Jul 23, 2018, 4:36 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
GG FLAT TIRE (as of April 2018)
Flat Tire, is this referring literally to a car having a flat tire?
No, "Flat Tire" refers to a situation where one arrives too late to make a flight due to most any reason. If you show up within two hours of the original flight departure, UA generally will try to accommodate you as a low-level priority standby passenger on the next flight with standby space. Note this will only be for UA/UX flights and no guarantees on how soon UA might be able to accommodate the delayed passenger. No reason for the delay is needed (flat tire or not, does not matter).
Years ago, pre-deregulation, this was a formal rule. Nowadays, legacy USA airlines still provide this as a courtesy but they are under no obligation to provide. Note with non-USA airlines there is no such policy and you will mostly be required to purchase a new ticket.
This does not apply in a connection situation on a single ticket. The carrier creating the delay is obligated to address that situation
FLAT TIRE RULE:
CUSTOMERS CONTACTING UNITED WITHIN 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO DEPARTURE OR 2 HOURS AFTER DEPARTURE MAY BE REBOOKED AT NO CHARGE ON UA/UAX FLIGHTS. ALL SEGMENTS OPERATED BY OA SHOULD ONLY BE REBOOKED BY THE OPERATING CARRIER AS THEY MAY BE SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL FEES
CUSTOMERS CONTACTING UNITED WITHIN 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO DEPARTURE OR 2 HOURS AFTER DEPARTURE MAY BE REBOOKED AT NO CHARGE ON UA/UAX FLIGHTS. ALL SEGMENTS OPERATED BY OA SHOULD ONLY BE REBOOKED BY THE OPERATING CARRIER AS THEY MAY BE SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL FEES
No, "Flat Tire" refers to a situation where one arrives too late to make a flight due to most any reason. If you show up within two hours of the original flight departure, UA generally will try to accommodate you as a low-level priority standby passenger on the next flight with standby space. Note this will only be for UA/UX flights and no guarantees on how soon UA might be able to accommodate the delayed passenger. No reason for the delay is needed (flat tire or not, does not matter).
Years ago, pre-deregulation, this was a formal rule. Nowadays, legacy USA airlines still provide this as a courtesy but they are under no obligation to provide. Note with non-USA airlines there is no such policy and you will mostly be required to purchase a new ticket.
This does not apply in a connection situation on a single ticket. The carrier creating the delay is obligated to address that situation
what is the current flat-tire rule? (Missed flight)
Jan 31, 2013, 2:57 pm
#16
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Sorry to hear of other travellers' troubles. My wife actually made her 23 minute connection (it was 3 gates away), so we didn't need to invoke the flat-tire rule. I guess, for obvious reasons, the airline isn't eager to clarify exactly what the policy is. I assume there is a formal procedure somewhere in their rule book, though.
Feb 6, 2013, 9:55 pm
#18
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: PDX USA
Programs: HH Diamond
Posts: 320
Is there actually a flat tire rule??
Because of road work (I live 100 miles from PDX) there is a possibility I may miss my 4 pm flight to SFO
There is a 7pm flight with many more seats than on my flight.
If I realize say 90 minutes before take-off that I can't make the flight does THAT invoke the rule or do I have to call only AFTER the plane takes off?
I have Premier Gold status for what little that means.
Thanks
There is a 7pm flight with many more seats than on my flight.
If I realize say 90 minutes before take-off that I can't make the flight does THAT invoke the rule or do I have to call only AFTER the plane takes off?
I have Premier Gold status for what little that means.
Thanks
Feb 6, 2013, 10:03 pm
#19
Moderator: United Airlines
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Posts: 66,853
Because of road work (I live 100 miles from PDX) there is a possibility I may miss my 4 pm flight to SFO
There is a 7pm flight with many more seats than on my flight.
If I realize say 90 minutes before take-off that I can't make the flight does THAT invoke the rule or do I have to call only AFTER the plane takes off?
I have Premier Gold status for what little that means.
Thanks
There is a 7pm flight with many more seats than on my flight.
If I realize say 90 minutes before take-off that I can't make the flight does THAT invoke the rule or do I have to call only AFTER the plane takes off?
I have Premier Gold status for what little that means.
Thanks
Feb 11, 2013, 8:58 am
#20
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: sad kettle
Posts: 43
SDC or flat-tire rule on award ticket + partner flight?
Hope it's ok to piggyback on this thread...
I have an awards ticket booked out SEA-SFO-HKG with the SFO segment via SQ.
There is a chance I may miss the SEA-SFO leg, and the next UA flight would have me arriving a mere 30 minutes b4 the SQ flight takes off.
I booked a one-way on Virgin that would give me enough connection time @ SFO but then realized they will probably cancel the rest of my ticket if I miss the first leg of my trip?!? Any advice on whether I should try to change my outbound flight to just the SFO-HKG or work things out at the airport via SDC or the flat-tire rule?
I have an awards ticket booked out SEA-SFO-HKG with the SFO segment via SQ.
