Hi there,

I had booked a non-refundable, round-trip flight back in August from Honolulu to Tokyo. This was booked online and in the Economy class. A few days ago, I just wanted to check my reservation again online to make sure everything was ok.

I found a message stating that there has been a change to my reservation. The times have stayed the same, but I have been downgraded from a Boeing 777 to a 737 and from a meal to no meal. It asks me to click on the "Continue" button so I can acknowledge and accept the schedule change given which I've refused to do yet.

I feel quite upset about this as United failed to inform me of this downgrade at all and it feels like a bait and switch that I am now getting less than what I had paid for!

Is there any recourse that I can take? I'd greatly appreciate any help for this as I fly very infrequently and would appreciate the community's knowledge. Thanks a lot!

Sounds like an IT error. UA does not fly a 737 from HNL-NRT. It's either a 747, a 772, or a 787-8/9. What is your date of travel?

I doubt that UA uses 737 to fly HNL-NRT. Change from 777 to 747 or 787 is more likely. Good luck.

Sorry, I made a slight mistake.

I am to be taking flight UA903 from Honolulu to Tokyo on November 5th on a 747-400.

Then on November 16th, I'm taking UA874 from Tokyo to Guam then UA200 from Guam to Honolulu, both on 737-800s. These two flights are the ones that were originally 777s. Also UA903 and UA200 originally had meal options when I booked the reservations which are now removed.

NRT-GUM can be a 772 or a 737.

GUM-HNL is always a 772.

Have they swapped you to UA197 on 11/16? That's an overnight connection at GUM.

If you don't like UA's change, you can call and get something else. It's best if you research alternatives and have a suggestion in mind when you call.

UA 874 is a 777.

United Continental doesn't always display correct information in the schedule change boxes.

Best thing to do is to start a search on a new trip for the flights that you've been rebooked on to figure out what the planes/meals/etc. really are.

That's what's really operating the flights. The United Continental website just isn't displaying it correctly.

Once you hit "Accept" it should display accurately.

My dummy booking shows 777 for both inbound flights on Nov. 16. Just click "accept" the change and the correct information will re-appear. If not, call UA and ask for the direct B747 flight. Good luck

Below is the reservation I had originally made last month.

http://imgur.com/kB6EqVC


Below is the changed reservation when I had checked it a few days ago and now United is asking me to acknowledge and accept these changes.

http://imgur.com/E781HZM

Unfortunately the equipment and meal will be in error will there is a pending change (the red highlights). As others have advise either check via a new dummy booking or call or accept and then see. In the meantime there may be bogus info until you reservation is in a clean state.

However I do believe GUM<>HNL has had a meal service change (regardless of equipment) -- but this occurred a year ago. It is now Buy on board (BoB). Believe NRT-GUM still has a meal

You need to take a screenshot of what it looks like if you're booking a new reservation for that flight.

It will show a 777.

It's a well-known bug with United Continental systems.

Unless you are making 5 stops on the "Island Hopper". Then, it IS in fact a 737.

Good point

I assume that you booked via GUM as it was cheaper (as in a lot cheaper than going NRT-HNL)? If so, and you don't really want an overnight in GUM (and the risk of a delay, the GUM-HNL flight is not reliable) then I would call United, leverage this and see if they will put you on the direct flight leaving NRT at about 7:30 pm, into NHL in the am at about 8 am.

p.s. tell them you paid for a widebody with meals and you don't want to fly on a narrowbody over water like they now have you doing w/o meals.

^

Free meals remain OP on any flight to/from NRT -- don't worry about that. (not that UA's free meals are anything to get excited about).

I would bypass GUM and ask to be placed on the direct flight -- seems a perfect opportunity and the HNL-GUM flight is annoying with inferior IFE and no meal. FYI, GUM-HNL flights have had no complimentary meals in economy class for over a year. UA considers it just another "domestic" flight. The island-hopper (truly a 737 between GUM and HNL...) does have snacks on each flight and a full meal from MAJ-HNL behind the curtain.

except as the OP has been informed there is no change so that strategy will likely fail.