Jan 6, 2017, 10:39 pm
Last edit by: seawolf
UA typically updates schedules on late Wednesday & Friday evenings into the next day morning (USA Central Time).
United's FAQ on Schedule Changes webpage is no more vague but the follow seems to be the present policy
-- reschedule flexibility for 30 minutes or more changes
-- refunds for 2 hours or more changes
--- we may be able to offer you a refund:
Generally, UA is pretty good about being flexible if you are adversely affected by a schedule change. Most reasonable requests will likely be honored. Best to do some self-research prior to calling. Including opening up award space on UA operated flights. If you had a cleared upgrade on UA operated flight, UA will generally honor that in the rescheduling if space is available (but not requiring upgrade inventory space on the new flights)
During this weekend change period and sometimes for a day later, there can be weirdness in displayed aircraft or seating maps, such as Strange/Impossible Aircraft Assignments After UA's Weekend Schedule Update
Early in the COVID pandemic, UA initially change the policy for refund to require 24 hour change, but quickly walked that back to 6 hours. Under DOT and public pressure, UA returned to a 2 hour policy on 6 June 2020. 30 minute change is still the threshold for flexible rebooking
More specific information is found in UA's guidance to TA's (on Jetstream) on re-scheduling
Same booking class. If original booking class unavailable, book lowest available (higher than original booking class, same cabin) up to and including M class. Contact UA if required class of service is unavailable.**
Change fee and add/collect waived - see "Additional parameters for flights impacted by schedule changes" below the chart.
For 2 hours or more, refunds are an option unless you can be rescheduled to be under the 2 hours
================= older information =======================
The peak-time for changes is roughly 3-4 months prior to departure but changes occur anytime -- especially aircraft changes within an aircraft family (such as 777-200s or 737-800 vs 737-900).
Schedule changes
It is reported that agents will now (12 March 2020) process refunds for 6-hour changes (down from the original new 25+ hours that replaced the previous long practice of 2-hours)
JetStream - Agency Rebooking Parameters
Related thread: Schedule change refund policy changed from 2+ hrs to 25+ hrs now 6+ hrs 12 March 2020
Archive Thread - Check Your UA Itineraries for Schedule Changes and what to do after one [Archive]
United's FAQ on Schedule Changes webpage is no more vague but the follow seems to be the present policy
-- reschedule flexibility for 30 minutes or more changes
- Your origin and destination will have to be the same as on your original itinerary.
- If you have a connection, you may be able to choose a different connecting city or airport.
- Alternative flights must be operated by United or our United Express partners.
-- refunds for 2 hours or more changes
--- we may be able to offer you a refund:
- The scheduled departure or arrival time changes by two hours or more.
- The change causes issues with the overall length of the trip, such as making the connection time too short or significantly longer than it was originally.
- If we are unable to accommodate you in the same cabin as purchased refunded either the full price or the difference in fare.
Generally, UA is pretty good about being flexible if you are adversely affected by a schedule change. Most reasonable requests will likely be honored. Best to do some self-research prior to calling. Including opening up award space on UA operated flights. If you had a cleared upgrade on UA operated flight, UA will generally honor that in the rescheduling if space is available (but not requiring upgrade inventory space on the new flights)
During this weekend change period and sometimes for a day later, there can be weirdness in displayed aircraft or seating maps, such as Strange/Impossible Aircraft Assignments After UA's Weekend Schedule Update
Early in the COVID pandemic, UA initially change the policy for refund to require 24 hour change, but quickly walked that back to 6 hours. Under DOT and public pressure, UA returned to a 2 hour policy on 6 June 2020. 30 minute change is still the threshold for flexible rebooking
More specific information is found in UA's guidance to TA's (on Jetstream) on re-scheduling
- Any segment goes from a non-stop to a connection
- Misconnecting itinerary
- Change to originally scheduled arrival or departure time of at least + / - 30 minutes
Same booking class. If original booking class unavailable, book lowest available (higher than original booking class, same cabin) up to and including M class. Contact UA if required class of service is unavailable.**
Change fee and add/collect waived - see "Additional parameters for flights impacted by schedule changes" below the chart.
