Originally Posted by
jsloan
It's not partner flights, but partner fares, that don't fall within the policy.
It absolutely wouldn't surprise me at all if UA had people employed in these positions who didn't know that UA sells non-UA fares. (It wouldn't surprise me if DL and AA had similar people with a similar lack of knowledge). The US airline industry tends to be somewhat myopic this way.
It's also possible that they knew about it and decided to handle it by issuing "one time exceptions" when people complain.
Ultimately, it comes down to whether or not you're the sort of a person who assumes that an advertisement will be honored or who reads the fine print of a contract. If I buy a fare with a change fee, I'm going to assume that it will be charged, but I will ask for an exception due to the advertisements.
Regardless, it's a bit of a moot point here, because OP's fare didn't have a change fee, and they will not be waiving cancellation fees without a reason (e.g., a schedule change), regardless of whose fare it is.
Thanks for your replies! I understand that the pre-March 31 United no change fee policy on new international flight bookings starting ex-USA I was trying to get by rushing and booking before March 31 would not apply anyway to this LH fare (where fare rules say "Rule Application - Fare Rules Text Lufthansa Restricted Fare"). I think I just have to worry aobut the fares going up but about not losing out on what I thought was a no change fee bonus for booking pre-March 31.
One of our planned tickets (for daughter who has to travel separately MEX-FRA and then FRA-JFK, all LH) looks like a hybrid - MEX-FRA does not say "Lufthansa Restricted Fare" but FRA-JFK does.
It has different rules - only the FRA-JFK L fare says "Lufthansa Restricted Fare" but the outbound MEX-FRA B fare says: "FARE BY RULE - NO RESTRICTIONS RULE APPLICATION -
FARE RULES - TEXT TRANSATLANTIC EXCURSION FARES FROM AREA 1 TO AREA 2 APPLICATION AREA THESE FARES APPLY FROM AREA 1 TO AREA 2. CLASS OF SERVICE THESE FARES APPLY FOR ECONOMY CLASS SERVICE. CAPACITY LIMITATIONS THE CARRIER SHALL LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS CARRIED ON ANY ONE FLIGHT AT FARES GOVERNED BY THIS RULE AND SUCH FARES WILL NOT NECESSARILY BE AVAILABLE ON ALL FLIGHTS. THE NUMBER OF SEATS WHICH THE CARRIER SHALL MAKE AVAILABLE ON A GIVEN FLIGHT WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE CARRIERS BEST JUDGMENT"
Nowhere does this B fare say "Lufthansa" in the fare rules text - is this MEX-FRA leg a UA fare then? If a UA fare, better to book by March 31 then or does it not matter if it is a B fare? Thanks for your expertise!!! It looks as if no change fees apply to MEX-FRA:
VOLUNTARY CHANGES - GENERAL RULES TEXT IN THE EVENT OF CHANGES TO TICKETED FLIGHTS BEFORE DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY - APPLIES WITHIN TKT VALIDITY NO CHARGE FOR REVALIDATION OR HIGHEST FEE OF ALL CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS - DISCOUNTS APPLY - NO FEE FOR INFANTS W/O SEAT AND REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. NO CHANGE TO STOPOVERS AND CONNECTIONS/FARE BREAKS 2. A3/AC/AI/AV/BR/CA/CM/EN/ET/EW/HO/IN/JP/LH/LO/LX/ MS/NH/NZ/OS/OU/OZ/SA/SK/SN/SQ/TG/TK/TP/UA/ZH SAME FARE CLASS GOVERNED BY SAME RULE IS USED 3. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF 4. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET 5. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM REISSUE DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT OR - CHANGES NOT PERMITTED/REFUND TKT-ANY REMAINING AMT WILL APPLY TO NEW TKT WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN LOWER FARE IGNORE RESIDUAL THEN ADD-COLLECT ENDORSEMENT BOX- HIGHER NON-REF AMT AND NEW ENDORSEMENTS. OR - BEFORE DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY - APPLIES WITHIN TKT VALIDITY NO CHARGE FOR REISSUE OR HIGHEST FEE OF ALL CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS - DISCOUNTS APPLY - NO FEE FOR INFANTS W/O SEAT AND REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. NO CHANGE TO 1ST FLIGHT COUPON 2. CHANGE IS BEFORE ORIGINAL SCHEDULED FLIGHT 3. A3/AC/AI/AV/BR/CA/CM/EN/ET/EW/HO/IN/JP/LH/LO/LX/ MS/NH/NZ/OS/OU/OZ/SA/SK/SN/SQ/TG/TK/TP/UA/ZH -FF FARE FAMILY IS USED 4. