May 7, 2022, 3:00 pm

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Active thread; UA-Schedule changes; +25% TATL 2022 capacity, Q2 TPAC down 65% vs 2019; June changes

UA publishes a schedule for 330 days in advance (called Beginning of Schedule) and in the past would make tweaks quarterly and things would be fairly settles 3-4 months out. Updates would occur Friday evening / Saturday morning (Chicago time). Routine additions could occur anytime.
20 Oct 2021

Quote:

Originally Posted by EWR764

In the earnings call today, UA noted that has been transitioning back to its 'normal' (pre-pandemic) 90-day schedule load process, which should be complete in the very near future.

Quote:

Originally Posted by UA Insider

The only thing constant is change and at United Airlines, some of the fees associated with changes related to flying are gone for good. The carrier announced today that it is permanently getting rid of change fees on all standard Economy and Premium cabin tickets for travel within the U.S., effective immediately. And starting on January 1, 2021, any United customer can fly standby for free, regardless of fare type, on a flight departing the day of their travel, a first among U.S. carriers, while MileagePlus® Premier® members can confirm a seat on a different flight on the same day with the same departure and arrival cities as their original ticket if a seat in the same ticket fare class is available.

United is also extending its waiver for new tickets issued through December 31, 2020, to permit unlimited changes with no fee. This policy applies to all ticket types issued after March 3, 2020 and is valid for domestic and international travel.

The new change fee policy applies to all standard Economy and Premium cabin tickets for travel within the U.S. 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and customers will not be limited in the number of times they adjust their flights.

Additionally, United is giving customers more flexibility to change their flights on the day of their travel so they can head home if a meeting ends earlier or enjoy a few more hours on vacation. With the ability to list for same-day standby for free, customers will now have an option to take a different flight with the same origin and destination airports as their original itinerary if space is available at departure. This enhanced option will be available to all customers for travel within the U.S. and to and from international destinations beginning on January 1, 2021. Customers who want to switch flights will be able to add themselves to the standby list through United’s award-winning mobile app, on united.com or at the airport no later than 30 minutes prior to departure for domestic flights and one hour before departure on international flights.

The carrier is also improving the travel experience for its MileagePlus members including waiving all redeposit fees on award travel for flights changed or cancelled more than 30 days before departure and allowing all MileagePlus Premier members to confirm a different flight on the day of their travel. As a way to thank MileagePlus Premier members for their loyalty, beginning January 1, 2021, all Premier members will be able to confirm a seat for free on a different flight with the same departure and arrival cities as their original ticket. This expanded option will allow MileagePlus Silver members and above to confirm a new seat in the same ticket fare class if space is available. Earlier this year, United announced that it will extend status for MileagePlus Premier and United Global Services® members through January 2022. United also reduced thresholds for Premier qualification by 50 percent for each status level, to make reaching an even higher status tier easier.

For more information on United’s new flexible travel policies, visit https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/travel/change-fee.html.

Quote:

Change is here. Change fees are gone.We’re permanently getting rid of change fees for most Economy and premium cabin tickets for travel within the United States. This includes Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more

For all other destinations, change fees are waived through December 31, 2020. See terms and conditions

Quote:

We’re extending electronic certificatesTo give you more flexibility when you travel, electronic certificates are now valid for 24 months from the date they were issued. This includes all currently valid electronic certificates and all new ones issued on or after April 1, 2020.

This policy change will automatically appear, but it may not be reflected everywhere right away. We’d appreciate your patience as we work to make that happen.

Quote:

Award flight redeposit fees waived

We’re waiving redeposit fees for award flights issued on or before December 31, 2020, that are canceled at least 30 days before the departure date. You can also change your award flight with no fee. Learn more about changing or canceling your award flight.

International travel advisories and waivers

For more information about international travel:

View our current travel waivers
See our country-specific travel updates
Search by destination for passport, visa and health requirements provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA)
Visit the U.S. Department of State’s website for detailed information on coronavirus by country[/quote]

CARES service exemptions for United
United Exemption 042520 FINAL ISSUED.pdf
United Airlines 2nd Exemption_051220_FINAL ISSUED.pdf
latest (tentative) -2020-5-5 Order to Show Cause

Other Resources and Statistics

COVID19 UA-Schedule {Archive}

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Mar 22, 2020 | 4:14 pm

#1996

jpc763

Join Date: Feb 2012

Posts: 42

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjmoore

Is UA willing to convert any cancelled itineraries to TCVA credits? This could be a possible avenue to extend the credit for a longer period of time...? And to utilize credits for different passengers and not tie up the credits with a single passenger.

what are TCVA credits?

