RooseveltL

Ok, No debate on testimony of others true life experiences, I have received schedule changes that were m8nimal but book direct. I recently did not receive 5 mins. schedule change which wiped out my seating assignments (I was semi pissed as lost my bulk row seating) and realize my UA segment was codeshare booked via ANA, they sent me the update which I ignored because none of their segments were modified but I guess when they reconfirmed my seating was removed until I checked the app.

hurnik

I had a flight booked from ALB - ORD continuing onto PVR on 12/1/18. Booked in First class "P" fare, if I recall. I think ALB-ORD original flight was an A319 (I'll have to dig up the original ticket/itinerary).

Anyway, complete schedule change/route/equipment change.
ALB - IAD on an ERJ in coach (no First available)
IAD to IAH in first
IAH to PVR in Business

I know I can either accept the changes or cancel (all other itineraries take 2 days to get to PVR, and United won't pay for a hotel, so that option is obviously not palatable).

I've only ever experienced this on AA, so I'm familiar with the AA refund policy: You have to have flown the flight, and THEN request a refund, and it's (or used to be) structured based on miles flown, etc. blah blah (at least for the Y-UP fares on AA).

What's the compensation/refund policy (if any) on United in this matter?
I'm assuming I'd still have to wait until after the flight, in the event that there's another equipment/route change?

If so, is there a process and/or special language i should use when requesting the refund? I'd prefer cash, but I doubt that'll happen, probably be a 1-year coupon/certificate, although I vaguely recall getting a credit card refund from AA, but that was like 2-3 years ago.

Thanks!

WineCountryUA

You will be allowed a free cancellation/refund or free change.
There is unlikely to be any signifincant fare differential
There is no standard compensation for such schedule changes.

Depends on what you want to do. If you are considering to let things be and see what you can get -- likely little --- then wait
The cancellation refund or the unlikely fare differential refund would be back to orignalform of payment

hurnik

Thanks!

Actually the fare now is about $80 lower than when I booked originally, even though the number of segments increased.

WineCountryUA

If you feel there is an appreciable fare difference, you need to call now.

hurnik

Thanks! We'll see what they say, LOL!

jsloan

I agree. It's extremely unlikely that a downgrade on ALB-IAD would result in an $80 fare difference on on ALB-PVR itinerary. Therefore, there's no reason to wait and take what UA offers after the fact.

fortwrestler

Hello, I tried to do a search of this but came up with nothing.

I noticed that United (UA8363) ( Thru AC operated by Jazz) has recently(unsure of when) changed the aircraft from a Canadair Regional Jet 900 to a Bombadier Q400. I had booked two business class seats for BOS - YUL, but I noticed that Q400 has no business class.
Am I eligible or entitled to anything due to a downgrade of a seat? I understand these things happen, but am unsure how to proceed given that I will be flying in a lower class than what I paid for. I was not contacted by the airline and simply noticed this when perusing my travel plans.

TIA

Kevin

jsloan

You can contact UA to be moved to a flight with business class, or you can ask for a refund of the fare difference between business class and economy. UA may not use the same economy fare that you'd use. (For example, they might use the current fare, not the fare that you would have paid when you bought the ticket).

fortwrestler

Thanks for the quick reply. This flight is the first flight which leads to an international leg out of YUL so I'm thinking the flight change wouldn't work. I assumed I would just have to grin and suck it up in this case. Given that I will be going on vacation, would I still be eligible for free drinks(after all, vacation will have started at that point).

jp12687

WineCountryUA

May be a tad less desirable then you realize as, unless you have UA status, you will be in E-, not E+ and downgraded situation will earn no extra preqs.
As you appear to be saying on AC operated aircraft, E+ will nmot be an option anyways and doubtful they will be aware of the downgraded situation. I would not expect much of a fare refund as the fare was porobably about the same regardless of the cabin for that flight, but as suggested you might get a small customer goodwill response.

dinoscool3

CruiserCLE

It may not be SOP for UA given it's all AC segments (I'm not sure on policies), but could you ask to be put on a UA TATL option out of EWR or IAD that would give you both the connector and long haul in business, or is the destination you're going to only served by AC via YUL? I had a similar situation with a 016 UA ticket but all Copa flights that had a close in schedule change where I lost my J seat on one of the segments due to being sold out, and ended up re-routing on a UA itinerary that was a much higher price originally - didn't take long at all when I called and was never asked to pay anything.. so it essentially was treated the same as a UA schedule change in that regard.

jsloan

Yes, this is absolutely worth asking about.