Star Gold on UA same-day flight change
May 24, 2014, 3:05 pm
#16
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
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Posts: 50,262
As an elite, I get same day standby, but the point I was making is by trying to fill as many seats earlier in the day, it gives UA more flexibility later in the day to recover from irrops, less likely to be in an oversold situation which costs $$$ and ticks people off, and gives them a seat on an otherwise full flight that they can try and resell. How much money does it really save UA by having those seats leave empty? Do they collect enough $75 fees to justify this? I honestly can't imagine many willing to pay the $75.
May 24, 2014, 4:22 pm
#18
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: LAX, MMH
Programs: MMH MVP Charter Member, UA 1K MM
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It will only be $75 if inventory in the same fare class is available. You may have to pay a fare difference in addition to the $75
It will only be $75 if inventory in the same fare class is available. You may have to pay a fare difference in addition to the $75
May 24, 2014, 6:24 pm
#19
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,712
Yes, let's not give away seats which are basically worthless once the door closes. Lets try and charge for it, and when it leaves empty, and then some irrops occur, then I cancel the ticket and get nothing. Yes very smart. You must be one of the geniuses that work at UA.
You're being silly.
Flexibility of schedule has value.
UA has two options:
Allow free SDC to anyone. UA then gets paid $0 for this flexibility all of the time.
Or, only allow SDC to people who pay for it. Sometimes they get no value (seats go empty) but SOMETIMES they DO get paid something.
UA would be stupid to choose no money all of the time over some money some of the time.
Do they collect enough $75 fees to justify this? I honestly can't imagine many willing to pay the $75.
And, on top of the $75 fees, there's the money they collect having people pay more for flexible fares. The premium they could charge for flexible fares would go down if anyone could SDC for free without a flexible fare ticket.
May 24, 2014, 6:26 pm
#20
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
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It will only be $75 if inventory in the same fare class is available. You may have to pay a fare difference in addition to the $75
It will only be $75 if inventory in the same fare class is available. You may have to pay a fare difference in addition to the $75
If the same fare class is available (check at just after 24 hours prior and at 3 hours prior and in between if you care to), he will be able to confirm a seat for $75.
If it is NOT available, he can confirm a seat by paying the $75 and the difference in fare to a fare class that is available...
*OR*
He can so same day standby, in which case he'll pay $75 and get a seat if one is available at boarding. If not, the $75 gets refunded.
May 24, 2014, 6:31 pm
#21
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The thread got removed after the poster realized his foolish behaviour of bringing UA attention to this loophole.
Feb 6, 2018, 8:05 pm
#22
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 30
AHH! Weather tomorrow looks terrible and I'm flying MSY - IAH (ONE PNR), IAH - SYD - AKL (another PNR). Online check in for both PNR offers free changes to earlier flights even though my cities are not directly connected. I want to switch the second portion to IAH - SFO - AKL, but online and app only route me through SYD to my original AKL portion, (Air New Zealand). Spent an hour on hold with United and the reps just say things that don't make sense, like that the Air New Zealand flight might be oversold. They repeat that my cities are not excepted and are no help. Any tips?
EDIT - I am more than willing to pay the SDC fee.
EDIT - I am more than willing to pay the SDC fee.
Feb 6, 2018, 8:52 pm
#23
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
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AHH! Weather tomorrow looks terrible and I'm flying MSY - IAH (ONE PNR), IAH - SYD - AKL (another PNR). Online check in for both PNR offers free changes to earlier flights even though my cities are not directly connected. I want to switch the second portion to IAH - SFO - AKL, but online and app only route me through SYD to my original AKL portion, (Air New Zealand). Spent an hour on hold with United and the reps just say things that don't make sense, like that the Air New Zealand flight might be oversold. They repeat that my cities are not excepted and are no help. Any tips?
EDIT - I am more than willing to pay the SDC fee.
EDIT - I am more than willing to pay the SDC fee.
