365RoadWarrior

I'm booking a South African flight through the UA website because SAA won't let me. On the Rules pop-up description, it is Fare Class M and Fare Basis Code MOWSL. The text reads:

FARE RULES TEXT
CANCELLATIONS
BEFORE DEPARTURE
CANCELLATIONS PERMITTED FOR CANCEL/REFUND.
CHILD/INFANT DISCOUNTS APPLY.
WAIVED FOR UPGRADE TO HIGHER FARE/ILLNESS OF PASSENGER
OR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER.
NOTE -
WAIVERS MUST BE EVIDENCED BY DEATH CERTIFICATE OR
HOSPITAL ACCOUNT/ADMISSION FORM.
- - -
THE ORIGINAL NON-REFUNDABLE AMOUNT REMAINS NON-
REFUNDABLE.
INFANTS PAYING 10 PCT OF THE ADULT FARE IS
EXEMPT.
----
NO SHOWS WILL BE TREATED AS CANCELLATIONS AND
MUST BE SUBMITTED FOR REFUND IF ANY. TICKET MAY
NOT BE USED FOR FURTHER TRANSPORTATION.
- - -
WHEN COMBINING FARES ON A HALF ROUND TRIP BASIS
THE MOST RESTRICTIVE CANCELLATION CONDITIONS
APPLY FOR THE PRICING UNIT.
- - -
WHEN COMBINING FARES END-ON-END THE MOST
RESTRICTIVE CANCELLATION CONDITION WILL APPLY FOR
EACH PRICING UNIT.

To me that sounds refundable and changeable within limits. But when I get to the actual booking it says:
Terms and Conditions
This ticket is nonrefundable.
You will have up to 24 hours to change your mind.

So which is it? Thank you.

Boogie711

I'd say the only "within-limits" is that you can cancel are if you die, and if you want to upgrade the fare they won't hit you with a penalty.

It does say "the original non-refundable part remains non-refundable." In this case, it appears the % that is non-refundable would be 100%.

You are SOL, I'm afraid. For your sake, someone else is more than encouraged to prove me wrong.

365RoadWarrior

Thank you. Actually all is well. I haven't booked this (yet). Curiously, the SAA website refers to the same ticket (at a lower price) as "fully-refundable". Unfortunately, I haven't been able to book that way. It may be worth making the overseas call to book directly with SAA.

mherdeg

It seems like you're missing some of the fare rules here -- this seems really short. What's the origin/destination? We can look up the full fare text with the o&d and the fare basis code. (You should read the whole thing to answer this question.)

In particular try looking for the text "PERMITTED" to see whether e.g. changes or cancellations before or after departure are permitted.

I tend to find that if a fare's full text doesn't explicitly say NONREFUNDABLE somewhere and doesn't spell out a cancellation/refund fee/policy, it is refundable. But I really don't think that you've shown us the entire fare rules (I looked at a sample MOWSL fare rules online, possibly for different origin&destination, and those rules seem to describe a fully refundable fare).

I would not trust the united.com text that says "this ticket is nonrefundable" particularly for partner carriers' fares; I would trust that about as much as the little indicator that tells you how many miles you're going to earn for your trip based on the partner carrier's booking code (very low reliability).

365RoadWarrior

This is the "whole thing". The flight is Douala (DLA) to Libreville (LBV). I need to book several different dates, but the fare rules seem to be the same for all dates.

Sales and Restrictions FARE RULES TEXT
EXTENSION OF TICKET VALIDITY IS NOT PERMITTED.

