Jan 6, 17, 10:39 pm
Last edit by: seawolf
UA typically updates schedules on late Wednesday & Friday evenings into the next day morning (USA Central Time).
United's FAQ on Schedule Changes webpage is no more vague but the follow seems to be the present policy
-- reschedule flexibility for 30 minutes or more changes
-- refunds for 2 hours or more changes
--- we may be able to offer you a refund:
Generally, UA is pretty good about being flexible if you are adversely affected by a schedule change. Most reasonable requests will likely be honored. Best to do some self-research prior to calling. Including opening up award space on UA operated flights. If you had a cleared upgrade on UA operated flight, UA will generally honor that in the rescheduling if space is available (but not requiring upgrade inventory space on the new flights)
During this weekend change period and sometimes for a day later, there can be weirdness in displayed aircraft or seating maps, such as Strange/Impossible Aircraft Assignments After UA's Weekend Schedule Update
Early in the COVID pandemic, UA initially change the policy for refund to require 24 hour change, but quickly walked that back to 6 hours. Under DOT and public pressure, UA returned to a 2 hour policy on 6 June 2020. 30 minute change is still the threshold for flexible rebooking
More specific information is found in UA's guidance to TA's (on Jetstream) on re-scheduling
Same booking class. If original booking class unavailable, book lowest available (higher than original booking class, same cabin) up to and including M class. Contact UA if required class of service is unavailable.**
Change fee and add/collect waived - see "Additional parameters for flights impacted by schedule changes" below the chart.
For 2 hours or more, refunds are an option unless you can be rescheduled to be under the 2 hours
================= older information =======================
The peak-time for changes is roughly 3-4 months prior to departure but changes occur anytime -- especially aircraft changes within an aircraft family (such as 777-200s or 737-800 vs 737-900).
Schedule changes
It is reported that agents will now (12 March 2020) process refunds for 6-hour changes (down from the original new 25+ hours that replaced the previous long practice of 2-hours)
JetStream - Agency Rebooking Parameters
Related thread: Schedule change refund policy changed from 2+ hrs to 25+ hrs now 6+ hrs 12 March 2020
Archive Thread - Check Your UA Itineraries for Schedule Changes and what to do after one [Archive]
United's FAQ on Schedule Changes webpage is no more vague but the follow seems to be the present policy
-- reschedule flexibility for 30 minutes or more changes
- Your origin and destination will have to be the same as on your original itinerary.
- If you have a connection, you may be able to choose a different connecting city or airport.
- Alternative flights must be operated by United or our United Express® partners.
-- refunds for 2 hours or more changes
--- we may be able to offer you a refund:
- The scheduled departure or arrival time changes by two hours or more.
- The change causes issues with the overall length of the trip, such as making the connection time too short or significantly longer than it was originally.
- If we are unable to accommodate you in the same cabin as purchased – refunded either the full price or the difference in fare.
Generally, UA is pretty good about being flexible if you are adversely affected by a schedule change. Most reasonable requests will likely be honored. Best to do some self-research prior to calling. Including opening up award space on UA operated flights. If you had a cleared upgrade on UA operated flight, UA will generally honor that in the rescheduling if space is available (but not requiring upgrade inventory space on the new flights)
During this weekend change period and sometimes for a day later, there can be weirdness in displayed aircraft or seating maps, such as Strange/Impossible Aircraft Assignments After UA's Weekend Schedule Update
Early in the COVID pandemic, UA initially change the policy for refund to require 24 hour change, but quickly walked that back to 6 hours. Under DOT and public pressure, UA returned to a 2 hour policy on 6 June 2020. 30 minute change is still the threshold for flexible rebooking
More specific information is found in UA's guidance to TA's (on Jetstream) on re-scheduling
- Any segment goes from a non-stop to a connection
- Misconnecting itinerary
- Change to originally scheduled arrival or departure time of at least + / - 30 minutes
Same booking class. If original booking class unavailable, book lowest available (higher than original booking class, same cabin) up to and including M class. Contact UA if required class of service is unavailable.**
Change fee and add/collect waived - see "Additional parameters for flights impacted by schedule changes" below the chart.
