Last edit by: WineCountryUA
By 2023, UA has returned to the more traditional pre-COVID schedule update process. There are still some closer in changes but far less than during the COVID era.
UA publishes a schedule for 330 days in advance (called Beginning of Schedule) andin the past would make tweaks quarterly and things would be fairly settles 3-4 months out. Updates would occur Friday evening / Saturday morning (Chicago time). Routine additions could occur anytime.
Present updates are every Friday and sometimes mid-week usually focused on the next month and farther out.
Check Your UA Itineraries for Schedule Changes and what to do after one
20 Oct 2021
However, during the COVID era, UA has gone to a more dynamic and shorter-term setting of schedule (as has the other carriers). Presently UA, while UA is still publishing a schedule for 330 days in advance it reflects pre-COVID operational levels and is considered just a placeholder schedule. Then 3-5 weeks prior to a month, UA makes a major update of that month's schedule.
Examples (Major updates)
The October 2020 schedule was updated 4-5 September 2020
The November 2020 schedule was updated 2-3 October 2020
The December 2020 schedule was updated 30-31 October 2020
Holidays can move the major date a week earlier or later.
Weekly updates are still generally done over night Friday-Saturday (Chicago)
UA does not publish a summary of most schedule changes but a variety of sources below do and summaries / links of those sources can be found in this thread & wiki.
Always crosscheck with UA's Travel Notices , Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel waivers and information, www.united.com/coronavirus as the situation is dynamic
Other Resources and Statistics
Archive: COVID19 UA-Schedule {Archive}
new Archive : UA-Schedule changes {Archive}
UA publishes a schedule for 330 days in advance (called Beginning of Schedule) and
Present updates are every Friday and sometimes mid-week usually focused on the next month and farther out.
Check Your UA Itineraries for Schedule Changes and what to do after one
Examples (Major updates)
The October 2020 schedule was updated 4-5 September 2020
The November 2020 schedule was updated 2-3 October 2020
The December 2020 schedule was updated 30-31 October 2020
Holidays can move the major date a week earlier or later.
Weekly updates are still generally done over night Friday-Saturday (Chicago)
UA does not publish a summary of most schedule changes but a variety of sources below do and summaries / links of those sources can be found in this thread & wiki.
Always crosscheck with UA's Travel Notices , Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel waivers and information, www.united.com/coronavirus as the situation is dynamic
Other Resources and Statistics
- CDC Travel Notices (Worldwide)
- US State Department Advisories (Search or Click "Date Updated" to Sort by Date)
- US State Department - COVID-19 Country Specific Information
- John Hopkins' Incident Map
- Worldometer Statistics
- WHO Page on Covid-19
- IATA Latest Travel Document News
- UA's Page to Query TIMATIC Database (an IATA database with the current documentation and entry requirements worldwide
Archive: COVID19 UA-Schedule {Archive}
new Archive : UA-Schedule changes {Archive}
UA System Schedule changes
#16
Join Date: May 2022
Location: Arlington, Virginia
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Aeroplan 25k, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 194
Vacationing in Iceland in late June and my originally scheduled return was via EWR, but looks like that itinerary was cancelled and I've been re-routed via ORD. Am I the only one that finds it odd UA dropped a Europe<>EWR frequency in favor of a Europe<>ORD frequency? Everyone who is connecting to an East Coast final destination (such as myself) now overflies their own home!
#17
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,101
Vacationing in Iceland in late June and my originally scheduled return was via EWR, but looks like that itinerary was cancelled and I've been re-routed via ORD. Am I the only one that finds it odd UA dropped a Europe<>EWR frequency in favor of a Europe<>ORD frequency? Everyone who is connecting to an East Coast final destination (such as myself) now overflies their own home!
#18
Join Date: May 2022
Location: Arlington, Virginia
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Aeroplan 25k, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 194
Well, yes, but when I look at where I want to end my overall journey, in Virginia, I'm adding 700+ miles and will cross Lake Michigan both ways that day (I'm not complaining, just observing!)
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,443
Vacationing in Iceland in late June and my originally scheduled return was via EWR, but looks like that itinerary was cancelled and I've been re-routed via ORD. Am I the only one that finds it odd UA dropped a Europe<>EWR frequency in favor of a Europe<>ORD frequency? Everyone who is connecting to an East Coast final destination (such as myself) now overflies their own home!
#23
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: IAH
Programs: MileagePlus-Premier Silver, Marriott Bonvoy-Silver Elite
Posts: 693
#25
Join Date: May 2022
Location: Arlington, Virginia
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Aeroplan 25k, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 194
I promise I'm not complaining!! Just find it very curious that now there's a major TATL leisure destination that UAL serves from one of its mid-continent hubs but NOT one of its East Coast hubs.
#26
Join Date: May 2012
Location: YYZ-YYC
Programs: AC50K, OZ*G
Posts: 280
So had an economy basic ticket in K class go through a schedule change (SFO-KIX). It appears, that was rebooked on other flights and was put was put in full Y. Would I actually get full miles for this? We accrue with Air Canada not UA, if that makes a difference.
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,337
YMMV. UA has gotten better than it once was at correcting this prior to posting, but it's a distinct possibility when crediting to a partner airline.
#28
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK
Programs: UA 4.3MM LT-GS; AA1MM; Amtrak SE; MAR LT TITAN; PC Plat; HIL DIA; HYA GLOB
Posts: 4,387
Looks like SFO<>HKG will revert to 1x/day in April. It had been scheduled for 2x/day, but I just got a schedule change moving me from the midday departure to the evening departure.
#29
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BUR/LAX
Programs: UA 1K/2MM, HHonors Diamond, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 2,505
I also received a schedule change notice for UA869 for 4/20 but it was just a change in departure time to 12:45pm and it's still on the schedule for now.
#30
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: CLE
Programs: UA Platinum, Starbucks Gold, PF Chang's Warrior, Wine Century 100
Posts: 1,104
I'm booked on UA2347 July 23 ORD-CLE and noticed my seat assignment in F was lost, and the entire F cabin is now wide open for seat selection.
Doesn't seem like a schedule change, but maybe an aircraft swap?
Doesn't seem like a schedule change, but maybe an aircraft swap?