Refunds/Change FARE RULES TEXT
CANCELLATIONS
BEFORE DEPARTURE
CANCELLATIONS PERMITTED FOR CANCEL/REFUND.
CHILD/INFANT DISCOUNTS APPLY.
WAIVED FOR UPGRADE TO HIGHER FARE/ILLNESS OF PASSENGER
OR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER.
NOTE -
WAIVERS MUST BE EVIDENCED BY DEATH CERTIFICATE OR
HOSPITAL ACCOUNT/ADMISSION FORM.
- - -
THE ORIGINAL NON-REFUNDABLE AMOUNT REMAINS NON-
REFUNDABLE.
INFANTS PAYING 10 PCT OF THE ADULT FARE IS
EXEMPT.
----
NO SHOWS WILL BE TREATED AS CANCELLATIONS AND
MUST BE SUBMITTED FOR REFUND IF ANY. TICKET MAY
NOT BE USED FOR FURTHER TRANSPORTATION.
- - -
WHEN COMBINING FARES ON A HALF ROUND TRIP BASIS
THE MOST RESTRICTIVE CANCELLATION CONDITIONS
APPLY FOR THE PRICING UNIT.
- - -
WHEN COMBINING FARES END-ON-END THE MOST
RESTRICTIVE CANCELLATION CONDITION WILL APPLY FOR
EACH PRICING UNIT.
- - -
ALL PENALTY CHARGES ARE EXCLUSIVE OF ANY
GOVERNMENT COMPULSORY TAXES I.E VAT / GST ETC
WHICH MUST BE LEVIED FOR THE COUNTRY WHERE THE
REFUND IS MADE.
- - -
ALL ADMIN FEES WHERE APPL MUST BE LEVIED FOR THE
COUNTRY WHERE THE REFUND IS MADE.
AFTER DEPARTURE
CANCELLATIONS PERMITTED FOR CANCEL/REFUND.
CHILD/INFANT DISCOUNTS APPLY.
WAIVED FOR UPGRADE TO HIGHER FARE/ILLNESS OF PASSENGER
OR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER.
NOTE -
WAIVERS MUST BE EVIDENCED BY DEATH CERTIFICATE OR
HOSPITAL ACCOUNT/ADMISSION FORM.
- - -
THE ORIGINAL NON-REFUNDABLE AMOUNT REMAINS NON-
REFUNDABLE.
INFANTS PAYING 10 PCT OF THE ADULT FARE IS
EXEMPT.
----
NO SHOWS WILL BE TREATED AS CANCELLATIONS AND
MUST BE SUBMITTED FOR REFUND IF ANY. TICKET MAY
NOT BE USED FOR FURTHER TRANSPORTATION.
- - -
WHEN COMBINING FARES ON A HALF ROUND TRIP BASIS
THE MOST RESTRICTIVE CANCELLATION CONDITIONS
APPLY FOR THE PRICING UNIT.
- - -
WHEN COMBINING FARES END-ON-END THE MOST
RESTRICTIVE CANCELLATION CONDITION WILL APPLY FOR
EACH PRICING UNIT.
- - -
ALL PENALTY CHARGES ARE EXCLUSIVE OF ANY
GOVERNMENT COMPULSORY TAXES I.E VAT / GST ETC
WHICH MUST BE LEVIED FOR THE COUNTRY WHERE THE
REFUND IS MADE.
- - -
ALL ADMIN FEES WHERE APPL MUST BE LEVIED FOR THE
COUNTRY WHERE THE REFUND IS MADE.
CHANGES
ANY TIME
CHANGES PERMITTED.
WAIVED FOR ILLNESS OF PASSENGER OR DEATH OF PASSENGER
OR FAMILY MEMBER.
NOTE -
REBOOKING PERMITTED SUBJECT TO THE APPLICABLE
BOOKING CLASS BEING AVAILABLE.IF THE BOOKING
CLASS IS NOT AVAILABLE UPGRADE TO THE NEXT HIGHER
AVAILABLE FARE AND THE DIFFERENCE IN FARE MUST BE
CHARGED.
---
WAIVERS MUST BE EVIDENCED BY DEATH CERTIFICATE OR
HOSPITAL ACCOUNT/ADMISSION FORM.
- - -
VOLUNTARY CHANGES BEFORE DEPARTURE OF THE FIRST
TICKETED FLIGHT SEGMENT WILL BE SUBJECT TO ANY
FARE DIFF APPLICABLE TO THE NEW DATE OF TRAVEL.
---
UPGRADE PERMITTED TO ANY HIGHER FARE OR CABIN
PLUS CHARGE ANY DIFFERENCE IN FARE.
---
REROUTING - PERMITTED
STANDBY - PERMITTED
---
WHEN MORE THAN ONE FARE COMPONENT IS CHANGED AT
THE SAME TIME THE HIGHEST CHANGE FEE OF ALL
CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS WILL APPLY.
- - -
WHEN COMBINING FARES END-ON-END THE MOST
RESTRICTIVE CHANGE FEE WILL APPLY FOR ALL CHANGED
FARE COMPONENTS OF THE ITINERARY.
- - -
A CHANGE CAN BE DONE IN THE SAME OR HIGHER BOOKING
CLASS. THE FARE MUST BE EQUAL OR HIGHER THAN THE
PREVIOUS FARE. WHEN A CHANGE RESULTS IN A LOWER
FARE NO CREDIT/REFUND OF THE RESIDUAL AMOUNT WILL
BE MADE. ALL RULE PROVISIONS OF THE NEW TICKETED
FARE MUST BE ADHERED TO.
---
CHANGES NOT PERMITTED IN CASE OF NO SHOW. REFER TO
CANCELATION SECTION.

