United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - Schedule change makes connection virtually impossible

I booked an award ticket on 11/22 (Thanksgiving Day) AKL->LAX->BNA. The original booking left me with comfortable connection times of 2hr 45 min and 1hr 20 min. Apparently the LAX->IAH segment had a schedule change. I was automatically rebooked and left with a connection time of 5 minutes in Houston. I called reservations and the only option they could give me was an earlier flight out of LAX that left me with only an hour to clear customs, change terminals, etc. in LAX. I mentioned to the agent that I'll almost certainly not make it. She told me that in that case that they'll reaccommodate. I tried to find alternates online, but there's nothing else on UA metal that will get me to Nashville that day. Would UA put me on another carrier in this situation? Would they hold the plane for me?

My current reservation is NZ6, UA1169, UA4210

Any advice besides training to do sprints with my luggage?

Edit to add:
I no longer have status with UA.

NZ6 AKL->LAX
7:15p-10:30a

UA1169 LAX->IAH
11:30a-4:52p

UA4210 IAH->BNA
6:55p-8:52p

I booked an award ticket on 11/22 (Thanksgiving Day) AKL->LAX->BNA. The original booking left me with comfortable connection times of 2hr 45 min and 1hr 20 min. Apparently the LAX->IAH segment had a schedule change. I was automatically rebooked and left with a connection time of 5 minutes in Houston. I called reservations and the only option they could give me was an earlier flight out of LAX that left me with only an hour to clear customs, change terminals, etc. in LAX. I mentioned to the agent that I'll almost certainly not make it. She told me that in that case that they'll reaccommodate. I tried to find alternates online, but there's nothing else on UA metal that will get me to Nashville that day. Would UA put me on another carrier in this situation? Would they hold the plane for me?

My current reservation is NZ6, UA1169, UA4210

Any advice besides training to do sprints with my luggage?

Edit to add:
I no longer have status with UA.

Did you book the award ticket with UA using your UA account and UA miles or did you book with Air NZ?

^Yes

I booked on united.com with United miles.

Would they hold the plane for me?


No.

^Yes

I booked on united.com with United miles.

I can't see them booking you on another airline.

However, if there is a Star Alliance option (i.e. US Air) with the right availability, that might work.

Otherwise you might look at leaving 1 day earlier from AKL.

Making your flight with 1 hour in LAX would require a miracle.

Also, maybe you just buy a cheap ticket from LAX on another airline.

I took a quick look and as far as UA metal is concerned your only option is the 5 min IAH connection or the 1 hour LAX connection. Your best option at this point is the following:

US 959
LAX-CLT
1:30PM-9:02PM

<<connecting>>

US 1869
CLT-BNA
10:35PM-11:05PM

Would there be better possibilities on United if you flew from Auckland to San Francisco instead of Los Angeles?

If it was me, I would ask them to overnight me at LAX (or IAH) enroute and fly on the next morning. Otherwise have them put you on the US LAX-CLT-BNA.

If you have day flexibility you could do AKL-HNL-IAH-BNA on the 20th or 24th.

similar question - four of us traveling from CPH to ORD via AMS in october. schedule change that went through within the last 24hrs results in a 15min connection in AMS. obviously have to rebook, but no there are no earlier CPH-AMS flights that day to make the connection.

2 upgraded to J using GPU and 2 on award tickets - originally chose this routing so we could all be in J. i am guessing if we have to be moved to a flight through BRU or FRA we will all lose our J seats with the *new* UA. or will UA open up space on a new flight so we can all be accommodated in J? (currently there is no R or I space on any ex-europe flight that day)

similar question - four of us traveling from CPH to ORD via AMS in october. schedule change that went through within the last 24hrs results in a 15min connection in AMS. obviously have to rebook, but no there are no earlier CPH-AMS flights that day to make the connection.

2 upgraded to J using GPU and 2 on award tickets - originally chose this routing so we could all be in J. i am guessing if we have to be moved to a flight through BRU or FRA we will all lose our J seats with the *new* UA. or will UA open up space on a new flight so we can all be accommodated in J? (currently there is no R or I space on any ex-europe flight that day)

pmUA would protect you in C, but I am not sure what the current UA will do for you. I say call and try to get a pmUA phone agent and hope for the best.

I know there are a bunch of existing "schedule change" and "MCT" threads so I will not start a new one.


Flying IST-EWR-ORD on UA in Y (K to be exact) in about a month, with seats in E+

IST-EWR schedule change, now 50 minutes in EWR (I believe MCT is 60)

We are on last flight of day EWR-ORD (9pm departure)

On a side note, we had planned on spending the night in ORD at an airport hotel, and we have a separate ticket the next morning on AA ORD-STL.

