Sep 8, 2018, 2:13 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
What is" being protected?"
Protection means have an alternative flight reservation added to your itinerary in case your present flight is cancelled or maybe missed due to irrops. This was a common practice years ago but has become less common recently, appears UA is discouraging it -- but some agents still will do this, status may be a factor.
Note the new alternative flight is just a reservation, so if needed, you will need to work with an agent to get it properly ticketed but space is being held -- that is your protection.
If the protection is not needed (once you have successful completed the original flight), it is a good idea to cancel the protection. First. to release the space for other. Also it cleans up the record. Finally, there is a small chance (if the protect was not done correctly) it could cause cancellation of your later flights. Agents should use "ARUNK" to prevent this, but since it is not common to do protection, that may be forgotten.
Proactive flight protection questions/experiences & importance of "ARUNK"
from the UA FT Glossary
Protection means have an alternative flight reservation added to your itinerary in case your present flight is cancelled or maybe missed due to irrops. This was a common practice years ago but has become less common recently, appears UA is discouraging it -- but some agents still will do this, status may be a factor.
Note the new alternative flight is just a reservation, so if needed, you will need to work with an agent to get it properly ticketed but space is being held -- that is your protection.
If the protection is not needed (once you have successful completed the original flight), it is a good idea to cancel the protection. First. to release the space for other. Also it cleans up the record. Finally, there is a small chance (if the protect was not done correctly) it could cause cancellation of your later flights. Agents should use "ARUNK" to prevent this, but since it is not common to do protection, that may be forgotten.
Proactive flight protection questions/experiences & importance of "ARUNK"
from the UA FT Glossary
ARUNK/ARNK: Arrive Unknown -- a statement/segment in the itinerary to designate uncertainty of how traveler will arrive at the next departure point. Could be open-jaw, could be irrops or protected alternative. Needed to prevent auto-cancellation of remaining flights in some irrops situations.
Is IRROPS alternative flight protection still offered? (seems to be a YMMV situation)
Mar 8, 2015, 1:47 pm
#16
Join Date: Aug 2000
Programs: UA MM, DL MM
Posts: 98
no protection for me
On a flight last Tuesday (3/3), I was rebooked on a later connecting flight due to the first leg running late. When I asked if she had cancelled the original connection, she told me "Yes, you can only be confirmed on one flight at a time." I remember thinking that sounded like protection on later flights had been done away with. It could just be that she was sure the connection was blown (it was), but her comment seemed to suggest something else.
Mar 8, 2015, 2:35 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,068
United really needs a feedback mechanism on agents, a la DL.
That, however, assumes a level of concern, ability, and technical competency that United has yet to demonstrate. DL lets you rate the agent immediately after the call, records all calls, and problem calls are reviewed.
That, however, assumes a level of concern, ability, and technical competency that United has yet to demonstrate. DL lets you rate the agent immediately after the call, records all calls, and problem calls are reviewed.
Mar 8, 2015, 3:05 pm
#18
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 923
United really needs a feedback mechanism on agents, a la DL.
That, however, assumes a level of concern, ability, and technical competency that United has yet to demonstrate. DL lets you rate the agent immediately after the call, records all calls, and problem calls are reviewed.
That, however, assumes a level of concern, ability, and technical competency that United has yet to demonstrate. DL lets you rate the agent immediately after the call, records all calls, and problem calls are reviewed.
Mar 8, 2015, 3:05 pm
#19
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: SAN
Programs: AS MVP 100K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, UA 1MM,
Posts: 1,707
One one hand, "backing up" means duplicate bookings, until the original flight either cancels or is no longer able to get the passenger to its destination. When new routing or flights are chosen, then its no longer backing up.
Protecting when IRROPS is when alternate arrangements are made. Some agents even use the words interchangeably.
If you have ever seen flights "zero out" across the board during IRROPS, this is a result of the backing up and protecting. UA wants to put a body in the seat before that door shuts, and a bunch of backing up adds to long standby lists, upgrade lists, etc. that make it difficult to manage a departure.
Reducing backups could be a good thing in theory. If your flight truly cancels, and you have availability for rebooking the same day rather than the following day, you will appreciate it. But the odds are high that many exceptions would be made because of the ambiguity of situations in IRROPs.
But all of that being said, lets not try to "announce" a new policy that we have heard from a single agent. IRROPS are a grey area for rules.
Protecting when IRROPS is when alternate arrangements are made. Some agents even use the words interchangeably.
If you have ever seen flights "zero out" across the board during IRROPS, this is a result of the backing up and protecting. UA wants to put a body in the seat before that door shuts, and a bunch of backing up adds to long standby lists, upgrade lists, etc. that make it difficult to manage a departure.
Reducing backups could be a good thing in theory. If your flight truly cancels, and you have availability for rebooking the same day rather than the following day, you will appreciate it. But the odds are high that many exceptions would be made because of the ambiguity of situations in IRROPs.
But all of that being said, lets not try to "announce" a new policy that we have heard from a single agent. IRROPS are a grey area for rules.
Mar 8, 2015, 3:11 pm
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Raleigh
Programs: United GS 2MM,, Marriott/Starwood Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 754
I certainly hope that the agent today was misinformed. Or lazy.
