Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Exception policy
Los Cabos, Mexico Recovery
Airports:
Los Cabos, Mexico (SJD)
Original Travel Dates: October 11, 2014 – December 20, 2014
Changing to earlier or later flights is allowed.
Final Travel must be completed by: End of Validity of ticket (one year from date of issue)
Flight Changes:
When rescheduling travel to/from Los Cabos or changing to another United destination: Travel may be rescheduled with the change fee waived, but a difference in fare may apply.
Airports:
Los Cabos, Mexico (SJD)
Original Travel Dates: October 11, 2014 – December 20, 2014
Changing to earlier or later flights is allowed.
Final Travel must be completed by: End of Validity of ticket (one year from date of issue)
Flight Changes:
When rescheduling travel to/from Los Cabos or changing to another United destination: Travel may be rescheduled with the change fee waived, but a difference in fare may apply.
United cancels flight two months in advance
#31
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NCL
Programs: UA 1MM/*G. DL Gold for one more year.
Posts: 5,305
Here is a possible solution. You can enjoy NYC for 12 hrs and avoid the overnight stay by flying redeye from SEA to IAH. But this is a very, very long trip. UA agent should accommodate this. If not, hang up and call again. Good luck.
SJU-EWR, dep. 1:58 a.m. Tue., Dec. 16, arr. 5:15 a.m., UA1208
EWR-SEA, dep. 5:47 p.m. Tue., Dec. 16, arr. 9:06 p.m., UA1100
SEA-IAH, dep. 11:00 p.m. Tue., Dec. 16, arr. 5:06 a.m. +1 Day, Wed., Dec. 17 UA1129
IAH-SJD, dep. 10:46 a.m. Wed., Dec. 17, arr. 12:45 p.m., UA1452
SJU-EWR, dep. 1:58 a.m. Tue., Dec. 16, arr. 5:15 a.m., UA1208
EWR-SEA, dep. 5:47 p.m. Tue., Dec. 16, arr. 9:06 p.m., UA1100
SEA-IAH, dep. 11:00 p.m. Tue., Dec. 16, arr. 5:06 a.m. +1 Day, Wed., Dec. 17 UA1129
IAH-SJD, dep. 10:46 a.m. Wed., Dec. 17, arr. 12:45 p.m., UA1452
#32
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 24
This made me laugh. And that proposed itinerary through EWR makes me want to cry, although from the looks of it I'd pick up an extra 3k or so miles. I'm going to have an enormous checked bag, however, and the friends I have there would almost certainly be working that day.
#33
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
If you want to get there a few days earlier, this itinerary will also give you a lot of miles (5,428 miles) but only 16 hours journey. There is only one redeye flight (SJU-EWR). Your girlfriend will smell you a lot of "fresher" once you arrive at SJD. Good luck.
Sun., Dec. 14, 2014 | San Juan, PR (SJU) to Los Cabos, Mexico (SJD)
SAN-EWR: Depart: 1:58 a.m. Sun., Dec. 14, 2014, Arrive: 5:13 a.m. Sun., Dec. 14, 2014; Distance: 1,608 miles Flight:UA1236
Change Planes. Connect time in New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty) is 50 minutes.
EWR-SFO: Depart: 6:03 a.m. Sun., Dec. 14, 2014; Arrive: 9:40 a.m. Sun., Dec. 14, 2014; Distance: 2,565 miles; Flight: UA342
Change Planes. Connect time in San Francisco, CA (SFO) is 1 hour 17 minutes.
SFO-SJD: Depart: 10:57 a.m. Sun., Dec. 14, 2014; Arrive: 3:05 p.m. Sun., Dec. 14, Distance: 1,255 miles; Flight: UA1689
Sun., Dec. 14, 2014 | San Juan, PR (SJU) to Los Cabos, Mexico (SJD)
SAN-EWR: Depart: 1:58 a.m. Sun., Dec. 14, 2014, Arrive: 5:13 a.m. Sun., Dec. 14, 2014; Distance: 1,608 miles Flight:UA1236
Change Planes. Connect time in New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty) is 50 minutes.