We cannot overnite in EWR and catch the earliest UA flight to ORD and still make our early AA flight.

I would like to get on the Turkish Airlines nonstop IST-ORD, assuming the economy seats are tolerable for someone 6'3

Will UA put us on another airline? (yes, I will call and ask, but want to know if I have any leverage besides cancelling)

thanks

I know there are a bunch of existing "schedule change" and "MCT" threads so I will not start a new one.


Flying IST-EWR-ORD on UA in Y (K to be exact) in about a month, with seats in E+

IST-EWR schedule change, now 50 minutes in EWR (I believe MCT is 60)

We are on last flight of day EWR-ORD (9pm departure)

On a side note, we had planned on spending the night in ORD at an airport hotel, and we have a separate ticket the next morning on AA ORD-STL.

We cannot overnite in EWR and catch the earliest UA flight to ORD and still make our early AA flight.

I would like to get on the Turkish Airlines nonstop IST-ORD, assuming the economy seats are tolerable for someone 6'3

Will UA put us on another airline? (yes, I will call and ask, but want to know if I have any leverage besides cancelling)

thanks

I'm 6'3 and have done IAD-IST and back in Y. It's not E+, but it was tolerable.

They have to rebook you because the current schedule is below the MCT (and also not physically doable). As with all reroutes, best is to propose a specific reroute which works for you. Have the flight # and time ready for the CSR.

Could they insist on rebooking you onto the first ERW-ORD in the AM? Sure, but not likely if there's space on the ORD flight.

The AA flight won't be UA's concern, so I wouldn't raise it if possible.

similar question - four of us traveling from CPH to ORD via AMS in october. schedule change that went through within the last 24hrs results in a 15min connection in AMS. obviously have to rebook, but no there are no earlier CPH-AMS flights that day to make the connection.


i'd first ask them to rebook you via another hub and reaccomodate you in J on account of the schedule change. however because the s/c was on another *A carrier and not UA metal my guess is that they will be less than willing to do that in the new UA CS model. one thing i would consider if i were you is just taking the train from CPH-AMS and calling UA and asking them to drop the flight from your itinerary.

a second option would be to ask them to rebook you CPH-AMS in the evening of the previous day. i'd also ask for overnight compensation but i have my doubts you'll get it.

i'd first ask them to rebook you via another hub and reaccomodate you in J on account of the schedule change. however because the s/c was on another *A carrier and not UA metal my guess is that they will be less than willing to do that in the new UA CS model. one thing i would consider if i were you is just taking the train from CPH-AMS and calling UA and asking them to drop the flight from your itinerary.

a second option would be to ask them to rebook you CPH-AMS in the evening of the previous day. i'd also ask for overnight compensation but i have my doubts you'll get it.
Asking UA to purchase a J ticket on another carrier because the other carrier changed its schedule will simply cause OP to lose any hope of the reroute he wants, namely the NS. To be frank, the other carrier wouldn't rebook in J just because it changed its schedule.

CSR's have a lot of discretion to fix this and one of the fixes leaves OP high and dry missing his AA flight xORD.

Somewhat related. I had a sked change flying NRTORDSFOSAN. Was waitlisted SFOSAN for F. ORDSFO got moved 30 mins later. Called in and inquired about options thinking maybe I'd get lucky and they'd take pity on me and somehow open space on ORDSAN but didn't hold much hope. Agent spoke broken English so assumed I got MNL but not sure. Anyways agent put me on hold saying that ORDSAN wasn't available in F but that she'd ask a supervisor. Well 20 mins later she came back and lo and behold had two seats booked in F. Cut down my travel time significantly and saved me from having to keep checking inventory.

I know there are a bunch of existing "schedule change" and "MCT" threads so I will not start a new one.


Flying IST-EWR-ORD on UA in Y (K to be exact) in about a month, with seats in E+

IST-EWR schedule change, now 50 minutes in EWR (I believe MCT is 60)

We are on last flight of day EWR-ORD (9pm departure)

On a side note, we had planned on spending the night in ORD at an airport hotel, and we have a separate ticket the next morning on AA ORD-STL.

We cannot overnite in EWR and catch the earliest UA flight to ORD and still make our early AA flight.

I would like to get on the Turkish Airlines nonstop IST-ORD, assuming the economy seats are tolerable for someone 6'3

Will UA put us on another airline? (yes, I will call and ask, but want to know if I have any leverage besides cancelling)

thanks

UA should be most willing to fly you IST-MUC-ORD or IST-FRA-ORD - even with the second leg on LH given the JV.