Mar 22, 2020 | 4:20 pm

#1997

45YearsofFlying

Join Date: Mar 2012

Location: ORD

Programs: UA Platinum 2MM

Posts: 32

Any idea as to what is going on with KOA - SFO and SFO - KOA non-stops on Friday, March 27 only? Three non-stops show up on the United Timetable but none show up as being able to purchase a ticket. Non-stops showing up on March 26 and March 28 forward. IT issue or blocking flight for existing reservations changing to get out of town? I have a friend who has reservations on one of the flights on March 27 and he is curious. Thanks.

Mar 22, 2020 | 4:24 pm

#1998

WineCountryUA

Moderator: United Airlines

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: SFO

Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat

Posts: 72,959

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpc763

what are TCVA credits?

Same as ETC
UA Electronic Travel Certificates (ETC): General Q&A, new combinability policy, ...

The code for the ETC credit is xxTCVA+ten character PIN, xx is the year of issue

Mar 22, 2020 | 4:27 pm

#1999

HNLbasedFlyer

Join Date: Sep 2006

Location: HNL

Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold

Posts: 6,448

Quote:

Originally Posted by 45YearsofFlying

A mandatory 14 day quarantine starts for all arrivals beginning March 26. Probably a lot of wacky things happening in the timetable/schedule - my best guess UA (and pretty much everyone else) is going to stop flying to Hawaii post Mar 26. Residents are getting back asap - visitors won't have an open hotel to go to.

Mar 22, 2020 | 4:35 pm

#2000

WineCountryUA

Moderator: United Airlines

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: SFO

Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat

Posts: 72,959

Quote:

Originally Posted by 45YearsofFlying

First unless a qualified Hawaii resident, they need to understand the new quarantine on arriving passengers.

Second, from ExpertFLyer querying the GDS, the SFO-KOA flights are cancelled

and only UA1721 scheduled to operate on 28, 29, 30 March

Mar 22, 2020 | 4:35 pm

#2001

whitethunder

Join Date: Aug 2009

Location: YEG

Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Platinum

Posts: 786

Glad I got back to Canada last Sunday, with our PM telling canadians not to travel it was inevitable I guess. Hope they bring back all the canada routes when this is over and not use this as an opportunity to get rid of some routes....

Mar 22, 2020 | 4:56 pm

#2002

45YearsofFlying

Join Date: Mar 2012

Location: ORD

Programs: UA Platinum 2MM

Posts: 32

Quote:

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA

First unless a qualified Hawaii resident, they need to understand the new quarantine on arriving passengers.

Second, from ExpertFLyer querying the GDS, the SFO-KOA flights are cancelled

and only UA1721 scheduled to operate on 28, 29, 30 March

Thanks. My friend is at his house on Kona and trying to return to his permeant home on the mainland. Checking his trips with the United Confirmation Number still shows him on the KOA - SFO flight. Also, the KOA - LAX flights are showing as normal. I have advised him to wait until tomorrow before doing anything although he might want to move his flight up to March 26.

Mar 22, 2020 | 5:02 pm

#2003

jpc763

Join Date: Feb 2012

Posts: 42

Quote:

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA

Same as ETC
UA Electronic Travel Certificates (ETC): General Q&A, new combinability policy, ...

The code for the ETC credit is xxTCVA+ten character PIN, xx is the year of issue

Thank you. I guess I need to wait until May to see what happens.

Mar 22, 2020 | 5:07 pm

#2004

WineCountryUA

Moderator: United Airlines

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: SFO

Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat

Posts: 72,959

Quote:

Originally Posted by 45YearsofFlying

The ExpertFlyer GDS reports shows all the KOA-SFO flights canceled on the 27th (not surprising as the incoming aircraft are canceled).

Calling and rescheduling for the sooner is best, the situation is changing daily and generally not for the better

Mar 22, 2020 | 5:53 pm

#2005

slippahs

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Apr 2003

Location: Honolulu, Hawaiʻi [+MKK4 EBBER R577 EDSEL R577 ELKEY EXERT]

Posts: 15,907

Quote:

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA

First unless a qualified Hawaii resident, they need to understand the new quarantine on arriving passengers.

Second, from ExpertFLyer querying the GDS, the SFO-KOA flights are cancelled

and only UA1721 scheduled to operate on 28, 29, 30 March

Even qualified residents need to understand the quarantine procedures. They apply to all arrivals. Not just tourists.

Mar 22, 2020 | 6:19 pm

#2006

Aussienarelle

Join Date: Oct 2015

Location: SAN

Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM

Posts: 3,610

Quote:

Originally Posted by radonc1

I tried to find UA 901 (SFO-LHR) to book the flight on 3/25 and it does not exist. In fact, there are no non-stops from SFO to LHR on 3/25, only connections in EWR or IAD (or with *A carriers such as AC).
You have probably been re-ticketed on a connecting flight. Check your email for the change.

Thank you.

No email notification. For this change or the change last week when the SFO-LHR flight was moved up five hours.

