He is a United flyer, so my guess is he is not plugged into any electronic notification system, including an e mail address with them. I do not know if a reservation on an airline that one does not use regularly requires a phone number - I had to give them one for a Contintental reservation today. In contrast, I checked a Delta itinerary the other day and found that a flight had been changed to one that arrived AFTER my connection left (!!) - without a call from them. Good thing I checked! I will ask him these questions. It does reinforce the wisdom of taking personal responsibility for checking on flights.