Change to original arrival or departure time of 2 hours or more or cancelled flight with no protection
or
Additional parameters for flights impacted by schedule changes
***Continuing or return travel dates may be voluntarily changed on UA segments only in the original inventory class to maintain the original length of stay prior to the re-accommodation. Changes to the return flight must be in the same PNR and be made in the same transaction as the re-accommodation of the outbound flight. The change fee and add/collect will be waived for changes made to the return (original class of service only).
**United Basic Economy fares booked in "N" class must remain in "N" class when eligible for self-service rebooking due to unacceptable schedule changes or irregular operations. If "N" class is unavailable, please contact Uniteds Customer Contact Centers for assistance. Rebooking into an ineligible booking class may result in the issuance of a debit memo. For non-Basic Economy fares, do not rebook into "N" class.
Additional parameters for flights impacted by schedule changes
- Non-stops may go to connecting flights, and connecting flights may go to non-stops
- Connecting hub may be changed
- If original day of departure is unavailable, may depart 7 days prior to or after original departure date. If outbound flight is impacted, subsequent flights on same itinerary may be changed to maintain original length of trip.***
- Alternate airports within a 250 mile radius of the original origin or departure airport***
- Change may apply to origin and destination, but must be changed at the original time of ticket reissue
- Customer is responsible for any additional expenses incurred
***Continuing or return travel dates may be voluntarily changed on UA segments only in the original inventory class to maintain the original length of stay prior to the re-accommodation. Changes to the return flight must be in the same PNR and be made in the same transaction as the re-accommodation of the outbound flight. The change fee and add/collect will be waived for changes made to the return (original class of service only).
**United Basic Economy fares booked in "N" class must remain in "N" class when eligible for self-service rebooking due to unacceptable schedule changes or irregular operations. If "N" class is unavailable, please contact Uniteds Customer Contact Centers for assistance. Rebooking into an ineligible booking class may result in the issuance of a debit memo. For non-Basic Economy fares, do not rebook into "N" class.
The peak-time for changes is roughly 3-4 months prior to departure but changes occur anytime -- especially aircraft changes within an aircraft family (such as 777-200s or 737-800 vs 737-900).
Schedule changes
Rebooking options if a schedule change has affected your itinerary
If your scheduled departure or arrival time changes by 30 minutes or more, we're happy to try to find other available flight options that meet your needs. Please keep the following in mind when you call:
Ticket refunds
When a schedule change happens, we try our best to provide you with options that minimize the disruption to your travel plans. In cases where the new flight options don't work for you and one of the following scenarios applies, we may be able to offer you a refund:
If your scheduled departure or arrival time changes by 30 minutes or more, we're happy to try to find other available flight options that meet your needs. Please keep the following in mind when you call:
- Your origin and destination will have to be the same as on your original itinerary.
- If you have a connection, you may be able to choose a different connecting city or airport.
- Alternative flights must be operated by United or our United Express partners.
Ticket refunds
When a schedule change happens, we try our best to provide you with options that minimize the disruption to your travel plans. In cases where the new flight options don't work for you and one of the following scenarios applies, we may be able to offer you a refund:
- The scheduled departure or arrival time significantly changes.
- The change causes issues with the overall length of the trip, such as making the connection time too short or significantly longer than it was originally.
- If we are unable to accommodate you in the same cabin as purchased refunded either the full price or the difference in fare.
JetStream - Agency Rebooking Parameters
Related thread: Schedule change refund policy changed from 2+ hrs to 25+ hrs now 6+ hrs 12 March 2020
Archive Thread - Check Your UA Itineraries for Schedule Changes and what to do after one [Archive]
Check Your UA Itineraries for Schedule Changes and what to do after one
Feb 25, 2026 | 10:41 am
#392
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
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Posts: 73,036
United's Jetstream site on other airline change
Appears UA still has in place a change to UA operated flight if the partner flight change +-30 minutes on arrival or departure
Schedule change: Other airline-operated flight
Only one free itinerary change is permitted per schedule change event.
Unacceptable (OA): Change to originally scheduled arrival or departure time of at least + / - 30 minutes
Options Change to alternate flight with same origin and destination and original operating carrier or carrier permitted as noted in fare rule, or UA operated flight. If itinerary includes UA-operated segment, UA schedule change rules apply to that segment**.
Note: If the change causes a misconnection, the ticket is eligible for a refund.
Booking class Same booking class for original carrier or as noted in fare rule.
