Refund strategies for UA premium cabin mistake
Oct 3, 2017, 1:18 am
#1
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Refund strategies for UA premium cabin mistake
I have a friend who booked a premium cabin mistake fare. It is ticketed by United and operated by United.
He's had second thoughts about flying it. It would push him to a higher status with United, so there are definite benefits.
He will fly it if he can't get a full refund.
What are strategies (or things to say on the phone) to get this cancelled for a full refund?
None of the over-water segments are even remotely full in any cabin. One of the domestic US segments is F0 Y9, but there are hourly flights on that route.
The travel is this month, so a schedule change is very unlikely.
He's had second thoughts about flying it. It would push him to a higher status with United, so there are definite benefits.
He will fly it if he can't get a full refund.
What are strategies (or things to say on the phone) to get this cancelled for a full refund?
None of the over-water segments are even remotely full in any cabin. One of the domestic US segments is F0 Y9, but there are hourly flights on that route.
The travel is this month, so a schedule change is very unlikely.
Oct 3, 2017, 5:49 am
#2
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schedule change?
Cow, I do this often. The strategy (IMO) is obvious..............
Wait until UA makes a schedule change (every few weeks). UA does not apply the same ridiculous rule as AC (+/- 2 hours = "significant"). Don't wait for a message. Log on and look for the red ink. Then call the 1K desk and say the sched change makes the flight no longer convenient. (I don't go into any more detail, as this can be so subjective.)
In the past 6 weeks, I cancelled w/o penalty:
xxx-EWR-SFO-TPE
xxx-ORD-LAX-PVG
The last one was more difficult. Two calls, two schedule changes and one e-mail. But it is done.
Wait until UA makes a schedule change (every few weeks). UA does not apply the same ridiculous rule as AC (+/- 2 hours = "significant"). Don't wait for a message. Log on and look for the red ink. Then call the 1K desk and say the sched change makes the flight no longer convenient. (I don't go into any more detail, as this can be so subjective.)
In the past 6 weeks, I cancelled w/o penalty:
xxx-EWR-SFO-TPE
xxx-ORD-LAX-PVG
The last one was more difficult. Two calls, two schedule changes and one e-mail. But it is done.
Oct 3, 2017, 8:56 am
#3
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Thanks.
Travel is coming up very soon though, and there has not yet been a schedule change, but I'll keep an eye out for one.
Travel is coming up very soon though, and there has not yet been a schedule change, but I'll keep an eye out for one.
Oct 3, 2017, 2:54 pm
#4
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*moved to the United Forum since this is not a milage-run related question*
Kind Regards
rcs85551
Moderator, Mileage Run forums
Kind Regards
rcs85551
Moderator, Mileage Run forums
Oct 3, 2017, 3:31 pm
#5
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The whole context of this thread is that the fare is so cheap that there's no way the airline really wants it to be flown, but that's not a discussion that front-line employees generally understand.
If you took out "United" from my post, the answers would probably be similar. If you took out "mistake fare", they would not.
Oct 3, 2017, 3:43 pm
#6
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There are just a few scenarios for a free refund
-- schedule change/aircraft type change (unlikely once you get inside a month or two
-- weather /travel waiver
-- day of travel irrops
Outside of that, based on the ticket's most restrictive fare rule, there will likely be a change fee and UA "credit" toward a future flight.
-- schedule change/aircraft type change (unlikely once you get inside a month or two
-- weather /travel waiver
-- day of travel irrops
Outside of that, based on the ticket's most restrictive fare rule, there will likely be a change fee and UA "credit" toward a future flight.
Oct 3, 2017, 4:22 pm
#8
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UA may have made a decision to honor the fare. There are a lot of people who jump on mistake fares without thinking too much about it. UA knows that a substantial percentage of those people will simply no show, so it doesn't cancel them.
A game of "ticket chicken".
I'm presuming that the ticket is dirt cheap and that the change / cancel fee is $300+ so not worth doing anything other than hoping for a schedule change or if that doesn't work, a flight delay/cancellation.
A game of "ticket chicken".
I'm presuming that the ticket is dirt cheap and that the change / cancel fee is $300+ so not worth doing anything other than hoping for a schedule change or if that doesn't work, a flight delay/cancellation.
Oct 3, 2017, 4:47 pm
#9
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There are just a few scenarios for a free refund
-- schedule change/aircraft type change (unlikely once you get inside a month or two
-- weather /travel waiver
-- day of travel irrops
Outside of that, based on the ticket's most restrictive fare rule, there will likely be a change fee and UA "credit" toward a future flight.
-- schedule change/aircraft type change (unlikely once you get inside a month or two
-- weather /travel waiver
-- day of travel irrops
Outside of that, based on the ticket's most restrictive fare rule, there will likely be a change fee and UA "credit" toward a future flight.
MUC-SFO
UA may have made a decision to honor the fare. There are a lot of people who jump on mistake fares without thinking too much about it. UA knows that a substantial percentage of those people will simply no show, so it doesn't cancel them.
A game of "ticket chicken".
I'm presuming that the ticket is dirt cheap and that the change / cancel fee is $300+ so not worth doing anything other than hoping for a schedule change or if that doesn't work, a flight delay/cancellation.
A game of "ticket chicken".
I'm presuming that the ticket is dirt cheap and that the change / cancel fee is $300+ so not worth doing anything other than hoping for a schedule change or if that doesn't work, a flight delay/cancellation.
Oct 3, 2017, 4:49 pm
#10
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Oct 3, 2017, 5:41 pm
#11
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If the flight is lightly book and the seat is not blocking additional revenue passengers, then the variable cost of one additional passenger is well below the $500 revenue -- and that fare will add to the bottom line. Now if it was $50 fare, there might be a case for the airline to work a deal, but no frontline employee will be so empowered.
Oct 3, 2017, 5:51 pm
#12
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If the flight is lightly book and the seat is not blocking additional revenue passengers, then the variable cost of one additional passenger is well below the $500 revenue -- and that fare will add to the bottom line. Now if it was $50 fare, there might be a case for the airline to work a deal, but no frontline employee will be so empowered.
Oct 3, 2017, 7:54 pm
#13
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My counsel would be not to look a gift horse in the mouth, and certainly not to return it. Enjoy the ride.
Oct 10, 2017, 12:30 am
#15
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As far as I know, there has only been one attempt to cancel it, and the agent on the phone did not understand.
Per my instructions, my friend hung up, so as to avoid any notes being added.
He actually brought it up again tonight, so I expect he will try again. Or book a positioning flight.
I will definitely report back.
Per my instructions, my friend hung up, so as to avoid any notes being added.
He actually brought it up again tonight, so I expect he will try again. Or book a positioning flight.
I will definitely report back.