Originally Posted by ausgambler

I am flying with United from LAS to LAX to SYD tomorrow on UA. I don't currently have any status with UA.

My ticket is a business award issued by AC. The connection time in LAX is only 45 minutes. The flight from LAX to SYD is in C, the first leg is in Y, same ticket (much more important to get business LAX-SYD than bother about a 1 hr positioning).

There is an earlier flight (4 hours earlier) that seems to have availability (20+ seats on the seatmap, though most are in Y+). If I turn up to the airport in good time for the earlier flight is there a chance they will let me take it? The 45 minute connection is incredibly tight and also the president is in LAS right now so every chance flights are leaving late tomorrow. Getting stuck in LA would be of no benefit to anyone; I'd assume they'd have to pay for overnight. And there is no time benefit to me in taking the earlier flight in terms of me getting to SYD quicker. It just guarantees I will get there.

When I used to fly UA reguarly, years ago, this would have been a no-brainer. But I'm worried it's "computer says no" for check-in agents now.

Buying a Y ticket for the earlier leg would be super expensive (have to pay for 2x70lb bags) so not really an option.