EWR-SFO: Depart: 6:03 a.m. Sun., Dec. 14, 2014; Arrive: 9:40 a.m. Sun., Dec. 14, 2014; Distance: 2,565 miles; Flight: UA342
Change Planes. Connect time in San Francisco, CA (SFO) is 1 hour 17 minutes.
SFO-SJD: Depart: 10:57 a.m. Sun., Dec. 14, 2014; Arrive: 3:05 p.m. Sun., Dec. 14, Distance: 1,255 miles; Flight: UA1689
#34
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 24
If you want to get there a few days earlier, this itinerary will also give you a lot of miles (5,428 miles) but only 16 hours journey. There is only one redeye flight (SJU-EWR). Your girlfriend will smell you a lot of "fresher" once you arrive at SJD. Good luck.
Sun., Dec. 14, 2014 | San Juan, PR (SJU) to Los Cabos, Mexico (SJD)
SAN-EWR: Depart: 1:58 a.m. Sun., Dec. 14, 2014, Arrive: 5:13 a.m. Sun., Dec. 14, 2014; Distance: 1,608 miles Flight:UA1236
Change Planes. Connect time in New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty) is 50 minutes.
EWR-SFO: Depart: 6:03 a.m. Sun., Dec. 14, 2014; Arrive: 9:40 a.m. Sun., Dec. 14, 2014; Distance: 2,565 miles; Flight: UA342
Change Planes. Connect time in San Francisco, CA (SFO) is 1 hour 17 minutes.
SFO-SJD: Depart: 10:57 a.m. Sun., Dec. 14, 2014; Arrive: 3:05 p.m. Sun., Dec. 14, Distance: 1,255 miles; Flight: UA1689
Sun., Dec. 14, 2014 | San Juan, PR (SJU) to Los Cabos, Mexico (SJD)
SAN-EWR: Depart: 1:58 a.m. Sun., Dec. 14, 2014, Arrive: 5:13 a.m. Sun., Dec. 14, 2014; Distance: 1,608 miles Flight:UA1236
Change Planes. Connect time in New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty) is 50 minutes.
EWR-SFO: Depart: 6:03 a.m. Sun., Dec. 14, 2014; Arrive: 9:40 a.m. Sun., Dec. 14, 2014; Distance: 2,565 miles; Flight: UA342
Change Planes. Connect time in San Francisco, CA (SFO) is 1 hour 17 minutes.
SFO-SJD: Depart: 10:57 a.m. Sun., Dec. 14, 2014; Arrive: 3:05 p.m. Sun., Dec. 14, Distance: 1,255 miles; Flight: UA1689
On the phone with United right now, just got put on hold. Being putting on hold as a non-status flyer doesn't perturb me, but I am surprised that the phone agent with whom I am speaking does not seem to really understand my request. I told him I need to change my flight and he said that, yes, my itinerary now shows me terminating in Denver on the 16th and he doesn't seem to think there is a problem with that. I think there is a bit of a language barrier here. I grew up learning English and Spanish so I am familiar with such a thing, but I have never encountered this with American or USAir (my usual airlines). He just came back on the line and told me that there are problems with the number of flights to Cabo and seemed to blame it on Cabo (but none of the other airlines appear to have problems), and asked me to hold to try to find me a workable itinerary. When he comes back on the line should I just suggest to him the itinerary that I would like?
#35
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 9,632
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
He just came back on the line and told me that there are problems with the number of flights to Cabo and seemed to blame it on Cabo (but none of the other airlines appear to have problems), and asked me to hold to try to find me a workable itinerary. When he comes back on the line should I just suggest to him the itinerary that I would like?
If you find a better itinerary on another carrier - connection timing, dates, price, whatever - just ask for a refund from United back to the original form of payment. Department of Transportation rules allow you to do this when the carrier can't reasonably meet schedules as purchased, adds a stop, or requires travel carriers different from what you purchased.
If you want to stay on United, yes, give the agent time to investigate and offer routings. Suggest your own.
#37
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
I also want to caution against delay. Not only has UA cancelled one of few flights of that day, but other carriers are trimming service as the recovery is not as speedy as hoped. OP can be left out in the cold.