It certainly didn't work to our favor today as we decided to switch to the last seats on the later flight, and were told our space on the earlier flight couldn't be held. We actually made it to the earlier flight, admittedly just before they closed the door, but by that point the flight was full. Now burning 6 hours in Houston and planning on little sleep Tonite.
It certainly didn't work to our favor today as we decided to switch to the last seats on the later flight, and were told our space on the earlier flight couldn't be held. We actually made it to the earlier flight, admittedly just before they closed the door, but by that point the flight was full. Now burning 6 hours in Houston and planning on little sleep Tonite.
Mar 8, 2015, 3:16 pm
#21
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 5,814
I certainly hope that the agent today was misinformed. Or lazy.
It certainly didn't work to our favor today as we decided to switch to the last seats on the later flight, and were told our space on the earlier flight couldn't be held. We actually made it to the earlier flight, admittedly just before they closed the door, but by that point the flight was full. Now burning 6 hours in Houston and planning on little sleep Tonite.
It certainly didn't work to our favor today as we decided to switch to the last seats on the later flight, and were told our space on the earlier flight couldn't be held. We actually made it to the earlier flight, admittedly just before they closed the door, but by that point the flight was full. Now burning 6 hours in Houston and planning on little sleep Tonite.
Mar 8, 2015, 3:42 pm
#22
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: LAX,SNA,SAN
Programs: UA GS, Marriott LP, Hertz Gold
Posts: 861
Protection works fine still. Happened twice last week. They do not cancel your original ticket until either you make your flight or the backup flight. I have had protection pushed twice last week and TBH, it's the only real bennie for me as 1k.
Mar 8, 2015, 5:22 pm
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,901
I did it a couple weeks ago and a UC agent who know the game said the trick to avoid later cancellation was to put it at the very end of the itin string. Worked for me.
Last edited by milepig; Mar 8, 2015 at 6:36 pm
Mar 8, 2015, 5:54 pm
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,884
No More "Backing Up" (protection on a later flight during IRROPs)?
Between my wife and I, have been protected several times in the last 2 or 3 years. Once or twice by the automated system, others by agents themselves. Never a problem.
No offense to OP, but I've heard of this a couple of times over the last couple of years, mostly from folks who didn't get protected on a one-off situation and presuming this to be a "new policy" (as have other one off situations, involving not giving the full soda can, no more pillows in domestic F, etc.). So please forgive me for not believing this is an actual new policy until we've heard more than a one-off report.
No offense to OP, but I've heard of this a couple of times over the last couple of years, mostly from folks who didn't get protected on a one-off situation and presuming this to be a "new policy" (as have other one off situations, involving not giving the full soda can, no more pillows in domestic F, etc.). So please forgive me for not believing this is an actual new policy until we've heard more than a one-off report.
Mar 8, 2015, 7:22 pm
#27
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Houston (IAH,HOU) / Kāʻanapali (JHM,OGG)
Programs: UA GS 2MM, AA P 2MM, DL PM, US P, VS G, SPG LT P, HH D, HYATT P, PC P, AVIS PC, HERTZ PLAT
Posts: 970
I just experienced this change when requesting to be protected because the inbound flight was delayed. The agent said that they changed the policy recently and that they can no longer book duplicates. She attempted to find another way to do it, however she could not get the record on end with both flights.
Mar 8, 2015, 7:52 pm
#28
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SJC / DPS
Programs: AS G75K, UA Silver
Posts: 1,757
FWIW I was speaking to the 1K desk the other day about a colleague arriving late and likely missing their connection.
Even though the system had protected them on a flight leaving the next day, I had asked to change the protection to an earlier flight which there were seats.
Was told that according to a recent memo they couldn't do this, so I opted to have them change the reservation for the desired flight with no protection.
Even though the system had protected them on a flight leaving the next day, I had asked to change the protection to an earlier flight which there were seats.
Was told that according to a recent memo they couldn't do this, so I opted to have them change the reservation for the desired flight with no protection.
Mar 9, 2015, 7:14 am
#29
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: West Coast USA
Programs: UA GS/4 MM, AA Exec Plat, Lifetime Hilton D, Hyatt G, Marriott Titanium earned Ambassador
Posts: 7,553
Confirmed!
My flight last night went on mechanical and so did the next departure. I called the GS desk asking to be protected on the next morning flight. The agent refused to help me as my ticket showed used as I was on the plane. She said after I got off the plane which was one hour plus into the mechanical I could call and ask to be "protected". That's not protection. The value of any UA status has again declined. My buddy who is with me is on the phone with AA right now getting a status match. 
Mar 9, 2015, 7:28 am
#30
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 5,814
My flight last night went on mechanical and so did the next departure. I called the GS desk asking to be protected on the next morning flight. The agent refused to help me as my ticket showed used as I was on the plane. She said after I got off the plane which was one hour plus into the mechanical I could call and ask to be "protected". That's not protection. The value of any UA status has again declined. My buddy who is with me is on the phone with AA right now getting a status match.
Now that will no longer be possible until they offload me.