Minimum Stay NO RESTRICTIONS

Maximum Stay FARE RULES TEXT
TRAVEL FROM LAST STOPOVER MUST COMMENCE NO LATER THAN 12
MONTHS AFTER DEPARTURE FROM FARE ORIGIN.

Advance Purchase Requirement
Day/Time Application NO RESTRICTIONS

Seasonality APPLIES ALL YEAR

Blackout Dates NONE

Combinability FARE RULES TEXT
ADD-ONS PERMITTED.
END-ON-END
END-ON-END COMBINATIONS PERMITTED WITH SA FARES.
VALIDATE ALL FARE COMPONENTS. FARES MUST BE SHOWN
SEPARATELY ON THE TICKET. TRAVEL MUST BE VIA THE POINT
OF COMBINATION.
OPEN JAWS/ROUND TRIPS/CIRCLE TRIPS
FARES MAY BE COMBINED ON A HALF ROUND TRIP BASIS
-TO FORM SINGLE OR DOUBLE OPEN JAWS WHICH CONSISTS OF NO
MORE THAN 2 INTERNATIONAL FARE COMPONENTS AND THE OPEN
SEGMENT AT ORIGIN MUST BE IN ONE COUNTRY. THE OPEN
SEGMENT AT DESTINATION HAS NO RESTRICTIONS.
A MAXIMUM OF TWO INTERNATIONAL FARE COMPONENTS
PERMITTED.
MILEAGE OF THE OPEN SEGMENT MUST BE EQUAL/LESS THAN
MILEAGE OF THE SHORTEST FLOWN FARE COMPONENT.
-TO FORM ROUND TRIPS
-TO FORM CIRCLE TRIPS WITH SA FARES
OPEN JAWS/ROUND TRIPS/CIRCLE TRIPS NOTE -
WHEN FARES UNDER DIFFERENT RULES ARE COMBINED THE
MOST RESTRICTIVE CONDITION WILL BE APPLIED
TO THE ENTIRE FARE IN THE CASE OF ELIGIBILITY/
ADVANCE RESERVATIONS/TICKETING-TTL/MINIMUM STAY/
MAXIMUM STAY/STOPOVERS/COMBINATIONS/ACCOMPANIED
TRAVEL/TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS/SALES RESTRICTIONS/
TICKET ENDORSEMENTS/TOUR CONDUCTOR AND AGENT
DISCOUNTS.
PROVIDED -
COMBINATIONS ARE WITH ANY FARE FOR CARRIER SA IN ANY
RULE IN ANY TARIFF.

Eligibility NO RESTRICTIONS

Discounts Child Discounts
FARE RULES TEXT
ACCOMPANIED CHILD 2-11 - CHARGE 75 PERCENT OF THE FARE.
TICKETING CODE - BASE FARE CODE PLUS CH
OR - 1ST INFANT UNDER 2 WITHOUT A SEAT - CHARGE 10 PERCENT
OF THE FARE.
NOTE -
INFANTS BECOMING TWO YEARS ENROUTE MUST HAVE A
BOOKED SEAT FOR THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE
JOURNEY AND THE CHILD FARE APPLIES FOR THIS PART
OF THE JOURNEY.
OR - INFANT UNDER 2 WITH A SEAT - CHARGE 75 PERCENT OF THE
FARE
OR - UNACCOMPANIED CHILD 5-11 - CHARGE 75 PERCENT OF THE
FARE.
NOTE -
CHILDREN WHO HAVE REACHED THEIR 12TH BIRTHDAY AT
TIME OF DEPARTURE MUST PAY THE FULL APPLICABLE
ADULT FARE.

