United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - What to do if you're facing downgrade on a paid C ticket?

After many years of upgrading and using points to fly C & F (Thanks Flyertalk), I have finally bought my first revenue C ticket SYD-SFO-JFK booked in P class on UA.

If there is trouble with any of my flights (mechanical, overbooking, cancellation, etc.) what is the proper thing to say and do?

I would assume that even with a discount business class ticket, I would have the right to be rebooked onto another flight in C, is that correct? I'd rather change flights and be delayed that be downgraded to Y.

After many years of upgrading and using points to fly C & F (Thanks Flyertalk), I have finally bought my first revenue C ticket SYD-SFO-JFK booked in P class on UA.

If there is trouble with any of my flights (mechanical, overbooking, cancellation, etc.) what is the proper thing to say and do?

I would assume that even with a discount business class ticket, I would have the right to be rebooked onto another flight in C, is that correct? I'd rather change flights and be delayed that be downgraded to Y.

"Right" is a strong word. But, the answer is that UA will absolutely rebook you on the next flight with availability. Just remember, that might be quite some time during a busy period and, depending on the reasons, would not likely involve acomoodations for you if UA were able to get you out in Y.

If you ask about "right" all the UA COC entitles you to is a flight from A-B. At UA's option, UA could assign you a seat in Y and refund you the fare difference (which might not be a huge amount).

....If you ask about "right" all the UA COC entitles you to is a flight from A-B. At UA's option, UA could assign you a seat in Y and refund you the fare difference (which might not be a huge amount).
I reed the CoC slightly different, they can offer you a downgrade and compensate you, but nothing says the pax has to accept a downgrade. And this is how I read all airlines (that I have checked) on this.

Of course this could leave you stranded for a long time, but that is a seperate issue. Sometimes I would rather be stranded in paradise for a few extra days than stuck in the back of Y on a TPAC :)

I reed the CoC slightly different, they can offer you a downgrade and compensate you, but nothing says the pax has to accept a downgrade. And this is how I read all airlines (that I have checked) on this.

Of course this could leave you stranded for a long time, but that is a seperate issue. Sometimes I would rather be stranded in paradise for a few extra days than stuck in the back of Y on a TPAC :)

UA's COC permits UA to "require a lower class of service." Rule 27(3):

3) When a Passenger holding a Ticket for a higher class of service between a point of Origin and
a Destination is
required by the carrier to use a lower class of service for any portion of such carriage the amount
of refund will be as follows:
a) FOR ONE WAY TICKETS: The difference between the fare for the higher class of service and the
fare for the lower class of service between the points where the lower class of service is used.
b) FOR ROUND TRIP, CIRCLE TRIP OR OPEN JAW TICKETS: The difference between 50 percent of the
round trip fare for the higher class of service and 50 percent of the round trip fare for the lower
class of
service used.

Unfortunatly, P is considered either a discount business fare OR a special economy fare that entitles you to fly business. Good luck "demanding" anything other then next avail flight on UA with P avail. If C is avail in any buckett on the next flight, even only full C, they will probably accommodate you. The only thing I would say they WON'T do is get you a C seat on another carrier

Unfortunatly, P is considered either a discount business fare OR a special economy fare that entitles you to fly business. Good luck "demanding" anything other then next avail flight on UA with P avail. If C is avail in any buckett on the next flight, even only full C, they will probably accommodate you. The only thing I would say they WON'T do is get you a C seat on another carrier

This.

To the OP: Do you know the full fare code that you were booked under? Is it a coach fare that permits you to fly business or is it a truly discount business class fare?

This.

To the OP: Do you know the full fare code that you were booked under? Is it a coach fare that permits you to fly business or is it a truly discount business class fare?

How do I figure out exactly which fare code I bought? The receipt on united.com says P class and lists the segments as "United BusinessFirst (P)" on SFO-SYD segments and "United Business (P)" for the SFO-JFK segments.

This fare is not available for sale anymore, but I believe the rules on EF looked similar to PFXGZAC0, where the rules read
RT-BUSINESS CLASS PROMOTIONAL
PACIFIC ROUND TRIP UPPER CABIN SAVER FARES.
CLASS OF SERVICE THESE FARES APPLY FOR FIRST/BUSINESS CLASS SERVICE.
etc.

The earning chart on united.com clearly lists as Z,P as being discount business fares. I thought P was the new Z, is that not the case?

How do I figure out exactly which fare code I bought? ....
The first e-mail you received from UA (before it is ticketted) on the purchase with a subject "united.com reservation for xxx" has the purchased fare code.

You will find in just under "Ticket Price Details ". Look for "Total Fare;" then the price then Fare codes (in small print).

The first e-mail you received from UA (before it is ticketted) on the purchase with a subject "united.com reservation for xxx" has the purchased fare code.

You will find in just under "Ticket Price Details ". Look for "Total Fare;" then the price then Fare codes (in small print).

Excellent. Thanks for pointing that out.

The fare code is PFE4ZEC4.

My understanding is that these are not some sort of instant upgrade fare - they are real business class fares. If you simply ask the website for a business class fare these are offered with no caveat. Given that, the notion that they are treated as anything other than a biz fare is questionable - similar to A fares domestically in first. There have been lots of arguments about these over the years but whenever I have asked agents they have affirmed that what I hold is a real premium ticket. This is quite distinct from things like B or M with instant upgrade (domestic).

...
b) FOR ROUND TRIP, CIRCLE TRIP OR OPEN JAW TICKETS: The difference between 50 percent of the
round trip fare for the higher class of service and 50 percent of the round trip fare for the lower class of service used.

