Feb 24, 2019, 12:37 pm
Last edit by: onthesam
Not publicly published but a long existing practice
Multiple reports of success in 2019 including one in June and one in July, 2019 in which the $50 processing fee was charged separately and then an ETC issued for the gross fare difference.
Another recent case in this thread is late 2018.
A successful case of repricing and keeping a confirmed upgrade.
Another recent case in this thread is late 2018.
A successful case of repricing and keeping a confirmed upgrade.
Only $50 change fee if fare goes down within 30 days... Did I miss the memo?
Nov 12, 2014, 12:20 pm
#16
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,852
I haven't encounted this 30 day policy. Would be nice if its an actual policy. Hope so! Thanks OP for ppsting this ans Safe Travels..
Nov 12, 2014, 1:42 pm
#17
Moderator: Mileage Run, United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The City/Honolulu
Programs: UA 3MM; Hyatt Glob*****; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,473
Nov 12, 2014, 7:15 pm
#18
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AADULtArer
Posts: 5,693
Can we retitle this thread Rumor or unsubstantiated or the like?
Since such a policy would be completely contrary to revenue management unless it is confirmed in writing somewhere it is really misleading to those who come here for guidance.
Since such a policy would be completely contrary to revenue management unless it is confirmed in writing somewhere it is really misleading to those who come here for guidance.
Nov 12, 2014, 7:30 pm
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
its not unsubstantiated, I have a receipt, and others have gotten the same offer. I listed the name of the "policy" that the rep gave me, "30-day grace period" and put a question mark after it. I think it is pretty clear. Maybe there should be a colon after "Fare Drop". I wasn't clear if this grace period is for fare drops (repricing) only or also works for route changes
Now the rep did say she had never heard of this policy either (ofcourse she thought Hawaii was international too). Perhaps someone who is better at deciphering fare rules could do a quick search on my route and use a W fare and see if they can find anything. I looked through it, searched for "30" "50" and read the penalty sections but couldnt find anything.
Now the rep did say she had never heard of this policy either (ofcourse she thought Hawaii was international too). Perhaps someone who is better at deciphering fare rules could do a quick search on my route and use a W fare and see if they can find anything. I looked through it, searched for "30" "50" and read the penalty sections but couldnt find anything.
Nov 12, 2014, 7:38 pm
#22
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AADULtArer
Posts: 5,693
its not unsubstantiated, I have a receipt, and others have gotten the same offer. I listed the name of the "policy" that the rep gave me, "30-day grace period" and put a question mark after it. I think it is pretty clear. Maybe there should be a colon after "Fare Drop". I wasn't clear if this grace period is for fare drops (repricing) only or also works for route changes
Now the rep did say she had never heard of this policy either (ofcourse she thought Hawaii was international too). Perhaps someone who is better at deciphering fare rules could do a quick search on my route and use a W fare and see if they can find anything. I looked through it, searched for "30" "50" and read the penalty sections but couldnt find anything.
Now the rep did say she had never heard of this policy either (ofcourse she thought Hawaii was international too). Perhaps someone who is better at deciphering fare rules could do a quick search on my route and use a W fare and see if they can find anything. I looked through it, searched for "30" "50" and read the penalty sections but couldnt find anything.
I'm not disputing people have had fares adjusted, just the anecdata that it is a stated policy of UA
Apr 29, 2015, 8:10 pm
#24
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Redwood City, CA USA (SFO/SJC)
Programs: 1K 2010, 1P in 2011, Plat for 2012,13,14,15 & 2016. Gold in 17 & 18, Plat since
Posts: 8,826
That is indeed unexpectedly-nice of them! Fuzzy interpretation of the rules and dates? You almost moved the clock back a decade, to when you could re-fare at any time, without a change fee (provided it was booked on UA.com).
May 2, 2015, 6:10 am
#25
Join Date: Nov 2013
Programs: UA 1k 1mil. Marriott Titanium
Posts: 202
I thought they were doing it like orbitz when the price drops for the ticket in the same fare class they refund you the difference. Orbitz did it automatically and didn't need to call them. UA should not charge the $50 fee since Orbitz doesn't do it. I can understand if moving to a different fare class but not for the same fare class. It's also been my experience depends on the rep your talking to if they want to charge you or not.
May 2, 2015, 2:08 pm
#26
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: UA gold
Posts: 278
Only $50 change fee if fare goes down within 30 days... Did I miss the memo?
* Bought a multi-city business class transpac for $3900 through united.com on April 11.