Change to original arrival or departure time of 2 hours or more or cancelled flight with no protection
or
Additional parameters for flights impacted by schedule changes
***Continuing or return travel dates may be voluntarily changed on UA segments only in the original inventory class to maintain the original length of stay prior to the re-accommodation. Changes to the return flight must be in the same PNR and be made in the same transaction as the re-accommodation of the outbound flight. The change fee and add/collect will be waived for changes made to the return (original class of service only).
**United Basic Economy fares booked in "N" class must remain in "N" class when eligible for self-service rebooking due to unacceptable schedule changes or irregular operations. If "N" class is unavailable, please contact United’s Customer Contact Centers for assistance. Rebooking into an ineligible booking class may result in the issuance of a debit memo. For non-Basic Economy fares, do not rebook into "N" class.
Additional parameters for flights impacted by schedule changes
- Non-stops may go to connecting flights, and connecting flights may go to non-stops
- Connecting hub may be changed
- If original day of departure is unavailable, may depart 7 days prior to or after original departure date. If outbound flight is impacted, subsequent flights on same itinerary may be changed to maintain original length of trip.***
- Alternate airports within a 250 mile radius of the original origin or departure airport***
- Change may apply to origin and destination, but must be changed at the original time of ticket reissue
- Customer is responsible for any additional expenses incurred
***Continuing or return travel dates may be voluntarily changed on UA segments only in the original inventory class to maintain the original length of stay prior to the re-accommodation. Changes to the return flight must be in the same PNR and be made in the same transaction as the re-accommodation of the outbound flight. The change fee and add/collect will be waived for changes made to the return (original class of service only).
**United Basic Economy fares booked in "N" class must remain in "N" class when eligible for self-service rebooking due to unacceptable schedule changes or irregular operations. If "N" class is unavailable, please contact United’s Customer Contact Centers for assistance. Rebooking into an ineligible booking class may result in the issuance of a debit memo. For non-Basic Economy fares, do not rebook into "N" class.
The peak-time for changes is roughly 3-4 months prior to departure but changes occur anytime -- especially aircraft changes within an aircraft family (such as 777-200s or 737-800 vs 737-900).
Schedule changes
Rebooking options if a schedule change has affected your itinerary
If your scheduled departure or arrival time changes by 30 minutes or more, we're happy to try to find other available flight options that meet your needs. Please keep the following in mind when you call:
Ticket refunds
When a schedule change happens, we try our best to provide you with options that minimize the disruption to your travel plans. In cases where the new flight options don't work for you and one of the following scenarios applies, we may be able to offer you a refund:
If your scheduled departure or arrival time changes by 30 minutes or more, we're happy to try to find other available flight options that meet your needs. Please keep the following in mind when you call:
- Your origin and destination will have to be the same as on your original itinerary.
- If you have a connection, you may be able to choose a different connecting city or airport.
- Alternative flights must be operated by United or our United Express® partners.
Ticket refunds
When a schedule change happens, we try our best to provide you with options that minimize the disruption to your travel plans. In cases where the new flight options don't work for you and one of the following scenarios applies, we may be able to offer you a refund:
- The scheduled departure or arrival time significantly changes.
- The change causes issues with the overall length of the trip, such as making the connection time too short or significantly longer than it was originally.
- If we are unable to accommodate you in the same cabin as purchased – refunded either the full price or the difference in fare.
