Check Your UA Itineraries for Schedule Changes and what to do after one [Archive]
#526
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
#527
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,068
The standard FT reply on this one is "probably an equipment change pending." However in my experience this particular peculiar wording ("waitlisted") has meant a complete cancellation of that segment from the schedule, with res usually taking one to two weeks more to change you automatically to something more inconvenient. An easy check is to try a new dummy booking on the suspicious segment. If it's not there, you know it's probably a cancellation, not equipment change. YMMV of course.
If you're using the mobile app, it shows any segment that is not confirmed as "Waitlisted."
So if the flight time changed 15 minutes or it's a new flight number, it would show as red "Schedule Changed" online, but "Waitlisted" on the app.
It's typical of the inconsistency that one would expect from United Continental Holdings, Inc.
#528
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: NorCal - 1K 2MM
Posts: 2,089
If you're using the mobile app, it shows any segment that is not confirmed as "Waitlisted."
So if the flight time changed 15 minutes or it's a new flight number, it would show as red "Schedule Changed" online, but "Waitlisted" on the app.
It's typical of the inconsistency that one would expect from United Continental Holdings, Inc.
So if the flight time changed 15 minutes or it's a new flight number, it would show as red "Schedule Changed" online, but "Waitlisted" on the app.
It's typical of the inconsistency that one would expect from United Continental Holdings, Inc.
#529
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 553
I don't recall schedule change emails either. I usually find out because I'm proactive about checking my reservations, since I book some of them pretty far in advance.
In general, I haven't had problems with agents putting me on alternative flights after the changes. In some cases, no good alternatives were available (usually international connecting flights), so I was stuck with those.
United really should fix this, though, as no one should have to find out their flight changed a few days before departure or when checking in. There's no reason that people should have to check their ticketed bookings on a regular basis for changes. Computers can do that much more efficiently.
In general, I haven't had problems with agents putting me on alternative flights after the changes. In some cases, no good alternatives were available (usually international connecting flights), so I was stuck with those.
United really should fix this, though, as no one should have to find out their flight changed a few days before departure or when checking in. There's no reason that people should have to check their ticketed bookings on a regular basis for changes. Computers can do that much more efficiently.
#530
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: DFW,FLL
Programs: DL PM, UA Premier Plat, Hertz 5*, HH Gold
Posts: 561
Did a dummy booking, the flight does exist with only the flight number and eqp change
#531
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,068
I don't recall schedule change emails either. I usually find out because I'm proactive about checking my reservations, since I book some of them pretty far in advance.
In general, I haven't had problems with agents putting me on alternative flights after the changes. In some cases, no good alternatives were available (usually international connecting flights), so I was stuck with those.
United really should fix this, though, as no one should have to find out their flight changed a few days before departure or when checking in. There's no reason that people should have to check their ticketed bookings on a regular basis for changes. Computers can do that much more efficiently.
In general, I haven't had problems with agents putting me on alternative flights after the changes. In some cases, no good alternatives were available (usually international connecting flights), so I was stuck with those.
United really should fix this, though, as no one should have to find out their flight changed a few days before departure or when checking in. There's no reason that people should have to check their ticketed bookings on a regular basis for changes. Computers can do that much more efficiently.
If you leave them alone, they usually will send an email at some point.
#532
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: SAN
Programs: AS MVP 100K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, UA 1MM,
Posts: 1,709
I get emails for all of my schedule changes. No problems there. They come in the form of an itinerary email. And you need to look closely to see what changed. Or, just look on united.com and see where it calls out the change.
#533
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
Lots of sked changes in my itineraries this weekend. Mostly good ones in terms of rebooking improvements over original itinerary.
I had a January YVR-ORD-IAD morph into a UX leg ORD-IAD. No way am I taking UX out of ORD in January. Shifted to YVR-SFO-IAD with the SFO-IAD on a 757 with lie-flats. And there was R space, and I'm now confirmed in the front cabin. We'll see if the lie-flat 757 holds, but it's still a good trade for more 2016 PQM.
I had a January YVR-ORD-IAD morph into a UX leg ORD-IAD. No way am I taking UX out of ORD in January. Shifted to YVR-SFO-IAD with the SFO-IAD on a 757 with lie-flats. And there was R space, and I'm now confirmed in the front cabin. We'll see if the lie-flat 757 holds, but it's still a good trade for more 2016 PQM.
#534
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Wesseling, NRW, Germany
Programs: UA *S , MR LT Titanium, HH Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,940
This past weekend I had a change on every trip I have booked already for Q1/16...most were easy fixes, but I have one left that makes me feel unsure what to do. Hope this is the right thread to put my question...
I have an ORD-DCA-EWR trip booked in January where I voluntarily did this detour to maximise PQM earning, but due to the change, the connection-time at DCA comes down to 32 minutes, and that is connecting to the last DCA-EWR flight of the day as a bonus.
