Singapore via Tokyo

Well, here we go again. We are flying to Singapore via Tokyo.

I need to discuss the difference between Continental and United airlines. We reserved our seats on Continental getting a very reasonable rate in economy. The flight we reserved is from Intercontinental in Houston to Singapore. We have to change planes in Tokyo. It turns out that the second leg from Tokyo to Singapore is actually on a United plane.

We went onto the Continental web site to select our seats. On the first leg on Continental from Houston to Tokyo, we were able to get decent seats, and we requested a miles upgrade to Business Class. We were immediately wait-listed.

When trying to get seats on the second flight from Tokyo to Singapore, we found that the system would not accept both our seat requests. We could see the empty seats, but sometimes we could select one seat and other times the system would delete our selections.

I called Continental OnePass center, but they told me that as it is a United flight I would have to call United. I did so, but the agent told me that there was nothing he could do. We would have to wait until we got to the airport, even though it was at least a week before our flight!! So much for seamless alliances between the two airlines.

Two days ago we received a very pleasant e-mail from Continental, telling us that our upgrade had come through on the Houston to Tokyo flight.... oh joy of joys!

On checking in online last night, we confirmed the business seats, easily selecting two excellent seats next to each other with aisle access on either side. Fun!

At the same time, I noticed that United had given us seats, however they were 18 rows apart and were both cramped seats, one in the middle of five seats! Not pleasant.

After dropping our bags at the Continental counter this morning, in an efficient easy manner, and going through security we went to the Continental Presidents Club, always a haven of peace.

We mentioned our United seating disappointment to the lady in the club. She was FANTASTIC!! She went to a lot of time and trouble to rearrange our seats on the United flight to a bulkhead aisle and adjacent seat.

It is interesting how she could do it, but the United representative could not do the same thing a week ago. Well done Continental.

So now we can look forward to a pleasant series of flights to Singapore.

More to follow shortly......