I hope someone can shed some light. about 2 months ago, I was ticketed on a return segment DSM-DEN-LAX in H. Around T-16, I went online and tried to do a same day change. There was a V class available DSM-ORD-LAX leaving earlier and a difference in fare of about -$130. The system wouldn't process the change so i called 1K web support and they processed the change for me. The agent said UA will "mail" out an electronic cert that I can use for the $130. he verified my home address and went ahead and reticketed. The next day when I showed up about 3 hours early for my ORD flight, the check in agent said ORD was experiencing massive IRREOPS and that my flight would be about 4 hours late missing my Cxn to LAX. She rebooked me on to an earlierDEN flight and I got home way earlier than my original changed flight.

So it's been about 2 months and I have not received this e cert. the web support agent gave me a pin and a number if I wanted to use it before I receive the cert. unfortunately, it was saved in my iPad which a fA managed to spill a whole cup of red wine on during another flight. That's another separate story.

anyone have any experience with this new SDC and getting back a difference in fare???

Thanks in advance!

Do they really refund you the difference for a same day change?

I was SDC'd today onto a flight with only M available and they did it for no charge. (My tickets were W.)

(Incidentally they have fixed the phone system - now if you ring the regular number and enter the confirmation number for a 1K's reservation, you automatically get connected to the 1K desk.)

I was not aware UA refunded the fare difference on same day flight changes. I would think that a lot of flyers would take advantage of this policy, and it would be a money loser for the airline.

You should contact UA about your ecert pin they should have it on your PNR record.


SunLover

I had this happen a few months ago on a SDC, although it was done online and the difference was only $9.

The website told me that I would receive a voucher for $9, but I never did. It wasn't enough to follow-up on, so I didn't bother.

The website does say that if you change fare class then "the same-day flight change fee will apply [...] plus any additional collections or refund due." however it doesn't necessarily say that you'll receive a refund - it could just be referring to the fact that the "refund" can be taken off the change fee.

The agent was flat out wrong. SDC does not result in any refunds if there's a fare difference. Taxes/landing fees are a separate issue but I'm not aware UA refunds those, either. Nor do they charge them when you add additional stops to your itinerary.

There are two ways to change your flight on UA when IROPS are not involved:
1. Use SDC which gives you the ability to move your flight up or back more or less 24 hours. Whatever fare buckets are currently open for the flight you want to get on is irrelevant as the ticket is not repriced during SDC. Your fare remains the same but you get on the new flights you want provided they meet the routing rules of your original fare. It's really that simple.

2. Pay the change fee for your ticket and get your flights repriced. This is usually not a smart move since the change fee is $150 or more and most flights won't price out at a higher refund rate. Plus, if you are changing the return portion of a roundtrip ticket UA uses the then-in-effect prices when you booked the ticket which means your new flight is not likely to cost that much less. Also note that if you do this for the outbound then your entire ticket gets repriced at current fare levels so you would need it to be at least $150 less than you paid to get any fare difference refunded.

Sorry, OP. You were given very wrong info from the agent and you should not be expecting any refund in the mail or in your TravelBank. Now, if you were to write to UA and explain the situation they may offer you a small token gift of some miles but I wouldn't even expect that.

-RM

But I was actually given an e cert pin number for the difference. I had wrote it down and it was destroyed along with my iPad. the website even repriced it for me.

Is your name Mr Phelps?

I don't believe this is correct. PMUA, under the 3 hour SDC, you could change as long as there was availability in whichever particular fare class needed to be available (not if there was any availability in Y, but I believe there had to be M availability - because, for example, they wouldn't use SDC to oversell).

Now, the rule is (IIRC) you can SDC to a flight within 24 hours, but for just the SDC fee, there needs to be availability in the fare class you are booked in (i.e. if you're booked in S, there has to be S available). I think you can also SDC to a flight with only higher class availability, but in addition to the SDC fee (whatever it is, based on your status), you also need to pay the fare difference to the upgraded fare class. However, I also believe at T-3, they open up any availability to all classes, so if there are 5 seats left, that were only in Y, all classes show as 5 beginning T-3.

AFAIK, there is no refund that would ever be necessary - if your fare class is available, you get SDC'd to the same fare class (no difference), not a lower one.

I corrected my post, thanks. I flew DL yesterday and had their SDC policy in my head re: needing 'Y' class. On CO, you are correct, same fare class. But my point is still valid - even if lower fare classes are open during SDC you can't use them. You'd have to actually reprice your ticket if you want to get a lower fare class at which point you will pay the change fee associated with the ticket.

And, pmUA was 'H' class for SDC.

-RM

Sorry, but this is completely wrong. The United Website is very clear about how SDC works, and what's on that page matches my experience to the letter.

A higher fare class doesn't necessarily mean a higher fare. The fares could have changed in the interim making a higher fare class cheaper. As I mentioned previously, I've had an online SDC promise a $9 refund whilst putting me into a "higher" are class.

For those of you who are saying a refund is not given, try it. The next time you buy a mid to high booking class, try using .bomb to change your flight. it will reprice at whatever is available and if you paid a higher fare, it will say a refund is due.

I'm just going by what .bomb said and what the web support agent said.

And no. My name isn't Mr. Phelps. if that was a joke, i didn't get it.

I have called united 3 times about a cert for ~$800 after rebooking a canceled itinerary, over the phone they said they would send to me in June. I never got it in the mail and was never given a number.

This was a credit converted from continental and I am not sure if I will ever be able to get it back...