Feb 25, 2021, 3:34 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Unfortunately, partner route discontinuances can happen and this presents a difficult situation. Note we are not talking about day-of-travel cancellations but rather schedule changes where service is no longer offered on the preferred day of travel.
If a partner cancels and UA can not get you there on UA-operated flights, the most common outcome is a refund.
But first, try to see if you can find alternative partners to get you there (including alternative dates), UA will re-book you but if there is a fare / mileage difference you may be responsible for that
UA can not force award space on partner flights but will on UA operated flights (even if you change partner flights)
The reality is there is no obligation to find a solution but UA agents are generally very willing to be creative (within the rules)
If when looking at alternative options, no award space is available, one can check if UA will contact the partner (via UA's partner liaison) and request new space. This is rarely successful and reports of success would be appreciated.
If a partner cancels and UA can not get you there on UA-operated flights, the most common outcome is a refund.
But first, try to see if you can find alternative partners to get you there (including alternative dates), UA will re-book you but if there is a fare / mileage difference you may be responsible for that
UA can not force award space on partner flights but will on UA operated flights (even if you change partner flights)
The reality is there is no obligation to find a solution but UA agents are generally very willing to be creative (within the rules)
If when looking at alternative options, no award space is available, one can check if UA will contact the partner (via UA's partner liaison) and request new space. This is rarely successful and reports of success would be appreciated.
Partner flight discontinued / canceled route on UA award ticket, what are my options?
Sep 27, 2021, 11:49 am
#256
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I had an award ticket booked to leave on 11/26 in business class LAX-ZRH-MUC. However it appears that longhaul was canceled, and so they rebooked me on 11/27. I don't want to lose the day of vacation so is there any chance i can get them to book me on united metal for the same partner cost, or will i have to either find a flight with availability on partners or pony up the extra miles?
Note there have been a large number of other travellers impact by LH schedule changes. It would seem UA is having to do a lot of this, hope it does not change UA's practice.
Sep 27, 2021, 6:47 pm
#257
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Indeed. That can be hit and miss. Usually you can tell pretty quickly if an agent knows what they are doing. I had them recently re-do an award on LX where things got messed up ... to 45 mins but all good in the end.
Nov 5, 2021, 6:24 am
#258
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 288
I have a United business class saver award
AUS-ORD United
ORD-WAW-DEL Lot Polish
DEL-MAA Air India
Just received an email from LOT saying that the WAW-DEL flight got cancelled and looks like they cancelled that route until January.
Did not get any email from UA yet.
There are no saver awards available but full mileage awards available. AUS-ORD/EWR-DEL/BOM (UA) and DEL/BOM-MAA (Air India or Vistara)
What is my course of action? Will United rebook in one of these UA metal?
Also, if I ask them to rebook, will I be able to ask for a stopover in BOM for a day or at least have a later flight within 24 hours that I see available when searched as individual segment but not offered as a full route?
I have a month for travel. Should I call sooner (now) or closer to departure date?
AUS-ORD United
ORD-WAW-DEL Lot Polish
DEL-MAA Air India
Just received an email from LOT saying that the WAW-DEL flight got cancelled and looks like they cancelled that route until January.
Did not get any email from UA yet.
There are no saver awards available but full mileage awards available. AUS-ORD/EWR-DEL/BOM (UA) and DEL/BOM-MAA (Air India or Vistara)
What is my course of action? Will United rebook in one of these UA metal?
Also, if I ask them to rebook, will I be able to ask for a stopover in BOM for a day or at least have a later flight within 24 hours that I see available when searched as individual segment but not offered as a full route?
I have a month for travel. Should I call sooner (now) or closer to departure date?
Nov 5, 2021, 9:37 am
#259
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I have a United business class saver award
AUS-ORD United
ORD-WAW-DEL Lot Polish
DEL-MAA Air India
Just received an email from LOT saying that the WAW-DEL flight got cancelled and looks like they cancelled that route until January.
Did not get any email from UA yet.
