US Airways bait and switch, undisclosed fees, unaccompanied minor fees, Internet

this sounds like it just a software problem that was over looked when they put the ticket system into place it sucks that you have to pay the fee .

Question is would you have payed it if they had flagged the ticket for under age kids.

Have you contacted them about it?

If you do maybe they can change it so it does not happen to anyone else,  and maybe refund some of it to you.

this sounds like it just a software problem that was over looked when they put the ticket system into place it sucks that you have to pay the fee .

Question is would you have payed it if they had flagged the ticket for under age kids.

Have you contacted them about it?

US Airways was the cheapest, that is why I went with them. I called before I booked the tickets and the ticket agent assured me that it would not be a problem.

I do have a United Mileage Plus number, I tried to book my boys tickets at Christmas time on United and was not allowed too with out paying the unaccompanied minor fee based on thier ages.

I wasnt trying to find a loop hole or be sneaky, again I did miss the small print that said that the flight would be operated by United, but again, if I booked through US airways and they know that they have different rules than there partner airlines, why was I allowed to book in the first place. If I had tried to book through US airways with different ages (lower ages than thier rules) I still would not have been allowed to book.

If that is the case, why was I allowed to book in the first place.
- Because they are still valid tickets.

If I went to United and tried to book the flight I wouldnt have been allowed to.
- Just as an experiment I went to United and tried to book an Unaccompanied Minor flight.  I was not able to do that, but it wasn't because of their ages it was because I am not a MileagePlus Member.  In order to book it I would have to call them directly.  With US Airways their "Adult" ticket is for anyone who is 15 or older, on United it is for everyone 18 and older.  So US Air has zero idea if the adult you booked is 17 or 117.  Yes there is probably a place you put in a birthdate but if I remember correctly that is for security and has nothing to do with the actual reservation.

Now perhaps I am reading too much into this, but I think there is more to this than you are saying.  You say that every flight out of OKC is on United.  You also say that it would not have let you book this flight if you went through United.  So I am figuring you did in fact attempt to book it through United but got stopped and thought it was just because they were minors.  You then tried to find other airlines that are "partners" with a more favorable policy toward minors where you could book a flight.  You then thought you found a "loop-hole" with US Airways where you could book the flight through them and avoid the fee.  Unfortunately in your searching you failed to read(or just ignored) ALL of the conditions for minors.  While I don't expect you to admit this, I would bet that I am pretty close. 

An 18 yr old going into a bar, ordering a beer, paying for a beer, drinking half the beer and then be asked for ID.

If that is the case, why was I allowed to book in the first place. If I went to United and tried to book the flight I wouldnt have been allowed to.

I see the fine print, but it is still really shady.

http://www.usairways.com/en-US/traveltools/specialneeds/unaccompaniedminors.html

Went to usairway.com and put unaccompanied minor in the site search. This is what came up: Children traveling without a parent or legal guardian are considered unaccompanied minors. When a young adult traveling alone checks in on the day of departure, a notation will be added in our computer system which will alert other US Airways personnel of the young adult's presence on the flight. This notation will aid US Airways personnel in providing assistance to the young adult in the event of an irregularity.

Children under 5 may not travel without parent or legal guardian. And, children under 2 must travel with an adult (18 or older) in the same cabin.

Children 5-14 may travel unaccompanied on non-stop flights only for an additional $100 fee each way. US Airways assistance is required.

Children 15-17 may travel unaccompanied on non-stop and connecting flights without US Airways assistance.

Children 15-17 who require US Airways assistance may travel unaccompanied on non-stop flights only. There is an additional $100 fee each way. Uniformed employees provide assistance for children traveling alone from the point of departure to their final destination. Personnel are not qualified to provide certain types of medical assistance, and are not permitted to administer or dispense medication. Please take these points into consideration if the child requires specialized care.If an unaccompanied minor is traveling on a flight operated by one of our Star Alliance or codeshare partners, you must contact the carrier directly for their policies on unaccompanied minors.  Some airlines may charge an additional fee for these passengers.Children 2-14 may travel as an 'accompanied minor' as long as they're with someone 15 or older.

Basically just didn't do the research you should have before putting your children on the plane. When you called to verify, did you specifically ask about any fee that might get charged? I would think the CSRs would be trained to answer your questions. So if you didn't ask, I'm not surprised they didn't tell.