US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-2005 America West merger) - Problem with UA Schedule Change/US Award Ticket

Earlier this fall I booked 3 award tickets on UA -- BOS to YYC -- using US FF miles. United's schedule has changed (surprise) and the system shows my connecting flight leaving DEN 2 hours before I arrive in DEN. USAirways is telling me that they can't help and their solution is to redeposit my miles.

I'm hoping this is just a less than knowledgeable agent but am interested in knowing if others have had similar experiences

It really depends on the situation. Ultimately, however US is at the mercy of UA. US can't rebook you on different flights unless there is UA award space available on the flights you want/need.

That's happened to me. I usually had them book me on a flight the earlier day, and then pay for the hotel (at my expense). It sucks, but at least I still get to go on the trip. That is assuming there is some availablity the day earlier on UA.

Earlier this fall I booked 3 award tickets on UA -- BOS to YYC -- using US FF miles. United's schedule has changed (surprise) and the system shows my connecting flight leaving DEN 2 hours before I arrive in DEN. USAirways is telling me that they can't help and their solution is to redeposit my miles.

I'm hoping this is just a less than knowledgeable agent but am interested in knowing if others have had similar experiences

Unnecessary - I have had schedule changes and they have then given me freedom to choose a similar flight that works best for me. If US will not let you do it then call UA directly. Never should you have to redeposit your miles and pay a fee. I would go to UA consumer relations if they still give you trouble. It is UA's fault for letting their computer misschedule you on an impossible connection.

45+ minutes on the phone with USAirways but finally accomplished what they said was impossible.

Patience..... ;)

As a GP on a revenue ticket they couldn't reaccommodate me on a UA flight after a schedule change where nothing changed except the flight number (aircraft type and time were all the same). They told me that they had to find the same class of service available for booking at the time I was on the phone to get me back on the UA flight, which wasn't possible since it was now closer to departure and that cockroach fare wasn't still available. After an hour on the phone and two supervisors including the CP desk (since I made CP on the outbound) they still couldn't do it and I ended up taking differently scheduled US flights.

I was doing CLT-LAX-LAS and I think they just wanted to get me onto the CLT-LAS instead, since I can't see what they'd have done if I was ultimately going to a city that US didn't serve. After the hour I finally caved and took the CLT-LAS (reconfigured 757) instead.

How did they resolve it? US can't force inventory open on UA unless they go through the pain staking process of calling UA, who then calls their support desk which then calls UA inventory and have the seat released.

If this is what happened to you, it is no surprise that it took 45 minutes to resolve. But I can't see US doing this for every schedule change on UA. UA is ruthless when dealing with its own members during schedule changes especially on premium international tickets.

This will be a reoccuring issue with tickets on UA.


45+ minutes on the phone with USAirways but finally accomplished what they said was impossible.

Patience..... ;)

US cancelled my connecting flight on a return home from Europe last month. The response was essentially "tough luck." They would change my flight to catch a US flight in the AM the following day and the hotel, etc., would be my expense. No help on finding a flight on another carrier.

I ended up buying my own ticket on American so I could get home. So much for reward tickets.

Oh, I forgot to add the mantra "But the front line people are sooo nice." :confused:

Now now TPA US FF, did you forget to drink your ration of kool aid today?

Now now TPA US FF, did you forget to drink your ration of kool aid today?

:D