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF 5. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET 6. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT OR - REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. NO CHANGE TO 1ST FLIGHT COUPON 2. CHANGE IS BEFORE ORIGINAL SCHEDULED FLIGHT 3. A3/AC/AI/AV/BR/CA/CM/EN/ET/EW/HO/IN/JP/LH/LO/LX/ MS/NH/NZ/OS/OU/OZ/SA/SK/SN/SQ/TG/TK/TP/UA/ZH FARES ARE USED 4. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF 5. NEW TKT HAS EQUAL OR HIGHER VALUE THAN PREVIOUS TKT 6. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET 7. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT OR - REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. NO CHANGE TO 1ST FLIGHT COUPON 2. CHANGE IS NO LATER THAN 1 HOURS AFTER ORIGINAL SCHEDULED FLIGHT 3. A3/AC/AI/AV/BR/CA/CM/EN/ET/EW/HO/IN/JP/LH/LO/LX/ MS/NH/NZ/OS/OU/OZ/SA/SK/SN/SQ/TG/TK/TP/UA/ZH -FF FARE FAMILY IS USED 4. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF 5. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET 6. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT OR - REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. NO CHANGE TO 1ST FLIGHT COUPON 2. CHANGE IS NO LATER THAN 1 HOURS AFTER ORIGINAL SCHEDULED FLIGHT 3. A3/AC/AI/AV/BR/CA/CM/EN/ET/EW/HO/IN/JP/LH/LO/LX/ MS/NH/NZ/OS/OU/OZ/SA/SK/SN/SQ/TG/TK/TP/UA/ZH FARES ARE USED 4. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF 5. NEW TKT HAS EQUAL OR HIGHER VALUE THAN PREVIOUS TKT 6. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET 7. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT OR - REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT TODAY PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. CHANGE IS BEFORE ORIGINAL SCHEDULED FLIGHT 2. A3/AC/AI/AV/BR/CA/CM/EN/ET/EW/HO/IN/JP/LH/LO/LX/ MS/NH/NZ/OS/OU/OZ/SA/SK/SN/SQ/TG/TK/TP/UA/ZH -FF FARE FAMILY IS USED 3. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF 4. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM REISSUE DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT OR - REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT TODAY PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. CHANGE IS BEFORE ORIGINAL SCHEDULED FLIGHT 2. A3/AC/AI/AV/BR/CA/CM/EN/ET/EW/HO/IN/JP/LH/LO/LX/ MS/NH/NZ/OS/OU/OZ/SA/SK/SN/SQ/TG/TK/TP/UA/ZH FARES ARE USED 3. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF 4. NEW TKT HAS EQUAL OR HIGHER VALUE THAN PREVIOUS TKT 5. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM REISSUE DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT OR - REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT TODAY PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. CHANGE IS NO LATER THAN 1 HOURS AFTER ORIGINAL SCHEDULED FLIGHT 2. A3/AC/AI/AV/BR/CA/CM/EN/ET/EW/HO/IN/JP/LH/LO/LX/ MS/NH/NZ/OS/OU/OZ/SA/SK/SN/SQ/TG/TK/TP/UA/ZH -FF FARE FAMILY IS USED 3. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF 4. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM REISSUE DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT OR - REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT TODAY PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. CHANGE IS NO LATER THAN 1 HOURS AFTER ORIGINAL SCHEDULED FLIGHT 2. A3/AC/AI/AV/BR/CA/CM/EN/ET/EW/HO/IN/JP/LH/LO/LX/ MS/NH/NZ/OS/OU/OZ/SA/SK/SN/SQ/TG/TK/TP/UA/ZH FARES ARE USED 3. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF 4. NEW TKT HAS EQUAL OR HIGHER VALUE THAN PREVIOUS TKT 5. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM REISSUE DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT OR - CHANGES NOT PERMITTED/REFUND TKT-ANY REMAINING AMT WILL APPLY TO NEW TKT WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN LOWER FARE REFUND RESIDUAL THEN ADD-COLLECT - REFUND VIA ORIGINAL FORM OF PAYMENT ENDORSEMENT BOX- HIGHER NON-REF AMT AND NEW ENDORSEMENTS. OR - AFTER DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY - APPLIES WITHIN TKT VALIDITY NO CHARGE FOR REVALIDATION OR HIGHEST FEE OF ALL CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS - DISCOUNTS APPLY - NO FEE FOR INFANTS W/O SEAT AND REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. NO CHANGE TO STOPOVERS AND CONNECTIONS/FARE BREAKS 2. FULLY FLOWN FARE NOT REPRICED TO FURTHER POINT 3. A3/AC/AI/AV/BR/CA/CM/EN/ET/EW/HO/IN/JP/LH/LO/LX/ MS/NH/NZ/OS/OU/OZ/SA/SK/SN/SQ/TG/TK/TP/UA/ZH SAME FARE CLASS GOVERNED BY SAME RULE IS USED 4. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF 5. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET 6. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN LOWER FARE IGNORE RESIDUAL THEN ADD-COLLECT ENDORSEMENT BOX- HIGHER NON-REF AMT AND NEW ENDORSEMENTS. OR - AFTER DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY - APPLIES WITHIN TKT VALIDITY NO CHARGE FOR REISSUE OR HIGHEST FEE OF ALL CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS - DISCOUNTS APPLY - NO FEE FOR INFANTS W/O SEAT AND REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. FULLY FLOWN FARE NOT REPRICED TO FURTHER POINT 2. CHANGE IS BEFORE ORIGINAL SCHEDULED FLIGHT 3. A3/AC/AI/AV/BR/CA/CM/EN/ET/EW/HO/IN/JP/LH/LO/LX/ MS/NH/NZ/OS/OU/OZ/SA/SK/SN/SQ/TG/TK/TP/UA/ZH -FF FARE FAMILY IS USED 4. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF 5. WHEN SAME FARE USED - ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET EXCEPT ADV RES-TKTG - OTHERWISE ALL PROVISIONS MUST BE MET 6. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT OR - REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. FULLY FLOWN FARE NOT REPRICED TO FURTHER POINT 2. CHANGE IS BEFORE ORIGINAL SCHEDULED FLIGHT 3. A3/AC/AI/AV/BR/CA/CM/EN/ET/EW/HO/IN/JP/LH/LO/LX/ MS/NH/NZ/OS/OU/OZ/SA/SK/SN/SQ/TG/TK/TP/UA/ZH FARES ARE USED 4. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF 5. NEW TKT HAS EQUAL OR HIGHER VALUE THAN PREVIOUS TKT 6. WHEN SAME FARE USED - ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET EXCEPT ADV RES-TKTG - OTHERWISE ALL PROVISIONS MUST BE MET 7. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT OR - REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. FULLY FLOWN FARE NOT REPRICED TO FURTHER POINT 2. CHANGE IS NO LATER THAN 1 HOURS AFTER ORIGINAL SCHEDULED FLIGHT 3. A3/AC/AI/AV/BR/CA/CM/EN/ET/EW/HO/IN/JP/LH/LO/LX/ MS/NH/NZ/OS/OU/OZ/SA/SK/SN/SQ/TG/TK/TP/UA/ZH -FF FARE FAMILY IS USED 4. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF 5. WHEN SAME FARE USED - ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET EXCEPT ADV RES-TKTG - OTHERWISE ALL PROVISIONS MUST BE MET 6. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT OR - REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. FULLY FLOWN FARE NOT REPRICED TO FURTHER POINT 2. CHANGE IS NO LATER THAN 1 HOURS AFTER ORIGINAL SCHEDULED FLIGHT 3. A3/AC/AI/AV/BR/CA/CM/EN/ET/EW/HO/IN/JP/LH/LO/LX/ MS/NH/NZ/OS/OU/OZ/SA/SK/SN/SQ/TG/TK/TP/UA/ZH FARES ARE USED 4. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF 5. NEW TKT HAS EQUAL OR HIGHER VALUE THAN PREVIOUS TKT 6. WHEN SAME FARE USED - ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET EXCEPT ADV RES-TKTG - OTHERWISE ALL PROVISIONS MUST BE MET 7. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN LOWER FARE REFUND RESIDUAL THEN ADD-COLLECT - REFUND VIA ORIGINAL FORM OF PAYMENT ENDORSEMENT BOX- HIGHER NON-REF AMT AND NEW ENDORSEMENTS.