Tour Conductor
DISCOUNT DOES NOT APPLY

Agent Discounts
FARE RULES TEXT
NOTE -
AGENT DISCOUNT PERMITTED

Other Discounts
FARE RULES TEXT
SEAMAN - CHARGE 75 PERCENT OF THE FARE.
TICKET DESIGNATOR - SC AND PERCENT OF DISCOUNT
OR - STUDENT 12-30 - CHARGE 75 PERCENT OF THE FARE.
TICKET DESIGNATOR - SD AND PERCENT OF DISCOUNT
OR - YOUTH CONFIRMED 12-30 - CHARGE 75 PERCENT OF THE
FARE.
TICKET DESIGNATOR - ZZ AND PERCENT OF DISCOUNT
OR - SENIOR CITIZEN 60 OR OLDER - CHARGE 75 PERCENT OF THE
FARE.
TICKET DESIGNATOR - CD AND PERCENT OF DISCOUNT.
NOTE -
PROOF OF AGE/PASSPORT OR OTHER DOCUMENTS/
CERTIFICATE MUST BE PRESENTED AT THE TIME OF
TICKETING.
Child Discounts

Tour Conductor

Agent Discounts

Other Discounts

Surcharges GENERAL RULES TEXT
THE PROVISIONS BELOW APPLY ONLY AS FOLLOWS -
TICKETS MAY ONLY BE SOLD IN ARGENTINA.
AND - ACCOMPANIED CHILD 2-11.
A SURCHARGE OF USD 75.00 PER DIRECTION WILL BE ADDED TO
THE APPLICABLE FARE FOR TRAVEL.
NOTE -
CHILDREN WHO HAVE REACHED THEIR 12TH BIRTHDAY AT
THE TIME OF DEPARTURE MUST PAY THE FULL APPLICABLE
ADULT Q SURCHARGE.
THE PROVISIONS BELOW APPLY ONLY AS FOLLOWS -
TICKETS MAY ONLY BE SOLD IN ARGENTINA.
AND - INFANT UNDER 02 WITHOUT A SEAT.
A SURCHARGE OF USD 7.50 PER DIRECTION WILL BE ADDED TO
THE APPLICABLE FARE FOR TRAVEL.
THE PROVISIONS BELOW APPLY ONLY AS FOLLOWS -
TICKETS MAY ONLY BE SOLD IN ARGENTINA.
AND - INFANT UNDER 02 WITH A SEAT.
A SURCHARGE OF USD 75.00 PER DIRECTION WILL BE ADDED TO
THE APPLICABLE FARE FOR TRAVEL.
THE PROVISIONS BELOW APPLY ONLY AS FOLLOWS -
TICKETS MAY ONLY BE SOLD IN ARGENTINA.
AND - UNACCOMPANIED CHILD UNDER 12.
A SURCHARGE OF USD 75.00 PER DIRECTION WILL BE ADDED TO
THE APPLICABLE FARE FOR TRAVEL.
THE PROVISIONS BELOW APPLY ONLY AS FOLLOWS -
TICKETS MAY ONLY BE SOLD IN ARGENTINA.
A SURCHARGE OF USD 75.00 PER DIRECTION WILL BE ADDED TO
THE APPLICABLE FARE PER ADULT FOR TRAVEL.
THE PROVISIONS BELOW APPLY ONLY AS FOLLOWS -
TICKETS MAY ONLY BE SOLD IN NEW ZEALAND/COOK ISLANDS.
AND - ACCOMPANIED CHILD 2-11.
A SURCHARGE OF USD 56.25 PER DIRECTION WILL BE ADDED TO
THE APPLICABLE FARE FOR TRAVEL.
NOTE -
CHILDREN WHO HAVE REACHED THEIR 12TH BIRTHDAY AT
THE TIME OF DEPARTURE MUST PAY THE FULL APPLICABLE
ADULT Q SURCHARGE.
THE PROVISIONS BELOW APPLY ONLY AS FOLLOWS -
TICKETS MAY ONLY BE SOLD IN NEW ZEALAND/COOK ISLANDS.
AND - INFANT UNDER 02 WITHOUT A SEAT.
A SURCHARGE OF USD 7.50 PER DIRECTION WILL BE ADDED TO
THE APPLICABLE FARE FOR TRAVEL.
THE PROVISIONS BELOW APPLY ONLY AS FOLLOWS -
TICKETS MAY ONLY BE SOLD IN NEW ZEALAND/COOK ISLANDS.
AND - INFANT UNDER 02 WITH A SEAT.
A SURCHARGE OF USD 56.25 PER DIRECTION WILL BE ADDED TO
THE APPLICABLE FARE FOR TRAVEL.
THE PROVISIONS BELOW APPLY ONLY AS FOLLOWS -
TICKETS MAY ONLY BE SOLD IN NEW ZEALAND/COOK ISLANDS.
AND - UNACCOMPANIED CHILD UNDER 12.
A SURCHARGE OF USD 56.25 PER DIRECTION WILL BE ADDED TO
THE APPLICABLE FARE FOR TRAVEL.
THE PROVISIONS BELOW APPLY ONLY AS FOLLOWS -
TICKETS MAY ONLY BE SOLD IN NEW ZEALAND/COOK ISLANDS.
A SURCHARGE OF USD 75.00 PER DIRECTION WILL BE ADDED TO
THE APPLICABLE FARE PER ADULT FOR TRAVEL.

