Check Your UA Itineraries for Schedule Changes and what to do after one
Jun 3, 2023, 3:59 pm
#151
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: YVR
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 975
Jun 20, 2023, 10:07 am
#152
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 70
schedule change with no viable option
Scheduled to fly DLH-ORD-SXM Sunday December 3
schedule change and now its DLH-ORD-EWR-SXM with a 4 hour layover, an 8 hour overnight layover and a next day arrival.
Looks like they moved the ORD-SXM flight to Saturdays so the easy answer would be to fly a day earlier (and extend the trip by a day) but flying from a small regional there is not a flight that gets me to ORD in time on Saturday.
Would I be entitled to fly another star alliance carrier for free?
I can drive 2.5 hours to MSP and that opens up a few more options (albeit with added expense of driving and parking)
Would United let me fly Friday night into ORD with an overnight connection then onto SXM Saturday morning? would they pay for a hotel?
schedule change and now its DLH-ORD-EWR-SXM with a 4 hour layover, an 8 hour overnight layover and a next day arrival.
Looks like they moved the ORD-SXM flight to Saturdays so the easy answer would be to fly a day earlier (and extend the trip by a day) but flying from a small regional there is not a flight that gets me to ORD in time on Saturday.
Would I be entitled to fly another star alliance carrier for free?
I can drive 2.5 hours to MSP and that opens up a few more options (albeit with added expense of driving and parking)
Would United let me fly Friday night into ORD with an overnight connection then onto SXM Saturday morning? would they pay for a hotel?
Jun 20, 2023, 10:20 am
#153
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,059
While they would likely fly you to ORD the night before (fares to most Caribbean destinations permit layovers up to 24 hours), you'd have to pay for the hotel yourself. Basically, the only times they will provide for hotel is during IROPs situations, but not for advance schedule changes. They won't put you on another Star carrier (which wouldn't get you there any quicker anyway).
Jun 20, 2023, 10:34 am
#154
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,412
No. UA will offer you a re-route on its metal, or you can get a refund.
As stated, yes, and no.
As stated, yes, and no.
Jun 20, 2023, 10:39 am
#155
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,693
Given that it's adding an overnight, if you find an option (or a couple) you'd prefer to the assigned reroute, UA is generally pretty flexible to reasonable asks. I think flying AC, or going to ORD the day before, or changing your origin point to MSP are reasonable asks. May need to HUCA.
UA won't provide a hotel for the overnight.
UA won't provide a hotel for the overnight.
Last edited by mduell; Jun 20, 2023 at 10:50 am
Jun 20, 2023, 10:40 am
#156
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: MBS/FNT/LAN
Programs: UA 1K, HH Gold, Mariott Gold
Posts: 9,630
I had a similar schedule change on a trip to SXM pre covid... The ended up putting me on Silver air from *somewhere* in Florida (I honestly can't remember if it was MIA, FLL or MCO)...
Didn't matter anyway, because a couple of months later there was another schedule change, and I was back on UA metal the whole way.
Jun 20, 2023, 11:13 am
#157
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 70
While they would likely fly you to ORD the night before (fares to most Caribbean destinations permit layovers up to 24 hours), you'd have to pay for the hotel yourself. Basically, the only times they will provide for hotel is during IROPs situations, but not for advance schedule changes. They won't put you on another Star carrier (which wouldn't get you there any quicker anyway).
Traveling with an infant so just trying to limit airport and airplane time, really the only reason we picked SXM.
Jun 20, 2023, 11:21 am
#158
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,412
I agree that being put on AC is a reasonable ask, in that I don't think OP is unreasonable for asking if they'd do that. But I'd estimate less than a 1% chance they'd agree.
Jun 20, 2023, 12:08 pm
#159
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: TPA for now. Hopefully LIS for retirement
Posts: 13,705
Since the trip is not until December, I'd take a look at schedules and pricing on other airlines, and if you find a better option, cancel and get a refund from UA.
Or, since the trip is so far off, there is a decent chance there will be another schedule change between now and then.
Or, since the trip is so far off, there is a decent chance there will be another schedule change between now and then.
Jun 20, 2023, 1:58 pm
#160
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 70
Since the trip is not until December, I'd take a look at schedules and pricing on other airlines, and if you find a better option, cancel and get a refund from UA.
Or, since the trip is so far off, there is a decent chance there will be another schedule change between now and then.
Or, since the trip is so far off, there is a decent chance there will be another schedule change between now and then.
Looks like I can position to EWR or ORD the night before.
Jun 20, 2023, 2:47 pm
#161
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,126
It’s probably better to go ahead and ask for the DLH-ORD-SXM date change and accept the overnight near O’Hare. That way you’ll at least have your seats all squared away now instead of later.
Jun 20, 2023, 4:32 pm
#162
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: TX
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 729
Jun 20, 2023, 4:36 pm
#163
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,126
Do you think UA would add back a Sunday ORD-SXM flight as late as three months out? Seems unlikely to me. Maybe five months out or something like that.
Jun 20, 2023, 4:56 pm
#164
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: TX
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 729
if there’s a shuttle bus, one-way rental car, or accommodating grandparent to take you to MSP and you can maintain a return back into DLH I might opt for that.
Jun 20, 2023, 5:02 pm
#165
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,059
Agree that there's basically zero chance of UA adding back Sunday flight on 12/3 after they just removed it. The ORD-SXM flight operates on Sat/Sun for a few weeks around Christmas now, but is otherwise Saturday-only for the months of November through February. Even if they were to add it back, the timing no longer works (DLH flight arrives too late to catch it). With the IAD and EWR flights to SXM departing in the morning, there's no way to connect to them same-day out of DLH since there are only the 2 daily flights to ORD from DLH. AC, DL, and AA have same day options out of MSP on 12/3 (via YYZ, ATL, and MIA), but not UA.
Last edited by xliioper; Jun 21, 2023 at 1:24 pm