If changing to UA-operated flight and original class of service is unavailable, contact United.
Waiver required Yes
Change fee and add/collect waived. See "Additional parameters for flights impacted by schedule changes" below the chart.
Waiver code OSI UA OASKEDCHG
NDC-enabled agency: No waiver code needed. Pull up reservation via NDC or united.com for available options and change flight.
Only one free itinerary change is permitted per schedule change event.
Spoiler
Unacceptable (OA): Change to originally scheduled arrival or departure time of at least + / - 30 minutes
Options Change to alternate flight with same origin and destination and original operating carrier or carrier permitted as noted in fare rule, or UA operated flight. If itinerary includes UA-operated segment, UA schedule change rules apply to that segment**.
Note: If the change causes a misconnection, the ticket is eligible for a refund.
Booking class Same booking class for original carrier or as noted in fare rule.
If changing to UA-operated flight and original class of service is unavailable, contact United.
Waiver required Yes
Change fee and add/collect waived. See "Additional parameters for flights impacted by schedule changes" below the chart.
Waiver code OSI UA OASKEDCHG
NDC-enabled agency: No waiver code needed. Pull up reservation via NDC or united.com for available options and change flight.
Feb 25, 2026 | 3:56 pm
#393
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: JFK
Posts: 274
United's Jetstream site on other airline change
Appears UA still has in place a change to UA operated flight if the partner flight change +-30 minutes on arrival or departure
Appears UA still has in place a change to UA operated flight if the partner flight change +-30 minutes on arrival or departure
Feb 25, 2026 | 4:13 pm
#394
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
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Posts: 73,036
Feb 26, 2026 | 4:36 pm
#395
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Feb 27, 2026 | 10:32 pm
#396
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K, 2MM
Posts: 1,308
I often schedule longer connections due to needing a little more time to walk than I used to need. When I've gotten a schedule change similar to the OP's, explaining that I need extra time has only failed once. And that one time, when I HUCA, my request was honored.
Feb 28, 2026 | 11:16 am
#397
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SFO
Programs: COdbaUA Platinum 2MM
Posts: 5,602
My Sept outbound flight had a 38 minute change, departing earlier and arriving 35 minutes earlier. Flight number changed. A free one time change was offered. I was able to change the inbound flight to a much more desirable time.
Question, does this free one time change allow changes to both outbound and inbound flights or just one direction?
Question, does this free one time change allow changes to both outbound and inbound flights or just one direction?
Feb 28, 2026 | 11:43 am
#398
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 25,649
Deferring to cfischer
Last edited by jsloan; Feb 28, 2026 at 2:53 pm
Feb 28, 2026 | 12:09 pm
#399
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SFO
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Posts: 5,602
Feb 28, 2026 | 2:39 pm
#400
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You can usually change both in- and out-bound flights when doing it online. Never seen an issue where it only allowed one or the other
Feb 28, 2026 | 2:52 pm
#401
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Location: Austin, TX
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Mar 11, 2026 | 6:48 pm
#402
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
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Had a connection get downgauged from (I think) a gojet 550 to a commuteair 145. I really try to avoid the e145s and crj200s since that means having to gate check my bag. I called and asked about a potential re-route but was told that would be a voluntary change and I would be on the hook for a re-fare. My itinerary does say I am eligible for a full refund due to schedule change (there were a couple other changes, but very minor). Thought about cancelling but my original itinerary is about $350 more per person if I were to rebook now, so I will probably just suck it up. Worth trying HUCA?
Mar 11, 2026 | 8:13 pm
#403
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
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Had a connection get downgauged from (I think) a gojet 550 to a commuteair 145. I really try to avoid the e145s and crj200s since that means having to gate check my bag. I called and asked about a potential re-route but was told that would be a voluntary change and I would be on the hook for a re-fare. My itinerary does say I am eligible for a full refund due to schedule change (there were a couple other changes, but very minor). Thought about cancelling but my original itinerary is about $350 more per person if I were to rebook now, so I will probably just suck it up. Worth trying HUCA?
Mar 11, 2026 | 8:33 pm
#404
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,588
I was told that because the change in carrier was "United Express to United Express", that did not count. I wasn't in the mood to highlight the difference between gojet and commuteair, but I may try again in a couple days.