Stopovers FARE RULES TEXT
2 FREE STOPOVERS PERMITTED ON THE PRICING UNIT - 1 IN EACH
DIRECTION IN DLA/LBV.

Flight Applications FARE RULES TEXT
THE FARE COMPONENT MUST NOT BE ON
ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
SA FLIGHTS 7952 THROUGH 7989
SA FLIGHTS 7990 THROUGH 8999.
AND
THE FARE COMPONENT MUST BE ON
ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
ANY SA FLIGHT.

mherdeg

The full fare rules suggest that this fare is completely cancellable/refundable -- you should be able to cancel before departure or even no-show and get a refund, and you should be able to make changes for free.

More:
Strangely, I see two M fares filed here --one @ $139, one @ $878 (both amounts base fare).



The different is in the routing rules. The $139 base fare is only valid on nonstop travel; the $878 base fare is valid on DLA-JNB-LBV as well.



They both have identical fare rules, which say in part…

In the PENALTIES section:
In the CHANGES section:
Here's a way to find the full fare rules, nicely formatted for human consumption in a way that makes more sense than UA's wall of text, on matrix.itasoftware.com ::
Find the flight:


From the flight details page, click on the "rules" link in the fare construction:


This gives you a nicely formatted bundle of rules; here's a sample:



(My understanding is that this text is an automatically generated translation of rules encoded by a computer program, which is why you get the redundant "cancel before or after departure for a refund" and also the text that has ~no effect, "discounts for children and infants apply" and "penalties waived for upfaring or in case of death or illness".)

One hint that this fare carries on change/cancellation fees is that the text doesn't mention "XAF" anywhere. Usually when fares specify a change or cancellation fee they do it in the local currency (usually the currency of the country of the first segment on the itinerary because that's usually the ticketing city).

If you're uncomfortable buying the ticket from united.com because of the (apparently incorrect) boilerplate text shown before purchase, give a UA reservations agent a call and ask them to walk you the fare rules. They should be able to confirm whether there's anything wonky going on.

Sykes

The fare rules you quote indicate a completely flexible ticket. That is a one-way fare though ... are there any other flights on the ticket which may be subject to different fare rules? If there is more than one fare component, the ticket will often be governed by the restrictions of the most restrictive fare component.

365RoadWarrior

Thank you all! You're why I love Flyertalk. (mherdeg's reply is astounding in its usefulness and thoroughness. I've got the essence and have developed a course of action, but there's some great learnin' for me there too.)

I mainly live in the hotel forums, since that's the part of travel that most intimately touches my life these days. Air travel just kind-of "happens to me". So I wandered in ignorant and I'm proceeding enlightened. Again, thanks!