That doesn't seem fair. For example, if a roundtrip ticket in coach cost $300, and a roundtrip ticket in First cost $1000, and somehow the passenger gets involuntarily downgraded for the round trip, the airline would refund the difference between $500 (half of $1000), and $150 (half of $300) for a refund of $450 instead of $700.

Who in the right mind wouldn't FIGHT that?

Unfortunatly, P is considered either a discount business fare OR a special economy fare that entitles you to fly business. Good luck "demanding" anything other then next avail flight on UA with P avail. If C is avail in any buckett on the next flight, even only full C, they will probably accommodate you. The only thing I would say they WON'T do is get you a C seat on another carrier

I have never been in a situation where I've tried to get the new UA to accommodate me in biz when holding a discount biz ticketed, confirmed reservation that they could not honor.

However, I was in this situation half a dozen times (maybe more) with PMCO. What the agents would do was almost random:

Some agents: (50% ?) Would require a CO flight with same-class availability
Some agents: (30% ?) Would book you on any CO flights with open biz space
A few agents: (20% ?) Would book you on any *A codeshare with open biz

The trick was to politely decline agents in the first two categories, then call the rez line repeatedly until you get someone in the third category.

There were stories of PMCO agents who'd book you on any *A (no codeshare required), and even those who'd book you on any airline period, but I never encountered such people.

One frustration is that (as strange as it may seem) there never seemed to be a clear policy on this sort of thing. It was always dependent on the agent. I'd bet it still is.

There were stories of PMCO agents who'd book you on any *A (no codeshare required), and even those who'd book you on any airline period, but I never encountered such people.

This is my experience as well. I've heard the occasional fable about such agents, but never experienced them.


One frustration is that (as strange as it may seem) there never seemed to be a clear policy on this sort of thing. It was always dependent on the agent. I'd bet it still is.

The policy is there, and it's actually quite clear. And a few months before CO joined the *A, they created a policy that was in compliance with the *A rebooking requirements. If they didn't have such a policy, they would have had trouble getting into the alliance.

Problem is, it doesn't seem like they disseminated it well. Our very own sfogate and UA Insider seem to be the only people familiar with the proper reaccommodation procedures.

My understanding is that these are not some sort of instant upgrade fare - they are real business class fares. If you simply ask the website for a business class fare these are offered with no caveat. Given that, the notion that they are treated as anything other than a biz fare is questionable - similar to A fares domestically in first. There have been lots of arguments about these over the years but whenever I have asked agents they have affirmed that what I hold is a real premium ticket. This is quite distinct from things like B or M with instant upgrade (domestic).

Yep, that's how I bought the ticket. I went to united.com, put in my dates, requested business class and this P fare was the cheapest fare offered.

I have never been in a situation where I've tried to get the new UA to accommodate me in biz when holding a discount biz ticketed, confirmed reservation that they could not honor.

However, I was in this situation half a dozen times (maybe more) with PMCO. What the agents would do was almost random:

Some agents: (50% ?) Would require a CO flight with same-class availability
Some agents: (30% ?) Would book you on any CO flights with open biz space
A few agents: (20% ?) Would book you on any *A codeshare with open biz

The trick was to politely decline agents in the first two categories, then call the rez line repeatedly until you get someone in the third category.

There were stories of PMCO agents who'd book you on any *A (no codeshare required), and even those who'd book you on any airline period, but I never encountered such people.

One frustration is that (as strange as it may seem) there never seemed to be a clear policy on this sort of thing. It was always dependent on the agent. I'd bet it still is.

This is really great information. Thank you so much ^ :)

This happened to a friend of mine and I wanted to ask the FT community what the best course of action in case this ever happens to me. My friend was booked in paid C. The 11pm SFO-SYD was cancelled, so he was forced to spend the night at the airport and was rebooked in Y the next day (sorry, C is full). He eventually got compensated with the difference in fare, which went back to the company who paid for the ticket.

Unfortunatly, P is considered either a discount business fare OR a special economy fare that entitles you to fly business. Good luck "demanding" anything other then next avail flight on UA with P avail. If C is avail in any buckett on the next flight, even only full C, they will probably accommodate you. The only thing I would say they WON'T do is get you a C seat on another carrier

That royaly sucks. :td: - I'd be pretty po'ed if I had paid for C and was forced to fly Y without the option of taking a later/another flight in my original paid cabin.

(Yes, I guess they MAY reaccomidate you in C- but the fact that there even is a possibility they wouldn't, sucks!)

This is my experience as well. I've heard the occasional fable about such agents, but never experienced them.
The policy is there, and it's actually quite clear.
Problem is, it doesn't seem like they disseminated it well. Our very own sfogate and UA Insider seem to be the only people familiar with the proper reaccommodation procedures.

The fable is true. Was reaccommodated on AC after my flight from CLE to LHR via EWR was delayed and connection lost. There were no other UA flights to be had, so the agent put me through Toronto.

BTW, AC business is fabulous, esp on the 777.:D

Unfortunatly, P is considered either a discount business fare OR a special economy fare that entitles you to fly business. Good luck "demanding" anything other then next avail flight on UA with P avail. If C is avail in any buckett on the next flight, even only full C, they will probably accommodate you. The only thing I would say they WON'T do is get you a C seat on another carrier

This.

To the OP: Do you know the full fare code that you were booked under? Is it a coach fare that permits you to fly business or is it a truly discount business class fare?

C is not full fare on UA metal any more.