1. Presume that you will not be reimbursed for a hotel and that you will not receive any miles.
2. If you can get a reroute on UA which makes sense, just ask for it. But, don't delay.
3. If the fare has dropped, have UA cancel the existing ticket and buy a new one.
4. Understand that there may well be more changes and cancellations between now and your travel date.
When you get back from your trip, send a short note to UA. They may send you a few miles. Don't bother making a specific "ask" as UA is going to toss you whatever it's going to toss you.
1. Presume that you will not be reimbursed for a hotel and that you will not receive any miles.
2. If you can get a reroute on UA which makes sense, just ask for it. But, don't delay.
3. If the fare has dropped, have UA cancel the existing ticket and buy a new one.
4. Understand that there may well be more changes and cancellations between now and your travel date.
When you get back from your trip, send a short note to UA. They may send you a few miles. Don't bother making a specific "ask" as UA is going to toss you whatever it's going to toss you.
#38
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 24
Thanks for the advice. I just changed my itinerary. I priced the new itinerary at $742 on United.com so obviously wasn't going to refund it and rebook. I'm leaving PR on the afternoon of the 15th and getting into Houston that same afternoon. My flight to Cabo leaves on the morning of the 16th. I also changed my return itinerary from this:
SJD Sat, Jan 10th at 4:00pm on UA1240, getting into SFO at 6:14pm. Leaving SFO at 11:10pm on UA995 , getting into ORD at 5:06am on January 11th. Leaving ORD at 8:20am on UA1668, getting into SJU at 3:05pm
To this:
SJD Sat Jan 10th at 4:00pm on UA1240, getting into SFO at 6:14pm. Leaving SFO at 10:31pm on UA1568, getting into IAD at 6:33am on January 11th. Leaving IAD at 8:10am on UA1743, getting into SJU at 12:54pm.
I thought it would be better to have a scheduled arrival two hours earlier in PR and my thinking was also that IAD will have a lower probability of being affected by weather problems than ORD?.That routing through IAD wasn't available when I booked my flight. I think I can Priceline a hotel for around $60 or so. I'll send United a letter after my trip, and if they decide to toss me some miles, then great, but if not, whatever.
SJD Sat, Jan 10th at 4:00pm on UA1240, getting into SFO at 6:14pm. Leaving SFO at 11:10pm on UA995 , getting into ORD at 5:06am on January 11th. Leaving ORD at 8:20am on UA1668, getting into SJU at 3:05pm
To this:
SJD Sat Jan 10th at 4:00pm on UA1240, getting into SFO at 6:14pm. Leaving SFO at 10:31pm on UA1568, getting into IAD at 6:33am on January 11th. Leaving IAD at 8:10am on UA1743, getting into SJU at 12:54pm.
I thought it would be better to have a scheduled arrival two hours earlier in PR and my thinking was also that IAD will have a lower probability of being affected by weather problems than ORD?.That routing through IAD wasn't available when I booked my flight. I think I can Priceline a hotel for around $60 or so. I'll send United a letter after my trip, and if they decide to toss me some miles, then great, but if not, whatever.
Last edited by PlzNo; Oct 24, 2014 at 10:32 am
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,693
Connecting through EWR and DEN in December? Wow, definitely not advisable with schedule constraints.
Yes; you and the airline agreed to this arrangement when you agreed to purchase the ticket.
Yes, you can typically get a full refund if the departure or arrival time changes by more than ~2 hours.
To some travellers; not to United.
I can't wait to get a new schedule in a week to evaluate the Truthiness of this claim.
I can't wait to get a new schedule in a week to evaluate the Truthiness of this claim.
#40
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 24
In an unrelated matter, I just realized when choosing my seats on my new itinerary that the SJU-IAH and IAH-SJD legs will apparently be considered separate for purposes of checking bags at least. I was fully expecting to pay $25 EACH way to check a bag, on my original itinerary. But now it looks like United wants me to pay $25 for SJU-IAH, $25 for IAH-SJD, and $25 for SJD-SJU on the return. Let me guess, mduell. I also agreed to this when I agreed to change my itinerary? So now I'll be out for the motel plus the extra checked bag fee if United won't work with me on this.
Do you work for them?