JetStream - Agency Rebooking Parameters
Related thread: Schedule change refund policy changed from 2+ hrs to 25+ hrs now 6+ hrs 12 March 2020
Archive Thread - Check Your UA Itineraries for Schedule Changes and what to do after one [Archive]
Check Your UA Itineraries for Schedule Changes and what to do after one
Mar 7, 21, 9:36 pm
#61
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Alaska 75K, Delta Silver, UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 7,540
A nice favorable change today. The DEN-YVR segment we had booked is no longer operating in September, so we got rerouted via SFO on our return flight from Boston. We booked Business Class, so it's a nice switch from domestic F to p.s. lie-flat.
I may request ORC for BiS, but since we'll both be 1MM by then, it really doesn't matter.
I may request ORC for BiS, but since we'll both be 1MM by then, it really doesn't matter.
Mar 7, 21, 10:27 pm
#62
Moderator: United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.9MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 63,083
Mar 8, 21, 12:00 am
#63
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 18,636
FYI/FWIW: For those affected by loaded April 2021 schedule changes: (Email received from United for Business ([email protected]))
David
Self-serve option for April schedule change error
In the course of loading our April schedule, an error caused select PNRs to be re-accommodated incorrectly.
Our teams are working to fix impacted records, but in the meantime, you have a self-serve option if you’d like to take action.
To help you identify PNRs impacted by this issue, we’re appending the following SSR OTHS messages:
We will carefully monitor these transactions to ensure debit memos are not issued if changes are made within the boundaries of the waiver rules. You do not need to contact our Customer Contact Centers for review or approval.
We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience as we work diligently to resolve the issue.
In the course of loading our April schedule, an error caused select PNRs to be re-accommodated incorrectly.
Our teams are working to fix impacted records, but in the meantime, you have a self-serve option if you’d like to take action.
- For PNRs re-accommodated onto misconnecting or inconvenient (such as very long layover) connecting flights, please re-book the customer onto a valid or more convenient connecting flight.
- If the schedule change resulted in a ‘no-protect’ status for a segment (no re-accommodation provided), we may not have yet cancelled the downline or upline connecting flights. We’re working to automatically fix records that do not include protection for the cancelled flights, but you can self-serve by rebooking the customers onto their preferred option or cancel the connecting flights as needed.
To help you identify PNRs impacted by this issue, we’re appending the following SSR OTHS messages:
- SKEDCHG ERROR-PLS PROTECT PAX ONTO ALT FLT
- ADMS WILL NOT APPLY-ADD UASKEDCHG WAIVER IN OSI
- AGY PLS SEE JETSTREAM FOR MORE DETAILS
We will carefully monitor these transactions to ensure debit memos are not issued if changes are made within the boundaries of the waiver rules. You do not need to contact our Customer Contact Centers for review or approval.
We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience as we work diligently to resolve the issue.
Mar 8, 21, 5:28 am
#64
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 29,475
Mar 8, 21, 10:27 am
#65
Moderator: United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.9MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 63,083
Mar 8, 21, 3:22 pm
#66
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 29,475
there is plenty of equipment with lie-flat seats flying non-p.s. routes right now. Hard to believe they couldn't 'fund' 3 a day lie flat BOS-SFO if they wanted to do that. So far UA chose to cancel lie-flat through the end of May only. We'll see if it resumes or not. These days you just don't know. Plus I would think that the 772s should be back in service by then.
Mar 8, 21, 6:05 pm
#67
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.034MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 51,451
Mar 8, 21, 8:43 pm
#69
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Alaska 75K, Delta Silver, UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 7,540
You should been able to book one stop *A flights on UA ticket stock. Other than EU border closure, fares look normal to me based on random dates search around Easter.
Mar 9, 21, 7:19 pm
#71
Moderator: United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.9MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 63,083
Mar 9, 21, 8:03 pm
#72
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,217
Mar 9, 21, 8:23 pm
#73
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 29,475
Mar 9, 21, 8:23 pm
#74
Moderator: United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.9MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 63,083
or could have been this issue - Check Your UA Itineraries for Schedule Changes and what to do after one
Mar 9, 21, 8:28 pm
#75
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 29,475
