could swear that this is one stop. I mean, landing, getting off the plane, boarding another plane … that all really sounds like a full stop to me.
United: It’s not considered a stop because no passengers are getting on the plane.
A-M: Are you sure? Because stopping, disembarking and boarding another plane sounds an awfully lot like a real stop to me.
United: I’m sorry we were not able to meet your travel needs today. Have a safe flight.