Is my assumption correct that this is a almost guarantee to spend the night at DCA given the average weather in the DCA- and ORD-area, traffic-situation in the evening at ORD and UA's susceptibility for delays in general? If so, any suggestion what routing to ask for when calling in? Would not want to leave ORD before 2pm on 1/19 and would prefer a "safe" connection somewhere to add some extra PQM.
Greetings - Dirk
I have an ORD-DCA-EWR trip booked in January where I voluntarily did this detour to maximise PQM earning, but due to the change, the connection-time at DCA comes down to 32 minutes, and that is connecting to the last DCA-EWR flight of the day as a bonus.
Is my assumption correct that this is a almost guarantee to spend the night at DCA given the average weather in the DCA- and ORD-area, traffic-situation in the evening at ORD and UA's susceptibility for delays in general? If so, any suggestion what routing to ask for when calling in? Would not want to leave ORD before 2pm on 1/19 and would prefer a "safe" connection somewhere to add some extra PQM.
Greetings - Dirk
#535
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
This past weekend I had a change on every trip I have booked already for Q1/16...most were easy fixes, but I have one left that makes me feel unsure what to do. Hope this is the right thread to put my question...
I have an ORD-DCA-EWR trip booked in January where I voluntarily did this detour to maximise PQM earning, but due to the change, the connection-time at DCA comes down to 32 minutes, and that is connecting to the last DCA-EWR flight of the day as a bonus.
Is my assumption correct that this is a almost guarantee to spend the night at DCA given the average weather in the DCA- and ORD-area, traffic-situation in the evening at ORD and UA's susceptibility for delays in general? If so, any suggestion what routing to ask for when calling in? Would not want to leave ORD before 2pm on 1/19 and would prefer a "safe" connection somewhere to add some extra PQM.
Greetings - Dirk
I have an ORD-DCA-EWR trip booked in January where I voluntarily did this detour to maximise PQM earning, but due to the change, the connection-time at DCA comes down to 32 minutes, and that is connecting to the last DCA-EWR flight of the day as a bonus.
Is my assumption correct that this is a almost guarantee to spend the night at DCA given the average weather in the DCA- and ORD-area, traffic-situation in the evening at ORD and UA's susceptibility for delays in general? If so, any suggestion what routing to ask for when calling in? Would not want to leave ORD before 2pm on 1/19 and would prefer a "safe" connection somewhere to add some extra PQM.
Greetings - Dirk
Probably the best course of action is to flight search for a itinerary that you want, then call in and present the option as your preference and see what happens.
#536
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Wesseling, NRW, Germany
Programs: UA *S , MR LT Titanium, HH Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,940
Probably the best course of action is to flight search for a itinerary that you want, then call in and present the option as your preference and see what happens.
Greetings - Dirk
#537
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,865
What I would do is wait till day of trip and then just switch to direct if 1st leg looks delayed. And then claim ORC. There is also a good chance schedule changes again and connection becomes safer.
#538
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,763
This past weekend I had a change on every trip I have booked already for Q1/16...most were easy fixes, but I have one left that makes me feel unsure what to do. Hope this is the right thread to put my question...
I have an ORD-DCA-EWR trip booked in January where I voluntarily did this detour to maximise PQM earning, but due to the change, the connection-time at DCA comes down to 32 minutes, and that is connecting to the last DCA-EWR flight of the day as a bonus.
Is my assumption correct that this is a almost guarantee to spend the night at DCA given the average weather in the DCA- and ORD-area, traffic-situation in the evening at ORD and UA's susceptibility for delays in general? If so, any suggestion what routing to ask for when calling in? Would not want to leave ORD before 2pm on 1/19 and would prefer a "safe" connection somewhere to add some extra PQM.
Greetings - Dirk
I have an ORD-DCA-EWR trip booked in January where I voluntarily did this detour to maximise PQM earning, but due to the change, the connection-time at DCA comes down to 32 minutes, and that is connecting to the last DCA-EWR flight of the day as a bonus.
Is my assumption correct that this is a almost guarantee to spend the night at DCA given the average weather in the DCA- and ORD-area, traffic-situation in the evening at ORD and UA's susceptibility for delays in general? If so, any suggestion what routing to ask for when calling in? Would not want to leave ORD before 2pm on 1/19 and would prefer a "safe" connection somewhere to add some extra PQM.
Greetings - Dirk
#539
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
You're not that likely to get ORC on a voluntary request to change, even if it's based on an apparent delay.
#540
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,865
Once you're delayed enough that you most likely miss the last connection that day - then the change is involuntary by definition. Whether you request the change or you just take what they give you doesn't affect getting ORC credit. Of course there is a grey area if the possibility exists that you might make the connection, but the words invol reroute have never failed to work for me.