* Looked at the same routing today on united.com and it was $3100.
* Called reservations and they could not pull up the fare and transferred me to web support.
* Web support found the fare on-line and told me I'd get a e-cert for the fare difference. Said there'd be a $50 processing fee and took a CC number. Put me on hold while they processed it.
* Ten or 15 minutes later came back and told me the $50 would be deducted from the e-cert.
* Received a $770 TCVA in my email—the difference between the fares minus $50.
Is this the normal way that fare differences are processed? I thought that I would be subject to the $300 change fee and might have to pay that up-front.
* Looked at the same routing today on united.com and it was $3100.
* Called reservations and they could not pull up the fare and transferred me to web support.
* Web support found the fare on-line and told me I'd get a e-cert for the fare difference. Said there'd be a $50 processing fee and took a CC number. Put me on hold while they processed it.
* Ten or 15 minutes later came back and told me the $50 would be deducted from the e-cert.
* Received a $770 TCVA in my email—the difference between the fares minus $50.
Is this the normal way that fare differences are processed? I thought that I would be subject to the $300 change fee and might have to pay that up-front.
Last edited by sfmaus; May 3, 2015 at 10:10 am Reason: typo
May 3, 2015, 10:13 am
#27
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: UA gold
Posts: 278
* Bought a multi-city business class transpac for $3900 through united.com on April 11.
* Looked at the same routing today on united.com and it was $3100.
* Called reservations and they could not pull up the fare and transferred me to web support.
* Web support found the fare on-line and told me I'd get a e-cert for the fare difference. Said there'd be a $50 processing fee and took a CC number. Put me on hold while they processed it.
* Ten or 15 minutes later came back and told me the $50 would be deducted from the e-cert.
* Received a $770 TCVA in my email—the difference between the fares minus $50.
Is this the normal way that fare differences are processed? I thought that I would be subject to the $300 change fee and might have to pay that up-front.
* Looked at the same routing today on united.com and it was $3100.
* Called reservations and they could not pull up the fare and transferred me to web support.
* Web support found the fare on-line and told me I'd get a e-cert for the fare difference. Said there'd be a $50 processing fee and took a CC number. Put me on hold while they processed it.
* Ten or 15 minutes later came back and told me the $50 would be deducted from the e-cert.
* Received a $770 TCVA in my email—the difference between the fares minus $50.
Is this the normal way that fare differences are processed? I thought that I would be subject to the $300 change fee and might have to pay that up-front.
In my particular case the fare dropped another $100 and I got a $50 TCVA issued.
Last edited by sfmaus; May 3, 2015 at 10:14 am Reason: typo due to overly agressive auto correct
May 3, 2015, 4:21 pm
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,891
I thought they were doing it like orbitz when the price drops for the ticket in the same fare class they refund you the difference. Orbitz did it automatically and didn't need to call them. UA should not charge the $50 fee since Orbitz doesn't do it. I can understand if moving to a different fare class but not for the same fare class. It's also been my experience depends on the rep your talking to if they want to charge you or not.
The Orbitz guarantee also had the restriction that someone had to buy the lower price ticket on Orbitz to get the difference back. If no one bought the ticket at the lower price point, he guarantee didn't apply.
May 3, 2015, 10:19 pm
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA Plat 2MM. DL Plat, AS MVP
Posts: 12,752
Only $50 change fee if fare goes down within 30 days... Did I miss the memo?
Spoke with UA today (2 calls, two itins). I asked about changing to a lower fare on each. They told me of a (new?) policy in which if the fare goes down within 30 days of ticketing, there is only a $50 change fee.
I am late to the party, or is this a new feature?
(Yes, I know.... once upon a time you could always get a lower fare as long as the routing remained the same).
I am late to the party, or is this a new feature?
(Yes, I know.... once upon a time you could always get a lower fare as long as the routing remained the same).
May 3, 2015, 11:41 pm
#30
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Slightly to the left of center
Posts: 3,475
Not sure the reasoning, but i welcome the change.
I wonder if we have come full circle and UA is trying to get people back to their site - and more-so, back to booking 016 ticket stock. For those who don't need PQD (either they've reached their tier threshold or are exempt), there aren't tremendous reasons to keep business at United's website, I don't believe.
I wonder if we have come full circle and UA is trying to get people back to their site - and more-so, back to booking 016 ticket stock. For those who don't need PQD (either they've reached their tier threshold or are exempt), there aren't tremendous reasons to keep business at United's website, I don't believe.