Feb 6, 2018, 8:56 pm
#24
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 30
Sorry, got frantic. I am looking to SDC to the all United metal IAH - SFO - AKL. Online check in is allowing me to change for free to earlier flights on UA metal to San Fran (presumably to move me through quicker) and on to Sydney, but keep original SYD to AKL Air NZ flight. Per the wiki, changing from UA partner segment to UA metal is technically not allowed but that success has been posted. I guess I'm trying to find out how to best approach it. Just HUACA a bunch of times? They're willing to get me to SYD at any option I want on United, but the hangup is the SYD to AKL. Am I just being unreasonable?
Feb 6, 2018, 9:18 pm
#25
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 30
I'm *A Gold but just a "member" on United. If I am flying UA and AirNZ on a United purchased ticket (016), can I stand by as a Gold member to change to all UA metal? Willing to pay the SDC fee, just don't think the SDC policy allows this change, per that thread and my past experience. Does *A gold standby allow me to make that change as a standby?
Feb 6, 2018, 9:27 pm
#26
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: SFO
Programs: OZ Diamond/*G, IHG Diamond Amb, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,240
I'm *A Gold but just a "member" on United. If I am flying UA and AirNZ on a United purchased ticket (016), can I stand by as a Gold member to change to all UA metal? Willing to pay the SDC fee, just don't think the SDC policy allows this change, per that thread and my past experience. Does *A gold standby allow me to make that change as a standby?
Feb 6, 2018, 9:45 pm
#27
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
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You can do SDC or Standby -- and likely will not be charged a fee. hile not stated anywhere, reports suggest non-UA *G get free SDC & Standby
While that might seem to be a limitation, UA agents can change to an all UA routing aprevious reouting that included a partner flight.
Feb 6, 2018, 10:05 pm
#28
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: SFO
Programs: OZ Diamond/*G, IHG Diamond Amb, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,240
I was not aware that you could switch from Partner to UA with SDC....never tried but I thought "flights must be operated by United" ruled that out.
MODS: Please delete the below if it is too much info.
My experience has been that when you ask an agent they will tell you to pay $75, but you can submit the request online or on a kiosk and won't be charged. Once a non-UA *G family member selected standby for earlier flight on a kiosk, wasn't charged, went to the Club, asked later about whether there was space on the earlier flight, and the agent said "I see you've paid the $75 fee and there's some seats so I can change your flight".
MODS: Please delete the below if it is too much info.
My experience has been that when you ask an agent they will tell you to pay $75, but you can submit the request online or on a kiosk and won't be charged. Once a non-UA *G family member selected standby for earlier flight on a kiosk, wasn't charged, went to the Club, asked later about whether there was space on the earlier flight, and the agent said "I see you've paid the $75 fee and there's some seats so I can change your flight".
Feb 6, 2018, 10:36 pm
#29
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 30
Yes
You can do SDC or Standby -- and likely will not be charged a fee. hile not stated anywhere, reports suggest non-UA *G get free SDC & Standby
While that might seem to be a limitation, UA agents can change to an all UA routing aprevious reouting that included a partner flight.
You can do SDC or Standby -- and likely will not be charged a fee. hile not stated anywhere, reports suggest non-UA *G get free SDC & Standby
While that might seem to be a limitation, UA agents can change to an all UA routing aprevious reouting that included a partner flight.
Feb 6, 2018, 11:01 pm
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
@WineCountry - I spent 3 hours on the phone trying to force the change by SDC and was unsuccessful. I called later and asked to be listed standby for my preferred flights and was told that can only be done at the airport. Is that second part true or should I call back again and ask to be listed standby for my preferred flights? When I get to the airport should I hightail for the premier access line and try to confirm the change? Your expertise is so greatly appreciated. If I can get this changed it will effectively add a full day to our vacation in NZ.
SDC is the only realistic option. What fare class is your existing ticket from IAH? Is your SYD-AKL flight a UA flight number or a NZ flight number? If UA, are you on the same fare class all the way through?