Jan 6, 2019, 12:17 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Welcome to this thread to ask your basic, simple questions about United Airlines, its operations, or the MileagePlus program. We know that the airline is complex and we’ve created this thread for new and veteran members to ask those basic questions about United Airlines that you think must have an easy answer but just can’t find it or aren’t sure where to look.

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Use this thread for a simple, basic question. Moderators may move posts to a new / existing thread if appropriate.
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Have a Simple Question About United Airlines/MileagePlus? Ask Here [2018]

Have a Simple Question About United Airlines/MileagePlus? Ask Here [2017]

Have a Simple Question About United Airlines/MileagePlus? Ask Here [2016 Part II]

Have a Simple Question About United Airlines/MileagePlus? Ask Here [2016 Part I]

Have a Simple Question About United Airlines/MileagePlus? Ask Here [2015 -Part II]...

Have a Simple Question About United Airlines/MileagePlus? Ask Here [2015 Thread]...

Have a Simple Question About United Airlines/MileagePlus? Ask Here [2019]

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Mar 24, 2019, 11:09 pm

#331

findark

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Nov 2014

Location: MSP

Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found

Posts: 14,424

GUM-HNL should require a GPU and minimum W fare, but it has historically been very inconsistent when it comes to the computer. I would take what the computer gave you and ask no more questions

Otherwise, as long as there are no stopovers along the way, it is normal for one certificate to cover that. I once used one GPU to upgrade NRT-GUM-(hopper)-HNL-LAX-SFO.

Mar 25, 2019, 1:31 am

#332

LASNRT

Join Date: Mar 2015

Location: Las Vegas

Programs: United Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond

Posts: 284

Quote:

Originally Posted by findark

GUM-HNL should require a GPU and minimum W fare, but it has historically been very inconsistent when it comes to the computer. I would take what the computer gave you and ask no more questions

Otherwise, as long as there are no stopovers along the way, it is normal for one certificate to cover that. I once used one GPU to upgrade NRT-GUM-(hopper)-HNL-LAX-SFO.

In the spirit of "ask no more questions," I have a follow up question...

There was a time change for the HNL-LAX flight, which I've already accepted. (The flight number is the same.). The new time (9:37) shows up as the first and third flight in the picture, and the old time is the middle. (It shows first class, and the option to select a seat, but when I go to the seat menu I'm unable to actually click on any of the first class seats. - but that's not my concern.)

My concern is that there's a dummy flight interfering with this booking. Normally I'd call (or send a message over twitter) asking them to remove this incorrect segment, but I don't want to mess up my odds of the other two flights' upgrades clearing.

Should I just leave it alone? Would it give me any heartache at check-in?

Thanks again for your wisdom & advice!!

Mar 25, 2019, 1:35 am

#333

findark

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Nov 2014

Location: MSP

Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found

Posts: 14,424

Since you have a waitlisted PZ segment at the new time, I think you are still correctly in line for the upgrade on HNL-LAX. You're right in that the 8:45p segment is now an orphan and needs to get deleted. I would probably take a shot at asking them to clean up the record, but obviously up to you. You do run the risk of someone wondering how GUM-HNL was upgraded, but I think at least 4 out 5 they will either not look carefully or honor that the computer already upgraded you. UA is pretty good about honoring its own IT mistakes as long as they aren't crazy.

LASNRT likes this.

Mar 25, 2019, 7:53 am

#334

wiivile

Join Date: Nov 2013

Location: NYC

Programs: BA

Posts: 954

This may be a question for the Aer Lingus people, but I know you can redeem United miles on Aer Lingus, but can you not redeem Air Lingus miles (Avios) on United? Why one-sided?

Mar 25, 2019, 12:56 pm

#335

risenmyth

Join Date: Dec 2018

Location: New York City

Posts: 130

Quote:

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA

SDC=Same Day Change
Free for Gold & higher and also free at a connecting airport (flying AAA-BBB-CCC, free at BBB)
$75 for others
A method for changing flights -- as long as origin and destination of the trip remain unchanged -- allows for routing changes.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...ions-wiki.html

Thank you so much. I'll keep that in mind.
However, it may not work well for me considering that my United flights booked right now are all one-leg each way. No "BBB" to do a SDC with.

Mar 26, 2019, 12:57 pm

#336

threeoh

Join Date: Sep 2014

Posts: 2,531

Quote:

Originally Posted by risenmyth

Thank you so much. I'll keep that in mind.
However, it may not work well for me considering that my United flights booked right now are all one-leg each way. No "BBB" to do a SDC with.

You can change a non-stop into a connecting flight. For example if you are flying ORD-IAD you can change it to ORD-EWR-IAD.

