Programs: United 1P, AA Plat, US Gold, SPG Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 830
Everything you wanted to know about the confirmed same-day change process
[Moderator's Note - Thanks to the OP for writing this; as of 5/22/2008, United changed the confirmed standby fee from $50 to $75. I've updated this first post accordingly]
I've seen several posts lately that relate to the $75 confirmed standby, including one of my own. It seems that UA doesn't publicize it particularly well. So, here's my attempt to consolidate the relevant information and make it available to FT as a resource for UA passengers.
What does this fee do?
It enables passengers traveling on domestic UA/UX/Ted flights to confirm a seat on a different flight from their originally ticketed one.
How much is the fee?
$75.
How can I pay the fee?
You can pay over the phone or at the airport.
When can I do this?
Within three hours of the flight you want to take. So if your original flight is at 11PM, and you want to take the 2PM, you can call at 11AM and get a seat.
What inventory does this come out of?
The confirmed standby comes out of "H" inventory.
Can I confirm more than three hours out?
Your experience may vary. Officially, no. But a helpful and willing agent may make an exception for you.
Can I change the routing?
No. The rules state you must standby for flights on the originally confirmed routing. As with some other exceptions, a nice agent may be able to do this for you.
Can I still standby for free at the gate?
Yes. You would still clear about 20 minutes out, based on the usual factors.
If I'm on a flexible ticket, does this fee apply to me?
No.
If my original itinerary involves a red-eye and a flight the next day, can I standby for flights that are all on the same day?
Yes. It is based on the day of departure from origin.
Does one fee cover multiple segments?
Yes. However, you must be able to confirm all segments at the same time.
Does my status influence my ability to confirm a seat?
No. If you have $75 and a seat is available, it's yours. Inventory management controls the availability of seats, not Mileage Plus.
Is this fee per person, or per PNR?
It is per person. If you have two people traveling on the same PNR, and two seats are available, you pay $150.
Does this replace the missed flight policy?
No. The "flat tire rule" is still in place. See reply #30 by rcs85551 for the relevant UA profile.
======================
I hope the above is helpful. Please let me know of any inaccuracies or omissions.
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; May 22, 08 at 11:53 pm..
Reason: UA Now Charges $75
Programs: LH HON, UA 1K, BA Gold, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 6,045
Thanks for your work. Let me add the applicable S*FAR/CONFIRM SAME DAY reference:
Code:
CONFIRM SAME-DAY FLIGHT CHANGE
(WITHIN/BETWEEN U.S. 50 STATES)
OVERVIEW............. S*R.G
CSR ATO PROCEDURES... S*R.C
RSSR PROCEDURES...... S*R.R
TERMS AND CONDITIONS. S*R.M
OVERVIEW:
EFFECTIVE 14NOV05...CONFIRMED SAME-DAY FLIGHT CHANGE
OFFERS CUSTOMERS TRAVELING ON DOMESTIC FLIGHTS
(WITHIN/BETWEEN 50 UNITED STATES) THE OPPORTUNITY TO
CONFIRM SEATING ON AN ALTERNATE FLIGHT WITHIN 4 HOURS
OF RSSR OR CSR CONTACT FOR 25.00USD.
CSR ATO PROCEDURES:
1. CUSTOMER MAY CONFIRM ALTERNATE FLIGHT WITHIN 4 HOURS
OF CSR CONTACT.
EXAMPLE 1: CUSTOMER WITH A 6PM FLIGHT CAN CONFIRM A
1PM FLIGHT IF CSR CONTACT IS MADE AS EARLY
EXAMPLE 2: CUSTOMER WITH A 7AM FLIGHT ARRIVES AT THE
AIRPORT 9AM...CSR CAN CONFIRM A FLIGHT
BETWEEN 9AM-1PM.
2. CUSTOMER ASKS TO FLY ON ALTERNATE FLIGHT THAN BOOKED
IN PNR.
3. TO DETERMINE CAPACITY/AVAILABILITY OF FLIGHT...USE
FASTAIR *AVAILABILITY LOADS*. DO NOT OVERBOOK FLIGHT
(CABIN CAPACITY MINUS 1).
4. ONLY OFFER IDENTICAL ROUTING: SAME DESTINATION AND
SAME CONNECTION CITY. CONNECTING DOWNLINE FLIGHTS
MAY BE OFFERED/CONFIRMED.
EXAMPLES: CLE X/ORD LAX...CANNOT OFFER CLELAX NON-STOP
CLE X/ORD LAX...CANNOT OFFER CLE X/DEN LAX
CLE X/ORD LAX...CAN OFFER CLEORD AND ORDLAX
CLE X/ORD LAX...CAN OFFER CLEORD OR ORDLAX
5. IN CUSTOMER PNR...CANCEL OLD FLIGHT AND CONFIRM NEW FLIGHT.
- BOOK TO CABIN CAPACITY MINUS 1.
EXAMPLE: ECONOMY CABIN HAS 100 SEATS...ONLY BOOK TO 99...
EVEN IF AVAILABILITY INDICATES SEATS AVAILABLE TO
SELL. FULL FLIGHTS OR FLIGHTS WITH ONE EMPTY SEAT
MUST *NOT* BE OFFERED.
- BOOK IN SAME CABIN (SAME BOOKING CODE IF AVAILABLE OR
ECONOMY BOOK H/BUSINESS BOOK C/FIRST BOOK F)
- DO *NOT* REVAL ETKT. DO NOT *TICKET VERIFY* PNR ATFQ.
