United Voucher for Fare Price Change?
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,411
Indeed. I think a lot of us vastly underestimate the number of SDCs, outright cancels, and last minute ticket purchases that occur less than 24 hours before departure. Most flights I take see the load fluctuate at least +/- 10 in the last 24 hours.
#33
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
The worst time to buy a fare is probably several days ahead of the flight. Walk-up fares are often considerably lower. Not always, but often.
You don't mention if you're elite on United, but as I mentioned previously, the best "protective" strategy might have been to book an award fare and then cancel it if you saw an attractive paid ticket. If non-elite, you'd be paying a close-in fee plus redeposit, which would come to $200 total ($150 if silver, $100 if gold, $50 if plat, free if 1K).
United doesn't discriminate in their desire to extract more revenue from customers. It's not personal. The chance that Y=2 was intentionally designed to fool anyone into paying a higher fare is very, very low.
#34
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Francisco
Programs: All-Around Kettle
Posts: 3,289
To answer your question, no one system makes "sense." The rules are whatever United says they are. In this case, you're buying a non-refundable ticket. Part of the gamble you are taking is that the price could drop on you. If you want the peace of mind of a fare drop, United offers refundable tickets -- at a higher cost, of course.
#35
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
I needed 2 tickets on Jan 2 from PVR-ORD that for months was showing $1900 per person one-way, no matter the routing. I found this egregious, but also understand that it's a super peak travel date from a popular vacation destination and that the flights were nearly full so they could get away with it. So I booked a standard award instead, as I don't consider the 37.5k miles worth $1900 (heck I can buy them for $787).
On Saturday, I checked again and the price had dropped to $166. Redeposited the awards and booked 2 tickets with money. No brainer (and a head start on 2017 PQMs!).
Point is, there's nothing moral or fair about any of it. The flights used to be full, and then for whatever reason they weren't. So prices went down.
On Saturday, I checked again and the price had dropped to $166. Redeposited the awards and booked 2 tickets with money. No brainer (and a head start on 2017 PQMs!).
Point is, there's nothing moral or fair about any of it. The flights used to be full, and then for whatever reason they weren't. So prices went down.
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,693
United.com said 2 seats remaining on plane in general, Y2, confirmed with Expert Mode. And that the price I saw said 2 seats remaining at that price. That would imply completely sold out.
Not sour grapes. That is false advertising to encourage a customer to purchase now at that price, when in fact it may not be true, as in my case...
Not sour grapes. That is false advertising to encourage a customer to purchase now at that price, when in fact it may not be true, as in my case...
Everything UA said was true. You made up some implications that weren't true.
#37
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
I needed 2 tickets on Jan 2 from PVR-ORD that for months was showing $1900 per person one-way, no matter the routing. I found this egregious, but also understand that it's a super peak travel date from a popular vacation destination and that the flights were nearly full so they could get away with it. So I booked a standard award instead, as I don't consider the 37.5k miles worth $1900 (heck I can buy them for $787).
On Saturday, I checked again and the price had dropped to $166. Redeposited the awards and booked 2 tickets with money. No brainer (and a head start on 2017 PQMs!).
On Saturday, I checked again and the price had dropped to $166. Redeposited the awards and booked 2 tickets with money. No brainer (and a head start on 2017 PQMs!).
#38
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott/SPG/Hilton Gold, PreCheck + Clear
Posts: 2,306
Is UA's practice of providing an ETC in the amount of any fare drop, if requested, an official policy? Or is it just something they do unofficially on a case-by-case basis? Twice in recent weeks I've absentmindedly checked fares for upcoming routings and found significant price drops since my purchase. In each case UA provided an ETC to account for the drop, but in both cases it took over 20 minutes on hold. I've since tried to find the policy in writing on UA's website and come up blank.
If it's not official, is it perhaps something they do only for elites?
If it's not official, is it perhaps something they do only for elites?
#39
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,140
The old policy was to provide an ETC on any fare drop. The current policy (triggered by yapta.com) requires you to pay the change fee. If you're getting the ETC without a change fee, you're getting lucky.
#40
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
Appears this may be a unpublished benefit.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 21, 2017 at 12:48 pm Reason: typo
#41
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott/SPG/Hilton Gold, PreCheck + Clear
Posts: 2,306
Perhaps they waive the fee for elites?
#42
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Join Date: Apr 2004
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Posts: 52,140
#43
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott/SPG/Hilton Gold, PreCheck + Clear
Posts: 2,306
Seems that way. If there is stil a fee, it's odd that it was waived for me twice in as many weeks, without my requesting it, and with neither phone agent mentioning it.
Those reading this thread should look for an upcoming reservation of theirs with a fare drop to try it on!
Those reading this thread should look for an upcoming reservation of theirs with a fare drop to try it on!
#45
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott/SPG/Hilton Gold, PreCheck + Clear
Posts: 2,306
Don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth! Still, I'd be much more comfortable if they'd outline the policies online. But maybe they're trial balloons to see how much these newly relaxed rules end up costing the company?