Flex vs Unrestricted / Fully Refundable fare. What is/is not refundable, translation?
 

Grammar notwithstanding, this is a pretty basic question (I hope):

Was looking to buy a cheap refundable fare, and right now I'm finding one in "U" class when going through United's website. (MKE-ALB)

Wanted to verify/confirm that U class is indeed fully refundable before I purchase (this would be my first time buying one)...

Sare, some are not. If the fare basis code has an "N" in it, it is not refundable outside of the initial 24 hours (all tickets bought thru UA are refundable witin 24 hours.)

The booking code does not tell the fare rules, it is just an inventry allocation. It is the fare basis code that contains the fare rules.

Thanks...It did not have an N in it, so I'm guessing it was a straight fare.

I'll recheck the basis code - I just would prefer not to buy it and then be stuck if I end up needing to cancel. :)

You should read the fare rules. It will tell you what penalties/fees apply to changes or refunds.

Don't guess. Click on the fare basis code and it will extract the rules.

There is in general three class of tickets
non-refundable / with change fees
"flexiable" -- less change restriction and some case refundable by with a fee.
fully refundable

The flight search tools can help to find appropriate fares but a read of full fare rules (or a validation by a phone agent) is highly recommended.

Question about Changeable/Flexiable Fares (PHX-BKK)
 

My parents want to fly PHX-BKK. The know roughly when they want to leave, but they do not know when they want to return. That's the problem.

It looks like I have a couple of options:
1) Book award tickets from my account (1K), which permits no cost changes provided that the class of service (saver vs standard) is available.

2) Book the lowest available fare, take a rough guess as when they want to return and hope it works out. Otherwise, pay the 250.00 change fee and the fare difference.

3) Book what united.com calls a "flexiable fare" which may waive the change fee (supposedly it "varies" according to the help box that pop's up, so I'll have to carefully read/interpret the fare rules).

4) Book a fully refundable fare (aka "unrestricted fare").


Some of my thoughts, can someone check my logic on this?
Option 4 seems horrifyingly expensive.

Option 3 only makes sense (to me) if the flexiable fare that waives the change fee is less than $250.00 more than the lowest available fare (option 2).

Option 1 seems like the best solution, but there's no saver business available. So, I'd have to either do economy or standard business. I was planning (with the revenue tickets), to use Miles+Copay to upgrade them. Also, my parents don't get PQM's (fka EQM's) on the award tickets.

I'm leaning towards Option 2 right now and rolling the dice... Anyone else have any other ideas?

Thanks in advance...

Read the fare rules of the flexible fare. Usually it will allow you to make change to the return..as long as they are made after the outbound flights are flown...without a change fee but the same booking code will have to be available (more than likely it'll be a Q, H, or M fare..not Y or B), and they can't exceed maximum stay requirements.

There are currently 2 U-Class Fares on that route -- UA0KY is refundable (and cheaper!), UE73FN is not:

[KVS Availability Tool 7.0.5/Diamond - Galileo: Fares/PSH/RU]

Only the Y & B fares don't seem to have a change fee!

Am I reading this right, even an M fare (MFX0ZUMB) has a $250.00 change fee?

Yep that's right.. looks like you'd have to go big to get free flexibility.

Again, the mistake is using terms such as "in general." There are specific and unique rules applicable to each 5-character fare basis. Those are available both online and by a call to CS. They can change over time and there are thousands of FT posts about "why my Aunt Tilly got a refund on X just 3 months ago and I can't get one now."

Thanks Everyone - the option I'm looking at right now in U class is:

MKE-CLE-ALB
Fare basis code: UA0KY
Current fare listing at $352

Based on comments above, it looks as though this fare class is refundable.

Flex fare vs Unrestricted fare. Refundability? Translation please?
 

I'm not sure if there's another thread or other page for this. Please direct me.

With UA, can somebody please explain the differences between H and B fare to me? Thanks. I read the rules and regulations which only send my head spinning. If only the rules and regulations could read in plain English or some other vernacular tongue!

Specifically, what is the difference between H, B, etc if plans change and the passenger needs to cancel before the flight? How liquid do the funds become to rebook a new totally different itinerary? What happens with change fees, etc?

Thanks.

It's going to vary by the rules specifically, but in general, an unrestricted ticket is unrestricted -- you can change dates, times, etc., and it will generally not change in price. There is no advance purchase requirement, you can call up 2 days before the flight and change to a different one, since you already paid the unrestricted fare, if that bucket is available, it's likely going to be available at the same price.

A flexible fare generally allows you to change without a fee, but your new ticket that you change to has a higher chance of being a price increase since you bought a fare that may have had an advance purchase requirement. For example, if the H fare requires a 10 day advance, and you try to change to a flight 3 days out, it will likely not be available in H. There will be no change fee, but you'll be charged the difference to the higher fare (usually the unrestricted fare at that time).

Again, this is all generally speaking. There are markets with low fares close in, flexible fares with short advance purchase requirements, etc.

But the concept, in general, is that when you make a change, you're subject to refare, so when they change an unrestricted, you're not as likely to be refared.