Everything you wanted to know about the confirmed same-day change process
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
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.
Updated: 05/22/08
United.com's information:
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,51160,00.html
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.
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.
Updated: 05/22/08
United.com's information:
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,51160,00.html
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, 2008 at 11:53 pm Reason: UA Now Charges $75
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
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Posts: 71,007
Thanks! Good info. Welcome to FT! Cheers.
#3
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: IAD
Programs: United 0, HH Gold
Posts: 2,827
Thanks! This is very helpful. I'm hoping a moderator might add this to the FAQ.
#4
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Munich, Germany
Programs: LH HON, DL FO/MM, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Accor Lifetime Platinum, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 6,174
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.
#5
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: IAD
Programs: UA1P, HH Gold
Posts: 606
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?
#6
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Earth
Programs: UA MM Platinum; HH Diamond; Marriott Gold; Starwood Gold; Hyatt Discoverist; Avis Preferred Plus
Posts: 1,527
Originally Posted by rcs85551
* CONFIRMED SAME-DAY FLIGHT WILL BE OFFERED ON ECU/ECO IN EARLY 2006.
Hopefully, however, the units/site will still allow (free) standby as well.
Great posts, Phoenician Aviator and rcs85551. Thanks.
#7
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Earth
Programs: UA MM Platinum; HH Diamond; Marriott Gold; Starwood Gold; Hyatt Discoverist; Avis Preferred Plus
Posts: 1,527
Originally Posted by Lpas
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?
#8
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Munich, Germany
Programs: LH HON, DL FO/MM, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Accor Lifetime Platinum, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 6,174
Originally Posted by Dromomaniac
Hopefully, however, the units/site will still allow (free) standby as well.
UA*S SAME-DAY STANDBY FOR FREE REMAINS AN OPTION FOR CUSTOMERS. UA*S MISSED TRIP POLICY REMAINS IN EFFECT.
#9
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Santa Monica
Programs: UA Gold, MR Plat (life gold), SPG Gold
Posts: 898
Originally Posted by Dromomaniac
That is the way I read it.
#10
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: lapsed UA 1K (now a lowly 2P), HGP Platinum
Posts: 9,607
Originally Posted by rcs85551
* CONFIRMED SAME-DAY FLIGHT WILL BE OFFERED ON ECU/ECO IN EARLY 2006.
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: United 1P, AA Plat, US Gold, SPG Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 830
Thanks to rcs85551 for adding the UA profile. Very helpful! ^
I've updated the list to include the question about changing routing.
I've updated the list to include the question about changing routing.
#12
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Earth
Programs: UA MM Platinum; HH Diamond; Marriott Gold; Starwood Gold; Hyatt Discoverist; Avis Preferred Plus
Posts: 1,527
Originally Posted by robb
So, what exactly does this mean?
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.
UA*S SAME-DAY STANDBY FOR FREE REMAINS AN OPTION FOR CUSTOMERS. UA*S MISSED TRIP POLICY REMAINS IN EFFECT.
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: United 1P, AA Plat, US Gold, SPG Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 830
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.
Northwest's kiosks offer this option already, and I believe they offer you the choice of confirmed or "wait at the gate."