There are no saver awards available but full mileage awards available. AUS-ORD/EWR-DEL/BOM (UA) and DEL/BOM-MAA (Air India or Vistara)
What is my course of action? Will United rebook in one of these UA metal?
AUS-ORD United
ORD-WAW-DEL Lot Polish
DEL-MAA Air India
Just received an email from LOT saying that the WAW-DEL flight got cancelled and looks like they cancelled that route until January.
Did not get any email from UA yet.
There are no saver awards available but full mileage awards available. AUS-ORD/EWR-DEL/BOM (UA) and DEL/BOM-MAA (Air India or Vistara)
What is my course of action? Will United rebook in one of these UA metal?
I would call as soon as the update appears on your itinerary, especially since UA doesn't fly to MAA. If Air India and Vistara were to run out of award inventory, you'd be out of luck.
Nov 9, 2021, 8:32 pm
#260
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: LAX/FAO
Posts: 355
My spouse and daughter have an economy award itinerary for SVQ-LAX later this month, on TP and SK flights. We were informed today of a schedule change and the new proposed itinerary departs a day earlier than originally booked, increasing the travel time from 17:45 to 32:25 and includes an overnight connection, presumably at our expense.
Since it's the weekend after US Thanksgiving and relatively short notice, there aren't many TATL options now on partners. I contacted UA via twitter DM today requesting to change to a TP flight SVQ-LIS, connecting to United metal LIS-EWR-LAX. The twitter agent says that the SVQ-LIS leg isn't available for award travel, but on united.com and expert flyer it shows X / Saver availability for two passengers for this flight. Does TP have an issue with ghost inventory, and if so, any idea where I can find more accurate inventory?
Since it's the weekend after US Thanksgiving and relatively short notice, there aren't many TATL options now on partners. I contacted UA via twitter DM today requesting to change to a TP flight SVQ-LIS, connecting to United metal LIS-EWR-LAX. The twitter agent says that the SVQ-LIS leg isn't available for award travel, but on united.com and expert flyer it shows X / Saver availability for two passengers for this flight. Does TP have an issue with ghost inventory, and if so, any idea where I can find more accurate inventory?
Nov 9, 2021, 8:46 pm
#261
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Join Date: Jun 2007
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... I contacted UA via twitter DM today requesting to change to a TP flight SVQ-LIS, connecting to United metal LIS-EWR-LAX. The twitter agent says that the SVQ-LIS leg isn't available for award travel, but on united.com and expert flyer it shows X / Saver availability for two passengers for this flight. Does TP have an issue with ghost inventory, and if so, any idea where I can find more accurate inventory?
The UA.com is the best location for checking from the award space (and you and the agent should see the same inventory) but if the agent is checking SVQ-LAX it will probably fail. This will require UA to open space on the UA flights.
Did the agent sat they saw the space but it wasn't bookable>
I suggest trying again and perhaps calling to make sure you and the agent are on the same page. Specifically, discuss the need to open space on the UA flights because of the partner cancellation.
This is not a normal flight change and requires supervisor approval to open the UA lights.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Nov 9, 2021 at 10:46 pm Reason: SVQ
Nov 9, 2021, 9:07 pm
#262
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: LAX/FAO
Posts: 355
There may be a different issue, does LIS-EWR-LAX have award space? Does the SQV-LIS-EWR-LAX option show up? (guessing not)
The UA.com is the best location for checking from the award space (and you and the agent should see the same inventory) but if the agent is checking SQV-LAX it will probably fail. This will require UA to open space on the UA flights.
Did the agent sat they saw the space but it wasn't bookable>
I suggest trying again and perhaps calling to make sure you and the agent are on the same page. Specifically, discuss the need to open space on the UA flights because of the partner cancellation.
This is not a normal flight change and requires supervisor approval to open the UA lights.
The UA.com is the best location for checking from the award space (and you and the agent should see the same inventory) but if the agent is checking SQV-LAX it will probably fail. This will require UA to open space on the UA flights.