Flying IST-EWR-ORD on UA in Y (K to be exact) in about a month, with seats in E+

IST-EWR schedule change, now 50 minutes in EWR (I believe MCT is 60)

We are on last flight of day EWR-ORD (9pm departure)

What specific date? I'm seeing UA 905 IST-EWR arriving at 18:02 though the end of October, leaving 3 hours to make the connection to ORD. :confused:

What specific date? I'm seeing UA 905 IST-EWR arriving at 18:02 though the end of October, leaving 3 hours to make the connection to ORD. :confused:

Oct 29

Oct 29
Ahhh... in the middle of the DST change where Europe and the US are on different schedules. The 1pm via MUC to ORD is going to be your best bet there as it is marketed as a UA codeshare. More likely than getting the TK non-stop IMO.

Ahhh... in the middle of the DST change where Europe and the US are on different schedules. The 1pm via MUC to ORD is going to be your best bet there as it is marketed as a UA codeshare. More likely than getting the TK non-stop IMO.


thanks for the help everyone. I would prefer the TK nonstop for obvious reasons. If they re-book us (wife and I), is it usually in Y? I am asking because I would be interested in a *Alliance mileage upgrade.

thanks for the help everyone. I would prefer the TK nonstop for obvious reasons. If they re-book us (wife and I), is it usually in Y? I am asking because I would be interested in a *Alliance mileage upgrade.

Very unlikely, unless that is all that's available. If your original booking class is available that's what you'll be booked in.

Very unlikely, unless that is all that's available. If your original booking class is available that's what you'll be booked in.

thanks. maybe I will wait to call.

thanks. maybe I will wait to call.

Odds of them pushing you to TK versus the UA-coded, LH-operated flights is very, very small. If you want the 1pm departure rather than the 5-6am options I'd make the plans sooner than not. You also get more miles, especially if elite.

Betting on them rebooking you into Y on the TK flight when you call the week prior to the trip seems quite a long-shot to me.

Odds of them pushing you to TK versus the UA-coded, LH-operated flights is very, very small. If you want the 1pm departure rather than the 5-6am options I'd make the plans sooner than not. You also get more miles, especially if elite.

Betting on them rebooking you into Y on the TK flight when you call the week prior to the trip seems quite a long-shot to me.

thanks for the advice. really trying to avoid LH Y. maybe will look at UA metal TATL for E+ ( looks like the latest departure for that is thru LHR )

thanks for the advice. really trying to avoid LH Y.
Understood, and you might get lucky. But I'd bet against it.

Schedule change - get rebooked on code share?
United had a half hour schedule change on a UA First award redemption, both legs of trip. It cuts it too short for arrival, the only earlier flight is a Air Canada code share -any chance I can get them to rebook? My first attempt was rebuffed.. At the least I would like them to separate the legs fee-free so I can book the AC outbound..

Schedule change - get rebooked on code share?
United had a half hour schedule change on a UA First award redemption, both legs of trip. It cuts it too short for arrival, the only earlier flight is a Air Canada code share -any chance I can get them to rebook? My first attempt was rebuffed.. At the least I would like them to separate the legs fee-free so I can book the AC outbound..

Probably no, unless the new connection time is below the minimum allowed.

Schedule change - get rebooked on code share?
United had a half hour schedule change on a UA First award redemption, both legs of trip. It cuts it too short for arrival, .

It cuts what too short for arrival? Are you arriving about 30 minutes later than you wish, or are you now unable to make a connection?

Getting UA to force open award inventory on a partner is highly unlikely to happen. And awards - as a general rule - cannot be booked on codeshare flight numbers.

I'd suggest an alternate plan.

I am a bit of newbie here and was hoping for some advice from the pros.

The issue is I purchased a ticket from LGA to PDX via IAH back in Jan of this year.
The trip is needed only as a MR in Dec of this year and was a $119 ai fare.

At this point the connection time in IAH on the outbound has changed to just 16 min, which I am guessing is not legal.

What are my options at this point?

I need the mr for Dec of this year to keep 1K so canceling will not work for me.

Can I change outbound city pairs to PDX?
Like ewr or phl to pdx.

Could I change the whole ticket for another city pairs?
Do they have to honor the price for any changes made?

When I called with a change to only the first and last segment (the outbound) due to that 16 min issue I was told the new fare would be some $1000 more, so I stated I would hold off on changes.

Thank you in advance for any ideas :)

It's not a MCT. Find what works better for you, call and ask to be changed to those flights. You should not be charged.

It is not a legal connection, they should change the connecting flight at no charge.

Just go back home in IAH & request original routing credit?
Or just tell them when u miss the PDX flight to put u on a flight to anywhere.

I wish I was planned so far out. Last flight I took (Fri) I booked in the taxi on the way to the airport. If you miss your connection u stand a nice chance if getting rebooked into Y & earning 150% miles.