Check Your UA Itineraries for Schedule Changes and what to do after one [Archive]
#1621
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: EWR/LHR/SFO
Programs: UA 1K 1MM
Posts: 574
Unfortunately, while UA can open revenue business space to displaced award holders on its own metal, it can't do the same for partner metal. If you're lucky you might get an agent who's willing to call NH and ask them to open I space on NGO-CTS, but NH has every right to say no in these cases.
You can also look for NH I space on NRT/HND-CTS on the days you want to travel. Worst case, I think the morning GUM-NRT on the 772 with half a day in Tokyo might be enjoyable, or else the later GUM-NRT on a 73x, connecting onto the (very short) evening NRT-CTS. Both those give you a decent run in F/J with only a short hop in Y.
You can also look for NH I space on NRT/HND-CTS on the days you want to travel. Worst case, I think the morning GUM-NRT on the 772 with half a day in Tokyo might be enjoyable, or else the later GUM-NRT on a 73x, connecting onto the (very short) evening NRT-CTS. Both those give you a decent run in F/J with only a short hop in Y.
#1622
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,349
My understanding of the Charter contract is that award tickets are not treated differently from cash tickets. Am I wrong? Does United owe me a routing to CTS in business (or business equivalent = domestic first) when one is clearly available and sold by them?
And if I am owed my equivalency, how do I get someone to listen, and then book it?
And if I am owed my equivalency, how do I get someone to listen, and then book it?
For another thing, as sfo789 stated, UA can't open award space on another carrier. They can ask, but ANA (NH) may say no, at which point there's not much that they can do. If you prefer, you are entitled to a full refund.
And I have never seen business class award space on UA for NH domestic business class awards. It seems to me that NH doesn't open this space to partner airlines.
Finally, for perspective: GUM-CTS is 2,026 miles. GUM-NGO/NGO-CTS is 1,554 miles followed by 607 miles; GUM-NRT/NRT-CTS is 1,559 miles followed by 489 miles. As far as downgrades go, it could be worse.
Further, I agree with sfo789 -- If you have the time to spare, I'd ask to get onto the 777 flight to NRT, which is lie-flat (albeit 8-across -- it's tight). There's not much to do in the NRT domestic departure area, but there's a bus to the Aeon Mall Narita that you can use to get out and enjoy the layover a bit.
#1623
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 342
I have a tricky schedule change, which was only picked up by myflights (no notification from UA or TG yet): Thai Airways has cancelled BKK-USM flights over most of January; ruining my SYD-SIN-BKK-USM award itinerary. My booking on both the UA and TG websites now just shows SYD-SIN-BKK. TG is code sharing with Bangkok Airways (PG), but they are not a star alliance member; indeed there is no other star service to USM (Silk Air which is owned by SQ flies SIN-USM but is not a Star member).
Will it be possible for the MP call centre to get me rerouted onto a PG flight BKK-USM?
Will it be possible for the MP call centre to get me rerouted onto a PG flight BKK-USM?
#1624
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,759
The choice will be to refund the ticket or e-structure the ticket based on available space (UA will open space on its flights). At this point unless you can find a routing that gets you close (such as the exisiting trip to BKK) and then purchase out of your pocket a paid ticket to UMS, you are probably looking at a refund.
A major weakness of award tickets can be canceled segments.
#1625
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,413
#1626
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: YVR
Programs: OZ Diamond, Jiffypark Manhattan Gold
Posts: 4,485
Original sked was SEA-IAH-MSY (2255 departure 1005+1 arrival), I guess that 2255 flight got cancelled. So there is now a 0005 departure that I could actually get in at 0853 or 1107. Am I too into the conspiracy that they didn't give me that one because it's more than 30 minutes change, thus giving me more licence to request a refund or a bigger change?
What they gave me was SEA-IAD-MSY (2230 departure 1037+1 arrival)..,just a 25 minute change, though I suppose one could argue its more than 30 minutes due to the ETA, but it forces me to fly almost 1100 miles extra.
Any chance this is grounds enough for me to get this changed to a YVR departure? If they had changed my return flights (more than the 10 minutes they did) I would definitely think I had grounds for this, but I don't wanna call and just have to HUACA a couple times if I have no shot at actually getting what I'd prefer.
What they gave me was SEA-IAD-MSY (2230 departure 1037+1 arrival)..,just a 25 minute change, though I suppose one could argue its more than 30 minutes due to the ETA, but it forces me to fly almost 1100 miles extra.
Any chance this is grounds enough for me to get this changed to a YVR departure? If they had changed my return flights (more than the 10 minutes they did) I would definitely think I had grounds for this, but I don't wanna call and just have to HUACA a couple times if I have no shot at actually getting what I'd prefer.
#1627
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,413
I would not expect to get a new origin (YVR) with reasonable alternatives available ex-SEA. But you never know. Sometimes you can score big playing agent roulette.
#1628
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: LAS
Programs: 3 MMer
Posts: 458
I have a tricky schedule change, which was only picked up by myflights (no notification from UA or TG yet): Thai Airways has cancelled BKK-USM flights over most of January; ruining my SYD-SIN-BKK-USM award itinerary. My booking on both the UA and TG websites now just shows SYD-SIN-BKK. TG is code sharing with Bangkok Airways (PG), but they are not a star alliance member; indeed there is no other star service to USM (Silk Air which is owned by SQ flies SIN-USM but is not a Star member).