There is a chance I may miss the SEA-SFO leg, and the next UA flight would have me arriving a mere 30 minutes b4 the SQ flight takes off.
I booked a one-way on Virgin that would give me enough connection time @ SFO but then realized they will probably cancel the rest of my ticket if I miss the first leg of my trip?!? Any advice on whether I should try to change my outbound flight to just the SFO-HKG or work things out at the airport via SDC or the flat-tire rule?
Feb 11, 2013, 10:20 am
#21
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Hope it's ok to piggyback on this thread...
I have an awards ticket booked out SEA-SFO-HKG with the SFO segment via SQ.
There is a chance I may miss the SEA-SFO leg, and the next UA flight would have me arriving a mere 30 minutes b4 the SQ flight takes off.
I booked a one-way on Virgin that would give me enough connection time @ SFO but then realized they will probably cancel the rest of my ticket if I miss the first leg of my trip?!? Any advice on whether I should try to change my outbound flight to just the SFO-HKG or work things out at the airport via SDC or the flat-tire rule?
I have an awards ticket booked out SEA-SFO-HKG with the SFO segment via SQ.
There is a chance I may miss the SEA-SFO leg, and the next UA flight would have me arriving a mere 30 minutes b4 the SQ flight takes off.
I booked a one-way on Virgin that would give me enough connection time @ SFO but then realized they will probably cancel the rest of my ticket if I miss the first leg of my trip?!? Any advice on whether I should try to change my outbound flight to just the SFO-HKG or work things out at the airport via SDC or the flat-tire rule?
Feb 11, 2013, 2:23 pm
#22
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: sad kettle
Posts: 43
ah ok thanks for the explanation on SDC policy! I definitely do NOT want to risk a 30 min connection lol...although judging by the airport layout my chances are at least much better than @ LAX (
)
I was hoping not to cxl the SEA-SFO leg JUST in case i'm able to get to the airport in time but guess I'll have to eat the change fee.
) I was hoping not to cxl the SEA-SFO leg JUST in case i'm able to get to the airport in time but guess I'll have to eat the change fee.
Feb 11, 2013, 3:52 pm
#23
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: UA-1K, Hertz-Gold, Marriott-Gold, PC-Platinum, SPG
Posts: 2,777
ah ok thanks for the explanation on SDC policy! I definitely do NOT want to risk a 30 min connection lol...although judging by the airport layout my chances are at least much better than @ LAX ()
I was hoping not to cxl the SEA-SFO leg JUST in case i'm able to get to the airport in time but guess I'll have to eat the change fee.
) I was hoping not to cxl the SEA-SFO leg JUST in case i'm able to get to the airport in time but guess I'll have to eat the change fee.
Feb 11, 2013, 4:33 pm
#24
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Australia
Posts: 2,814
I had similar to a flat tyre six months ago.
I was flying Sydney to Los Angeles .
My connection on Qantas to Sydney was 90 minutes late and I missed the united flight.
There were no problems or fees putting me on the next days flight - I am 1k though.
I was flying Sydney to Los Angeles .
My connection on Qantas to Sydney was 90 minutes late and I missed the united flight.
There were no problems or fees putting me on the next days flight - I am 1k though.
Feb 11, 2013, 5:02 pm
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,468
I am not sure, delay of a connecting flight would invoke the flight tyre rule, as this was a delay by another carrier. Glad, you got on the next flight without issues, though!
Feb 11, 2013, 5:06 pm
#26
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Arlington, VA
Posts: 397
In past 24 hours I have spoken with 3 different UA phone reps, including one very polite and helpful supervisor -- all were aware of the "flat tire rule" and all said that it is *not* necessary to go to the airport in order to have the rule applied, and that phoning in is fine as long as it no longer than 2 hours after your originating flight's scheduled departure.
The supervisor actually encouraged me to apply this rule to an award reservation where I want to depart on a later flight the same day but the flight has no X/XN seats available. She told me to forget about going to the airport and call after the departure time and that i will be rebooked over the phone.
Has anyone had experience with the flat tire rule over the phone? All the posts I have found talk about using it at the airport...
The supervisor actually encouraged me to apply this rule to an award reservation where I want to depart on a later flight the same day but the flight has no X/XN seats available. She told me to forget about going to the airport and call after the departure time and that i will be rebooked over the phone.
Has anyone had experience with the flat tire rule over the phone? All the posts I have found talk about using it at the airport...
Feb 11, 2013, 5:16 pm
#27
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 930
Two questions I didn't see answered in the UA link:
1) If my wife (Silver) and me (Gold) are on the same PNR will we be charged any SDC fee at all?
2) If both our upgrades to F have already cleared on our original flight, will we be able to confirm F on the new flight (assuming it is available)?
1) If my wife (Silver) and me (Gold) are on the same PNR will we be charged any SDC fee at all?
2) If both our upgrades to F have already cleared on our original flight, will we be able to confirm F on the new flight (assuming it is available)?
Feb 11, 2013, 6:49 pm
#28
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 200
no, back on to the upgrade list.
Feb 11, 2013, 6:53 pm
#29
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