Did the agent sat they saw the space but it wasn't bookable>
I suggest trying again and perhaps calling to make sure you and the agent are on the same page. Specifically, discuss the need to open space on the UA flights because of the partner cancellation.
This is not a normal flight change and requires supervisor approval to open the UA lights.
Nov 9, 2021, 10:31 pm
#263
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Nov 9, 2021, 10:43 pm
#264
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Thanks for the response. UA.com does suggest this exact itinerary when I search for two awards SVQ-LAX on that date, but only YN inventory for the LIS-EWR-LAX legs. I did mention opening award space on the UA flights due to the significant schedule change and spoonfed the flight numbers. The agent didn't say if they saw the space, just repeated that the SVQ-LIS flight wasn't available to book when I mentioned that I could see X inventory for that leg and asked why it couldn't be booked. I've always had great luck with twitter agents, but it looks like I'll need to try calling.
Nov 9, 2021, 11:44 pm
#265
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Location: LAX/FAO
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Nov 9, 2021, 11:55 pm
#266
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yes, that is generally speaking not an issue as long at it is a 'logical' city like MAD. Getting a free change to LHR and hoping for an even exchange won't fly
Nov 20, 2021, 11:33 am
#267
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: KOA/PHKO
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Posts: 831
I have a UA award that involves UA HI-ORD Saver F, then OS ORD-VIE-BEG, in Saver C. With the lockdown in Austria, I am concerned that OS will stop operating ORD-VIE, or at the very least the connecting VIE-BEG.
In this scenario, what is the best approach? I'd prefer not to lose my Saver C flight, as I'm flying from HI and being stuck in Y that length is a killer. Would I be able to beg UA to open UA C space on some kind of EU flight, and then Y it to BEG (BEG has LH, LX, OS and TK). Sounds stressful and keeping my fingers crossed.
In this scenario, what is the best approach? I'd prefer not to lose my Saver C flight, as I'm flying from HI and being stuck in Y that length is a killer. Would I be able to beg UA to open UA C space on some kind of EU flight, and then Y it to BEG (BEG has LH, LX, OS and TK). Sounds stressful and keeping my fingers crossed.
Nov 20, 2021, 11:48 am
#268
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I have a UA award that involves UA HI-ORD Saver F, then OS ORD-VIE-BEG, in Saver C. With the lockdown in Austria, I am concerned that OS will stop operating ORD-VIE, or at the very least the connecting VIE-BEG.
In this scenario, what is the best approach? I'd prefer not to lose my Saver C flight, as I'm flying from HI and being stuck in Y that length is a killer. Would I be able to beg UA to open UA C space on some kind of EU flight, and then Y it to BEG (BEG has LH, LX, OS and TK). Sounds stressful and keeping my fingers crossed.
In this scenario, what is the best approach? I'd prefer not to lose my Saver C flight, as I'm flying from HI and being stuck in Y that length is a killer. Would I be able to beg UA to open UA C space on some kind of EU flight, and then Y it to BEG (BEG has LH, LX, OS and TK). Sounds stressful and keeping my fingers crossed.
Nov 20, 2021, 12:04 pm
#269
Join Date: Mar 2005
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Posts: 831
Congrats for finding and booking I/IN HI-ORD! That's tough! If OS no longer flies ORD-VIE then UA will put you on UA metal to FRA/MUC/ZRH most likely with a connection to BEG ... should not be an issue. UA can open inventory on UA metal flights assuming there are seats for sale,
Does the system automatically rebook me on UA metal?
Nov 20, 2021, 12:46 pm
#270
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Ah.. I have to admit I didn't find HNL-ORD in I. I had a HNL-SFO flight, with a connecting SFO-ZRH flight on LX that got canceled. They rebooked me HNL-ORD in Y, which I refused.. after a fight they opened it up. So I can't take credit!
Does the system automatically rebook me on UA metal?
Does the system automatically rebook me on UA metal?