Called in and although I was willing to change to from SAN-SFO-LHR to either SAN-IAD-LHR or SAN-EWR-LHR for the outbound, they could not get me a seat on the return flight. So cancelled the flight. I felt very sorry for the CS rep as I asked for confirmation that United had no available seats for the date of the return flight and she could not provide that and I asked about the refund and she directed me to the website for the current rules. She needed to contact the rate a couple of times and put a notation on the reservation that they had no seats for the return flight. She did confirm I could claim a refund in September (I originally booked the ticket in September 2019) and after I queried as United could not fly me on my booked date she directed me to file the refund on the website which I have done. So not sure if I will get the refund but as United cancelled my flight and could not put me on a replacement flight I believe this should be eligible for a refund.

I have now noticed the waiver for flights through May and I have a flight in May to FRA. Next round begins. I really hope for United's longevity that summer improves and we will all be flying.

Mar 22, 2020 | 6:26 pm

#2007

emcampbe

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2006

Location: SFO/SJC

Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum

Posts: 16,143

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjmoore

i wish they would allow this, but doubtful. TCVAs have certain restrictions that credit remaining in a PNR doesn’t (for example, no partner flights, including no UA codeshares), but it is flexible in other ways.

for example, we were canceling our trip to PUJ, in which our flights got canceled anyway, due to PR closing it’s border. Our trip included a lap infant, who turns two next month, so we’re not going to be flying before she needs a full ticket. To use that credit, we’ll need to book the 2 yo on a separate record, since she won’t be a lap infant anymore. Would much rather have an ETC where we can use on a new PNR where we can all book together. Least of that issue is potential upgrades in advance, but biggest hurdle would be the PITA resulting from IRROPS, and having to manually deal with any changes when the system likely rebooks the non-status 2 yo on a different flight than us.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsloan

I believe "through May" was United's odd way to say "through the end of April." I don't think they have made decisions about May schedules yet.

While the ‘through May’ is definitely lacking detail, that’s my interpretation as well. Makes sense to do this a few weeks/month at a time. In all honestly, we’ll likely see additional changes we’ll before this time. I’d guess in a few days at most.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dinoscool3

It seems UA hasn't loaded the changes in the system? My UA flight in April still hasn't been canceled, despite UA canceling all Canada flights.

yup, seeing UA flights still scheduled and bookable to YYZ in multiple April dates today, including in the last hour. My understanding is the changes were to be loaded in overnight and available as of this morning.

in contrast, when my PUJ flights were canceled a few days ago, they immediately were no longer bookable at all - I checked. Not sure if they were able to pull them from the system that fast, or just zero’d out the inventory right away. But they were definitely gone immediately. My initial thought was that maybe they went back on some of the Canada flights, like they did with some of the international. Who knows?

Quote:

Originally Posted by glbltvlr

There was also some chatter last week about a nationwide suspension of air travel. In light of the airline schedule reductions, that seems to have quieted down

i still wonder whether a complete shutdown would be better for UA, at least financially, at this point.

don’t know the source, but definitely saw a blog post with speculation that AA was considering shutting down for 2-3 weeks. AA denied, of course. But can’t believe at this point that most of the carriers aren’t at least thinking about it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitethunder

I hope so too, but afraid of what UA (and all the other carriers) will look like coming out of this. A lot will probably be dependent on how much business travel goes back to where it was, or if much of that travel evaporates in favor of video conferencing (ie, Zoom).

With respect to Canada routes, I’d guess the on-again off-again over the last 15 years or so SFO-YYZ doesn’t come back, at least for a while after things go back. There is always AC they could codeshare with. I also wonder if there will be a bigger reliance on code sharing where it makes sense and is legal.

Mar 22, 2020 | 7:28 pm

#2008

45YearsofFlying

Join Date: Mar 2012

Location: ORD

Programs: UA Platinum 2MM

Posts: 32

Quote:

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA

Thanks. My friend called and changed to a Wednesday night flight to LAX and connecting to his final destination. He has no status on United and is dependent on people who know more about United, especially in this situation. United never showed his flight canceled prior to him calling so being proactive and the additional information from the forum helped him a lot. Thanks.

Mar 22, 2020 | 7:45 pm

#2009

wco81

Suspended

Join Date: Oct 2004

Location: Bay Area

Programs: DL SM, UA MP.

Posts: 12,724

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aussienarelle

She did confirm I could claim a refund in September (I originally booked the ticket in September 2019) and after I queried as United could not fly me on my booked date she directed me to file the refund on the website which I have done. So not sure if I will get the refund but as United cancelled my flight and could not put me on a replacement flight I believe this should be eligible for a refund.

I have now noticed the waiver for flights through May and I have a flight in May to FRA. Next round begins. I really hope for United's longevity that summer improves and we will all be flying.

That's if UA is still around then. Or if their cash flow situation is any better.

I also have flights booked from last fall for mid April and late May.