Read the wiki here:

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...ions-wiki.html

Mar 26, 2019, 4:56 pm

#337

deniah

Join Date: Jul 2008

Location: K+K

Programs: *G

Posts: 4,871

I've got award tickets for relatives who have no status. It's domestic Y (waitlisted for F) connecting to international J, all UA.

Assuming the waitlist does not clear, do they still have access to priority check-in, priority boarding, extra check-in luggage allowance, and access to lounge at departure airport for first segment?

Mar 26, 2019, 5:00 pm

#338

WineCountryUA

Moderator: United Airlines

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: SFO

Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat

Posts: 66,859

Quote:

Originally Posted by deniah

Yes

Mar 27, 2019, 4:28 pm

#339

764toHI

Join Date: Jul 2005

Location: NYC

Programs: Marriott Platinum Elite, National Executive, United Gold

Posts: 1,181

Looking at a 752 LIM-EWR flight in late August departing on a Monday - what is the likelihood of P opening up again if the current availability is J9 C7 D2 Z1 ZN1? Slim-to-none I assume?

I am deciding to wait or book the 1 stop option in P and hope for a SDC.

Mar 29, 2019, 4:12 am

#340

mehitabel

Join Date: Jul 2008

Location: SFO

Posts: 181

Question re: change fee. I bought a RT T class ticket. I was at the airport today, feeling ill, so offered to VDB on an oversold flight rather than fly with a GI bug. At the last minute my seat wasn't needed, but the GA took pity and rebooked me for tomorrow. That ticket's fare class is now Y. I'm still sick, so am considering postponing my trip. Does the Y outbound bucket affect cancellation/change fees? I don't expect it to, but it just hit me that paid Y is flexible. Of course my return bucket is still T... I'm prepared to pay the change fee, but am curious how this gets handled.

Mar 29, 2019, 7:51 am

#341

mahasamatman

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2004

Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)

Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis

Posts: 52,140

Quote:

Originally Posted by mehitabel

Does the Y outbound bucket affect cancellation/change fees? ... Of course my return bucket is still T...

A ticket is governed by its most restrictive component, so even if it is real Y (which it may or may not be), it should have no effect.

Mar 29, 2019, 9:04 am

#342

jsloan

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: Austin, TX

Posts: 21,417

Quote:

Originally Posted by mahasamatman

A ticket is governed by its most restrictive component, so even if it is real Y (which it may or may not be), it should have no effect.

I can't think of any scenario under which the fare rules would change. There are plenty of other places where UA uses the RBD instead of the fare class (meaning Y rather than T in this scenario), but I don't think calculating changes would be one of them, since I don't think they actually refare the tickets when they rebook them. For changes (not refunds), the most restrictive language generally only applies to the changed fare components.

That said, OP: if you're too sick to travel, UA will refund your change fees. You may need to get a doctor's note saying that travel is inadvisable.

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 30, 2019 at 5:11 pm Reason: split post

Mar 29, 2019, 10:16 am

#343

mehitabel

Join Date: Jul 2008

Location: SFO

Posts: 181

Quote:

Originally Posted by mahasamatman

A ticket is governed by its most restrictive component, so even if it is real Y (which it may or may not be), it should have no effect.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsloan

I can't think of any scenario under which the fare rules would change. There are plenty of other places where UA uses the RBD instead of the fare class (meaning Y rather than T in this scenario), but I don't think calculating changes would be one of them, since I don't think they actually refare the tickets when they rebook them. For changes (not refunds), the most restrictive language generally only applies to the changed fare components.

That said, OP: if you're too sick to travel, UA will refund your change fees. You may need to get a doctor's note saying that travel is inadvisable.

Thank you both for useful info!

jsloan, now I'm curious how it works for refunds if you don't mind elaborating? (for educational purposes - I'm going ahead and changing this one)

Last edited by mehitabel; Mar 29, 2019 at 10:43 am Reason: adding a question

Apr 1, 2019, 4:09 pm

#344

sooty

Join Date: Sep 2011

Posts: 23

Quick question.

Im moving from Australia to Houston. Originally had a flight that gets into LAX at 6.40am and leaving at 12.55am as I was going to meet up with friends in the afternoon.

The United attendant said I couldn’t check my bags through as the connection was greater than 12 hours. So I switched my flight to an earlier flight.

Apart from the moral ethics, would there be any issues if I now change my flights to the later flight. I fully acknowledge I need to do customs in LAX. I just don’t want to be lugging around bags all day.

Apr 1, 2019, 4:18 pm

#345

jsloan

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: Austin, TX

Posts: 21,417

Quote:

Originally Posted by sooty

Apart from the moral ethics, would there be any issues if I now change my flights to the later flight. I fully acknowledge I need to do customs in LAX. I just don’t want to be lugging around bags all day.

You won't be able to change your flight without getting your bag re-tagged. You can try explaining the situation in LAX and see if you get a sympathetic agent.