Nov 11, 2018, 9:43 pm
Last edit by: Ocn Vw 1K
Updated waiver as of >14 Nov. 2018: Note added cities and extended dates:
November 9, 2018 - November 23, 2018
Flight changes: The change fee and any difference in fare will be waived for new United flights departing on or before December 2, 2018, as long as travel is rescheduled in the originally ticketed cabin (any fare class) and between the same cities as originally ticketed.
Earlier waivers for this incident:
older waiver
- Burbank, CA (BUR)
- Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
- Sacramento, CA (SMF)
- San Francisco, CA (SFO)
- Santa Rosa, CA (STS)
November 9, 2018 - November 23, 2018
Flight changes: The change fee and any difference in fare will be waived for new United flights departing on or before December 2, 2018, as long as travel is rescheduled in the originally ticketed cabin (any fare class) and between the same cities as originally ticketed.
Earlier waivers for this incident:
older waiver
Travel Waiver California Wildfires 9-23 November 2018
Nov 12, 2018, 8:31 am
#46
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC 35K, SPG GOLD
Posts: 264
I'm on BOS to SFO and I'm delayed due to ATC - due to fires in CA delay is about 30 minutes (for now).
An additional 30 min delay for a full 1 hour delay now.
An additional 30 min delay for a full 1 hour delay now.
Last edited by chebert999; Nov 12, 2018 at 8:53 am
Nov 13, 2018, 7:16 pm
#49
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,219
I have been watching this with great interest as I am flying SAN-SFO on Thursday connecting to SFO-LHR. My concern is not making the connection. Any updates on flights? I am on the 11.15am flight out of SAN to connect to the afternoon flight and have two hours to connect in SFO.
Nov 13, 2018, 8:47 pm
#50
Join Date: May 2006
Location: PMD
Programs: UA*G, NW, AA-G. WR-P, HH-G, IHG-S, ALL. TT-GE.
Posts: 2,911
I have been watching this with great interest as I am flying SAN-SFO on Thursday connecting to SFO-LHR. My concern is not making the connection. Any updates on flights? I am on the 11.15am flight out of SAN to connect to the afternoon flight and have two hours to connect in SFO.
Nov 13, 2018, 10:54 pm
#53
Join Date: May 2006
Location: PMD
Programs: UA*G, NW, AA-G. WR-P, HH-G, IHG-S, ALL. TT-GE.
Posts: 2,911
LAX does not have a runway capacity problem like SFO. And it has been good enough for visual operations these days. The waiver includes LAX and BUR probably because of passengers' inability to travel on the ground.
Nov 14, 2018, 1:18 am
#54
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Berkeley, CA
Programs: UA Gold, peon everywhere else
Posts: 989
So apparently they're willing to be flexible -- I misread the waiver and thought it was through Sunday; when I called about changing my Sunday flight from SFO, the agent explained that the waiver was only through Thursday, but was happy to rebook me on a Saturday flight with no charge anyway (I explained that we have two young kids, and want to get them (and us) out of here and into clean air sooner!)
Nov 14, 2018, 2:48 am
#55
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,461
Flew into SFO on SQ32 this morning around 8:30 am, and while the smoke didn't look that bad from above, once you were in it visibility was basically nonexistent - I assume because the smoke particles are light reflecting. I'd imagine there will be a traffic management program in place at SFO until we get a strong west wind or a good rain.
Nov 14, 2018, 7:34 am
#56
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K 1.5 MM, AA PLAT PRO 1MM
Posts: 573
We are scheduled to fly from ORD to PPT on Sunday, with a two-hour connection at SFO (connection was originally three hours, but a schedule change somewhere along the way reduced it). So far, it looks like the ORD>SFO flights are mostly running on time, but this still makes me a little nervous, especially since UA doesn't fly to PPT every day. I know the waiver doesn't cover Sunday (yet), but I'm thinking it might be a good idea to switch to the first (6am) morning flight or the evening before, if and when possible. What would you do? Thanks!
Nov 14, 2018, 8:13 am
#57
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,461
I'd just keep an eye on the situation. It's possible the air will have cleared by then. If UA thinks it won't, they'll extend the travel waiver.
Nov 14, 2018, 8:33 am
#58
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 102
Nov 14, 2018, 8:35 am
#59
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,219
Your flight would be included in the GDP issued every day for the past few days, but it's hard to say how UA will prioritize which flights to delay. LAX-SFO flights have seen limited delays, but other "less important cities" may not bode so well. UA also runs their database to see how many could misconnect from each flight, but the fact that there's a later SFO-LHR may diminish your significance.
My SFO-LHR flight is sold out with only five/six Polaris seats available (watching as have a GPU applied for the flight) and similar situation for the later flight although I think even less seats. I have an appoontment in SAN earlier in the morning so unable to move to an earlier flight to SFO. I am also making a connection three hours later in LHR so moving to the later flight to LHR is not really an option although know UA could be flexible on getting me where I need to be. Thank goodness for being 1K.
However, very much a small concern compared to the first responders, for fighters and people losing their loved one and homes.
Nov 14, 2018, 11:15 am
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
On UA420 yesterday (11/14/18) LAX-SFO. Because of the SFO GDP, we departed the gate about 35 minutes late for a 2 pm departure.
Here are some shots of and out of the row 21 port window on our approach into SFO:
David
Here are some shots of and out of the row 21 port window on our approach into SFO:
David