#41
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: United Arab Emirates & Arizona, USA
Programs: UA MM/1P, EK Au, QR, TK, Marriott Life Ti, Hilton Dia, IC Dia, Hyatt Glob, Accor Pt, Shangri-La
Posts: 4,526
I believe that mduell is questioning the veracity of the claim that the UA phone agent made. Airlines file schedule updates periodically, so I suppose he is curious to see if the UA agent was just spouting nonsense as an excuse for his inability or unwillingness to look for creative alternatives for you. . . those of us with more experience with UA know that this tends to happen. Hence the repeated advice here to take matters into your own hands as much as possible.
#42
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 24
I believe that mduell is questioning the veracity of the claim that the UA phone agent made. Airlines file schedule updates periodically, so I suppose he is curious to see if the UA agent was just spouting nonsense as an excuse for his inability or unwillingness to look for creative alternatives for you. . . those of us with more experience with UA know that this tends to happen. Hence the repeated advice here to take matters into your own hands as much as possible.
Sorry for misunderstanding your post, mduell. I just found United's agent's explanation laughable. He said the cancellation was due to the hurricane damage. And then I asked him why an itinerary was available for December 17th and December 15th but only December 16th was affected. Why would a mid-September hurricane affect only some days in December? What it could be is that the Cabo tourism traffic is being affected and with so many seats empty 2 months out, United decided to cancel some of their flights? Not an expert, but it seems more likely to me. From what my gf tells me, Cabo is turning things around rapidly, but I think tourism will be affected for longer than what they're saying, and that seems to me to be a more logical explanation for those cancelled Denver-Cabo flights: lower than expected demand. There are still Dec 13th and 14th nonstops in between Denver and Cabo. So maybe the agent was accidentally correct. It is indirectly due to the hurricane because it is affecting flight demand two months out.
Last edited by PlzNo; Oct 24, 2014 at 12:23 pm
#43
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,574
Do you really need to short check the bag to IAH? Can you just throw a change of clothes in a backpack? Just a one-nighter there...
I would *think* that UA would not double-charge the bag fee since you're on a standard R/T ticket, short-checking because of the overnight connection, but I can easily see it being a thing that only a human agent in IAH can override.
Anyone have experience doing this? I know I've successfully short-checked a bag to a UA hub before due to this exact situation, but I was *G so the bag fee wasn't an issue.
I would *think* that UA would not double-charge the bag fee since you're on a standard R/T ticket, short-checking because of the overnight connection, but I can easily see it being a thing that only a human agent in IAH can override.
Anyone have experience doing this? I know I've successfully short-checked a bag to a UA hub before due to this exact situation, but I was *G so the bag fee wasn't an issue.
#44
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between SFO & SJC
Programs: UA 1MM (and no longer flying much)
Posts: 777
Fair enough. Doesn't really matter to me at this moment. I posted above that now I'm on the hook for two $25 baggage fees on the SJU-Cabo trip instead of one, due to the fact that I'll be recovering my checked bag in Houston and staying overnight there. Will United waive one of these two fees for me?
Others here would know better than I do what UA's rules on through-checking are.
#45
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 24
Do you really need to short check the bag to IAH? Can you just throw a change of clothes in a backpack? Just a one-nighter there...
I would *think* that UA would not double-charge the bag fee since you're on a standard R/T ticket, short-checking because of the overnight connection, but I can easily see it being a thing that only a human agent in IAH can override.
Anyone have experience doing this? I know I've successfully short-checked a bag to a UA hub before due to this exact situation, but I was *G so the bag fee wasn't an issue.
I would *think* that UA would not double-charge the bag fee since you're on a standard R/T ticket, short-checking because of the overnight connection, but I can easily see it being a thing that only a human agent in IAH can override.
Anyone have experience doing this? I know I've successfully short-checked a bag to a UA hub before due to this exact situation, but I was *G so the bag fee wasn't an issue.
Originally Posted by endrond
I think you should be able to through-check your bag rather than recovering it for your overnight in Houston. Just bring in your carryon whatever you need for the overnight (you should be doing that anyway, just in case of IRROPS or misconnects!).
Others here would know better than I do what UA's rules on through-checking are.
Others here would know better than I do what UA's rules on through-checking are.
Thanks for the help.