Will it be possible for the MP call centre to get me rerouted onto a PG flight BKK-USM?
Will it be possible for the MP call centre to get me rerouted onto a PG flight BKK-USM?
In July, 2012 Thai Air ceased most of their domestic flights, under that name, and became "Smile Airlines". Like FormalHall, I too had flights booked via BKK to KKC (Khon Kaen). My Thai flights were cancelled and NO NOTIFICATION. I needed to purchase separate tickets on "Smile" in order to get to my final destination. NO Star benefits-No admittance to any of their clubs, and 20 kilo limit on luggage. Cost cuts due to the fact that Thai Air loses tons of baht every year. The airline (Smile) itself is fine, just that you are on your own re any help from UA or Thai Air people, and they let you know that up front, at every turn.
#1629
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: YVR
Programs: OZ Diamond, Jiffypark Manhattan Gold
Posts: 4,485
If you call, a decent agent will give you that routing rather than forcing you to route via IAD. "I'd rather not backtrack 1000 miles" is a perfectly valid reason for a different routing.
I would not expect to get a new origin (YVR) with reasonable alternatives available ex-SEA. But you never know. Sometimes you can score big playing agent roulette.
I would not expect to get a new origin (YVR) with reasonable alternatives available ex-SEA. But you never know. Sometimes you can score big playing agent roulette.
#1630
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,349
Original sked was SEA-IAH-MSY (2255 departure 1005+1 arrival), I guess that 2255 flight got cancelled. So there is now a 0005 departure that I could actually get in at 0853 or 1107. Am I too into the conspiracy that they didn't give me that one because it's more than 30 minutes change, thus giving me more licence to request a refund or a bigger change?
What they gave me was SEA-IAD-MSY (2230 departure 1037+1 arrival)..,just a 25 minute change, though I suppose one could argue its more than 30 minutes due to the ETA, but it forces me to fly almost 1100 miles extra.
Any chance this is grounds enough for me to get this changed to a YVR departure? If they had changed my return flights (more than the 10 minutes they did) I would definitely think I had grounds for this, but I don't wanna call and just have to HUACA a couple times if I have no shot at actually getting what I'd prefer.
What they gave me was SEA-IAD-MSY (2230 departure 1037+1 arrival)..,just a 25 minute change, though I suppose one could argue its more than 30 minutes due to the ETA, but it forces me to fly almost 1100 miles extra.
Any chance this is grounds enough for me to get this changed to a YVR departure? If they had changed my return flights (more than the 10 minutes they did) I would definitely think I had grounds for this, but I don't wanna call and just have to HUACA a couple times if I have no shot at actually getting what I'd prefer.
However, if you don't see it that way -- the chances that they will give you a free change to a YVR departure are slim to none, especially if you're trying to keep similar flight times. AFAIK, there aren't any UA-operated redeyes out of YVR, so you'd be asking for at least one AC segment.
Having said that, if the ex-YVR price is acceptable -- presumably it wasn't before, but perhaps now it is -- you might be able to talk them into a refund. I wouldn't call this a 25-minute schedule change; at a minimum, it's a 32-minute change, because arrival counts just as much as departure. But I'd actually call it a 57-minute change, as that's the increase in travel time. You're still below the 2-hour policy for a refund, but you might get a sympathetic agent.
#1631
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
Personally, I would much prefer SEA-IAD-MSY to SEA-IAH-MSY; I'd argue they did you a gigantic favor. The potential extra hour of sleep is precious.
However, if you don't see it that way -- the chances that they will give you a free change to a YVR departure are slim to none, especially if you're trying to keep similar flight times. AFAIK, there aren't any UA-operated redeyes out of YVR, so you'd be asking for at least one AC segment....
However, if you don't see it that way -- the chances that they will give you a free change to a YVR departure are slim to none, especially if you're trying to keep similar flight times. AFAIK, there aren't any UA-operated redeyes out of YVR, so you'd be asking for at least one AC segment....
#1632
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,349
^ Thanks for the correction. I still expect that it would be difficult to change from an ex-SEA flight to an ex-YVR flight, but if YVR-ORD happens to be operating that day, the chances might go from 0.1% to 1.0%.
#1633
Join Date: May 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: DL-Plat, UA-Plat 2MM, AA-PlatPro, B6-Mosaic 3, AY-Plat, HY-Globalist, MR-LT Plat, HH-Gold
Posts: 1,235
I had a MP ticket booked on EI/AC DUB-YYZ-LAX in biz. EI is no longer operating DUB-YYZ on my original departure date, so I got moved to the following day. That didn't work for me and UA had no issue opening up space on their own metal DUB-EWR-LAX on my original date. I didn't think about this until I hung up, but shouldn't I also now be due a refund of miles from partner rates to UA rates? I checked my account and nothing was returned, but are they just obligated to make the itinerary work or refund the difference?
#1634
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,413
I had a MP ticket booked on EI/AC DUB-YYZ-LAX in biz. EI is no longer operating DUB-YYZ on my original departure date, so I got moved to the following day. That didn't work for me and UA had no issue opening up space on their own metal DUB-EWR-LAX on my original date. I didn't think about this until I hung up, but shouldn't I also now be due a refund of miles from partner rates to UA rates? I checked my account and nothing was returned, but are they just obligated to make the itinerary work or refund the difference?
#1635
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 8,993
Looks like LAX-SIN in May got pushed back by an hour - now departing at 10:35 PM.