- CHECK CUSTOMER AND BAGGAGE ON NEW FLIGHTS.
6. PROCESS THE CONFIRMED SAME-DAY FLIGHT SALE ON SST:
FASTAIR: SPECIAL CHARGES MENU (CTRL F2/OPTION 8)
BASE: 23.25
TAX: 1.75US
TOTAL: 25.00
NOTE: DO NOT USE PNR UNITED FIELD/UF TO PROCESS
CHARGE. AMOUNTS ARE NOT TRACKED APPROPRIATELY
AND TAXES MUST BE INDICATED. USE SST...
FASTAIR: SPECIAL CHARGES MENU (CTRL F2/OPTION 8).
RSSR PROCEDURES:
1. CUSTOMER MAY CONFIRM ALTERNATE FLIGHT WITHIN 4 HOURS
OF RSSR CONTACT.
EXAMPLE: CUSTOMER WITH A 6 P.M. FLIGHT CALLS IN AT 1 P.M.
(THEIR LOCAL TIME). RSSR CAN CONFIRM A FLIGHT -IF AVAILABLE-
FOR FLIGHTS LEAVING BETWEEN 1 P.M. TO 5 P.M.
2. RSSR MUST BE ABLE TO REBOOK IN SAME BOOKING CLASS OR
H-CLASS.
EXAMPLE: IF A CUSTOMER IS HOLDING V-CLASS AND V-CLASS
IS AVAILABLE THE RSSR WOULD REBOOK IN V-CLASS..IF NOT
THEN BOOK IN H-CLASS. DO NOT BOOK IN ANY CLASS BETWEEN
V OR H..IT IS EITHER THE BOOKING CLASS OR H-CLASS.
3. COLLECT THE $25.00 FEE THROUGH THE UNITED FIELDS.
(LOCATED IN THE REVALIDATE MENU)
4. **DO NOT** REVALIDATE OR REISSUE ETKT. THE AIRPORT
HAS A PROCESS IN PLACE WHICH WILL ASSIST CUSTOMERS
CHECKING IN AT THE EASY CHECKIN UNITS OR AT THE COUNTER.
5. YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ASSIGN A CUSTOMER A SEAT. DUE
TO THE TIME FRAME IT MAY BE UNDER AIRPORT CONTROL.
PLEASE ADVISE THE CUSTOMER A SEAT WILL BE ASSIGNED
AT THE AIRPORT.
6. PLEASE SEE TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION S*R.M
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
* VALID ON UA/UAX/TED OPERATED FLIGHTS
* VALID WITHIN/BETWEEN THE 50 UNITED STATES
* 25.00USD IS NON-REFUNDABLE
* NOT VALID ON DOMESTIC SEGMENTS THAT ARE PART OF
AN INTERNATIONAL ITINERARY
* FEE IS ONE-WAY CHARGE INCLUDING CONNECTIONS. CONFIRMING
ONE FLIGHT...TWO FLIGHTS...OR THREE FLIGHTS ON A
ONE-WAY ITINERARY WILL COST ONLY 25.00USD.
* UA*S SAME-DAY STANDBY FOR FREE REMAINS AN OPTION FOR
CUSTOMERS. UA*S MISSED TRIP POLICY REMAINS IN EFFECT.
SEE: S*FAR/STANDBY
* CUSTOMERS WITH FULLY REFUNDABLE TICKETS (MOST F/C/Y/B/M
TYPE FARES) MAY MAKE FLIGHT CHANGES WITHOUT CHARGE.
* CONFIRMED SAME-DAY FLIGHT WILL BE OFFERED ON ECU/ECO
IN EARLY 2006.
Am I reading correctly that you cannot do this if the routing is different? In other words, I can't be booked on SEA-ORD-IAD and do a confirmed standby for the SEA-IAD flight that leaves 2 hours earlier?
Am I reading correctly that you cannot do this if the routing is different? In other words, I can't be booked on SEA-ORD-IAD and do a confirmed standby for the SEA-IAD flight that leaves 2 hours earlier?
CSR's seemed to be happy to book me into other routing (DEN or IAD) had there been availability. Not that this was the right or wrong policy -- just that they would have.
I assume it means that Easy Chicken - units and online versions - will be equipped to handle confirmed changes under this new policy, sometime early in 2006. Hopefully this gives us the flexibility to get confirmed changes at the airport without having to necessarily stand in line and seek out an agent. Yes, even the RCCs have lines much of the time!
Quote:
Originally Posted by rcs85551
From the S*Profile:
UA*S SAME-DAY STANDBY FOR FREE REMAINS AN OPTION FOR CUSTOMERS. UA*S MISSED TRIP POLICY REMAINS IN EFFECT.
But will the machines and Website still give that option, or will they push the $25 option when this is not necessary? If I know a flight is empty, I'm not going to pay $25 just for a "confirmed" change.
Programs: United 1P, AA Plat, US Gold, SPG Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 830
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dromomaniac
But will the machines and Website still give that option, or will they push the $25 option when this is not necessary? If I know a flight is empty, I'm not going to pay $25 just for a "confirmed" change.
If logic is a part of UA's IT planning ( ), then both options should be available.
Northwest's kiosks offer this option already, and I believe they offer you the choice of confirmed or "wait at the gate."
Everything you wanted to know about the confirmed same-day change process
), then both options should be available.
